I agree with this. I'll be happy if you expand on the Trill. I was always simultaneously fascinated and horrified by their culture. Interesting stuff.
USS PYTHEAS - FRAGMENTS OF CONTROL
- Thread starter BrotherBenny
- Start date
I agree with this. I'll be happy if you expand on the Trill. I was always simultaneously fascinated and horrified by their culture. Interesting stuff.
There will be more on the Trill...
Chapter Ten
Operations Centre
Starbase 535 (Our universe)
Stardate 55403.1 (May 28, 2378)
Captain Lionel Logan looked out over the assembled commanding officers standing by the central table nicknamed The Core. Subcommander Sokal wasn't looking happy but after the reports he'd seen of what happened at Ynelav IV he wasn't surprised. Captain Vikagh had been conquering a number of worlds for the Empire, and Chancellor Martok was currently under pressure by President Satie to expand in other directions from Federation space, which meant that the Klingon captain had very little to do, and was vocal about it. Captains Dhrex and Aurelia were waiting for the other shoe to drop and Commander Madden was looking forward to taking the Everest out. Starfleet Command had finally listened to reason and sent him a Defiant-class escort vessel and Madden would command it, leaving McNamara as acting first officer.
'All right, everyone, this is the situation. We haven't heard from the Pytheas in three days and can't spare anyone to go and look for them, but according to the Eeroth, the ship was forced to leave their territory and left without incident. Let's just hope they make it back before the trouble starts. I have spoken with Starfleet Command, frequently, and unfortunately no more vessels can currently be spared. I am liaising with the local populations to see if they will lend us a few vessels in order to bolster our defences but have yet to receive an answer.'
'How long do we have, Captain?' Aurelia asked.
'I believe we have a week, ten days at most, before the Cha'lav attack,' Logan replied. 'The sensor drones we've dropped across the sector are picking up rifts opening everywhere with a current count of thirty-some vessels, from frigates to heavy cruisers. When the attack happens it will be big and it will be brutal. I have ordered all civilians to be relocated to the colonies and the Kursicans have stepped up production of their own space fleet, for whatever good it will do.'
'We will be victorious,' Vikagh stated. 'We have honour on our side.'
'The Cha'lav won't know what hit them,' Sokal added. 'We defeated the Dominion, and we will defeat the Cha'lav.'
'We've been making some upgrades to our weapons,' Aurelia said. 'It would be nice to test them against those who really deserve it.'
'The more the merrier,' Dhrex agreed.
'I want you all to return to your scheduled patrol routes, and report in any unusual activity. The colonies still need our support,' Logan told them all, including his foreign allies.
'What about the colonies who have renounced Federation citizenship?' Aurelia, her tone voice clearly indicating how ignorant those colonies were.
'They will have to fend for themselves unfortunately. We can't spare any ships to help them and they have made it quite clear that they're not interested in our help.'
'But they'll be the first to send out a distress call asking for it when the Cha'lav or anyone attacks,' Dhrex interjected.
'Then they are foolish,' Vikagh said. 'But they will die honourable deaths, fighting against an invading force.'
'A waste of life,' Sokal spoke quietly. 'If you will excuse me, I have matters to attend to.'
Vikagh followed a moment later, leaving only Starfleet personnel in the Operations centre, an uncomfortable silence surrounding them.
'I don't suppose anyone has heard from the Lowell or Commander Murdoch?' Logan asked, breaking the silence.
'They were heading for Ynelav IV but changed course part way there. I haven't found a trace of them,' Madden answered. 'Lieutenant Marshall is currently undergoing investigation for his role in their disappearance.'
'What role?' Logan asked his executive officer.
'Marshall informed Murdoch that Ynelav wouldn't be a safe harbour for Linnis. He's protecting her from something.'
'So where is he taking her?'
'My guess would be the Delta Quadrant,' Dhrex said. 'According to everything we know about the Ocampa, that's where they come from and Murdoch might think that she'd be safe among her own people, especially considering her talents.'
Logan nodded, agreeing with the assessment. 'Let's hope that Murdoch finds his safe harbour before the Cha'lav find him. All right, everyone, dismissed.'
As the captains headed for the turbolift, Madden and McNamara approached Logan. The station commander waved them into his office.
'Sir, I believe Captain Drummond is a security risk with the Cha'lav attack imminent,' McNamara said, looking more confident in his red uniform.
'On what grounds?'
