Dauntless 1x05 - Fragments of Control
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Chapter Seven
USS Dauntless
The Badlands
June 12th 2380 (Stardate 57447.9)
The battle with Dukat had never materialised.
The enigmatic Cardassian was still following them but making no move to attack. Astar daren’t send a message to Smiley in case Dukat was listening in and so she just slowed the ship and waited, plodding along until the Defiant had seen to the safety of the colonists. It had been three hours and there had been no word as yet. Instead of pacing she had retreated into her quarters, leaving Gonzales in command of the bridge while she looked through the paperwork Wright had signed off during her forced medical leave. The reports from the senior officers had given her interesting reading and she was sure that she was now firmly in command again without any issues outstanding.
‘Come,’ she said when her door chimed.
‘Captain, it would appear that the colonists have made it safely. We picked up the Defiant for a few seconds before it cloaked again,’ Gonzales told her. ‘We’re ready to go into Alliance space.’
Astar nodded. ‘Are all the repairs complete?’
‘Xeris is still fiddling with the structural integrity field, but other than that we’re as good as new.’
‘All right, have Larson set a course for Rura Penthe. We’ll rendezvous with the Defiant and then make our way. The less time we spend in this universe the better.’
‘Captain, we’re receiving a hail from General O’Brien,’ Larson informed her over the comm.
‘Put it through.’
‘Captain, I see you have company.’
‘Is Dukat a big a pain in your universe as he is in ours?’
O’Brien shrugged. ‘He has his moments, but I must warn you. If he has decided that he wants the Dauntless, he’ll do anything to get it.’
‘Then he’s out of luck. We’re ready to get our man back, will you be joining us?’
‘I don’t have a station to go back to, and I’m itching to give the Alliance another crippling blow. I’d love to reduce that frozen wasteland to slag.’
‘You would have an easier time getting into Alliance space than we would, but I would welcome any help you could provide.’
‘I have an idea.’
‘I’m listening.’
‘Take Dukat’s cloaking device.’
Astar chuckled. ‘Are you insane?’
‘I know where it is and how to get it, without being discovered.’
Gonzales nodded and Astar stared at her. ‘Rendezvous with us and we’ll discuss the plan.’
‘Excellent, see you in a few hours, Captain.’
Astar sighed. ‘What have we gotten ourselves into, Commander?’
‘Sir, our best hope of evading the dozens or hundreds of ships between here and Rura Penthe is to arrive under cloak. We can cripple Dukat’s ship, take the cloak and by the time he’s able to warn anyone, we’ll be long gone, maybe even home.’
‘It’s still a very risky gambit, so much can go wrong and we don’t have any backup.’
‘I do understand the risk, sir, but as the Ferengi say, “the riskier the road, the greater the profit.” Who knows how many others from our side are being held captive here, and maybe we’ll find out why Wright was chosen.’
‘He’ll need extensive counselling once we get him back,’ Astar said, changing subjects slightly. ‘I want you research his life exhaustively and prepare a holodeck simulation to assist in his recovery. Liaise with Counsellor Zayner to provide the right balance.’
‘Aye sir, I’d like to be in the away team that acquires the cloak.’
‘I was going to ask you to lead it.’
‘Thank you, Captain.’
‘Dismissed.’
Once Gonzales was gone, Astar leaned back in her chair and called up what little information there was in the ship’s library on the mirror universe. It wasn’t much, with almost all of it classified beyond the level 10 security that was basic for a captain. What she could access informed her that the earliest incursion was reported to be in the twenty-second century but that was uncorroborated. Kirk transported into the mirror universe during his historic five year mission and then there were sporadic reports of encounters, none given credence, until the common crossovers centred on Deep Space Nine, where the barrier between the universes was said to be the weakest. Hopefully, with the station on this side destroyed, that would be at an end, unless the destruction opened the barrier permanently.
It would be about five hours before Smiley O’Brien caught up with them to go over a plan to steal Dukat’s cloak, and she decided to get some sleep during the downtime as she was running low on energy. As she rose from the chair, she clutched her abdomen and collapsed, having just enough strength to call sickbay before she felt consciousness ebbing.
‘Careful,’ Doctor Maxx said as she opened her eyes.
‘What happened?’ she asked, feeling weak.
‘You need to get home to Trill, soon.’
‘Why?’
‘The symbiont is ill, and your own hormones are in dangerous flux,’ he replied, waving the medical tricorder across her abdomen and head. ‘It could be a result of being in this universe, but I think it’s more fundamental than that.’
‘Spit it out, Arlon.’
‘One of your hosts has an unresolved issue and you will both continue to get worse until you perform the Zhian’tara. I’m surprised the Symbiosis Commission hasn’t pushed to have it done before now.’
‘They have, but it was not practical to do so since I have few close friends and often work too far from Trill for a Guardian to travel.’
‘Well then, as soon as we get back to our universe I’m placing you on medical leave until the Zhian’tara can be performed and the host’s unresolved issues are resolved.’
‘That’s not necessary, Doctor.’
‘Captain, I don’t think you understand the gravity of your situation. If the rite isn’t performed soon, both of you will die. I can offset the effects for a while, but it will require constant monitoring,’ he said and knelt down. ‘This will monitor the biosigns of both of you and release small amounts of isoboramine and boramine into your bloodstream.’
Astar groaned. It was not what she needed at this moment in time. ‘Thank you, Doctor.’
‘If you collapse, I’ll be there quickly and if it gets worse, you’ll be going back into stasis again for the safety of both of you.’
‘Is that necessary?’
‘Yes, in the wake of the uprising on Trill, new regulations specifically state that the symbionts are to be protected by any means necessary short of killing the host to protect it.’
Astar nodded with minimal movement, she was still weak. ‘I need to be in full control of my faculties.’
‘You will be, shortly.’
USS Dauntless
The Badlands
June 12th 2380 (Stardate 57447.9)
The battle with Dukat had never materialised.
The enigmatic Cardassian was still following them but making no move to attack. Astar daren’t send a message to Smiley in case Dukat was listening in and so she just slowed the ship and waited, plodding along until the Defiant had seen to the safety of the colonists. It had been three hours and there had been no word as yet. Instead of pacing she had retreated into her quarters, leaving Gonzales in command of the bridge while she looked through the paperwork Wright had signed off during her forced medical leave. The reports from the senior officers had given her interesting reading and she was sure that she was now firmly in command again without any issues outstanding.
‘Come,’ she said when her door chimed.
‘Captain, it would appear that the colonists have made it safely. We picked up the Defiant for a few seconds before it cloaked again,’ Gonzales told her. ‘We’re ready to go into Alliance space.’
Astar nodded. ‘Are all the repairs complete?’
‘Xeris is still fiddling with the structural integrity field, but other than that we’re as good as new.’
‘All right, have Larson set a course for Rura Penthe. We’ll rendezvous with the Defiant and then make our way. The less time we spend in this universe the better.’
‘Captain, we’re receiving a hail from General O’Brien,’ Larson informed her over the comm.
‘Put it through.’
‘Captain, I see you have company.’
‘Is Dukat a big a pain in your universe as he is in ours?’
O’Brien shrugged. ‘He has his moments, but I must warn you. If he has decided that he wants the Dauntless, he’ll do anything to get it.’
‘Then he’s out of luck. We’re ready to get our man back, will you be joining us?’
‘I don’t have a station to go back to, and I’m itching to give the Alliance another crippling blow. I’d love to reduce that frozen wasteland to slag.’
