STAR TREK SHUFFLE THE DECK--#73 Deep Space Nine
Star Trek: Shuffle the Deck
USS Balboa-
Deep Space Nine- Federation Earth-Septos 14
#73
Inside the lab with-in the Infirmary, Doctor Bashir watched as Commander Nog studied the data that had been gathered from the dead Cardassian’s body, and the data that Nog had obtained after taking apart the Transporter scrambler they had found on Legate Lokad’s vessel. Captain Tom Paris was with them, and monitored the investigation, as did Commander Tuvok of the USS TITAN.
Nog, the son of Rom, had become an expert on such devices. All those years of studying along side the late Miles Obrien had paid off for the Feringi. Also watching his uncle Quark’s handy work helped as well. But more importantly, his own father, Rom, was good with devices like scramblers as well. Nog had good pedigree. As Nog did his work, Tuvok, Paris and Bashir discussed issues.
“How is Lt. Rhonda Marks doing after your second Mind-meld session?” Bashir asked Tuvok.
“That constant screaming I hear inside the deepest parts of her mind,” Tuvok said, “is further proof to me that she has been subjected to some kind of mental control. Perhaps in another session or two I will be able to navigate around it.”
“Well,” Paris said to them both, “with Lokad being transferred to Bajor, and no longer here on DS9, maybe she’ll take comfort in that.”
“What about him?” Bashir asked Paris in reference to the dead Cardassian, Promok being his name, that had been found a few days earlier.
“We may finally have some clues there,” Paris said. “We ran a check on his profile and thanks to Mr. Garak’s help, we now know that Promok was once a part of the Obsidian Order. In fact, he was one of the last members recruited by them before they were wiped out either by Dukat’s purge, or their defeat in the Gamma-Quadrant.”
“Interesting,” Bashir said.
“By the way,” Paris said to Bashir, “Thank you for helping us get into contact with Garak. Admiral Picard had to twist some arms to get us some time on the Dimensional Relay system to even talk with Garak. But it was worth it.”
Nog finished looking at the data and came over to where the other three were standing.
“I would say,” Nog told them, “that the shift in the Cardassian’s genetic code is a perfect match with the readings I am getting from the scrambler’s print.”
Bashir looked angered. “Then Promok killed Miles.”
“It would seem so,” Tuvok said.
“Where is the motive?” Bashir asked. “How was this Cardassian connected to Miles?”
Paris pondered that question. “Maybe he wasn’t the target.” Paris concluded. “Colonel Kira was with Miles when he was shot. And as you recall, he was shot from clear across the Promenade. That would have been a tricky shot for anyone.”
At that moment, the doors to the Infirmary lab opened and Admiral Picard and Chancellor Martok came in.
“Admiral,” Captain Paris said, “Chancellor, can we help you?”
Picard nodded, “We have some information that you may find helpful, and more likely, interesting.”
Martok walked over to the monitor that displayed the readings of the scrambler. He then looked to the others.
“The transport ship that was transferring Legate Lokad to Bajor exploded as it was approaching the planet.” Martok told them. “The crewmembers of the ship were all able to escape with their lives, but Lokad was killed. Actually, he was dead already.”
“According to the Transport captain’s report,” Picard added, “they found Legate Lokad dead, in his holding cell. Lokad’s neck had been broken in the exact same manner as the dead Cardassian found here on DS9. Then, with out warning, the ship lost control, and all hands were evacuated. The ship exploded twenty minutes out from Bajor.”
“Sir,” Tuvok said to Picard, “Master Chief Obrien wasn’t the only one boarding the turbolift when he was killed. Colonel Kira was there as well. Is it possible…”
At that moment, Colonel Kira came into the Lab. She was on her way to get an update on what Nog had found out as well.
“I’m sorry,” Kira said to them as she heard her name mentioned, “What was that you were saying?”
Bashir answered, “Is it possible the Cardassian who killed Miles was actually trying to kill you?”
Kira nodded her head. She had considered that possibility as well. “I don’t know,” Kira said softly. “It is possible. I do have many Cardassian enemies from my past.”