'If the Cha'lav decide to wake him, they will have the abilities of a seasoned Starfleet captain on their side and it could seriously undermine our efforts to defeat them.'
'Where do you suggest I send him? He'll be a bigger security risk on any inhabited planet in the region, and even more so closer to the core worlds.'
The two Operation Cobalt men looked at each other and then at Logan. 'We should pull the plug on his life support.'
Logan looked shocked. 'No! Not while I'm in command. If there is even a remote chance he could defeat this consciousness then we have to let him try.'
'Sir,' Madden pressed, 'you've read the reports. You know that he's not fighting the battle. He has all but given up. The alien consciousness has taken a more complete hold over Drummond.'
Logan ran a hand through his hair. 'Have you considered that the alien consciousness could be a boon to our fight? That it is working against the Cha'lav?'
'We have considered that possibility, sir, but we feel that Drummond represents too great a security risk,' McNamara answered.
'If we have to, we'll to Admiral Ranar, and I'm sure he'll give us the authorisation.'
'He probably would, and it might well be the right decision, but I'm vetoing it for now. Maybe when we get closer to the fight and things don't improve we'll revisit this conversation. Until then, the answer is no and I will enter such in my log. If you go to Ranar it will be against my most strenuous objections.'
Madden nodded. 'Aye sir.'
'Dismissed, gentlemen.'
Operations Centre
Starbase 535 (Our universe)
Stardate 55403.1 (May 28, 2378)
Captain Lionel Logan looked out over the assembled commanding officers standing by the central table nicknamed The Core. Subcommander Sokal wasn't looking happy but after the reports he'd seen of what happened at Ynelav IV he wasn't surprised. Captain Vikagh had been conquering a number of worlds for the Empire, and Chancellor Martok was currently under pressure by President Satie to expand in other directions from Federation space, which meant that the Klingon captain had very little to do, and was vocal about it. Captains Dhrex and Aurelia were waiting for the other shoe to drop and Commander Madden was looking forward to taking the Everest out. Starfleet Command had finally listened to reason and sent him a Defiant-class escort vessel and Madden would command it, leaving McNamara as acting first officer.
'All right, everyone, this is the situation. We haven't heard from the Pytheas in three days and can't spare anyone to go and look for them, but according to the Eeroth, the ship was forced to leave their territory and left without incident. Let's just hope they make it back before the trouble starts. I have spoken with Starfleet Command, frequently, and unfortunately no more vessels can currently be spared. I am liaising with the local populations to see if they will lend us a few vessels in order to bolster our defences but have yet to receive an answer.'
'How long do we have, Captain?' Aurelia asked.
'I believe we have a week, ten days at most, before the Cha'lav attack,' Logan replied. 'The sensor drones we've dropped across the sector are picking up rifts opening everywhere with a current count of thirty-some vessels, from frigates to heavy cruisers. When the attack happens it will be big and it will be brutal. I have ordered all civilians to be relocated to the colonies and the Kursicans have stepped up production of their own space fleet, for whatever good it will do.'
'We will be victorious,' Vikagh stated. 'We have honour on our side.'
'The Cha'lav won't know what hit them,' Sokal added. 'We defeated the Dominion, and we will defeat the Cha'lav.'
'We've been making some upgrades to our weapons,' Aurelia said. 'It would be nice to test them against those who really deserve it.'
'The more the merrier,' Dhrex agreed.
'I want you all to return to your scheduled patrol routes, and report in any unusual activity. The colonies still need our support,' Logan told them all, including his foreign allies.
'What about the colonies who have renounced Federation citizenship?' Aurelia, her tone voice clearly indicating how ignorant those colonies were.
'They will have to fend for themselves unfortunately. We can't spare any ships to help them and they have made it quite clear that they're not interested in our help.'
'But they'll be the first to send out a distress call asking for it when the Cha'lav or anyone attacks,' Dhrex interjected.
'Then they are foolish,' Vikagh said. 'But they will die honourable deaths, fighting against an invading force.'
'A waste of life,' Sokal spoke quietly. 'If you will excuse me, I have matters to attend to.'
Vikagh followed a moment later, leaving only Starfleet personnel in the Operations centre, an uncomfortable silence surrounding them.
'I don't suppose anyone has heard from the Lowell or Commander Murdoch?' Logan asked, breaking the silence.
'They were heading for Ynelav IV but changed course part way there. I haven't found a trace of them,' Madden answered. 'Lieutenant Marshall is currently undergoing investigation for his role in their disappearance.'