‘You would have an easier time getting into Alliance space than we would, but I would welcome any help you could provide.’
‘I have an idea.’
‘I’m listening.’
‘Take Dukat’s cloaking device.’
Astar chuckled. ‘Are you insane?’
‘I know where it is and how to get it, without being discovered.’
Gonzales nodded and Astar stared at her. ‘Rendezvous with us and we’ll discuss the plan.’
‘Excellent, see you in a few hours, Captain.’
Astar sighed. ‘What have we gotten ourselves into, Commander?’
‘Sir, our best hope of evading the dozens or hundreds of ships between here and Rura Penthe is to arrive under cloak. We can cripple Dukat’s ship, take the cloak and by the time he’s able to warn anyone, we’ll be long gone, maybe even home.’
‘It’s still a very risky gambit, so much can go wrong and we don’t have any backup.’
‘I do understand the risk, sir, but as the Ferengi say, “the riskier the road, the greater the profit.” Who knows how many others from our side are being held captive here, and maybe we’ll find out why Wright was chosen.’
‘He’ll need extensive counselling once we get him back,’ Astar said, changing subjects slightly. ‘I want you research his life exhaustively and prepare a holodeck simulation to assist in his recovery. Liaise with Counsellor Zayner to provide the right balance.’
‘Aye sir, I’d like to be in the away team that acquires the cloak.’
‘I was going to ask you to lead it.’
‘Thank you, Captain.’
‘Dismissed.’
Once Gonzales was gone, Astar leaned back in her chair and called up what little information there was in the ship’s library on the mirror universe. It wasn’t much, with almost all of it classified beyond the level 10 security that was basic for a captain. What she could access informed her that the earliest incursion was reported to be in the twenty-second century but that was uncorroborated. Kirk transported into the mirror universe during his historic five year mission and then there were sporadic reports of encounters, none given credence, until the common crossovers centred on Deep Space Nine, where the barrier between the universes was said to be the weakest. Hopefully, with the station on this side destroyed, that would be at an end, unless the destruction opened the barrier permanently.
It would be about five hours before Smiley O’Brien caught up with them to go over a plan to steal Dukat’s cloak, and she decided to get some sleep during the downtime as she was running low on energy. As she rose from the chair, she clutched her abdomen and collapsed, having just enough strength to call sickbay before she felt consciousness ebbing.
‘Careful,’ Doctor Maxx said as she opened her eyes.
‘What happened?’ she asked, feeling weak.
‘You need to get home to Trill, soon.’
‘Why?’
‘The symbiont is ill, and your own hormones are in dangerous flux,’ he replied, waving the medical tricorder across her abdomen and head. ‘It could be a result of being in this universe, but I think it’s more fundamental than that.’
‘Spit it out, Arlon.’
‘One of your hosts has an unresolved issue and you will both continue to get worse until you perform the Zhian’tara. I’m surprised the Symbiosis Commission hasn’t pushed to have it done before now.’
‘They have, but it was not practical to do so since I have few close friends and often work too far from Trill for a Guardian to travel.’
‘Well then, as soon as we get back to our universe I’m placing you on medical leave until the Zhian’tara can be performed and the host’s unresolved issues are resolved.’
‘That’s not necessary, Doctor.’
‘Captain, I don’t think you understand the gravity of your situation. If the rite isn’t performed soon, both of you will die. I can offset the effects for a while, but it will require constant monitoring,’ he said and knelt down. ‘This will monitor the biosigns of both of you and release small amounts of isoboramine and boramine into your bloodstream.’
Astar groaned. It was not what she needed at this moment in time. ‘Thank you, Doctor.’
‘If you collapse, I’ll be there quickly and if it gets worse, you’ll be going back into stasis again for the safety of both of you.’
‘Is that necessary?’
‘Yes, in the wake of the uprising on Trill, new regulations specifically state that the symbionts are to be protected by any means necessary short of killing the host to protect it.’
Astar nodded with minimal movement, she was still weak. ‘I need to be in full control of my faculties.’
‘You will be, shortly.’
Wow, stealing anything out from under Dukat's nose isn't going to be an easy trick! And I do think it's interesting to provide a reason for the zhian'tara ritual that isn't just tradition...let's just hope her problem isn't like Joran! (Then again...what if that symbiont's been in an MU host? Or is that too far off the wall? 
)
)
Chapter Eight
Starship Defiant
Edge of Alliance space
June 13th 2380 (Stardate 57448.5)
Lieutenant Commander Sheena Gonzales materialised in the Defiant’s small transporter room with Xeris and Cadet Snowcroft. General O’Brien and Aaron Wright were waiting for them. Wright did not look happy to see any of them. Gonzales stepped down, followed the other two, and stood in front of O’Brien.
‘General.’
‘Call me Smiley, did Dukat detect the transport?’
‘No, he’s too far away to detect the Defiant decloaking, especially with the scattering field we have in effect,’ Gonzales replied.
‘Good, then let’s cloak the ship and give him a bloody nose.’
‘You’re going to get us killed,’ Wright muttered.
Xeris turned toward the former Starfleet officer, stepped into his face and snarled. ‘If it wasn’t for you, we wouldn’t be here. I suggest to don’t speak to me unless you want something broken.’
‘Enough, Xeris, stand down,’ Gonzales said, placing a hand on his shoulder.
‘You won’t be welcome in this universe, the Romulans are in league with the Vorta and are usually shot on sight.’
Gonzales’ tightened her grip on Xeris as she read his surface thoughts. ‘Don’t.’
Smiley was under no such compunction and elbowed the man in the ribs with force. Wright was about to say something when the doors opened and a woman entered with a look on her face which would have curdled acid.
‘Aaron, so good to see you,’ she said and slapped him so hard in the face that he dropped to one knee. ‘I’m the chief engineer on this tub of bolts. I used to work on Galors so I know where everything is. I’ll be accompanying you.’
Xeris looked at Gonzales and then back at the dusky-skinned woman. ‘Who are you?’
‘My name is Anjuna Mahtani.’
‘X and Y,’ Gonzales said with a smile.
‘What?’
‘In our universe, our Mahtani was a man, our chief science officer before that piece of scum killed him.’
Anjuna looked at Aaron who was still on the floor and kicked him in the shin, then turned to O’Brien. ‘Why is he still alive?’
‘I thought he might come in useful when we get to Rura Penthe. Swap one Aaron for another.’
Anjuna smirked. ‘I like that idea. Come along, Starfleet. I need to give you everything you’ll need to know about Dukat’s ship.’
‘We have full schematics for the Galor-class ships in our own computers.’
‘I’m sure you do, but Alliance cloaks do not work the same as yours do.’
‘We don’t have cloaks, the Defiant in our universe was given one by the Romulans in exchange for information. We have a treaty in place that prevents us from using cloaking technology Besides, in our universe, the Romulan-Klingon alliance of the early twenty-third century is the only reason that Klingons even had cloaks,’ Xeris told her as they walked to the mess hall.
‘In this universe, the Terrans stole the cloaks from the Romulans during the war in the twenty-second century, and the Klingons stole Terran cloaking devices in the twenty-third.’
‘An interesting variation. What is the difference between Terran and Alliance cloaks?’
‘The saying goes “You don’t know the Terrans are there until they decloak and fire” but Alliance cloaks aren’t as good. They can be detected.’
‘Does no one have Terran cloaks anymore?’ Xeris asked.
‘There is one Terran ship that might have such a cloak, but no one has seen it in two hundred years.’
‘The Columbia?’