“The killer, this Cardassian, had once been part of the Obsidian Order,” Paris told Kira, “And yet we found the scrambler he used on Lokad’s ship. I am still not sure of that connection.”
“There may be more,” Picard added, and then he looked to Martok.
“My contacts,” Chancellor Martok told them all, “stretch even into Romulan interests. I have been told by such a contact that the Tal-Shiar had wanted to eliminate Legate Lokad for a long time, but could never find him. Lokad may have been associated with the Tal-Shiar in the past, and they wanted to take care of that loose end.”
Picard took over, “The Tal-Shiar may have become aware of a plot by the Obsidian Order to eliminate either Master Chief Obrien, or Colonel Kira. And seeing this as a way to blend motives, they took the opportunity.”
Kira shook her head, “Admiral, the Obsidian Order no longer exists.”
“My contact,” Martok told Kira, “assured me that they, the Tal-Shiar, believe that the Obsidian Order has been reconstituting its self.”
“So where does that leave us?” Paris asked Picard. “The Obsidian Order wanted to kill either Kira or Obrien. The Tal-shiar was unable to prevent that, or didn’t want to, but they somehow got their hands on the scrambler and planted it on Lokad’s ship so that he would be taken into custody. Once Lokad’s identity had been verified by us, something they couldn’t do, the Tal-shiar waited for the perfect chance to kill both Lokad and Promok so as to cover their tracks?”
“So it would appear,” Picard said. “We may never know why the new Obsidian Order wanted to kill either you,” Picard told Kira, “or Miles. But suffice to say, if the Obsidian Order is indeed alive and well: then Federation, and the Klingon Empire, have a new threat to consider.”
“I guess this case is closed,” Tom Paris said, “for now.”
Picard nodded, “For now, at least, I agree.”
“Admiral,” Chancellor Martok said, “I need to get back to my ship.”
“Thank you for your assistance,” Picard told Martok.
With the meeting over, Kira, Tuvok and Nog all left with Martok, and then they headed off for their particular duties. Picard remained with Bashir and Paris.
“Captain,” Picard said to Paris, “I was wondering if I could have a word with you.”
Bashir took that as a hint, “If you two would excuse me, I have a pregnant Bajoran woman I need to attend to.”
Bashir exited the lab, leaving Paris and Picard alone.
“Sure, what can I help you with?” Captain Paris replied to Picard.
“Colonel Kira and I have discusses this already, and if it is all right with you, we’d like to promote your assistant, Boraj, to head of security.”
“Sure,” Captain Paris said. “The Defiant’s repair job is almost done, and I would love to get back out there with the patrols. And Boraj is top-notch material. I would be proud to see him promoted.”
“Consider it done. Captain, you have done a great service here,” Picard said is reference to Paris’s job as head of security, “But with that complete, I now need your assistance on a personal matter.”
“What would that be, Sir?” Paris asked.
“I want you to take the Defiant to Bajor,” Picard said. “A civilian Transport will be leaving with in the hour. A few members of the Bajoran Senate have been visiting, and your accompanying them back to Bajor will seem normal enough.”
“But that is just a cover.” Paris concluded Picard’s train of thought.
“Yes,” Picard replied softly. “I recently found out that a person of interest to me is on Bajor. I want you to go there, and bring this person back, covertly for now, to me. She will be ready to leave with you, but for reasons I can not go into right now: her life may be in danger. I would feel more comfortable with the Defiant protecting her on her way here.”
“Who is this person?” Captain Tom Paris.
Admiral Picard told Captain Tom Paris who the person was as the two left the laboratory. Moments later, Paris made his way to the docking platform where the Defiant was parked. Picard watched as Paris made his way through the crowd. Another interesting chapter had just begun. Picard turned the other direction, and headed for his office.
Continued
The President of the Federation, while at a special celebration to help lift the spirits of Earth, finds her self the target of a massive assassination/terrorist attack!!!! Next time on::
Star Trek: Shuffle the Deck
Federation Earth
