This came from me trying to save Worf from his second Dis-commendation during Way of the Warrior, but mutated into What If the Martok Changeling was discovered earlier....
Stardate 49011.4 (2372)
Worf was stuck- he could not find anyone who would talk to him about why the Klingon Task Force had come to DS9. By his estimation there was approximately a third of the KDF in the space around DS9. Dax’s suggestion of finding someone who owed the House of Mogh a favour had achieved no results. Frustrated Worf went straight to Martok, and demanded the Rite of Qab jIH nagil – the Rite of Succession. Martok laughed off the ridiculous Challenge, until Worf backhanded him on the Bridge of the Negh'Var in full view of his officers. Martok roared at the Challenge and charged Worf. They punched, and wrestled, until Worf eventually threw Martok over his shoulder through the tactical display. Worf turned round to face his Challenger again, except the cheers from the Crew had turned to anger as Martok was not bleeding like a proper Klingon, but deforming, shifting… Worf orders it fired on, as the Changeling strikes at him with a sharp tentacle, cutting him badly across the face. The other Klingons begin firing at the infiltrator, the seer amount of fire eventually cutting down the shapeshifter. In the stunned silence, the Negh'Var’s first officer Koth, turns to Worf and asks
“What do we do now General?”
“Computer, lock all access ports to the ship, and disable all outgoing communications. Seal the doors to the Bridge, and not open them again without my direct order.” Worf orders. The computer is giving its compliance while Worf is speaking again
“Ruktah, give me a secure line to Sisko” The comms officer jumps to comply. Worf glares at the other officers
“None of you are to say anything about what has happened here...” He begins, but Drex and a few others try to object, causing Worf to raise his voice
“None of you are are to say anything about what has happened here, until I order otherwise. Am I clear?” he barks. The other Klingons acknowledge, though Drex looks unimpressed.
“I have Sisko, sir” Ruktah confirms.
“On Screen” Worf orders. Sisko appears from his office
“Captain” says Worf before Sisko says anything “You need to come on-board with Bashir. Its extremely urgent, and delicate” Sisko looks sceptical “end of Alliance important” Worf empathises.
“Alright” Sisko says after a moment of thought
“Beam directly to the Bridge” Worf says, and Sisko nods. Ruktah cuts the line at the nod by Worf.
There is utter silence on the bridge until the familiar whine of a Starfleet transporter fills the air. The tense Klingons make for weapons as Sisko and Bashir materialise. Sisko looks around at the Klingons, while Bashir has already spotted the liquid mess that was a Changeling.
“Sir...” he begins. Sisko looks in the direction Julian indicates, then snaps back at Worf
“Report” he orders. A couple of Klingons start at the Captain’s tone, but Worf ignores them
“Martok was a Changeling. I need the Doctor to confirm.” Sisko nods to Bashir, who has a tricorder over the remains in moments.
“I can confirm this is Changeling remains” he says. Worf rounds on the solid looking Klingon stood next to the command chair
“What is the task forces destination?” he growls at the big man. Koth looks between Worf and the Starfleet personnel and hesitates. Worf takes a single step towards him
“We are here to invade Cardassia” Koth says to the Starfleet officers astonishment. “I understand Martok convinced Gowron that the fall of the Cardassian government was a sign the Dominion had infiltrated, but now…” he trails off looking at the fluid remains.
“We need to inform our Commands...” Sisko begins. Worf shakes his head
“If we do that we tip them off about the Martok Changleing. Gowron is right in that if Changelings have infiltrated the Alpha Quadrant they are likely creating the instability on Cardassia, but think what would we have done if the Klingon Empire invaded Cardassia on such a flimsy premise?
“The Federation Council would never support such a move” Sisko said sharply
“Exactly. N’Garen, what would be the Klingon response if the Federation did not support the invasion?” The security officer looked a bit surprised at her inclusion but spoke
“Gowron would likely rip up the treaties between us” she said.
“Leading to a War” Bashir concluded.
“Exactly what the Dominion wants” Koth adds
“So what do you propose?” Sisko says to Worf
“First, we can’t send this Fleet home, what would look suspicious, especially without Martok. I suggest a deployment around the System. Especially strong on the Cardassian boarder, and around the wormhole.”
“How about military exercises?” Ruktah suggests from his station. The Officers turn toward him
“It could be organized” N’Garen says
“Gowron will not be pleased” Koth states “you will need to tell what has happened”
“It might make him even more paranoid” Sisko says to the officer
“We need a way to detect Changelings” Kornan grumbles from the Weapons station. Several officers grumble in agreement.
“Well….” Julian begins “I have something...” He rubs the side of his chin.
“Julian...” Sisko begins
“I’ll go fetch it” Julian offers.
“N’Garen, go with him” Worf orders.
“Yes, General” she says as Julian orders the computer to beam them direct to his office.
