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Criminal Underworld by Travis Anderson
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| A new era for the team develops as a universe finds its need for a Starfleet Special Investigation Division. The same team in a different reality. |
Chapter One
"So, I've compiled a list of station residents on the fringes of the law with deep contacts into various criminal cartels and the Orion Syndicate," Celeste Rockford handed the padd to Brin Macen in her agency office aboard Serenity Station. Macen and Rockford were co-owners of the Outbound Ventures security contracting agency and the Rockford Detective Agencies spread across Federation and neutral space. They were also married. So partnership was essential to them.
Macen reviewed Rockford's list, "I note that you excluded the ex-Maquis Outbound Ventures employs as operatives."
"They deserve to be on the list but you wanted them excluded so they were," Rockford hadn't liked that decision but ultimately agreed to it. She'd been surprised to learn just how many Maquis operatives Macen had hired as agent provocateurs. Rockford was used to undercover work as a contractor with the Starfleet Special Investigations Division but Macen's employees weren't SID contractors but still worked as seditious elements in the name of the corporate clients.
Mudd had been a career confidence artist and smuggler. Shade was a professional contract thief. Rockford had managed to offer them an alternative to their lives of crime and were now part of Macen and Rockford's personal SID team. A disgraced constable from Chung Kou was another detective on Rockford's personal staff. Arianna Forte was the final member of Rockford's personal staffing. Forte was from the Earth-like world dubbed "Miri" after its discovery by the crew of the NCC-1701 USS Enterprise under the command of Captain James T. Kirk on its first five year mission. Forte had been one of the children recovered and cured of the viral pathogen developed to slow aging but also created monstrous mutations after the infected host reached puberty.
Over the past century, Forte had become an expert at solving puzzles and cold cases for law enforcement. So Rockford brought her on as a detective for her agency and the SID team. For all her apparent youth, Forte was even older than the El-Aurian Macen. Macen brought with him Rab Daggit, an Angosian Augmented solider and former Starfleet commando. Tony Burrows, a former operative for Starfleet Special Operations Command. Parva, an Orion engineer with a genetically enhanced intellect. Tessa, a sentient EMH, and Tracy Ebert, a pilot originally recruited by Macen to fly his scoutship while they were members of the Maquis. Ebert had been a mere fifteen years old then. Sixteen years later, Ebert was the team's pilot that usually handled the CONN aboard the Danube-class runabout, the Corsair.
The team and runabout were transported and provided logistical and operational support by Captain Shannon Forger and the crew of the Nova-class surveyor, the SS Obsidian.
The team and crew had undergone personnel changes over the years but it seemed they'd reached a point of stability. Macen had commanded the Obsidian before handing control over to Thomas Riker and then taking it back. Forger had risen through the ship's ranks to be chosen as captain after Riker assumed control of Serenity Station and corporate fleet operations.
Although Tom Riker effectively served as a fleet admiral he wouldn't accept a title above captain in honor of William Riker and Deanna Troi's decision to step away from command of Starfleet's Luna-class USS Titan to spend time with their son during his final days of life. Then they stayed planet-bound to raise their daughter, Kestra. Will and Tom had reconciled at long last. Tom's wife, the Joined Trill named Lisea Danan adored Will and Deanna. Troi and Danan found common ground in the fact that not only were they both married to a Riker but one of Danan's previous hosts had been a Starfleet counselor.
Macen had spent years locating and recruiting fellow ex-Maquis to work for Outbound Ventures. Now the corporate CEO, Kathy Tyrol, and its chief recruiting officer, Caity Floss, were busy gathering ex-Starfleet officers and enlisted that had left the service for one reason or another. The SID was the corporation's major client and paid a hefty retainer in addition to fee for service contracts. Outbound Ventures now had sixty SID cleared and qualified starship crews as well an equal number of regular security contracting crews.
Whereas Starfleet slowly doled out decommissioned starships to security contractors, protectorates, and colony worlds, the Iotian Federation's Starfleet readily sold starships to anyone who could meet their price. The Iotians' chief customers were Outbound Ventures and the Bajoran Militia. Tyrol, in order to meet Starfleet's rising demands for services, had purchased three of the Iotians' natively built starships. Where the bulk of the Iotian catalog were copies of Federation Starfleet starship pre-2293 designs, they strategically retained starships beyond that techical level for themselves. But as they copied the rival Federation's designs, they learned from them.
The Enterprise-class and Interceptor-class were original designs that began as outgrowths from the refitted Constitution-class specifications. The company bought a wide variety of starships from the Iotians intended to meet various technical threat levels. From the classic Asia- and Constitution-class designs to the post-refit versions of the same vessels as well as Miranda-, Constellation-, and Excelsior (refit)-class starships. The company had invested in a number of Enterprise-class ships and had just secured three Interceptor-class ships as well as three Constitution Phase II-class starships.
The company, thanks to Floss' untiring efforts and those of their Public Relations Manager, Felicity Jonas, had no shortage of personnel candidates. They actually maintained a growing list of candidates. Still, even with over one hundred starships, the corporation couldn't meet demand. Few competitors still existed within the Federation thanks to illegalities committed by the company's rivals, the Iotian Starfleet's "protection plans" looked enticing to many worlds. These sort of plans varied from full membership in the Iotian Federation to arms deals to limited patrols and defensive postures. The one thing the Iotian Starfleet wouldn't do for a non-member world was engage in a conflict for the client world. The Iotian Starfleet would assume a defensive posture but they weren't mercenaries paid to fight battles for the client.
Starship, planetary defenses, and small arms made up a huge revenue stream for the Iotian Starfleet. Member words had resource and conscription quotas to meet. For decades, the Iotian Starfleet officer corps was homogeneous, strictly Iotian-only. But demands and shortfalls required opening junior officer positions to qualified conscripts from foreign worlds. Now, a pilot program was training command officers from qualified conscripted applicants. Captain Mara, from Beta III, was the first commanding officer of an Iotian starship to be entrusted with such an elevated position.
Of course, her command, the ISS Bonnie & Clyde was under scrutiny. But Betans weren't strictly a member world. The Iotians had come to Beta III after Starfleet's Second Contact mission had revealed the Betans had reactivated Landru.
Dissidents, such as Mara, were relocated to Iotian swayed worlds for service tenures and retraining to fit civilian needs. Others formed a rebellion on Beta III and were supplied by Iotian arms dealers with comparatively advanced weaponry versus their foes. In Beta III's case, this meant black powder weaponry. Another group to advance quickly through the Starfleet's ranks were Nova Romans from 492 IV, as the UFP star charts designated it. The Magna Roman Legionnaires made ideal officer candidates and shock troops while the Northmen and Germanic clans made superb commando "shock and awe" combatants dubbed the Berserkers.
The descendants of the survivors of the Romulan created supernova that destroyed Ekos and Zeon also relocated to the Iotian Federation from the refugee camps in the UFP. They took with them their ancestral mineral rights to the rich latinum deposits that remained amongst the rubble that been their ancestors' solar system. Zeon scientists and engineers had developed warp travel before the disaster but only a few prototype test ships had been constructed when the Romulans tested their imperfect early generation trilithium weapon. The Ekosians and Zeons brought with their century's worth of education in the UFP beyond that which the Iotians had secured from the Federation Data Nets before Starfleet began jamming the nearby subspace communications relays.
But Alliance forces from the Terran Universe had brought with them archived blueprints for Terran Imperial starships from the early to mid-24th Century. The Iotians had successfully copied pre-2293 Starfleet designs. These formed the basis for their Premium Line of starships sales. The Standard Line were duotronically based starships from the early to mid-23rd Century designs. It was the most popular option among those worlds and interstellar communities wishing to upgrade their forces without joining the Iotian Federation itself. The Econo Line included United Earth Starfleet vessels as well as a select number of the earliest United Federation of Planets Starfleet designs.