‘Right, the ISS Columbia was last seen after the Battle of Cheron following reports of an unidentified vessel in Imperial space. No one has seen the vessel since.’
‘We lost our Columbia too, a strange coincidence.’
‘Many things seem to have happened similarly in both universes,’ Xeris said. ‘It is interesting.’
‘Grab some coffee, you’ll need it,’ O’Brien said with a smile. ‘I’ll join you in an hour or so. We’ll get underway and try sticking to the underbelly of Dukat’s ship.’
‘Make sure to avoid any antiproton scans, that’s how to get through these cloaking devices,’ Gonzales said.
‘Thanks.’
‘Did Captain Astar give you authorisation to provide such information to these people?’ Cadet Snowcroft asked.
‘She told me to do whatever was necessary to secure the cloak, and making sure we live to get aboard Dukat’s ship is necessary to do so,’ Gonzales answered. ‘Cadet, just make sure that when you fire that rifle, it’s pointed at a Cardassian or Klingon.’
‘Or a Bajoran, they’re just as bad and near equals in the Alliance hierarchy,’ Anjuna muttered.
‘We’re not here to wipe out the Alliance,’ Gonzales stated sternly. ‘We are going to rescue our man from Rura Penthe and then return to our own universe.’
‘Aren’t you supposed to be helping us get rid of the Vorta Imperium?’
‘We’ll do our best on that, but it requires the rebellion to work with the Alliance,’ Xeris told her. ‘And from what I’ve seen so far, that isn’t likely to happen.’
Anjuna bristled. ‘I will do anything to get rid of them. They blew up my station and they have killed my friends. I don’t intend to let my issues with the Alliance stop me from sending the Imperium back to the Gamma Quadrant.’
'I’d like to know how,’ Snowcroft said. ‘What have you got that can counter them?’
‘The technology you will be providing us, the ships we have been acquiring and some strategic planning.’
‘First things first, we need to rescue our man from Rura Penthe, and then we can worry about the Vorta, I hear they’re not going anywhere.’
‘True enough,’ Anjuna replied as they entered the mess hall. Several large Cardassian and Klingon padds were arrayed on the tables. ‘Let’s get started.’
The four of them leaned over the padds and began making notes on the best routes to engineering and diversions, and how fast the cloaking device could be deactivated, unhooked and then beamed out. Snowcroft was acting as devil’s advocate, keeping everyone on their toes, but Gonzales knew she was only doing it because she was terrified. This was her final year at the Academy and she had been involved in a mutiny, learned about a galaxies-spanning ruthless empire and thrown into the mirror universe, and was still eager to do her duty.
Starship Defiant
Edge of Alliance space
June 13th 2380 (Stardate 57448.5)
Lieutenant Commander Sheena Gonzales materialised in the Defiant’s small transporter room with Xeris and Cadet Snowcroft. General O’Brien and Aaron Wright were waiting for them. Wright did not look happy to see any of them. Gonzales stepped down, followed the other two, and stood in front of O’Brien.
‘General.’
‘Call me Smiley, did Dukat detect the transport?’
‘No, he’s too far away to detect the Defiant decloaking, especially with the scattering field we have in effect,’ Gonzales replied.
‘Good, then let’s cloak the ship and give him a bloody nose.’
‘You’re going to get us killed,’ Wright muttered.
Xeris turned toward the former Starfleet officer, stepped into his face and snarled. ‘If it wasn’t for you, we wouldn’t be here. I suggest to don’t speak to me unless you want something broken.’
‘Enough, Xeris, stand down,’ Gonzales said, placing a hand on his shoulder.
‘You won’t be welcome in this universe, the Romulans are in league with the Vorta and are usually shot on sight.’
Gonzales’ tightened her grip on Xeris as she read his surface thoughts. ‘Don’t.’
Smiley was under no such compunction and elbowed the man in the ribs with force. Wright was about to say something when the doors opened and a woman entered with a look on her face which would have curdled acid.
‘Aaron, so good to see you,’ she said and slapped him so hard in the face that he dropped to one knee. ‘I’m the chief engineer on this tub of bolts. I used to work on Galors so I know where everything is. I’ll be accompanying you.’
Xeris looked at Gonzales and then back at the dusky-skinned woman. ‘Who are you?’
‘My name is Anjuna Mahtani.’
‘X and Y,’ Gonzales said with a smile.
‘What?’
‘In our universe, our Mahtani was a man, our chief science officer before that piece of scum killed him.’
Anjuna looked at Aaron who was still on the floor and kicked him in the shin, then turned to O’Brien. ‘Why is he still alive?’
‘I thought he might come in useful when we get to Rura Penthe. Swap one Aaron for another.’
Anjuna smirked. ‘I like that idea. Come along, Starfleet. I need to give you everything you’ll need to know about Dukat’s ship.’
‘We have full schematics for the Galor-class ships in our own computers.’
‘I’m sure you do, but Alliance cloaks do not work the same as yours do.’
‘We don’t have cloaks, the Defiant in our universe was given one by the Romulans in exchange for information. We have a treaty in place that prevents us from using cloaking technology Besides, in our universe, the Romulan-Klingon alliance of the early twenty-third century is the only reason that Klingons even had cloaks,’ Xeris told her as they walked to the mess hall.
‘In this universe, the Terrans stole the cloaks from the Romulans during the war in the twenty-second century, and the Klingons stole Terran cloaking devices in the twenty-third.’
‘An interesting variation. What is the difference between Terran and Alliance cloaks?’
‘The saying goes “You don’t know the Terrans are there until they decloak and fire” but Alliance cloaks aren’t as good. They can be detected.’
‘Does no one have Terran cloaks anymore?’ Xeris asked.
‘There is one Terran ship that might have such a cloak, but no one has seen it in two hundred years.’
‘The Columbia?’
‘Right, the ISS Columbia was last seen after the Battle of Cheron following reports of an unidentified vessel in Imperial space. No one has seen the vessel since.’
‘We lost our Columbia too, a strange coincidence.’
‘Many things seem to have happened similarly in both universes,’ Xeris said. ‘It is interesting.’
‘Grab some coffee, you’ll need it,’ O’Brien said with a smile. ‘I’ll join you in an hour or so. We’ll get underway and try sticking to the underbelly of Dukat’s ship.’
‘Make sure to avoid any antiproton scans, that’s how to get through these cloaking devices,’ Gonzales said.
‘Thanks.’
‘Did Captain Astar give you authorisation to provide such information to these people?’ Cadet Snowcroft asked.
‘She told me to do whatever was necessary to secure the cloak, and making sure we live to get aboard Dukat’s ship is necessary to do so,’ Gonzales answered. ‘Cadet, just make sure that when you fire that rifle, it’s pointed at a Cardassian or Klingon.’
‘Or a Bajoran, they’re just as bad and near equals in the Alliance hierarchy,’ Anjuna muttered.
‘We’re not here to wipe out the Alliance,’ Gonzales stated sternly. ‘We are going to rescue our man from Rura Penthe and then return to our own universe.’
‘Aren’t you supposed to be helping us get rid of the Vorta Imperium?’
‘We’ll do our best on that, but it requires the rebellion to work with the Alliance,’ Xeris told her. ‘And from what I’ve seen so far, that isn’t likely to happen.’
Anjuna bristled. ‘I will do anything to get rid of them. They blew up my station and they have killed my friends. I don’t intend to let my issues with the Alliance stop me from sending the Imperium back to the Gamma Quadrant.’