“General?” Sisko asks as they dematerialize.
Less than ten minuets Julian is back with N’Garen, and Odo. Several of the Klingons tense up at the sight of the Changeling, but no one does more than glare. Bashir is carrying a fairly hefty grey box, which has a glass plate on top, with no other obvious cables but what looked like a standard power coupling.
“Do we have somewhere I can plug this in?” he joked to the stoic Klingons. A few minuets later Bashir had the device ready.
“If you wouldn’t mind” he said to Worf who hesitated
“What do you want me to do?” he grumbled
“Simply place your hand on top, the machine will do the rest” Worf slapped his hand on top of the device, Bashir winced a little, this was only a prototype…
“Scanning” the device said in a tinny computer voice. A display flashed up under the glass panel “Subject DNA passed, Subject is Klingon”
“Very impressive” Odo said in that oddly sarcastic tone he often used
“Lets try a Human” Bashir said offering the machine towards Sisko, who was quickly confirmed as a Human. The other Bridge crew where all confirmed as Klingon, and Bashir himself as Human.
“Now you Constable” Bashir said. Odo stepped forward and placed his hand on the device. The Klingons all seemed to step closer to to hear results
“Subject has no DNA” the device said “the Subject is not a carbon-based life-form”
“Quite true” Odo said. “But what if they try to sneak around by impersonating a life-form that doesn’t use DNA? Would your device detect that?”
“Some variant of DNA appears to be a universal constant in all carbon-based lifeforms” Bashir said “the Federation has only encountered a handful of silicon-based life-forms, such as the Hortas. The device has a record of all the DNA in the Starfleet Medical databases including the Cardassian, Bajorian, Romulan, and Klingon records we have been able to compile too.” Bashir patted the top of his device proudly.
“Impressive, but I not underestimate my people” Odo warned.
“What I don't understand is how this is different to a Transporter?” N’garen said
“Simple” Bashir said giving her his ‘doctors smile’ “the transporter is simply bothered about getting the person moved from one place to the other, it does not care about DNA as such, mealy copying whatever is on it and sending it on. This device is more narrow in focus”
“So could the Transporter be configured to scan for Changeling non-DNA?” Koth asked.
“In theory” Julian answered “But I suspect the Changelings will soon catch on”
“So we have the advantage of surprise then” Sisko said “how quickly can we replicate this tech?”
…..
Gowron was exceptionally unhappy when he arrived on DS9 – his fleet was on ‘manoeuvrers’ under radio silence, around the sector, and Worf seemed to be in charge- Martok was ‘ill’ he was being told. Sisko’s request had made it seem extremely important he come at once.
Two days later an extremely happy Gowron left DS9. Worf had agreed to command the Fleet until Martok was retrieved from the prison they had tracked him too. More importantly the protocols to scan for Changelings was programmed into his transporters and tricoders- they would not last long before the invaders adapted, but the code could be added to the Imperial network in one go he was told; that would sweep up at least a few in the first few ‘health scans’ - as the Federation was now doing.
……
Admiral Leyton? Who would have thought… Sisko mused as he stood in the grounds of Starfleet Headquarters. The new scanner routine had been sent to every ship, installation, public network in the Federation and allies, and quite a few Changelings uncovered, though Leyton was the highest ranking Starfleet one so far. The problem was as Odo had assured him, that the Changelings would have changed their forms, or increased the quality of their shifting now the cat was out of the bag. Still Starfleet intelligence had been very interested in trying a few new toys out on Odo; he felt ‘quite sore’ afterwards.
…….
Odo barely stood as the female Changeling led him into the Link for his ‘punishment’ - as he flowed into liquid form and slipped into the Great Link he felt quite odd, but let the Link wash over him instead.
Sisko and the others stood on the Bridge of the Defiant and waited for their crew member when every proximity alarm went off. Without warning a Fleet materialised around them; hundreds of Klingon, Federation, Cardassian, and even Romulan warbirds appeared. Even as the Defiant scrambled to get to battle stations the ships began firing on the planet below, or the attacking Jem’hadar.
…….
Captain Sisko threw the medal of valour on his bed and stared at it. Section 31, damm Section 31 had infected Odo with a virus that multiplied as he had entered the Great Link and acted as a giant beacon allowing the Fleet that had been following a long way behind Defiant under phase cloak to find their position and end the threat of the Dominion. Worst of all it had been Julians DNA tester that had given them the idea of tracking Changelings this way since they had spotted he had been infected with something by the Dominion due to the difference in his Negh'Var scans and those done on Earth.
He should be pleased the war had been avoided; the Dominion was tearing itself apart, the Klingons and Federation where closer than ever, the Caradassians had transitioned to civilian government, and even the Romulans where happily talking about trade, and co-operation. Worf had been promoted. Martok and the others rescued. He was a Hero to Starfleet. Yet he could not stop thinking he had somehow betrayed Odo...