'What role?' Logan asked his executive officer.
'Marshall informed Murdoch that Ynelav wouldn't be a safe harbour for Linnis. He's protecting her from something.'
'So where is he taking her?'
'My guess would be the Delta Quadrant,' Dhrex said. 'According to everything we know about the Ocampa, that's where they come from and Murdoch might think that she'd be safe among her own people, especially considering her talents.'
Logan nodded, agreeing with the assessment. 'Let's hope that Murdoch finds his safe harbour before the Cha'lav find him. All right, everyone, dismissed.'
As the captains headed for the turbolift, Madden and McNamara approached Logan. The station commander waved them into his office.
'Sir, I believe Captain Drummond is a security risk with the Cha'lav attack imminent,' McNamara said, looking more confident in his red uniform.
'On what grounds?'
'If the Cha'lav decide to wake him, they will have the abilities of a seasoned Starfleet captain on their side and it could seriously undermine our efforts to defeat them.'
'Where do you suggest I send him? He'll be a bigger security risk on any inhabited planet in the region, and even more so closer to the core worlds.'
The two Operation Cobalt men looked at each other and then at Logan. 'We should pull the plug on his life support.'
Logan looked shocked. 'No! Not while I'm in command. If there is even a remote chance he could defeat this consciousness then we have to let him try.'
'Sir,' Madden pressed, 'you've read the reports. You know that he's not fighting the battle. He has all but given up. The alien consciousness has taken a more complete hold over Drummond.'
Logan ran a hand through his hair. 'Have you considered that the alien consciousness could be a boon to our fight? That it is working against the Cha'lav?'
'We have considered that possibility, sir, but we feel that Drummond represents too great a security risk,' McNamara answered.
'If we have to, we'll to Admiral Ranar, and I'm sure he'll give us the authorisation.'
'He probably would, and it might well be the right decision, but I'm vetoing it for now. Maybe when we get closer to the fight and things don't improve we'll revisit this conversation. Until then, the answer is no and I will enter such in my log. If you go to Ranar it will be against my most strenuous objections.'
Madden nodded. 'Aye sir.'
'Dismissed, gentlemen.'
Chapter Eleven
Starship Defiant/Alliance starship
Edge of Alliance space
May 28, 2378 (Stardate 55403.3)
Cadet Maria Snowcroft stood beside Smiley, 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?’ Smiley asked them.
Snowcroft raised her phaser. ‘Let’s do this, sir.’
Gonzales nodded. ‘Let’s go. Signal the Pytheas.’
‘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 Pytheas 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, you and I will 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 Smiley, and then Anjuna taking up the rear.
‘Why am I going with you?’ Aaron complained to Gonzales.
‘Because your wife will probably kill you,’ 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'd memorised every aspect of the mission. 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. 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. ‘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, 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 rolled 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,’ Smiley 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, she's still at the Academy.’
‘We’ll get her back,’ he said soothingly and looked at Smiley.
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 Pytheas 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 Smiley and Anjuna.
‘Set a course to rendezvous with the Pytheas,’ Smiley instructed the young woman at the helm. ‘It’s time we ended this nonsense.’
Starship Defiant/Alliance starship
Edge of Alliance space
May 28, 2378 (Stardate 55403.3)
Cadet Maria Snowcroft stood beside Smiley, 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?’ Smiley asked them.
Snowcroft raised her phaser. ‘Let’s do this, sir.’
Gonzales nodded. ‘Let’s go. Signal the Pytheas.’
‘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 Pytheas 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, you and I will 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 Smiley, and then Anjuna taking up the rear.
‘Why am I going with you?’ Aaron complained to Gonzales.
‘Because your wife will probably kill you,’ 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'd memorised every aspect of the mission. 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. 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. ‘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, 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 rolled 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,’ Smiley 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, she's still at the Academy.’
‘We’ll get her back,’ he said soothingly and looked at Smiley.
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 Pytheas 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 Smiley and Anjuna.
‘Set a course to rendezvous with the Pytheas,’ Smiley instructed the young woman at the helm. ‘It’s time we ended this nonsense.’
It is indeed.
And this is about where we left off the last time around...I cannot wait to see how this goes from here!
And this is about where we left off the last time around...I cannot wait to see how this goes from here!
I actually took you a little past this bit, but it was completely different, IIRC. A search on here would take you to it so you can see the differences side by side so to speak. but things happen rather differently this time.