'I’d like to know how,’ Snowcroft said. ‘What have you got that can counter them?’
‘The technology you will be providing us, the ships we have been acquiring and some strategic planning.’
‘First things first, we need to rescue our man from Rura Penthe, and then we can worry about the Vorta, I hear they’re not going anywhere.’
‘True enough,’ Anjuna replied as they entered the mess hall. Several large Cardassian and Klingon padds were arrayed on the tables. ‘Let’s get started.’
The four of them leaned over the padds and began making notes on the best routes to engineering and diversions, and how fast the cloaking device could be deactivated, unhooked and then beamed out. Snowcroft was acting as devil’s advocate, keeping everyone on their toes, but Gonzales knew she was only doing it because she was terrified. This was her final year at the Academy and she had been involved in a mutiny, learned about a galaxies-spanning ruthless empire and thrown into the mirror universe, and was still eager to do her duty.
I am definitely liking this!
So I wonder...is "The Emperor's New Cloak" not part of your personal canon? Or was it they were trying to steal a superior cloak they thought might be up to snuff with the Terran kind?
And interesting to find out where the Romulans fall in the politics of the Mirror Universe.
What could be a lot of fun, though, would be to watch the Alliance break up whenever the Imperium comes through the wormhole. I can't imagine them being anywhere near as strong as the canon-universe alliance against the Dominion. Especially if there end up being internal divisions, and maybe even rebellion...
So I wonder...is "The Emperor's New Cloak" not part of your personal canon? Or was it they were trying to steal a superior cloak they thought might be up to snuff with the Terran kind?
And interesting to find out where the Romulans fall in the politics of the Mirror Universe.
What could be a lot of fun, though, would be to watch the Alliance break up whenever the Imperium comes through the wormhole. I can't imagine them being anywhere near as strong as the canon-universe alliance against the Dominion. Especially if there end up being internal divisions, and maybe even rebellion...
Very nicely done. Astar is a ticking timebomb with the Zhintara and the Defiant is playing remora to Gul Dukat's shark all the way to Rura Penthe. Also it's looking like Wright is getting no love at all...serves him right.
Chapter Nine
Starship Defiant/Alliance starship
Edge of Alliance space
June 13th 2380 (Stardate 57448.8)
Cadet Maria Snowcroft stood beside General O’Brien, Gonzales, Xeris and Aaron on the transporter pads. They had manoeuvred the cloaked vessel within the Cardassian ship’s shield envelope and would decloak for six seconds to effect transport when the Cardassian sensors were focussed elsewhere, specifically the diversion that Captain Astar was putting on.
‘Are you ready?’ O’Brien asked them.
Snowcroft raised her phaser. ‘Let’s do this, sir.’
Gonzales nodded. ‘Let’s go. Signal the Dauntless.’
‘Message received,’ Anjuna said from the console and stepped onto the pad. ‘When you hear a triple chime we’ll be transported.’
Almost a minute later, the Dauntless released a probe toward the Badlands and the console chimed three times, automatically triggering the dematerialisation sequence. The six men and women materialised on board the Cardassian ship and immediately raised their weapons. There was no one in sight on the lowest desk of the warship and the group made their way as quietly as possible on the bare metal decking toward the Cardassian equivalent of a Jeffries tube.
‘We’ll split up here,’ O’Brien said. ‘Xeris, we’ll take Anjuna to engineering to get the cloak, we’ll go to deflector control to set a trap or two.’
The Romulan turned to Gonzales. ‘Good luck,’ he added as he pulled away the panel and climbed inside, followed by O’Brien and Anjuna taking up the rear.
‘Why am I going with you?’ Aaron complained to Gonzales.
‘Because your wife would probably kill you or leave you for the Alliance,’ she answered with a sneer. ‘Not that I wouldn’t do the same, but I want you where I can see you.’
Gonzales climbed in once the others had gone and hauled Aaron in after her. ‘If you try anything, I will kill you.’
Snowcroft got in last and pulled the panel back into place. ‘We need to go up six decks and crawl half the length of the ship.’
‘We’d better get started then,’ Gonzales said and began climbing up the ladder.
Aaron followed and Snowcroft watched as she began her own climb. She had memorised every aspect of the mission and would be able to take over anyone’s role if anything went wrong. Alpha Team would go to engineering, detach the cloak and activate a coded transponder which would beam all six of them back to the ship, so Beta Team, them, had to make their modifications to the deflector array quickly.
It took less time than expected for them to reach deck fourteen and travel most of the way. Of the ship’s twenty decks, the lower four levels were almost all given over to cargo and other uses. Gonzales called a halt to proceedings when she heard voices coming from a tube ahead of them. She understood Cardassian, having been stationed in the Federation Embassy on Cardassia Prime once the Demilitarised Zone was established.
‘They’re engineers,’ she whispered. ‘Apparently there’s a problem with the main disruptor cannon.’
‘That’s why Dukat didn’t pick a fight,’ Snowcroft suggested. ‘We need to get past them somehow.’
‘Any suggestions?’ Aaron muttered, a little too loudly.
Gonzales cursed as a Cardassian head poked its way out of an alcove ahead of them. She fired before they could raise the alarm but that would happen soon enough. ‘Let’s go, silence be damned.’
As expected, seconds later klaxons sounded across the ship. Snowcroft heard hatches sliding shut. ‘We need to get out of here, they’re going to flood the tubes with neurazine gas.’
‘Where?’ Gonzales asked.
‘Back this way,’ she replied, backtracking ten metres and forcing a panel off the bulkhead.
It led onto a deck filled with Cardassian soldiers, but she had her phaser firing blindly as she crawled out. Once Aaron and Gonzales were out, the put the panel back on and laid down covering fire. The only safe haven was a door at the end of the corridor but there was no cover between them and the door. Gonzales mowed down three Cardassians who tried to catch them in a pincer attack and Snowcroft grabbed Aaron by the collar.
‘Lower your weapons or he dies,’ she yelled in badly accented Cardassian.
‘Why should we care about a Terran?’ one of them asked in heavily accented Standard.
‘Regent Martok would not be pleased to learn that you allowed his favourite prisoner to escape.’
The Cardassian considered it for a moment before another alarm sounded.
‘Warp core breach,’ Aaron said in a whisper, struggling. ‘Good plan.’
‘Come on!’ Gonzales muttered as she entered the room.
Snowcroft dragged Aaron with her, using him as a shield. Gonzales came out of the room to help her and pushed both of them inside before being shot by a Cardassian disruptor. The door slid shut and she tried to reach it again but couldn’t as she was surrounded by armed Cardassians.
‘Pick her up,’ a Glinn shouted and two low-ranked soldiers did as they were asked. ‘Take her for processing.’
Main power suddenly failed and Gonzales broke free, cursing and heading for the room where Snowcroft and Aaron were. The transporter took her before she reached it.
‘Where are they?’ she asked Anjuna as only four people rematerialised on the Defiant.
‘They must be in a shielded location,’ the engineer replied.
‘We need to get out of here before they get main power back online,’ O’Brien said. ‘I’m sorry.’
‘Her wellbeing was my responsibility. We have to go back,’ she yelled striding forward.
‘Sheena, we’ll get her back,’ Xeris said, putting the cloaking device on the deck and taking her in his arms. ‘You know the Captain won’t rest until we do.’
‘She was my responsibility, still at the Academy.’
‘We’ll get her back,’ he said soothingly and looked at O’Brien.
The general shook his head in the negative, telling Xeris exactly what he expected. The young woman was unlikely to survive, unless Dukat had a plan in mind for her.