The Bajoran Militia had begun arming itself from the standard line of products offered by the Iotians following the Dominion War. As the premium line became available, the Bajorans transferred their assets to those ship designs as well as refitted their Asia- and Constitution-class starships to isolinear standards. The Iotians introduced a trade-in program of used starships to help offset the cost of new ship purchases. Those "gently used" ships would then be sold at a discount to prospective clients.
Outbound Ventures equipped itself from Starfleet's decommissioning program as well as the Iotians' premium line. Eventually demand for services grew to the extent of forcing the corporation to include Asia- and Constitution-class starships from the standard line of products in their Legacy Fleet. Eventually, hybrid designs, such as the Constitution Phase II- and Interceptor-classes were included. Commanding officers had to volunteer to be assigned a Legacy Fleet or hybrid design ship. Those that did so did it for the challenges it represented in a more modernized universe. Yet, the proliferation of Iotian-built standard and econo line products made similar type starships far more broadly available than ever before in the Alpha and Beta Quadrants.
The Iotian Starfleet's business model was moving into the Gamma and Delta Quadrants as the Starfleet and the Bajorans accelerated their exploration and colonization efforts. The Federation felt threatened as the Iotians secured neutral territories in the Alpha Quadrant and the Inner and Deeper Beta Quadrant as well as closely followed Starfleet's exploration efforts in the Delta Quadrant and the Militia's scouting efforts in the Gamma Quadrant. The Iotian Starfleet was even exporting starbases now. They'd built a J-class starbase and a G-class starbase for the Militia's Colonial Defense Forces in the Bajor Sector as well as a K-class station in the Gamma Quadrant for the Militia. The Iotian Starfleet had begun construction of a Douglas-class station in orbit of Sigma Iotia II to replace the J-class Fleet Base One. They'd also begun building construction yards for interested parties. The Bajorans had financed the construction of three shipyards to supplement their domestic yards in the Bajor system.
As a courtesy, as the Iotian Federation sold starships to different worlds, they recommended Bajoran-built freighters to those same parties. Bajor's hull orders had necessitated the construction of three additional yards. They were placed at three different Alpha Quadrant colonies: Free Haven, Golona, and Dreon VII. In addition, the Militia Colonial Defense Forces at their headquarters at a J-class starbase named Free Haven Port. There was an additional G-class starbase at Prophets Landing. Waypoint Station in the Gamma Quadrant was a K-class Deep Space station tasked with supporting Bajor's colonies in the quadrant as well serving as a logistical support for Starfleet's exploration efforts alongside the Bajoran Scouts exploratory and surveying missions.
The Bajoran Scouts were the Militia's smallest division with only four Archer-class scoutships and two Kremlin-class scoutships. All pre-dated isolinear technology. Starfleet itself hadn't concentrated much effort on scoutships post-2270 until the early 24th Century. Those ships the Iotian Starfleet reserved for its own fleet for strategic reasons. The Bajoran Republic's defense pact with the UFP precluded the transfer of decommissioned starships to the Bajoran Militia. That stipulation had been added after the Republic signed a mutual defense pact with the Cardassian Union. Favored nation-state status had been applied to the Iotian Federation as well, further irking the Federation Council.
Oxmyx had recently consolidated the power of the Five Familias in her hands. Fleet Boss Kracko was her lover so Oxmyx effectively held absolute power over the Iotian Federation in her hands. Foreign geneticists had been brought in to create four children for Oxmyx and Kracko harvesting their eggs to create fertilized embryos devoid of necessitating male sperm. There would be two male and two female children to keep power within the family. Two would be hereditary Oxmyxs and two would be Krackos. Outside genetic material would be introduced into the incestuous relations as needed to prop up the health of the in-bred dynasties.
Outbound Ventures' forced reliance on the Iotian Starfleet for starships placed it at the heart of the raging debate regarding the Iotian Federation's threat level underway in the Federation Council and Starfleet Command. Many in both entities proposed nationalizing the corporation. But it was registered business located and headquartered out of Federation space despite its many Federation issued operating licenses. Others proposed cutting all ties with the company.
Starfleet Command reflected these polarizing positions as well. Demoted from Fleet Admiral, Vice Admiral Kirsten Clancy strongly advocated severing all official and non-official ties with the contractor. Her numerous allies, whom she'd propped up during her tenure as Fleet Commander, echoed her position. But a key defector blunted those opinions. Commodore Oh, the Director of Starfleet Security, now viewed the SID's retainer of Outbound Ventures as a vital tool for Starfleet to employ in situation that Command didn't want to sully itself with.
Having Fleet Admiral Leonard James Akaar and Vice Admiral Edward Jellico, the Alpha Quadrant Theater Commander, as well notables as the Chief of Starfleet Operations, Admiral Robert McNeil, the Director of Starfleet Intelligence, Vice Admiral Alynna Nechayev, the Diplomatic Operations Specialist, Vice Admiral Robert Tavar Johnson, Admiral with purview, Vice Admiral Kathryn Janeway, The Kalandra Sector Commander, Vice Admiral Bill Ross, Sector 44-G Commander, Commodore Elizabeth Paula Shelby, and Bajor Sector Commander, Captain Elias Vaughn and the Judge Advocate General, Admiral T'Lara, all helped sway the virulent opposition to standing down when debate opened up regarding the SID contracting irregular forces. No one contested the need for the SID to represent an accountable version of the now-defunct Section 31. But after the recently derailed ambitions of the splinter fact, Cell 51, the opposition saw dangers looming everywhere. Despite their having supported Cell 51's ambitions at the time. The reality of Cell 51's goals had far outstripped their expectations of its achievement.
It was cold comfort that most of Outbound Ventures' SID vetted crews were ex-Starfleet officers and enlisted that left Starfleet in protest over recent policies and command decisions under Clancy's leadership. The fact that these same officers and enlisted wouldn't return to Starfleet after the leadership change poisoned those already indignant that the defections had occurred under Clancy's tenure. The fact that Starfleet Security investigators alongside those from JAG, Starfleet Intelligence, and Internal Affairs found the candidates' records to be without major blemish just frustrated the opposition further.
So Rear Admiral Amanda Forger, the SID Director, walked a political tightrope under the current conditions. Her division held a slim majority of supporters at Starfleet Command and within the Federation Council. But she recognized that Macen would employ any and all means he found acceptable to accomplish his missions. Since his moral gauge was no longer Starfleet-attuned, he supported and condoned missions and methods the SID would never endorse nor would ever contract for. Not that Starfleet wasn't already operating a moral vacuum compared to days before the Mars Massacre alarmed the public and security services alike. But Akaar was old school Starfleet compared to Clancy's reactionary responses to crises and official imperatives.
Clancy had risen through the same ranks but had a much differed response to the Dominion War, the Breen's attack on Earth, and the Mars Massacre's mysterious origins. Where Akaar saw an opportunity to bolster and reinforce alliances, Clancy saw potential enemies everywhere. Where Akaar saw exploration efforts as an opportunity to further knowledge and make new friends, Clancy saw a transactional basis to further security goals. Where Akaar saw a moral imperative to honor protectorate status worlds and the Federation's own colonies, Clancy had seen an imperative to only protect member worlds. Two visions of a completely different Starfleet. It was little wonder Admiral Jean-Luc Picard had felt betrayed by Clancy's leadership mandates. Clancy, in turn, had seen admirals like Picard, Janeway, Akaar, Jellico, Forger, Nechayev, Johnson, and McNeil as personal threats to her long craved status in a command established just weeks prior to the Mars attack.
Clancy had even gone as far as try to vilify Starfleet's most storied captains that disagreed with her policies. A situation which fully manifested itself after Starfleet began a war with the Bajoran Republic at the Federation President's behest. Even after abrupt administration changes, Clancy had refused to let go of plans to occupy Deep Space Nine and Bajor itself. Plans she kept alive with Commodore Oh. Plans General Kira Nerys, the Chairperson of the Militia's Joint Chiefs of Staff, had obtained apparently from Oh herself. Oh had unleashed Internal Affairs investigators on all of Starfleet Security but no evidence disputing the fact Oh herself had transmitted the damning articles, correspondence, planning, and orders, ever came to light in the last few weeks.