And you still have 106 to read...and 107, once I've finished it
And you still have 106 to read...and 107, once I've finished it
Chapter Twelve
USS Pytheas
Edge of Alliance space
May 28, 2378 (Stardate 55403.4)
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 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 slumped to one side and Xeris propped her up as she regained her equilibrium.
‘Sheena?’ Astar asked. ‘Are you all right?’
‘Yes, Captain,’ Gonzales replied. ‘I'm fine.’
‘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.’
Astar nodded. ‘Come on, let’s get back to the bridge.’
Talen 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.’
‘All right, 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've grown disillusioned with the Alliance over the years and when the Rebellion took Terok Nor, they attacked the Alliance, leading Legate Damar and Regent Martok to brand them traitors and eradicate them 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, it 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-comm 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 Pytheas 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 Pytheas
Edge of Alliance space
May 28, 2378 (Stardate 55403.4)
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 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 slumped to one side and Xeris propped her up as she regained her equilibrium.
‘Sheena?’ Astar asked. ‘Are you all right?’
‘Yes, Captain,’ Gonzales replied. ‘I'm fine.’
‘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.’
Astar nodded. ‘Come on, let’s get back to the bridge.’
Talen 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.’
‘All right, 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've grown disillusioned with the Alliance over the years and when the Rebellion took Terok Nor, they attacked the Alliance, leading Legate Damar and Regent Martok to brand them traitors and eradicate them 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, it 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-comm 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 Pytheas 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.
Yeesh, I forgot how creepy your MU Dukat is! Yours seems very close to the canon version in that he's taken something that should be sacred and twisted it around.
Yet another version for my own AU Dukat--a devout Oralian believer that I think of as "the good twin"--to be horrified at! I don't know whether the godless canon version would freak him out worse, or this hypocrite who uses the sacred for his own gain!
Just one question about your version of the Oralians: are they believers in the Prophets, or in Oralius, or both?
Yet another version for my own AU Dukat--a devout Oralian believer that I think of as "the good twin"--to be horrified at! I don't know whether the godless canon version would freak him out worse, or this hypocrite who uses the sacred for his own gain!
Just one question about your version of the Oralians: are they believers in the Prophets, or in Oralius, or both?
They believe in Oralius but also that the Prophets are cut from the same cloth so to speak.
Chapter Thirteen
Cardassian vessel
En route to New Hebitia
May 29, 2378 (Stardate 55406.7)
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 give, but not enough. 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 Pytheas 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
May 29, 2378 (Stardate 55406.7)
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 give, but not enough. 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 Pytheas 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.
Chapter Fourteen
Vorta Imperial Flagship
Romulan Annexed Territories
May 29, 2378 (Stardate 55406.8)
Tal'Aura looked at the door of the wardroom as if it would provide answers.
It didn't.
She had been kept out of the loop for days and didn't like it one bit. It was only when she was angry that she was able to force the Pah Wraith to leave her mind, and staying angry meant keeping her worst memories on the surface. The Jem'Hadar ignored her when she was herself, preferring only to bow to the thing inside her. As for Weyoun, he treated both of her the same, with barely concealed distaste.
'Enough of this!' the Pah Wraith said, taking control of her body. 'It is time I took control once and for all.'
'I told you I would fight you.'
'It is too late. Our hand has been forced by the Federation ship.'
'How?'
'That is not for you to question, but I will allow you to learn, this time.'
The Pah Wraith pushed open the door and the Jem'Hadar inside immediately knelt before her. Weyoun looked up from his conference with other Vorta on ships throughout the region.
'What is the meaning of this interruption, Tal'Aura?'
'The Federation ship is at Rura Penthe, in Klingon space. You will intercept them immediately.'
'I will do no such thing,' Weyoun replied with steel. 'We are en route to Qo'noS to force the Klingon-Cardassian Alliance to surrender. Your vendetta will have to wait.'
Her eyes flashed a bright red in fierce anger. 'The Federation ship and the Defiant have our greatest enemy on board. You must intercept and destroy them now. Without our help you will never locate all the Founders and make galaxy submit to your whim.'
Weyoun smiled. 'We do not need your help, and we never have done. The Romulans on the other hand, are weak and pitiful creatures. Bend them to your will.'
The Pah Wraith felt Tal'Aura fighting. 'I am not weak!'