‘We’ll head back to the Dauntless and get this installed. Then we can get to Rura Penthe and rescue your man.’
‘If Dukat harms even one hair, I’ll kill him with my bare hands,’ Gonzales promised.
Xeris hefted the cloak in one hand and led Gonzales to the bridge, following O’Brien and Anjuna.
‘Set a course to rendezvous with the Dauntless,’ O’Brien instructed the young woman at the helm. ‘It’s time we ended this nonsense.’
Starship Defiant/Alliance starship
Edge of Alliance space
June 13th 2380 (Stardate 57448.8)
Cadet Maria Snowcroft stood beside General O’Brien, Gonzales, Xeris and Aaron on the transporter pads. They had manoeuvred the cloaked vessel within the Cardassian ship’s shield envelope and would decloak for six seconds to effect transport when the Cardassian sensors were focussed elsewhere, specifically the diversion that Captain Astar was putting on.
‘Are you ready?’ O’Brien asked them.
Snowcroft raised her phaser. ‘Let’s do this, sir.’
Gonzales nodded. ‘Let’s go. Signal the Dauntless.’
‘Message received,’ Anjuna said from the console and stepped onto the pad. ‘When you hear a triple chime we’ll be transported.’
Almost a minute later, the Dauntless released a probe toward the Badlands and the console chimed three times, automatically triggering the dematerialisation sequence. The six men and women materialised on board the Cardassian ship and immediately raised their weapons. There was no one in sight on the lowest desk of the warship and the group made their way as quietly as possible on the bare metal decking toward the Cardassian equivalent of a Jeffries tube.
‘We’ll split up here,’ O’Brien said. ‘Xeris, we’ll take Anjuna to engineering to get the cloak, we’ll go to deflector control to set a trap or two.’
The Romulan turned to Gonzales. ‘Good luck,’ he added as he pulled away the panel and climbed inside, followed by O’Brien and Anjuna taking up the rear.
‘Why am I going with you?’ Aaron complained to Gonzales.
‘Because your wife would probably kill you or leave you for the Alliance,’ she answered with a sneer. ‘Not that I wouldn’t do the same, but I want you where I can see you.’
Gonzales climbed in once the others had gone and hauled Aaron in after her. ‘If you try anything, I will kill you.’
Snowcroft got in last and pulled the panel back into place. ‘We need to go up six decks and crawl half the length of the ship.’
‘We’d better get started then,’ Gonzales said and began climbing up the ladder.
Aaron followed and Snowcroft watched as she began her own climb. She had memorised every aspect of the mission and would be able to take over anyone’s role if anything went wrong. Alpha Team would go to engineering, detach the cloak and activate a coded transponder which would beam all six of them back to the ship, so Beta Team, them, had to make their modifications to the deflector array quickly.
It took less time than expected for them to reach deck fourteen and travel most of the way. Of the ship’s twenty decks, the lower four levels were almost all given over to cargo and other uses. Gonzales called a halt to proceedings when she heard voices coming from a tube ahead of them. She understood Cardassian, having been stationed in the Federation Embassy on Cardassia Prime once the Demilitarised Zone was established.
‘They’re engineers,’ she whispered. ‘Apparently there’s a problem with the main disruptor cannon.’
‘That’s why Dukat didn’t pick a fight,’ Snowcroft suggested. ‘We need to get past them somehow.’
‘Any suggestions?’ Aaron muttered, a little too loudly.
Gonzales cursed as a Cardassian head poked its way out of an alcove ahead of them. She fired before they could raise the alarm but that would happen soon enough. ‘Let’s go, silence be damned.’
As expected, seconds later klaxons sounded across the ship. Snowcroft heard hatches sliding shut. ‘We need to get out of here, they’re going to flood the tubes with neurazine gas.’
‘Where?’ Gonzales asked.
‘Back this way,’ she replied, backtracking ten metres and forcing a panel off the bulkhead.
It led onto a deck filled with Cardassian soldiers, but she had her phaser firing blindly as she crawled out. Once Aaron and Gonzales were out, the put the panel back on and laid down covering fire. The only safe haven was a door at the end of the corridor but there was no cover between them and the door. Gonzales mowed down three Cardassians who tried to catch them in a pincer attack and Snowcroft grabbed Aaron by the collar.
‘Lower your weapons or he dies,’ she yelled in badly accented Cardassian.
‘Why should we care about a Terran?’ one of them asked in heavily accented Standard.
‘Regent Martok would not be pleased to learn that you allowed his favourite prisoner to escape.’
The Cardassian considered it for a moment before another alarm sounded.
‘Warp core breach,’ Aaron said in a whisper, struggling. ‘Good plan.’
‘Come on!’ Gonzales muttered as she entered the room.
Snowcroft dragged Aaron with her, using him as a shield. Gonzales came out of the room to help her and pushed both of them inside before being shot by a Cardassian disruptor. The door slid shut and she tried to reach it again but couldn’t as she was surrounded by armed Cardassians.
‘Pick her up,’ a Glinn shouted and two low-ranked soldiers did as they were asked. ‘Take her for processing.’
Main power suddenly failed and Gonzales broke free, cursing and heading for the room where Snowcroft and Aaron were. The transporter took her before she reached it.
‘Where are they?’ she asked Anjuna as only four people rematerialised on the Defiant.
‘They must be in a shielded location,’ the engineer replied.
‘We need to get out of here before they get main power back online,’ O’Brien said. ‘I’m sorry.’
‘Her wellbeing was my responsibility. We have to go back,’ she yelled striding forward.
‘Sheena, we’ll get her back,’ Xeris said, putting the cloaking device on the deck and taking her in his arms. ‘You know the Captain won’t rest until we do.’
‘She was my responsibility, still at the Academy.’
‘We’ll get her back,’ he said soothingly and looked at O’Brien.
The general shook his head in the negative, telling Xeris exactly what he expected. The young woman was unlikely to survive, unless Dukat had a plan in mind for her.
‘We’ll head back to the Dauntless and get this installed. Then we can get to Rura Penthe and rescue your man.’
‘If Dukat harms even one hair, I’ll kill him with my bare hands,’ Gonzales promised.
Xeris hefted the cloak in one hand and led Gonzales to the bridge, following O’Brien and Anjuna.
‘Set a course to rendezvous with the Dauntless,’ O’Brien instructed the young woman at the helm. ‘It’s time we ended this nonsense.’
Gonzales, the shot was meant for Snowcroft or Wright.
Now things are getting personal. Looks like we're headed for a climatic battle near Rura Penthe.
Chapter Ten
USS Dauntless
Edge of Alliance space
June 13th 2380 (Stardate 57450.2)
Captain Astar met the returning away team in the transporter room and stopped in her tracks when she noticed that one was missing. Gonzales had been wounded and had also been crying, that much was obvious no matter how much she tried to hide it, and Xeris was putting on an overly stoic mien which spelled trouble.
‘What happened?’ she asked, all business.
‘It was an ambush in a corridor, I pushed them into a room and got myself shot for my trouble. When we beamed away, Wright and Snowcroft didn’t come back. The room must have been shielded.’
‘Did you try to get them back?’
‘Smiley overruled us, said there was no time.’
‘There wasn’t,’ Anjuna Mahtani said. ‘We should install the cloak as quickly as possible and get moving. Dukat will be repairing his ship with haste to get his revenge.’
‘What about my Cadet?’
‘She’s a prisoner and if she’s lucky, dead. If not, then I’m sorry.’