Meanwhile the Republic's ambassador to the Federation gained much traction in showing Starfleet's hidden agenda that had been the wellspring of the abortive war effort and Starfleet's hostile actions aboard Waypoint Station. Oblique references to "special operations" underway in Cardassian space with Clancy's approval indicated Starfleet had joined the Cardassian Guard in putting down revolts on its Subject Worlds in exchange for services rendered. Internal Affairs received special dispensation from the JAG herself to look into these matters. Another discrepancy came to light when Commander Sam Lavelle's orders were cut to invade Cardassian space to liberate Federation citizens based on "actionable intelligence" found no corroboration within Starfleet Intelligence itself. Not even its "black files", opened upon a JAG request on behalf of IA, revealed any intelligence indicating the presence of Federation prisoners not being held on justifiable charges.
So the war began with the Cardassian Union was a moral quagmire even beyond its admitted scope. Commander Michelle Prentiss of IA and Lt. Commander Senecka of JAG requested that the investigations into Clancy and Oh's conduct regarding these matters be re-opened. T'Lara, who'd previously dismissed the charges for the "good of the service" seemed hesitant to to do so. Instead IA was running a general inquiry into lower echelon officers. Prentiss and Senecka wanted those at the top to be held accountable rather than command-level and junior officers held up for sacrifice.
Even Akaar seemed loathe to do so. The politically and commercially connected Clancy was rivaled within Starfleet only by Oh's cult of personality within Starfleet Security. The Secretary for Starfleet and the Special Sub-Committee for Starfleet Affairs had curiously gotten wind of a secret investigation and were applying political pressure upon Akaar to make the potential investigations into Clancy and Oh vanish before they ever materialized. Nechayev's unilateral demotion by Clancy was reversed and Rear Admiral Forger's promotion to Vice Admiral was accelerated. As such, both came under the Secretary's scrutiny and high-end pressure tactics to sweep their names under the rug in IA's search.
For the first time in Forger's recollection, Nechayev began to speak of retirement. She knew Nechayev had been casting about for a suitable successor but hadn't realized that Admiral Nechayev was seriously considering the decision to. Neither Vice Admiral that served as Director of Operations or as Director of Analysis served Nechayev's prerequisites for assuming her role. Instead, Nechayev began grooming Janeway as she herself had been groomed as a Vice Admiral without purview.
But Janeway was consumed by the disappearance of Captain Chakotay and the prototype USS Protostar in the Delta Quadrant. She'd even assumed command of the quantum slipstream drive equipped USS Dauntless to aid in her search for answers. Janeway had already lost Seven of Nine to the Fenris Rangers. She wasn't about to lose Chakotay as well. So Nechayev was casting about once again.
The SID was launched with Forger in command. Clancy distrusted the joint jurisdiction and oversight belonging to Starfleet Intelligence, Security, Internal Affairs, and JAG offices. She'd wanted sole control over a personal troubleshooting and investigations hit squad. What she got was far more comprehensive and employed non-Starfleet irregulars as agents. Point in fact, the SID possessed no starships or command level officers. Officers of those grades were transferred to other divisions. SID operatives traveled under temporary assignment aboard Starfleet Operations controlled fleet assets.
Then there were the security contractors that served as irregulars. They possessed their own starships licensed to operate in Federation space under Letters of Marque co-issued by Starfleet Security and the Federation Security Service. Originally, the contracts had been spread across several contractors who had specially cleared contractors and starships. Violations of the law and Prime Directive violations had reduced that number to just Outbound Ventures.
From her position as Director of Communications, now Vice Admiral Clancy pushed Starfleet Command to cut loose their sole contractor. Yet SID operations depended upon Outbound Ventures. Starfleet itself did as it assigned operations involving colonial and protectorate worlds to the SID rather than divert assets from Federation patrols or assigned exploratory or second contact missions. Clancy's prejudice overshadowed her understanding of strategic priorities. She'd created the very conditions that favored Outbound Ventures and Starfleet's reliance upon in.
Even Commodore Oh no longer expressed reservations regarding the hiring of irregular forces. As a Romulan agent in deep cover within Starfleet, Oh had initially feared that such operatives might uncover her duplicity. Yet that had never materialized. Now Starfleet's evolving role for Outbound Ventures nearly guaranteed they'd never look into an internal matter. Forger was placated by the peacekeeping roles her irregulars were typically assigned to frequently involved investigative work and threat assessment.
What worried Forger was Macen and Rockford, as the co-owners of the corporation, had placed an outsized importance on Bajoran security. To the point of actively campaigning against Starfleet forces. While those forces were ultimately proven to be in the wrong, their mandates would put Bajor ahead of the Federation's security interests should they legitimately conflict. Macen and Rockford's unwavering support of Neela and her band of operatives was proof enough.
Forger shared the common history that united them all but the Federation and Starfleet were her concerns. Macen and Rockford's prioritizing Bajoran security troubled her. It wasn't just a personal consideration, they'd made it corporate policy. They even accepted contracts from the Militia at cost. Something they didn't even do for Starfleet. The Bajoran Republic was a Federation ally but relations were strained at best.
The Militia had largely reasserted control over Deep Space Nine. They allowed a minimal administrative presence and the crew of the USS Defiant but otherwise the designated starbase was merely a port of call for Starfleet on its way to the Gamma Quadrant. Waypoint Station didn't even have Starfleet representation. It was entirely a Militia operation.
Commodore Saavik, in command of Starfleet's Gamma Quadrant explorations from the Vespa-class USS Endeavor-A approved of the Bajorans' growing independence. Captain Saavik had been a vocal opponent of Clancy's isolationist policies. She'd also condemned the expulsion of Bajor from the Federation and the ensuing war effort. Saavik had fought, like many others, at the Militia's side rather than abandon an ally to the blatant ambitions of a hardliner administration.
The Cardassian Union hadn't received Starfleet officers' active support but objectors simply refused to engage Cardassian Guard forces. Lavelle's "liberated" prisoners' subsequent vanishing act from DS9 raised more questions than their "discovery" had answered. Such as how did so many Federation citizens end up in Cardassian custody without anyone noticing? Were they the missing Starfleet Security prisoners that vanished on their way to Sector 001? Did Starfleet have prior knowledge of their disposition? If so, why didn't they act through diplomatic channels before resorting to a military option? Who operated the Java-class freighters converted into transports that whisked the former prisoners away to where? Java-class freighters were Starfleet operated but were largely decommissioned. Did the Iotians copy those as well? If so, how did they obtain the plans when Starfleet was jamming their connections to the Federation Data Nets and the Java-class design was still in Starfleet's own secured databases?
The Iotians ability to access the secured databases was evidenced by their building their premium line of export starships. Starship designs pre-dating 2270 were publicly available if one knew how and where to search with the proper credentials. Federation cultural observers had first marveled at the Iotians building a subspace transceiver and their voracious absorption of the information on the Federation Data Nets. They'd reported that the Iotians intended to model their government, such as it was based on the Five Familias, on the Federation.
But the Iotians lessons from "the Book" were too entrenched for the Iotians to break from them. Their Federation would be nothing more or less than a protection racket. But two factors made the Iotian Federation and Starfleet viable options. The first was the simple, transactional nature of membership. There were no moral underpinings to meet for membership. Second, the Iotians utterly rejected the UFP's Prime Directive and approached industrialized worlds with starship technology available for sale or through membership. Pre-industrialized societies were given black powder weaponry to the highest bidder. Escalations led those societies to become dependent upon Iotian Federation member worlds' trade. Early technology level warp capable cultures were dangled more advanced technology or membership.