Stardate 49011.4 (2372)
Worf was stuck- he could not find anyone who would talk to him about why the Klingon Task Force had come to DS9. By his estimation there was approximately a third of the KDF in the space around DS9. Dax’s suggestion of finding someone who owed the House of Mogh a favour had achieved no results. Frustrated Worf went straight to Martok, and demanded the Rite of Qab jIH nagil – the Rite of Succession. Martok laughed off the ridiculous Challenge, until Worf backhanded him on the Bridge of the Negh'Var in full view of his officers. Martok roared at the Challenge and charged Worf. They punched, and wrestled, until Worf eventually threw Martok over his shoulder through the tactical display. Worf turned round to face his Challenger again, except the cheers from the Crew had turned to anger as Martok was not bleeding like a proper Klingon, but deforming, shifting… Worf orders it fired on, as the Changeling strikes at him with a sharp tentacle, cutting him badly across the face. The other Klingons begin firing at the infiltrator, the seer amount of fire eventually cutting down the shapeshifter. In the stunned silence, the Negh'Var’s first officer Koth, turns to Worf and asks
“What do we do now General?”
“Computer, lock all access ports to the ship, and disable all outgoing communications. Seal the doors to the Bridge, and not open them again without my direct order.” Worf orders. The computer is giving its compliance while Worf is speaking again
“Ruktah, give me a secure line to Sisko” The comms officer jumps to comply. Worf glares at the other officers
“None of you are to say anything about what has happened here...” He begins, but Drex and a few others try to object, causing Worf to raise his voice
“None of you are are to say anything about what has happened here, until I order otherwise. Am I clear?” he barks. The other Klingons acknowledge, though Drex looks unimpressed.
“I have Sisko, sir” Ruktah confirms.
“On Screen” Worf orders. Sisko appears from his office
“Captain” says Worf before Sisko says anything “You need to come on-board with Bashir. Its extremely urgent, and delicate” Sisko looks sceptical “end of Alliance important” Worf empathises.
“Alright” Sisko says after a moment of thought
“Beam directly to the Bridge” Worf says, and Sisko nods. Ruktah cuts the line at the nod by Worf.
There is utter silence on the bridge until the familiar whine of a Starfleet transporter fills the air. The tense Klingons make for weapons as Sisko and Bashir materialise. Sisko looks around at the Klingons, while Bashir has already spotted the liquid mess that was a Changeling.
“Sir...” he begins. Sisko looks in the direction Julian indicates, then snaps back at Worf
“Report” he orders. A couple of Klingons start at the Captain’s tone, but Worf ignores them
“Martok was a Changeling. I need the Doctor to confirm.” Sisko nods to Bashir, who has a tricorder over the remains in moments.
“I can confirm this is Changeling remains” he says. Worf rounds on the solid looking Klingon stood next to the command chair
“What is the task forces destination?” he growls at the big man. Koth looks between Worf and the Starfleet personnel and hesitates. Worf takes a single step towards him
“We are here to invade Cardassia” Koth says to the Starfleet officers astonishment. “I understand Martok convinced Gowron that the fall of the Cardassian government was a sign the Dominion had infiltrated, but now…” he trails off looking at the fluid remains.
“We need to inform our Commands...” Sisko begins. Worf shakes his head
“If we do that we tip them off about the Martok Changleing. Gowron is right in that if Changelings have infiltrated the Alpha Quadrant they are likely creating the instability on Cardassia, but think what would we have done if the Klingon Empire invaded Cardassia on such a flimsy premise?
“The Federation Council would never support such a move” Sisko said sharply
“Exactly. N’Garen, what would be the Klingon response if the Federation did not support the invasion?” The security officer looked a bit surprised at her inclusion but spoke
“Gowron would likely rip up the treaties between us” she said.
“Leading to a War” Bashir concluded.
“Exactly what the Dominion wants” Koth adds
“So what do you propose?” Sisko says to Worf
“First, we can’t send this Fleet home, what would look suspicious, especially without Martok. I suggest a deployment around the System. Especially strong on the Cardassian boarder, and around the wormhole.”
“How about military exercises?” Ruktah suggests from his station. The Officers turn toward him
“It could be organized” N’Garen says
“Gowron will not be pleased” Koth states “you will need to tell what has happened”
“It might make him even more paranoid” Sisko says to the officer
“We need a way to detect Changelings” Kornan grumbles from the Weapons station. Several officers grumble in agreement.
“Well….” Julian begins “I have something...” He rubs the side of his chin.
“Julian...” Sisko begins
“I’ll go fetch it” Julian offers.
“N’Garen, go with him” Worf orders.
“Yes, General” she says as Julian orders the computer to beam them direct to his office.
“General?” Sisko asks as they dematerialize.