Gonzales, previously in a limp posture, suddenly stood ramrod straight and there was a peculiar light in her eyes that was indescribable. she spoke in a voice that was and was not her own. ‘She will survive, I foresee it.’
‘Sheena?’ Astar asked. ‘What was that?’
‘I don’t know,’ Gonzales replied. ‘Some of my people have precognitive ability, but it is rare and only seems to come to the fore with people that the Betazoid is close to. This is unsettling.’
‘Take some time to rest.’
‘I would prefer to be at my post.’
‘As you wish. Xeris, Anjuna, please get that cloak installed. It has cost us enough already.’
‘Aye sir,’ Xeris replied and nudged Anjuna toward the door.
‘Sheena, if you need to talk, let me know.’
‘Thank you, sir, but I have a feeling that everything will work out fine in this instance.’
Astar nodded. ‘Come on, let’s get back to the bridge.’
Ch’Maras stood up from the command chair as Astar and Gonzales emerged from the turbolift. ‘Captain, Gul Dukat is hailing us.’
‘On screen.’
‘Ah, Captain, it is pleasant to see you again. I trust that you are not missing any crewmen at all. I seem to have increased my crew complement somewhat.’
‘All my people are accounted for, Gul Dukat,’ Astar said without showing any hint of her discomfort.
He sighed. ‘Very well. I will take my new crewmen to New Hebitia to have them indoctrinated in the ways of Oralius, good day to you.’
As the screen blanked and the Cardassian warship went to warp, Astar turned to Gonzales. ‘Did he just say...?’
‘Yes sir, he did.’
‘I think we need to talk to General O’Brien.’
‘Aye sir, I’ll contact him right away.’
‘Don’t bother, I’m here,’ O’Brien said emerging onto the bridge from the observation lounge. ‘I suppose you want an explanation?’
‘That would be nice, but I’d like to know how you got aboard first.’
‘Our transporters are somewhat more sophisticated than yours. They have to be to prevent your lot coming through all the time.’
‘Alright, what was Dukat talking about? And why did you lie about him?’
‘I didn’t lie, Captain. Dukat is the leader of the Cardassian religious movement known as the Oralian Way, who worship Oralius, the deity of ancient Hebitian civilisation. They have been growing disillusioned with the Alliance for a many years and when the Rebellion took Terok Nor, the Oralian Way orchestrated several attacks against the Alliance, leading Legate Damar and Regent Martok to brand them traitors and eradicate the Oralian Way from existence.’
‘I take it that didn’t happen?’
‘The Way had been gathering ships for a while and when the Alliance decided to kill them all, this created a bigger movement which is fast turning into a civil war. Glinn Damar learned that Dukat was a worshipper of Oralius and informed Martok. Dukat escaped before he could be executed and Damar was made a Legate, second only to Regent Martok.’
‘How do you know all this?’
‘I told them,’ another voice said, entering the bridge.
Gonzales stopped an overzealous security officer from pulling his phaser with a shake of her head. ‘Natima Lang,’
‘You know me?’
‘In our universe, yes. You were a...leader of the Cardassian people.’
‘As I am of the Oralian Way, or will be once Dukat is taken care of.’
‘Gonzales, scan her. Is she emitting the signal we detected earlier?’
In a quick movement, Gonzales grabbed a tricorder and scanned the female Cardassian. ‘Yes, she is.’
Astar nodded. ‘You carry the essence of a Prophet within you, to fight the Pah Wraiths in the Celestial Temple and expel them.’
‘Yes, she will,’ O’Brien said. ‘With the Bajorans and the New Hebitians on our side, we’ll be able to dissolve the Alliance and bring some kind of peace to the Alpha Quadrant.’
‘What about the Imperium?’
‘You’ll help us deal with them,’ Lang said. ‘After all, you need to if you’re to get back to your universe safely.’
Astar walked up to Lang, almost to her face. ‘You cannot stop this ship leaving once Commander Wright and Cadet Snowcroft are back in our hands. If you try, I will kill you and your precious rebellion will crumble. Do not test me.’
Lang stepped back. ‘You must help us. The Prophets would not have sent you to us if you were not meant to help us.’
‘Your Aaron Wright brought us here against our will after committing several criminal acts. I want to get my people back and then go home.’
The doors to the turbolift opened and Xeris stepped out with Anjuna behind him.
She walked over to O’Brien and Lang joined them while Xeris moved to stand with Gonzales. ‘Captain Astar, the cloak has been installed. We will maintain silent running until we reach the Rura Penthe system,’ Anjuna said.
O’Brien pressed a stud on the wrist-com he wore and the three of them disappeared.
‘Larson, set a course for Rura Penthe, warp six.’
‘Aye sir.’
‘Xeris, engage the cloak.’
As the Dauntless jumped to warp under cover of darkness, Astar wondered what was happening to Maria Snowcroft and whether she would emerge from her ordeal alive, and if she did whether she would be well physically and emotionally.
USS Dauntless
Edge of Alliance space
June 13th 2380 (Stardate 57450.2)
Captain Astar met the returning away team in the transporter room and stopped in her tracks when she noticed that one was missing. Gonzales had been wounded and had also been crying, that much was obvious no matter how much she tried to hide it, and Xeris was putting on an overly stoic mien which spelled trouble.
‘What happened?’ she asked, all business.
‘It was an ambush in a corridor, I pushed them into a room and got myself shot for my trouble. When we beamed away, Wright and Snowcroft didn’t come back. The room must have been shielded.’
‘Did you try to get them back?’
‘Smiley overruled us, said there was no time.’
‘There wasn’t,’ Anjuna Mahtani said. ‘We should install the cloak as quickly as possible and get moving. Dukat will be repairing his ship with haste to get his revenge.’
‘What about my Cadet?’
‘She’s a prisoner and if she’s lucky, dead. If not, then I’m sorry.’
Gonzales, previously in a limp posture, suddenly stood ramrod straight and there was a peculiar light in her eyes that was indescribable. she spoke in a voice that was and was not her own. ‘She will survive, I foresee it.’
‘Sheena?’ Astar asked. ‘What was that?’
‘I don’t know,’ Gonzales replied. ‘Some of my people have precognitive ability, but it is rare and only seems to come to the fore with people that the Betazoid is close to. This is unsettling.’
‘Take some time to rest.’
‘I would prefer to be at my post.’
‘As you wish. Xeris, Anjuna, please get that cloak installed. It has cost us enough already.’
‘Aye sir,’ Xeris replied and nudged Anjuna toward the door.
‘Sheena, if you need to talk, let me know.’
‘Thank you, sir, but I have a feeling that everything will work out fine in this instance.’
Astar nodded. ‘Come on, let’s get back to the bridge.’
Ch’Maras stood up from the command chair as Astar and Gonzales emerged from the turbolift. ‘Captain, Gul Dukat is hailing us.’
‘On screen.’
‘Ah, Captain, it is pleasant to see you again. I trust that you are not missing any crewmen at all. I seem to have increased my crew complement somewhat.’
‘All my people are accounted for, Gul Dukat,’ Astar said without showing any hint of her discomfort.
He sighed. ‘Very well. I will take my new crewmen to New Hebitia to have them indoctrinated in the ways of Oralius, good day to you.’
As the screen blanked and the Cardassian warship went to warp, Astar turned to Gonzales. ‘Did he just say...?’
‘Yes sir, he did.’
‘I think we need to talk to General O’Brien.’
‘Aye sir, I’ll contact him right away.’