Worlds that had rejected the UFP's protectorate status upon First Contact were snapped up by the Iotian Federation. Neutral worlds dropped their cloaks of neutrality to side with interstellar mobsters. Though ostensibly a "force for protection and progress", the Iotian Starfleet was viewed by the Orion Syndicate and lesser criminal cartels as their largest rival. And since the Iotians now "protected" client worlds from these same criminal groupings, the cartels, warlords, and Orions sought revenge.
The Syndicate and the Iotians initially enjoyed a productive detente. But that peace was broken when the Iotians took Gomer, the Syndicate don, prisoner which the Blood Queen's ascension to the top slot possible. But the Blood Queen's overreach on Waypoint Station threw the Federation, Bajorans, and the Ascendant against her. Having committed a scorched earth policy towards prospective Gamma Quadrant clients, the Blood Queen lost favor with native-Orion Syndicate leaders who wanted Gomer's release. So they brokered it from the Iotians. Macen and Rockford arranged for Gomer's return to power in exchange for Intendant Ro Laren's death. Intendant Kira Nerys bought her freedom from Nechayev, who made a side deal with Gomer.
A Prime Universe Bajoran would feel a sense of obligation towards the sponsor that had saved her life. But Indedent Kira was a former leader of Bajor from the Terran Universe and a member of the former Klingon-Cardassian Alliance. The Terran Rebellion had united with the remnant Terran Empire to fracture the uneasy Alliance after Regent Worf's capture by the rebels and Supreme Legate Dukat's attempt to seize control of the Alliance. Dumas declared himself Regent while Dukat aimed the Cardassian military at the Klingons.
Meanwhile, the Terran Empire absorbed the Rebellion and softened its apartheid system. Non-Terrans didn't enjoy full rights as an imperial citizen but they were no longer enslaved. The Imperial Starfleet accorded them opportunities to ascend to full citizenship in exchange for services rendered. So the Terran Empire patched a band-aid over its Achilles Heel. Fleet Admiral Jean-Luc Picard led an imperial fleet bolstered by the Defiant-class starships built at Terok Nor to scourge Cardassia Prime.
Dukat, overwrought by the news coming in from the Cardassian Empire, lost a key battle and his life to Regent Dumas. Dumas had lost nearly the entire Klingon Imperial fleet in the action though, and sued the Terran Empire for peace terms. Picard's olive branch was eliminating the remaining Klingon fleet. The Terran Empire had destroyed Qo'nos a century before and now destroyed Cardassia Prime. All Klingon and Cardassian settlements were militarily occupied by Terran imperial forces. Most of whom were were ex-Terran Rebellion fighters.
Picard's elevation to Emperor was assured. Admirals William Riker, Elizabeth Shelby, Edward Jellico, Michael Eddington, Luther Sloan, and Geordi LaForge all competed for the Fleet Admiral's position. Meanwhile, unknown to them, Captain Kathryn Janeway and her united crew of imperials and rebel fighters were forging a new Terran Empire in the heart of Kazon territory in the Delta Quadrant and adapting the Caretaker Array into a super weapon that would enable them to attack and possibly vanquish the Borg and the Krenim.
That left Intendant Kira free in that Prime Universe to betray her agreement with Nechayev and not act as a Fifth Columnist within Cell 51. Instead, Intendant Kira disappeared from Starfleet Intelligence's view. General Kira wanted her found and found now. Nechayev also wanted Intendant Kira's head on a pike. So Rear Admiral Forger had authorized Macen and Rockford's SID team to look into it. But in order to do so, they needed to do a deep dive into criminal underworlds.
Kira had tried to access her former presumed command vessel. But Intendant Ro, presuming Kira would betray her eventually, had initiated a tapeworm program that activated when she didn't give an "all clear" code every ninety days. Ro was dead now so she'd never given the code. Only the Iotian command codes still existed so Intendant Kira was locked out of Oxmyx's claimed Galaxy-class starship. Neither could she gain access to Ro's Nebula-class starship now claimed by Kracko. Intendant Kira left Iotian Federation space thoroughly defeated and humiliated. From there, she dropped out of sight.
Macen's own ex-Maquis operatives had learned Kira had spent a tenure on Kalendra b before Kalendra a, and by proxy the Kalendra Sector neighboring the Bajor and Kalandra Sectors, joined the Iotian Federation. The Intendant had fled before the official swearing in ceremony that pledged Kalendra a and Kalendra b's allegiances to the Iotian Federation, and by extension, Oxmyx herself. The various smuggling rings and cartels based off of Kalendra b were promised toleration in exchange for territorial considerations. Iotian Federation worlds were off limits to these criminal enterprises. Violation of this prohibition would result in orbital bombardment with photon torpedoes. The affected enterprises relocated. The rest continued to pay their monthly dues to Kalendra a for occupation rights. Kalendra b was exempted from the Iotian Federation's standard resource and conscription clauses. The planet didn't boast enough of either desired quality in quantity. The K-class marginal world barely supported life as it was and possessed no natural resources of note. The population were career criminals that could serve to smuggle Iotian goods to feed Federation and other stellar power vices. The population would hardly conform to Iotian Starfleet conscription standards. So Kalendra b found its own way to serve the Iotian Federation.
Now in a position of strength on Bajoran borders, the Iotians negotiated a mutual defense pact with the Bajorans. Since the Kalendra Sector also bordered Breen and Tzenkethi space as the Bajor Sector did as well, they faced similar threats. The Kalendra Sector also bordered the First Federation and the Barrinor Sector with a slim thread connecting it to the Kalandra Sector. Kalandra had finally opened its historical vaults to Federation historians and the origins of the Kalendrans and their mysterious connection to Kalandra was revealed.
Kalandra had developed two sentient races that cooperated until the development of the warp drive when competing visions of its potential sparked a civil war. The losers were exiled and made their way to Kalendra a where they eliminated a native neolithic culture. The Kalendrans dreams of empire never materialized. But their dominance over Kalendra b gave them great profit. But their neutrality had been violated too many times in the past five years, so they accepted the Iotian Starfleet's terms for protective membership.
But starship technological development had stalled on Kalendra a for the past century. So much so that the Iotians early- to mid-24th Century technologies by UFP Starfleet standards seemed vastly superior. The criminals sheltering on Kalendra b had proven to be an unreliable set of allies at best. They'd even aided and abetted a Romulan presence in the sector. But the Intendant's desired destination was unknown to the Kalendrans. So Kira's location was still unknown to Starfleet.
Nechayev pressured Forger into discovering the Intendant's location and potential threat to the Federation and to move to neutralize that same threat. To Forger it sounded more akin to the type of mission the secretive 0 Divisions engaged in. The Single 0 and Double 0 agents were a secret from the Fleet Commander and even the President and Federation Council. The only government official that knew of their existence and activities was the Secretary for Starfleet. Such had been the case since the United Earth Starfleet inherited the divisions from British Intelligence.
While Section 31 had been an open secret with the Admiralty before the CONTROL fiasco, which officially ended Section 31 as a division of Starfleet, actually drove S31 underground. It still operated with the tacit knowledge of select members of Starfleet Command but it didn't exist on paper or the Starfleet rolls. Neither did the 0 Section but they obeyed orders and didn't operate rogue operations.
0 operatives were granted licenses to kill Federation and alien citizens when ordered to. There were two hundred and fifty Single 0 agents and one hundred Double 0s. Single 0 agents operated under their code-names and their actual names, such as Lt. Commander Sarina Douglas, Agent 0212, and the Strategic Operations Officer of Deep Space Nine. Single 0s retained normal duties within Starfleet while acting as covert operatives when called upon. Double 0s assumed legends and operated under their code-names and cover names. The most infamous of all was whatever agent was assigned as James Smart, Agent 0086. The current Commander James Smart congruently held the rank of Commander in Starfleet but operated wholly independently of Starfleet Operations.