Less than ten minuets Julian is back with N’Garen, and Odo. Several of the Klingons tense up at the sight of the Changeling, but no one does more than glare. Bashir is carrying a fairly hefty grey box, which has a glass plate on top, with no other obvious cables but what looked like a standard power coupling.
“Do we have somewhere I can plug this in?” he joked to the stoic Klingons. A few minuets later Bashir had the device ready.
“If you wouldn’t mind” he said to Worf who hesitated
“What do you want me to do?” he grumbled
“Simply place your hand on top, the machine will do the rest” Worf slapped his hand on top of the device, Bashir winced a little, this was only a prototype…
“Scanning” the device said in a tinny computer voice. A display flashed up under the glass panel “Subject DNA passed, Subject is Klingon”
“Very impressive” Odo said in that oddly sarcastic tone he often used
“Lets try a Human” Bashir said offering the machine towards Sisko, who was quickly confirmed as a Human. The other Bridge crew where all confirmed as Klingon, and Bashir himself as Human.
“Now you Constable” Bashir said. Odo stepped forward and placed his hand on the device. The Klingons all seemed to step closer to to hear results
“Subject has no DNA” the device said “the Subject is not a carbon-based life-form”
“Quite true” Odo said. “But what if they try to sneak around by impersonating a life-form that doesn’t use DNA? Would your device detect that?”
“Some variant of DNA appears to be a universal constant in all carbon-based lifeforms” Bashir said “the Federation has only encountered a handful of silicon-based life-forms, such as the Hortas. The device has a record of all the DNA in the Starfleet Medical databases including the Cardassian, Bajorian, Romulan, and Klingon records we have been able to compile too.” Bashir patted the top of his device proudly.
“Impressive, but I not underestimate my people” Odo warned.
“What I don't understand is how this is different to a Transporter?” N’garen said
“Simple” Bashir said giving her his ‘doctors smile’ “the transporter is simply bothered about getting the person moved from one place to the other, it does not care about DNA as such, mealy copying whatever is on it and sending it on. This device is more narrow in focus”
“So could the Transporter be configured to scan for Changeling non-DNA?” Koth asked.
“In theory” Julian answered “But I suspect the Changelings will soon catch on”
“So we have the advantage of surprise then” Sisko said “how quickly can we replicate this tech?”
…..
Gowron was exceptionally unhappy when he arrived on DS9 – his fleet was on ‘manoeuvrers’ under radio silence, around the sector, and Worf seemed to be in charge- Martok was ‘ill’ he was being told. Sisko’s request had made it seem extremely important he come at once.
Two days later an extremely happy Gowron left DS9. Worf had agreed to command the Fleet until Martok was retrieved from the prison they had tracked him too. More importantly the protocols to scan for Changelings was programmed into his transporters and tricoders- they would not last long before the invaders adapted, but the code could be added to the Imperial network in one go he was told; that would sweep up at least a few in the first few ‘health scans’ - as the Federation was now doing.
……
Admiral Leyton? Who would have thought… Sisko mused as he stood in the grounds of Starfleet Headquarters. The new scanner routine had been sent to every ship, installation, public network in the Federation and allies, and quite a few Changelings uncovered, though Leyton was the highest ranking Starfleet one so far. The problem was as Odo had assured him, that the Changelings would have changed their forms, or increased the quality of their shifting now the cat was out of the bag. Still Starfleet intelligence had been very interested in trying a few new toys out on Odo; he felt ‘quite sore’ afterwards.
…….
Odo barely stood as the female Changeling led him into the Link for his ‘punishment’ - as he flowed into liquid form and slipped into the Great Link he felt quite odd, but let the Link wash over him instead.
Sisko and the others stood on the Bridge of the Defiant and waited for their crew member when every proximity alarm went off. Without warning a Fleet materialised around them; hundreds of Klingon, Federation, Cardassian, and even Romulan warbirds appeared. Even as the Defiant scrambled to get to battle stations the ships began firing on the planet below, or the attacking Jem’hadar.
…….
Captain Sisko threw the medal of valour on his bed and stared at it. Section 31, damm Section 31 had infected Odo with a virus that multiplied as he had entered the Great Link and acted as a giant beacon allowing the Fleet that had been following a long way behind Defiant under phase cloak to find their position and end the threat of the Dominion. Worst of all it had been Julians DNA tester that had given them the idea of tracking Changelings this way since they had spotted he had been infected with something by the Dominion due to the difference in his Negh'Var scans and those done on Earth.
He should be pleased the war had been avoided; the Dominion was tearing itself apart, the Klingons and Federation where closer than ever, the Caradassians had transitioned to civilian government, and even the Romulans where happily talking about trade, and co-operation. Worf had been promoted. Martok and the others rescued. He was a Hero to Starfleet. Yet he could not stop thinking he had somehow betrayed Odo...
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