‘Don’t bother, I’m here,’ O’Brien said emerging onto the bridge from the observation lounge. ‘I suppose you want an explanation?’
‘That would be nice, but I’d like to know how you got aboard first.’
‘Our transporters are somewhat more sophisticated than yours. They have to be to prevent your lot coming through all the time.’
‘Alright, what was Dukat talking about? And why did you lie about him?’
‘I didn’t lie, Captain. Dukat is the leader of the Cardassian religious movement known as the Oralian Way, who worship Oralius, the deity of ancient Hebitian civilisation. They have been growing disillusioned with the Alliance for a many years and when the Rebellion took Terok Nor, the Oralian Way orchestrated several attacks against the Alliance, leading Legate Damar and Regent Martok to brand them traitors and eradicate the Oralian Way from existence.’
‘I take it that didn’t happen?’
‘The Way had been gathering ships for a while and when the Alliance decided to kill them all, this created a bigger movement which is fast turning into a civil war. Glinn Damar learned that Dukat was a worshipper of Oralius and informed Martok. Dukat escaped before he could be executed and Damar was made a Legate, second only to Regent Martok.’
‘How do you know all this?’
‘I told them,’ another voice said, entering the bridge.
Gonzales stopped an overzealous security officer from pulling his phaser with a shake of her head. ‘Natima Lang,’
‘You know me?’
‘In our universe, yes. You were a...leader of the Cardassian people.’
‘As I am of the Oralian Way, or will be once Dukat is taken care of.’
‘Gonzales, scan her. Is she emitting the signal we detected earlier?’
In a quick movement, Gonzales grabbed a tricorder and scanned the female Cardassian. ‘Yes, she is.’
Astar nodded. ‘You carry the essence of a Prophet within you, to fight the Pah Wraiths in the Celestial Temple and expel them.’
‘Yes, she will,’ O’Brien said. ‘With the Bajorans and the New Hebitians on our side, we’ll be able to dissolve the Alliance and bring some kind of peace to the Alpha Quadrant.’
‘What about the Imperium?’
‘You’ll help us deal with them,’ Lang said. ‘After all, you need to if you’re to get back to your universe safely.’
Astar walked up to Lang, almost to her face. ‘You cannot stop this ship leaving once Commander Wright and Cadet Snowcroft are back in our hands. If you try, I will kill you and your precious rebellion will crumble. Do not test me.’
Lang stepped back. ‘You must help us. The Prophets would not have sent you to us if you were not meant to help us.’
‘Your Aaron Wright brought us here against our will after committing several criminal acts. I want to get my people back and then go home.’
The doors to the turbolift opened and Xeris stepped out with Anjuna behind him.
She walked over to O’Brien and Lang joined them while Xeris moved to stand with Gonzales. ‘Captain Astar, the cloak has been installed. We will maintain silent running until we reach the Rura Penthe system,’ Anjuna said.
O’Brien pressed a stud on the wrist-com he wore and the three of them disappeared.
‘Larson, set a course for Rura Penthe, warp six.’
‘Aye sir.’
‘Xeris, engage the cloak.’
As the Dauntless jumped to warp under cover of darkness, Astar wondered what was happening to Maria Snowcroft and whether she would emerge from her ordeal alive, and if she did whether she would be well physically and emotionally.
WOOOOOOOHOOOOO!
Cardassian rebels!!! I literally cheered when I heard Dukat's words!
Though it does seem to me that this Dukat may not be in it for the right reasons, the existence of such a rebel movement warms my cold-blooded little heart!
I can't wait to see what happens!
Cardassian rebels!!! I literally cheered when I heard Dukat's words!
Though it does seem to me that this Dukat may not be in it for the right reasons, the existence of such a rebel movement warms my cold-blooded little heart!
I can't wait to see what happens!
Wonder what Dukat's real agenda is? Astar has stepped into a briar patch here.
You continue paint a fascinatingly complex mirror universe here. A lot of different factions each with their own motivations and suspicious characters.
I liked the return of Snowcroft. She was pretty much on top of things for the fact that she a mere cadet ... that is until she got herself captured.
Astar is getting more involved into the universe than she wants to be.
I liked the return of Snowcroft. She was pretty much on top of things for the fact that she a mere cadet ... that is until she got herself captured.
Astar is getting more involved into the universe than she wants to be.
Chapter Eleven
Cardassian vessel
En route to New Hebitia
June 13th 2380 (Stardate 57450.5)
Cadet Maria Snowcroft struggled once again to free herself from the restraints and then flopped back against the hard, unyielding surface of the examination table. She looked at Aaron Wright who was still unconscious, and then back at her own body. They were both naked and she thought for a brief moment that one of the Cardassians might take advantage of her in that position but then some other part of her mind took hold. She knew they wouldn’t, even though they were more sadistic than the Cardassians from her universe, because Gul Dukat had something else in mind for them. This was their biometric assessment of her, processing her for their records. As she struggled futilely yet again, she noticed the sudden temperature increase. It had been rather cold, at least by Cardassian standards, but the temperature was now rising rapidly, and she was becoming lightheaded. She lay back and willed her body to calm itself.
The doors slid open and Dukat entered with another man, one she didn’t recognise.
‘Release him, and take him to the brig,’ Dukat ordered.
‘What are you going to do with him?’
‘Why do you care, child?’ Dukat asked gently as he caressed her cheek.
‘I am responsible for his wellbeing,’ Snowcroft replied with an even tone. ‘I suggest that you allow us both to go free and return us to my ship.’
‘You are in no position to make threats, young lady,’ Dukat told her, running his hand down her body. ‘You will make an excellent comfort woman for my eldest son, provided you behave yourself.’
‘I will be nobody’s comfort woman,’ Snowcroft replied with steel she didn’t know she possessed.
Dukat flashed a smile that made her skin crawl. ‘We’ll see. I’ll be back for you later.’
Snowcroft flexed against the restraints and felt something change. She relaxed on the table as Dukat and other man left her in darkness. The temperature was lowered again and she felt her body stiffen with the cold. Snowcroft refused to cry, refused to let them see how helpless she felt. She was a Starfleet officer and she would carry herself with dignity, or as much as she could muster.
It was several hours before Dukat entered the room again with the other man, and she was only vaguely aware of the man untying the restraints and hoisting her over a shoulder. She blacked out and awakened some time later in what could charitably described as small quarters, and she had been dressed in a tight-fitting wrap of some kind. It was certainly not a cell. As she paced the five steps around each side of the cramped quarters, she made plans for her escape that meant navigating the corridors of the unfamiliar ship, rescuing Aaron and getting away before Dukat knew what was going on. She had an eidetic memory so knowing where to go was easy, knowing where Aaron was being held was another matter entirely.
Snowcroft lay down on the plush pastel couch in the room and had closed her eyes when the door opened, letting light into the darkened room for a few seconds. The door slid closed with a sigh and she found herself alone with a Cardassian soldier of low rank. She narrowed her eyes at the smile on his face and was ready to fight back but he just sat on the couch, trying not to touch her and she stared at him in mute shock.
‘We’re not all like Dukat. I have no interest in you, but I was ordered to test you for Dukat so I obey. My partner works at Rura Penthe and I don’t get out there much so I am hoping that with you and the other Terran aboard, I might finally get to see him.’
‘I thought we were going to New Hebitia?’
‘We are, but Dukat will take the other Terran back to Rura Penthe, that’s where he escaped from.’