One of the few 0086s to survive to retire from field work was the 0 Sections' Director, Captain Mitchell Sheridan. The Director assumed the code-name M. The aide to every M was code-named Pennyfarthing. And every Provisioner and Assistant Provisioner were code-named P and Qute. The P Section provided advanced and proprietary equipment to 0 agents. The P Section also ran an armory of approved and issued small arms. The sidearm of choice was the Walther PPP, or Personal Phaser Pistol. It was the same weapon issued to Federation Security agents and most law enforcement agencies inside the Federation and even beyond its borders. Grimes Armaments had acquired Walther Arms in the 22nd Century and ran it as a subsidiary.
Baroness Estella Grimes was being held without charges by the Iotians. In the Federation she was wanted on multiple charges of violating the Prime Directive by arms dealing with pre-warp cultures while also arming their warp capable invaders. Grimes Armaments was a "too big to fail" corporation with the Federation so a court appointed overseer currently ran operations. Baroness Grimes' infamous vices came to be public knowledge as her personal accounts were seized and examined and her narcotics dealers and sex industry providers arrested and prosecuted.
Furthermore, deep dives into Grimes Armaments' records showed concealed sales to Cell 51 and the Cult of the Pah-wraith among other entities and organizations deemed "terrorists" by Starfleet and the Federation Security Service. While Cell 51's remnants were scattered and being sought for prosecution, the Cult was spreading despite the threat assessment from 0086 that classified the Cultists as imminent threats to the Federation. Commander Ro Laren of Starfleet Intelligence was tasked with identifying Cult activities and activists and handing that data over to Starfleet Security.
The Federation Bureau of Investigation, originally conceived of to combat terrorist threats, had been disbanded and defunded in favor of Cell 51 during its brief tenure as the Federation Council's preferred security agency. But its re-classification as a terrorist organization after it been discovered that the Vice President had been kidnapped by Cell 51 operatives rather than allow him to assume the role of President when President Auri was arrested for collaborating with Cell 51 as a terror organization.
The FBI remained shuttered and all counter-terrorism jurisdictions and operations had been handed over to Starfleet. Commodore Oh had voiced disagreement with Starfleet Intelligence assuming the principle investigative side of the operations but Security still retained enforcement powers. So Oh was mollified. Nechayev had included Intendent Kira on the terrorist watch list. But she still turned to Forger for resolution to the Kira problem.
Forger felt compelled to utilize all of her resources into finding the Intendent. It was actually Vice Admiral Johnson and Captain James McKinley of the Akira-class USS Intrepid that provided Ro with a clue as to Kira's whereabouts. The famed "Johnson touch" of diplomacy was required in the Gamma Quadrant. There, restless natives had identified Kira posing at her doppelganger, extorting vast amounts of hard currency and disappearing without the Militia living up to the promised results. General Kira utilized General Anara nd her Colonial Defense Forces to discover the confidence scheme and how it had been replayed across several systems in contact with the Bajorans.
Johnson was called in as a Starfleet mediator between Militia representatives and the fleeced natives. Meanwhile, the Bajoran Scouts were told to look for Intendent Kira and her apparently contracted mercenary army of disaffected Solarian Security Services contractors that hadn't been arrested alongside Pytor Boromov and Benton Crawford. Ro turned the sighting data over to Nechayev who relayed it to Forger.
Forger in turn handed the pertinent facts over to Macen and Rockford. The Orion Syndicate's "trading" vessels seemed to be following Kira's path. So Macen was looking those aboard the station with ties to the Syndicate. Rockford's investigation had uncovered those individuals not already under their employ and currently following the path being charted in the Gamma Quadrant. Since both Starfleet and the Militia wanted Kira stopped, arrested, and prosecuted divvying her remains up was tempting. A half-dozen aggrieved worlds also demanded satisfaction. Or at least their money back.
Through these complaints, it became apparent that Intendent Kira had made a friend out of the fugitive ex-UFP President and career confidence artist, Ardra. Ardra's schemes were the obvious money makers and her faithful bodyguard, Bortix, was the defining feature that positively identified her as the co-conspirator. She'd even resorted to old tricks and "sold" neighboring star systems to each other. Why Ardra seemed indebted to Kira was mystery. She'd absconded the Federation with over a billion bars of gold pressed latinum and created territorial disputes by "selling" off colonies and their inhabitants to paying parties.
Such affected sectors had included the colonies that now banded together as the Confederacy of Worlds and had disavowed all Federation affiliations. Something the Federation Council seemed unwilling to accept. Johnson had negotiated further talks to be conducted before the Council lost all patience and demanded a military solution. A military solution that would embroil the Iotian Federation. The Confederacy wasn't a member state of the Iotian Federation but they had purchased a protection plan as well starships from the Iotian Starfleet. The Romulans had laid claim to a single colony that now regretted inviting the Star Empire onto its world. The colonists had been enslaved and deported and the colony converted into a forward operating base for the Imperial Navy.
Both Starfleet and the Militia Scouts had made first contact with the aggrieved worlds. Intendent Kira and Ardra played up to that familiarity to fleece the planets. The descriptions of their associated starships were all commercially available Grimes Armaments' Pincer-class cruisers. Capable warships against the Militia fleets but inadequate compared to Saavik's deployed explorers. Kira and Ardra had invoked the name of both Bajor and the Federation in their swindles.
But they seemed to hunting for a specific type of world and that search criteria eluded Johnson in his investigation. But the Syndicate might provide an answer to paying parties other than Macen and Rockford. So Macen's plan was to utilize Doctors Schneider, Chopra, and Desai to broker the information from Syndicate sources seemingly in the course of their usual roles. Randle also seemed a perfect fit for such a probe.
But they would be resistant to an approach by Macen or Rockford. Mudd and Shade were also non-starters. Even Ebert was a no-go. But there were several ex-Maquis agents on the station right now. So Macen contacted them and set them in motion "recommending" adventurism in the Gamma Quadrant based upon actionable intelligence derived from the Orion Syndicate.
Schneider, Chondra, Desai, and Chopra were all presently located at Macen's favorite haunt: the Coffee Spot coffeehouse and cafe. The operators, Roberta Rolands and Nick Klaus had let Macen know the targets' habitual routine of retrieving a morning coffee and watching the Federation News Service broadcasts on padds while they were on the station. Randle frequented the local Quark's franchise. The owner-proprietor, Annabeth Frinks, was a friend from the Maquis days and could easily steer the operatives to Randle and vouch for them.
Chen Ziya, Jamie Wang, and Michelle Lin would work in tandem to approach the Coffee Spot customers. Sussa Many Hearts, Jade Lee, and Wen Sulan would approach Randle at Quark's.
Since Chondra and Desai were a partnership, Lin approached them together, "Any good news?"
"Why not grab your own padd or sit by a monitor to find out?" Chondra acerbically replied.
"She's just being friendly, Priyanka," Desai lectured her pilot/assistant, "Care to have a seat?"
"Thanks," Lin took the offer up, "I'm rarely on the station so I don't notice many people as regulars here."
"And you noticed us? Convenient," Chondra accused.
"Priyanka..." Desai said under her breath.
"What? She strolls up and wants to be friends?" Chondra asked her, "Get your head out of the clouds, Ranai."
"Actually, I had a business offer," Lin admitted.
"See?" Chondra jumped all over that.
"We're not interested right now," Desai replied coolly now.
"It's in the Gamma Quadrant," Lin told them.
"So?" Chondra was indifferent.
"Why would we be interested in the first place?" Desai asked.
"Two planets were sold to each other by a con artist. The Orion Syndicate heightened tensions by gunrunning them advanced weaponry and now they're at war. The weapons tech can deliver more brutal injuries than either side is capable of treating. There's latinum to be made here...for a qualified medical professional," Lin pointed out.
"My license was pulled," Desai reminded her.