'You are dead,' the Pah Wraith replied and crushed the Romulan's consciousness. She turned her gaze outward again, to Weyoun. 'As you can see, I can crush the Romulans. They are merely a means to an end. They were the easiest to control since the Founders made you immune to our control. But you still feel pain and I will make you feel pain each time to disobey me.'
'The Imperium will find the Founders and stop them. Then, if you ask nicely, we will assist you in stopping your enemy.'
She screamed. 'You do not understand, Vorta! The rebellion are succeeding in their plan to destabilise the Alliance and make them an easier target for you, but they want you gone and they have the means to do it. Their weapons are no match for yours, but they know your weaknesses. I know theirs.'
'And you will tell us, on our terms.'
The Pah Wraith made a wry smile. 'I have indulged you long enough. There is no more time. First Taran'atar, kill the Vorta and order the others' executions. The Pah Wraiths now control the Imperium.'
The Jem'Hadar used his blade, his kar'takin, to slice through Weyoun's brain stem. The Vorta was dead before he hit the floor.
'Excellent, set a course for Rura Penthe. We should arrive in time to destroy the combined fleet.'
'At once, Pah Wraith,' Taran'atar replied with a Jem'Hadar salute.
The Jem'Hadar filed out of the wardroom leaving her behind with Weyoun's corpse. She felt no remorse at the loss of either the Romulan host's consciousness or the Vorta leader. Both were necessary to her goal. The Pah Wraith's hold on the Celestial Temple had been temporary at best. But over the last few centuries, they had managed to eliminate as many Prophets as they could. It was only a matter of time before they were all gone.
The one she was chasing now was the most powerful of those that remained, the one who had chosen this universe's Emissary to lead the Bajoran people to freedom. The Vorta Imperium had stopped that from happening when they razed Bajor after first coming through the Celestial Temple. The Pah Wraiths only allowed them through because it served their purpose—at the time. Now it didn't and no further incursions would be allowed through.
Taran'atar entered the wardroom again. 'Pah Wraith, we will arrive at Rura Penthe in four days.'
'Excellent. Remove this from my sight and clean up the mess.'
'As you command.'
'Did you want to ask a question?'
'I did, my God.'
'Then ask, how else will you learn.'
'What will happen once you have destroyed the fleet at Rura Penthe?'
'Our hold on the Celestial Temple will be complete and none will be able to oust us.'
'How do you know the enemy is going to Rura Penthe?'
'We have an operative,' the Pah Wraith answered with a smile. 'Why do you ask?'
'I was...curious.'
'The Founders did not breed this into your genes did they?'
'No, my God.'
'You have exceeded your genetic structure. This does not bode well for our continued use of your people as footsoldiers.'
Taran'atar bristled. 'We will obey your commands. As you say, curiosity leads to knowledge. Knowledge leads to victory, and victory is life!'
The Pah Wraith nodded. 'Back to your station, First. I want you to be ready to drop the fleet out of warp just inside weapons range. I don't want the rebels or the Federation ship to get a chance to fire at us. I know our weapons work well against the Alliance.'
'Our weapons will cleave the Alliance in two, making them easy to pick off.'
'Back to your station.'
As Taran'atar left, two more Jem'Hadar entered to remove the body and another two to clean up the mess left behind. That was the trouble with corporeal bodies, the detritus they left behind after death. She had seen dead civilisations and the worlds they inhabited which took centuries or millennia to fully recover before the next occupants arrived.
She had a sense of something in the room with her but it faded before she could grasp it.
Vorta Imperial Flagship
Romulan Annexed Territories
May 29, 2378 (Stardate 55406.8)
Tal'Aura looked at the door of the wardroom as if it would provide answers.
It didn't.
She had been kept out of the loop for days and didn't like it one bit. It was only when she was angry that she was able to force the Pah Wraith to leave her mind, and staying angry meant keeping her worst memories on the surface. The Jem'Hadar ignored her when she was herself, preferring only to bow to the thing inside her. As for Weyoun, he treated both of her the same, with barely concealed distaste.
'Enough of this!' the Pah Wraith said, taking control of her body. 'It is time I took control once and for all.'
'I told you I would fight you.'
'It is too late. Our hand has been forced by the Federation ship.'
'How?'
'That is not for you to question, but I will allow you to learn, this time.'
The Pah Wraith pushed open the door and the Jem'Hadar inside immediately knelt before her. Weyoun looked up from his conference with other Vorta on ships throughout the region.
'What is the meaning of this interruption, Tal'Aura?'