Snowcroft nodded. Dukat was planning something, of that she was sure, but at least she now knew something. ‘Where is he being held. I heard Dukat order him to be taken to the brig, but I don’t know if he was really taken there.’
‘He is in the brig, but don’t try anything until we get to Rura Penthe, you won’t survive. When I leave, take off your clothes and breathe heavily, as if we have had sex. It will please Dukat when he comes to check on you.’
‘I don’t want to please him,’ she replied petulantly.
‘You should, or you’ll never leave this ship alive,’ the Cardassian informed her.
‘Why do you care what happens to me?’
‘I can’t tell you that, just know that I do and if I can help you get off this ship when we reach Rura Penthe, I will.’
Snowcroft nodded. She knew that the Dauntless and the Defiant were both headed to Rura Penthe so she would be able to deal with the escape when they reached orbit. ‘Can you shut down the brig for me at the right time?’
‘I’m a security officer, I’m usually posted at the brig during the main shift, so it depends on when we reach the planet.’
‘Thank you.’
‘Take off your clothes,’ he said as he pulled off part of his uniform. ‘I’m going to leave and put this back on. Remember, Dukat will be by a few minutes after I leave. He will expect you to be naked.’
She considered her options. ‘What if I was reluctant to submit?’
‘Then I will have torn your clothes from you. Have you been difficult?’
‘I have.’
‘Then it’s best if the clothes are torn. It will look more realistic, as will this,’ he replied and punched her in the face.
She crumpled as he tore the wrap from her body and left her lying by the couch. ‘Should have known he’d do that.’
Dukat entered less than a minute later and saw her condition. ‘Perhaps you will be more pliable next time,’ he said and walked out chuckling to himself.
Cardassian vessel
En route to New Hebitia
June 13th 2380 (Stardate 57450.5)
Cadet Maria Snowcroft struggled once again to free herself from the restraints and then flopped back against the hard, unyielding surface of the examination table. She looked at Aaron Wright who was still unconscious, and then back at her own body. They were both naked and she thought for a brief moment that one of the Cardassians might take advantage of her in that position but then some other part of her mind took hold. She knew they wouldn’t, even though they were more sadistic than the Cardassians from her universe, because Gul Dukat had something else in mind for them. This was their biometric assessment of her, processing her for their records. As she struggled futilely yet again, she noticed the sudden temperature increase. It had been rather cold, at least by Cardassian standards, but the temperature was now rising rapidly, and she was becoming lightheaded. She lay back and willed her body to calm itself.
The doors slid open and Dukat entered with another man, one she didn’t recognise.
‘Release him, and take him to the brig,’ Dukat ordered.
‘What are you going to do with him?’
‘Why do you care, child?’ Dukat asked gently as he caressed her cheek.
‘I am responsible for his wellbeing,’ Snowcroft replied with an even tone. ‘I suggest that you allow us both to go free and return us to my ship.’
‘You are in no position to make threats, young lady,’ Dukat told her, running his hand down her body. ‘You will make an excellent comfort woman for my eldest son, provided you behave yourself.’
‘I will be nobody’s comfort woman,’ Snowcroft replied with steel she didn’t know she possessed.
Dukat flashed a smile that made her skin crawl. ‘We’ll see. I’ll be back for you later.’
Snowcroft flexed against the restraints and felt something change. She relaxed on the table as Dukat and other man left her in darkness. The temperature was lowered again and she felt her body stiffen with the cold. Snowcroft refused to cry, refused to let them see how helpless she felt. She was a Starfleet officer and she would carry herself with dignity, or as much as she could muster.
It was several hours before Dukat entered the room again with the other man, and she was only vaguely aware of the man untying the restraints and hoisting her over a shoulder. She blacked out and awakened some time later in what could charitably described as small quarters, and she had been dressed in a tight-fitting wrap of some kind. It was certainly not a cell. As she paced the five steps around each side of the cramped quarters, she made plans for her escape that meant navigating the corridors of the unfamiliar ship, rescuing Aaron and getting away before Dukat knew what was going on. She had an eidetic memory so knowing where to go was easy, knowing where Aaron was being held was another matter entirely.
Snowcroft lay down on the plush pastel couch in the room and had closed her eyes when the door opened, letting light into the darkened room for a few seconds. The door slid closed with a sigh and she found herself alone with a Cardassian soldier of low rank. She narrowed her eyes at the smile on his face and was ready to fight back but he just sat on the couch, trying not to touch her and she stared at him in mute shock.
‘We’re not all like Dukat. I have no interest in you, but I was ordered to test you for Dukat so I obey. My partner works at Rura Penthe and I don’t get out there much so I am hoping that with you and the other Terran aboard, I might finally get to see him.’
‘I thought we were going to New Hebitia?’
‘We are, but Dukat will take the other Terran back to Rura Penthe, that’s where he escaped from.’
Snowcroft nodded. Dukat was planning something, of that she was sure, but at least she now knew something. ‘Where is he being held. I heard Dukat order him to be taken to the brig, but I don’t know if he was really taken there.’
‘He is in the brig, but don’t try anything until we get to Rura Penthe, you won’t survive. When I leave, take off your clothes and breathe heavily, as if we have had sex. It will please Dukat when he comes to check on you.’
‘I don’t want to please him,’ she replied petulantly.
‘You should, or you’ll never leave this ship alive,’ the Cardassian informed her.
‘Why do you care what happens to me?’
‘I can’t tell you that, just know that I do and if I can help you get off this ship when we reach Rura Penthe, I will.’
Snowcroft nodded. She knew that the Dauntless and the Defiant were both headed to Rura Penthe so she would be able to deal with the escape when they reached orbit. ‘Can you shut down the brig for me at the right time?’
‘I’m a security officer, I’m usually posted at the brig during the main shift, so it depends on when we reach the planet.’
‘Thank you.’
‘Take off your clothes,’ he said as he pulled off part of his uniform. ‘I’m going to leave and put this back on. Remember, Dukat will be by a few minutes after I leave. He will expect you to be naked.’
She considered her options. ‘What if I was reluctant to submit?’
‘Then I will have torn your clothes from you. Have you been difficult?’
‘I have.’
‘Then it’s best if the clothes are torn. It will look more realistic, as will this,’ he replied and punched her in the face.
She crumpled as he tore the wrap from her body and left her lying by the couch. ‘Should have known he’d do that.’
Dukat entered less than a minute later and saw her condition. ‘Perhaps you will be more pliable next time,’ he said and walked out chuckling to himself.
Well, every last hope of this Dukat being anything other than his sick, slimeball-y self just went out the window. That left me feeling the need to shower. It especially pisses me off that Dukat is using the Oralian Way movement that way--I hope a decent Oralian takes him out, and quick.
On that note, I am glad to see you start bringing some three-dimensionality to the villain races of the MU. That's something we never saw on DS9, and this security officer sounds like he might well have better motivations than Dukat. (Hmm...Dukat's replacement, I hope?)
And on one last note...getting punched by a Cardassian? Ouch!
At least in my own continuity, that not only gets you the impact wound, but some nasty rug-burn-like abrasions from the microscales.
On that note, I am glad to see you start bringing some three-dimensionality to the villain races of the MU. That's something we never saw on DS9, and this security officer sounds like he might well have better motivations than Dukat. (Hmm...Dukat's replacement, I hope?)
And on one last note...getting punched by a Cardassian? Ouch!
At least in my own continuity, that not only gets you the impact wound, but some nasty rug-burn-like abrasions from the microscales.
Loved the sucker punch. Ouch.Similar threads