"Desperate people don't care about licenses. And it's the frinxing Gamma Quadrant," Lin added.
"What's your humane interest?" Chondra snorted.
"I'm looking to size up the profit potential," Lin told them, "If the Syndicate is involved, there's money to be had."
"All right, we'll look into it," Desai asked, "What's your commission supposed to be?"
"I want to ride with you," Lin told them, "I have info on who started this imbroglio and there's a sizeable bounty on their heads. There's even rewards for just supplying information. I confirm they've been there, I get a payday. That's my interest. I'll give you all the information you need to get there. I just ride along."
"All right," Desai said before Chondra could object further, "I was Doctor Ranai Desai. This is Priyanka Chondra. We have medical supplies and surgical equipment aboard our ship. If this pans out, how do I contact you to tell you which airlock to report before we cast off?"
"I'm Michelle Lin. Here's my contact code," she handed off an isolinear chip, "I'll be waiting and available for your call."
Lin picked up her coffee and exited the Coffee Spot. Chondra was still skeptical, "I have my doubts about her."
"She's ex-Maquis," Desai told her, "Her and her friends stand out even on this station. I noticed them in-between stopovers. So I did some discreet inquiries. They're in good standing with the Syndicate and not so much with the Federation. If she's in the Syndicate's pipeline on this, the opportunity could be very real and very profitable."
"So let's make some calls," Chondra conceded.
Chen made contact with Schneider, "You see any opportunities in the news?"
"Go away," Scheider replied.
"Not until you hear what I have to offer," Chen sat down.
"You're annoying," Schneider began to rise.
"I can guarantee you a find unlike anything Starfleet has found in the Gamma Quadrant or since Vash came back from there," Chen told her.
Schneider sat back down, "You have two minutes of my time. Don't waste them."
"I'm Chen Ziya and you're Doctor Else Schneider. You're a rogue archaeologist in bad standing with the Archaeology Guild. But I can offer you redemption in their eyes," she told her.
"You just bought yourself an extra minute," Schneider allowed.
"The Bajorans have scoutships in the Gamma Quadrant but they don't have anyone qualified to examine or investigate ancient ruins or dead civilizations. I have contacts within the Militia and a list of planets you'd be interested in," Chen told her.
"What's your cut in this?" Schneider asked.
"Info," Chen told her, "The Orion Syndicate is shadowing two women. One purported to be a General Kira doppelganger and the other Ardra. I can see I don't need to explain who either are. I want the bounties on them. Starfleet is willing to pay just for getting pointed in the right direction. You point me and I'll collect on my own. In exchange I give you the list of planets and their spatial coordinates."
"Why don't you simply ask the Syndicate yourself?" Schneider asked, "You don't exactly present a picture of an upstanding citizen."
"I've had dealings with the Syndicate but the Dsan Cartel has a price on my head the Orion's would to collect on. So, I get the reward and pay of the blood price and you get your finds of the century," Chen told her.
"Give me a contact chip. I'll check your story out. But answer this: how is it you have contacts within the Militia?" Schneider pointedly inquired.
"I'm ex-Maquis. The Militia helped my cell out on occasion. I made friends that are now well placed," Chen shrugged.
"Like I said, I'll do some checking and either give you what you want or point the Dsan in your your direction. Fair enough?" Schneider offered as she stood up, "That's the best I can do."
"I'll take it," Chen replied.
"You don't have a choice, Chen Ziya," Schneider told her before she exited.
Jamie Wang made the approach to Doctor Saraia Chopra, "Mind if I sit?"
"Yes, actually," Chopra didn't bother looking up from her padd.
Wang sat a deity carving down in front of Chopra, "Can you identify that?"
"You obviously know who I am," Chopra was annoyed, "And you are?"
"Jamie Wang," Wang sat down, "Can you identify that?"
"No, I can't. Where's it from?" Chopra asked.
"The Gamma Quadrant," Wang explained the Militia Scout story and made the offer Chen had with Schneider. But she had a different list to offer, obtained from Ascendant missionaries, "This came from a world between Bajoran territory and Ascendant space. It's an open frontier neither police."
"Yet you happen to receive an artifact from there," Chopra sounded unconvinced.
So Wang explained her Maquis connection to the Militia, "The Scouts are finding worlds all over the stellar map. But they lack experts to investigate their findings. They're mainly concerned with natural resources and habitability."
"And you're in it for the history and science?" Chopra scoffed.
"The Orion Syndicate is going into the Gamma Quadrant," Wang told her.
"It's a big universe," Chopra retorted.
"They're following two suspects wanted by the Federation. There are rewards for just confirming the people the Orions are following are the suspects. You contact the Syndicate, get confirmation and I get the reward and you get a list of findings on different, untouched worlds," Wang dangled the offer in front of Chopra.
"You're ex-Maquis. You probably have Syndicate contacts to go with your Militia insiders. Why not simply ask them?" Chopra wondered.
"Mine have all been arrested or killed," Wang shrugged, "You make an introduction, and I'll hand over the list of coordinates and the Militia's survey results."
"Now that, I'll do," Chopra replied, "Follow me, Jamie Wang. I'm about to connect you with a sector boss."
"Take this," Wang handed over an isolinear chip, "This is all the recordings and sensor logs and stellar coordinates the Scouts have produced."
"You're trusting," Chopra was surprised, "What if I screwed the deal right now?"
"Then I'd have to kill you and get my friends to help dispose of your body," Wang confessed.
"Honest enough," Chopra chuckled, "Like I said, follow me."
So Wang did.
Moonbow moved through the station's Docking Ring to break into Randle's freighter and plant a tracker in it. They were expecting Randle to betray the Maquis dealing with her so extra insurance was being planted so the SID could discreetly follow Randle's path through the Gamma Quadrant.
Sussa Many Hearts was enjoying her drink in Quark's. She spotted Jade Lee and Wen Sulan doing the same. Moonbow dropped by to tell Many Hearts the job was done. Many Hearts turned to Frinks, "Have Travers set Lee and Wen in motion."
Annabeth Frinks was happy to help. She deployed Leighlah Travers, her most trusted server/conspirator to deliver the message to Lee and then Wen as she delivered predetermined drinks to signal the operation was underway.
Teresa Randle, as Aerie was now known, leaned against the counter with her beer set next to her. She was watching the crowd looking for marks. Freighter captains and crews frequented Quark's, on this station and wherever the franchise was located. A Quark's Express didn't attract the unsavory. She'd noticed a Bolian captain and crew looking nervous every time Aric Tulley showed up to check on Frinks' business inside the casino/bar. Randle could tell they had cargo they didn't want inspected. They also looked ready to offload it at a discount to an interested carrier.
Randle was about to make her approach when Many Hearts, Lee, and Wen made theirs, "What the frinx do you want?"
"The Bolians won't get passed Security and their illegal cargo will be found. Unless you make certain it's in your holds and your off the station within the hour," Many Hearts told her.
"We can keep Security tied up at the Bolian freighter after you receive the cargo in exchange for a consideration," Lee told her.
"What kind of deal are you looking for?" Randle was already suspicious.
"We have a friend in local trouble. You'll be headed to the Gamma Quadrant," Wen added, "You take her as far as Waypoint Station and the deal will go without a hitch."
"And how will you manage this minor miracle?" Randle snorted.
"You see that Security officer that keeps showing up?" Many Hearts asked.
"Yeah, I've noticed. He's got a thing for the bartender," Randle said caustically.
"He's also ex-Maquis, like us," Wen told her.
"So, we have an in with Security. We give the word and the search and seizure will be delayed long enough to get your cargo transferred. And every ship departs the station without any arrests being made," Lee told her.
"Fine. I'll take your friend to Waypoint Station. But that's as far as it goes," Randle grated.
"Go make your deal with the captain," Many Hearts offered, "We'll make contact with Security and delay the Customs inspection."
"Our friend will meet you in the Docking Ring," Lee told Randle.