'The Federation ship is at Rura Penthe, in Klingon space. You will intercept them immediately.'
'I will do no such thing,' Weyoun replied with steel. 'We are en route to Qo'noS to force the Klingon-Cardassian Alliance to surrender. Your vendetta will have to wait.'
Her eyes flashed a bright red in fierce anger. 'The Federation ship and the Defiant have our greatest enemy on board. You must intercept and destroy them now. Without our help you will never locate all the Founders and make galaxy submit to your whim.'
Weyoun smiled. 'We do not need your help, and we never have done. The Romulans on the other hand, are weak and pitiful creatures. Bend them to your will.'
The Pah Wraith felt Tal'Aura fighting. 'I am not weak!'
'You are dead,' the Pah Wraith replied and crushed the Romulan's consciousness. She turned her gaze outward again, to Weyoun. 'As you can see, I can crush the Romulans. They are merely a means to an end. They were the easiest to control since the Founders made you immune to our control. But you still feel pain and I will make you feel pain each time to disobey me.'
'The Imperium will find the Founders and stop them. Then, if you ask nicely, we will assist you in stopping your enemy.'
She screamed. 'You do not understand, Vorta! The rebellion are succeeding in their plan to destabilise the Alliance and make them an easier target for you, but they want you gone and they have the means to do it. Their weapons are no match for yours, but they know your weaknesses. I know theirs.'
'And you will tell us, on our terms.'
The Pah Wraith made a wry smile. 'I have indulged you long enough. There is no more time. First Taran'atar, kill the Vorta and order the others' executions. The Pah Wraiths now control the Imperium.'
The Jem'Hadar used his blade, his kar'takin, to slice through Weyoun's brain stem. The Vorta was dead before he hit the floor.
'Excellent, set a course for Rura Penthe. We should arrive in time to destroy the combined fleet.'
'At once, Pah Wraith,' Taran'atar replied with a Jem'Hadar salute.
The Jem'Hadar filed out of the wardroom leaving her behind with Weyoun's corpse. She felt no remorse at the loss of either the Romulan host's consciousness or the Vorta leader. Both were necessary to her goal. The Pah Wraith's hold on the Celestial Temple had been temporary at best. But over the last few centuries, they had managed to eliminate as many Prophets as they could. It was only a matter of time before they were all gone.
The one she was chasing now was the most powerful of those that remained, the one who had chosen this universe's Emissary to lead the Bajoran people to freedom. The Vorta Imperium had stopped that from happening when they razed Bajor after first coming through the Celestial Temple. The Pah Wraiths only allowed them through because it served their purpose—at the time. Now it didn't and no further incursions would be allowed through.
Taran'atar entered the wardroom again. 'Pah Wraith, we will arrive at Rura Penthe in four days.'
'Excellent. Remove this from my sight and clean up the mess.'
'As you command.'
'Did you want to ask a question?'
'I did, my God.'
'Then ask, how else will you learn.'
'What will happen once you have destroyed the fleet at Rura Penthe?'
'Our hold on the Celestial Temple will be complete and none will be able to oust us.'
'How do you know the enemy is going to Rura Penthe?'
'We have an operative,' the Pah Wraith answered with a smile. 'Why do you ask?'
'I was...curious.'
'The Founders did not breed this into your genes did they?'
'No, my God.'
'You have exceeded your genetic structure. This does not bode well for our continued use of your people as footsoldiers.'
Taran'atar bristled. 'We will obey your commands. As you say, curiosity leads to knowledge. Knowledge leads to victory, and victory is life!'
The Pah Wraith nodded. 'Back to your station, First. I want you to be ready to drop the fleet out of warp just inside weapons range. I don't want the rebels or the Federation ship to get a chance to fire at us. I know our weapons work well against the Alliance.'
'Our weapons will cleave the Alliance in two, making them easy to pick off.'
'Back to your station.'
As Taran'atar left, two more Jem'Hadar entered to remove the body and another two to clean up the mess left behind. That was the trouble with corporeal bodies, the detritus they left behind after death. She had seen dead civilisations and the worlds they inhabited which took centuries or millennia to fully recover before the next occupants arrived.
She had a sense of something in the room with her but it faded before she could grasp it.
Aha...I wonder if I will be proven right about this operative? I have two theories, both of them which I think could be valid...
I hate pah-wraiths. Of any universe. 
Nice writing, BB. A very entertaining read!
Nice writing, BB. A very entertaining read!
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