"How do you know which ship is mine?" Randle asked out of irritation.
"We've always known," Wen replied, "Your reputation proceeds you, Captain Randle."
"Your references say you can be trusted to deliver your cargo or passengers," Many Hearts stated.
"And there aren't many Fabrini wandering the galaxy," Lee smirked.
"So we decided to trust you with our friend," Wen completed the thought.
"If you have this much pull, what kind of 'local' trouble are we looking at?" Randle was cautious now.
"Let's just say you want to clear the system in a hurry and avoid Federation space," Many Hearts told her.
"Greeeaaaat," Randle groaned, "I hate you all already."
"Go get your cargo," Wen insisted, "Before the Bolians have nervous breakdowns."
"They'd sell their mothers out to avoid the detention cells," Lee assessed.
"I'll deal with them. Just have your friend at the Docking Ring, cargo bay five in one hour. She's even five minutes late and I'll already be gone," Randle advised them.
Randle went to make the deal with the Bolians and the Maquis operatives met with Moonbow. Many Hearts informed her the mission was a success, "But what are you going to do once you reach Waypoint?"
"I have a contact on Waypoint that can provide me with real time reports from the Militia Scouts," Moonbow told them, "Macen wants that data stream. I'll be there to provide it."
"Macen is on good terms with the Militia," Lee reminded Moonbow, "Why would he need your contact?"
"Because the Militia is withholding real time data until its been examined by Militia Command and Bajoran Intelligence," Moonbow explained, "Macen wants the raw, unfiltered version. I can get that."
"How close of a contact is this?" Wen was curious.
"Let's say I know that Bajoran men have ridges in other locations than their noses," Moonbow laughed and made her way back to the Docking Ring.
"I need to date Bajorans," Many Hearts wistfully opined.
"You and me both," Lee agreed.
"I'd be happy with something or someone that doesn't run on batteries at this point," Wen admitted.
"You checked out, Chen. So here's your data chip. You have mine?" Schneider asked.
"Right here. Even exchange?" Chen asked.
"That was the deal," Schneider agreed.
"Good luck," Chen wished Schneider.
"I don't need luck," Schneider confidently countered as she strode off.
Lin met Chondra and Desai at their docking airlock. Their ship was a traveling hospital. She was impressed and admitted it.
"We're prepared for most kinds of skirmishes," Desai said after giving a brief tour while Chondra got then departure clearance, "And this drab utilitarian looking near closet will be your quarters."
"I've slept in worse," Lin admitted, "Thanks."
"We'll be getting underway any minute now. The inertial damper is a little sluggish so getting ready for some g forces," Desai warned her.
"Again, been in worse," Lin confided, "But thanks for the warning."
"You certainly travel light," Desai admitted as she moved off to take inventory of her supplies to ascertain if she needed to stock up on anything when they reached the Bajor system.
Chopra delivered the isolinear chip with the data Wang had asked for. Then she asked a question that had eluded her attention before, "Any potential hostiles where I'm headed?"
"None that the Ascendant or Militia have detected or encountered," Wang assured her, "You should have your privacy."
"Good to know," Chopra went her own way.
"So I'm smuggling you to Waypoint?" Randle asked Moonbow as she verified the cargo transporter transfer of the Bolians' unwanted contraband.
"Smuggle is such a loaded term," Moonbow told her, "Let's say we're slipping passed searching eyes."
"There a reward out for you?" Randle asked.
"Not that I'm aware of. Just a classic arrest warrant," Moonbow told Randle.
"Damn. I was hoping to collect if this cargo doesn't pan out," Randle laughed, "Come aboard. Everything is routed to my station but I have an Aux station for passengers that want a view. No spare quarters. Just a hammock in the drive section."
"I'm not planning on being aboard long enough to need sleep," Moonbow admitted.
"Even better," Randle valued her privacy while she committed crimes.
Lower Pylon Two was the permanent docking port for the Nova-class SS Obsidian. Admiral Forger had recently demanded that the ship carry dual registry in both Barrinoran space and the Federation. Something that annoyed her sister, who was the commanding officer for the Obsidian.
"Amanda must have a bug up her butt," Captain Shannon Forger complained, "Even Macen and Rockford are operating in the dark here."
Joelle Jones served as Executive Officer and took a seat beside Forger's. Jones was an experience hand with both freighters and starships. She'd been a Maquis. One that endorsed Michael Eddington's biogenic weapons program in opposition to Ro Laren and Macen. The acrimony had driven a wedge between the three. Ro and Macen had considered Jones complicit in mass murder. Jones had considered the pair to be hopeless and helpless idealists. Yet Ro and Macen had each made pacts with Starfleet in exchange for pardons for their cell and ship's crews. Ro was returned to Jaros II before being rehabilitated in Starfleet's eyes. Macen avoided court-martial and resigned to found Outbound Ventures.
But Jones, whose crew smuggled and provided security for smugglers, eventually paired off with each other or newcomers and retired. Jones tried civilian life and grew bored of it. So she showed up at one of Caity Floss' recruiting drives for Outbound Ventures. She caught Forger's eye and was interviewed to be her XO. Jones had initially wanted a new command but now she'd refused two offers of independent commands to stay in the SID link. She'd also been amazed to discover Macen recommended her to Forger. That ended their enmity.
Edwin Zimbalist was the OPS officer originally from Mars. Jaycee Miller was the Tactical Officer and a native of the Federation colony of Brison VII. Aglaia was a Platonian who left her world to become the CONN Officer. Galen 3 was from Eminiar VII and the Chief Sciences Officer over a three-man department not including himself. Gilan was the Deputy Chief Engineer from Gideon. Jelena Kovic was the Chief Security Officer. That rounded out the Senior Staff.
Aeryn Black was a recent addition as Second Officer. Celine Jones was the Assistant Deputy Chief Engineer. Abby Collins was the Deputy Chief of Security. They were representative of the ship's crew complement. Unlike the senior officers, they weren't cleared for SID briefings. They'd been vetted in order to serve aboard the Obsidian by Starfleet Security and Intelligence but they weren't privy to any information that didn't regard the operations of the starship..
The heart of the premier SID team was a cohort of agents unattached to ship's functions. The team was an independent command within the bulkheads. Forger and the Senior Staff only received that information Macen and Rockford felt they needed to support the mission parameters. Except for Joelle Jones, they'd all come up through the ranks under Macen's command when he was captain of the Obsidian. Forger herself had risen from Tactical Officer, to XO, to command of the ship.
Macen had assembled Riker's Operations team from the Maquis. The Strategic Operations Officer was Sveta Korepanova, the mastermind behind the Maquis' Architect program. Architect had developed the strategic aims and planning for the Maquis movement before the team's true nature was discovered by then-Major Kira and Constable Odo and arrested at their public offices aboard Deep Space Nine. The Architect planners also contracted out to the Bajoran Militia and many within Militia Special Forces despised Kira and Odo for their being forced to allow Starfleet to arrest Korepanova and her planners.
Kristiana Liu, the Logistics Officer, had been a Starfleet Operations officer TDY with Rear Admiral Elijah Water of Starfleet Intelligence in setting up the Demilitarized Zone Cargo and Courier Agency. Nechayev asked Waters to come of retirement to be Macen's handler and to pay the Maquis fee-for-services rendered in delivering cargo and packages to enable them to legitimately be in range of their intended target and earn latinum doing so. Waters had a legitimately civilian staff as well that handled routine cargo runs. Liu handled the Maquis operations.
After Waters' death at the hands of Section 31, Liu took over but Starfleet Intelligence shut the operation down and Liu became a fugitive from Federation justice. Korepanova and Liu were called up to recreate a limited Architect program during the Dominion War to handle Ro and Macen's behind enemy lines operations. Those operations involved Rab Daggit and a platoon of Angosian Augments. Their participation earned Angosia IV its delayed entrance into the Federation.
Lisea Danan, Riker's Exec and the Head of the Sciences Department, was a former Starfleet stellar cartographer and then Starfleet Intelligence officer serving the Maquis cause beside Macen, who she was romantically linked to at the beginning of the mission. Danan served out the Dominion War far from the front lines using observatories to gather intelligence on enemy fleet movements. After the war, she joined Outbound Ventures and eventually married Riker.
Danan oversaw a small team of scientific specialists in support of the corporate operations and investigations. Galen 3 and his team were largely the only Sciences team assigned to a corporate starship, even a SID starship. So Danan assigned specialists to starships as needed.
Other ex-Maquis that served in Ops were Christine Noble, the Gamma Watch Duty Officer. Noble alternately captained the Blackbird-class starship SS Solstice when called upon. Her entire crew, excluding Sito Jaxa, were all former Maquis. Sito had been Riker's XO after liberation from the Kodosh II Cardassian prison.
Christine Lacey was another former member of Macen's SS Odyssey crew and a member of the Solstice crew as well Serenity's Tactical Officer. Macen's engineers, Tom Eckles and Heidi Darcy, now served at the corporate drydock and Station Operations under the Cardassian lead engineer, Merik Cardan. They were also Solstice crew when needed to be. Their expertise in the Blackbird-class because of their years aboard the Odyssey making them invaluable assets. Aric Tulley, Emjin Thool, and Elfi Hendryks, from Ro's Maquis cell on Ronara Prime, rounded out Maquis serving as station and starship crew for Serenity and the Solstice.
Thomas Darcy, the Alpha Quadrant boss, and Treir, the Beta Quadrant boss, were personally overseeing expansion efforts from Waypoint Station. Serving as their point agent was the recently exiled from the station, Miranda Wells. Wells led the Orion merchant fleet following in Intendent Kira and Ardra's wake. Wells oversaw operations from the renegade captain and crew seized armed yacht, Baroness Estella Grimes' War Profits.
While Johnson handled the diplomacy, McKinley and the crew of Intrepid monitored the Syndicate's progress. The ship's Tactical and Chief of Security officer, Lt. Commander Ian Delaney, closely worked with the Staff Intelligence Officer, Lt. Commander Jennifer Marie Massoli, in tracking the Syndicate's deployments under Wells' direction. Gerrit Gren, Serenity's Chief of Security, forwarded the results of the investigative work put in by his Deputy Chiefs of Security, Radil Jenrya and Sito Jaxa, regarding the former manager of the station's Quark's. Wells had served as Quark's personal liaison with the Orions. But he'd burned her when she was arrested. Gomer demanded her extradition and paid for it from the banking cartels on Barrinor.
While Johnson endeavored to end the war between conflicting systems who each claimed "legitimate" ownership of each other, Deasai and Chondra sat down and set up shop. Lin covertly reported in with Johnson and explored what kind of operations he needed accomplished without either side's realizing it. Moonbow set down on the opposing world and also contacted Johnson. The Vice Admiral admired Macen and Rockford pluck for sending two seemingly innocuous agents to be at his deniable disposal. If they were caught, it would be as private citizens, not Starfleet contracted operatives. Johnson readily understood the former Maquis were experts in such work.
The Obsidian set sail after Randle's departure. The homing beacon aboard her ship insured their finding her. Meanwhile they'd awaited a prisoner transfer. Solarian Captain Moira Taggert was put at the team's service. In exchange for helping talk down the Solarian commanders, Taggert would get years off of her penal sentence. Taggert was fortunate that Admiral Forger had use of her. Taggert's role in the annihilation of civilian lives on the Bajoran Plantation colonies and Prime Directive violations in the Algona Sector had earned her a twenty-five to life sentence. Now, Taggert would-be eligible for parole in ten years.
The disgraced former Federation Security agent and Solarian contractor knew that any violation of her agreement would result in the removal of her deal as well as her original eligibility for parole in twenty-five years. Still, Kovic assigned her a two-person escort and she slept in the brig. Kovic and Collins had read the trial transcripts and Taggert was the lone Solarian who took personal responsibility for her actions in both affairs. Her immediate boss, Pytor Boromov, had laid blame on Grimes. But Harcourt Fenton Mudd III and Harry Mudd IV along with Thadiun Okona, had rolled on Boromov and described in great detail how he'd recruited them into the gunrunning operation and Boromov's, not Grime's, oversight of it. Grimes was stoned most of the time.
Mudd Kenra had been extradited from Cardassia Prime to Bajor following her damning testimony of how she made the cooperation arrangements between the Cult of the Pah-wraiths and Guls Maret and Macet. Their death sentences and been predetermined by the court but Mudd Kenra's testimony undercut Maret and Macet's anti-Bajoran rhetoric with their willingness to work beside and for a Bajoran born cult. That testimony lost them all remaining credibility with their civilian adherents on Cardassia Prime and her colony worlds. Extremist elements within the Central Command and Detepa Council itself were another matter.
Mudd Kenra was tried and convicted of treason against the Bajoran Republic for her efforts to bolster and aide the Cult's threat to Bajoran security. Mudd Kenra was spared the death penalty for a life in prison. There was no possibility of parole and she had to endure civics and religious teaching from the prylar assigned to the prison ministry and the vedek that came for religious services on a weekly basis. For Mudd Kenra, she regretted not having been executed. It seemed a fate worse than death.
Macen received an update preceding his entry into the Gamma Quadrant from Admiral Forger, "There was an interesting chain of events leading to a strange crossing into the Gamma Quadrant."
"Define 'strange'," Macen requested.
"Spacedock recorded a transdimensional transporter effect like that used by the Terran Rebellion. Nine Terrans crossed over, stole a Type 6 shuttle, and seemingly vanished for two weeks," Forger went on to explain, "Since then, the Terra Nova Starfleet Depot reported finding the shuttle in place of the USS Zuerich, one of the last Blackbird-class scouts to be constructed and later decommissioned."
"So you think nine Terrans stole the ship and are joyriding across the Alpha Quadrant?" Macen wondered where this was headed.
"Deep Space Nine recorded the Zuerich going through the Wormhole before the theft report reached them," Forger went on, "The Bajoran Militia later reported the ship laid over at Waypoint Station. There, they accessed Starfleet Intelligence files through the Bajoran Intelligence's link with Starfleet. Their inquiry concentrated on everything Starfleet knew about Intendants Ro and Kira, their disposition, and current whereabouts. The Zuerich then departed in chase of the Solarian ships we believe are carrying the Intendant."
"Happy hunting, I say," Macen glibly remarked, "Their success would reduce my paperwork."
"Kira needs to answer for crimes against the Federation," Forger insisted, "Not the Terran Empire."
"I thought Alynna was protecting her. She was supposed to be this great asset against Cell 51," Macen snorted.
"She burned Nechayev and Ro both," Forger replied grimly, "Then she went on a murder spree posing as General Kira on her way to recruiting Solarian forces for her Gamma Quadrant endeavor. Marko Vilnius wants those ships and crews detained and prosecuted with the ships returned to the corporation."
"And now we have the truth," Macen shook his head, "Why is Nechayev propping up Solarian all of a sudden?"
"Admiral Nechayev's reasons are her own," Forger stiffly replied.
"Meaning you don't know," Macen reasoned it out.
"My official ties to Admiral Forger are strained at the moment as she casts about for a replacement. Janeway rejected her offer," Forger explained, "Nechayev simply feels her time in Starfleet Intelligence is done."
"But she needs a like-minded custodian to protect her legacy," Macen understood now, "And those are in short supply. Especially within her own ranks."
"I see you recognize the problem. Starfleet Command is woefully short of admirals who see things as she wishes them to. She's even repeating Vice Admiral Edward Noyce's efforts to select a command-level officer to be promoted to Commodore to succeed her. Needless to say, the two Rear Admirals beneath her in Operations and Analysis are kicking up a hornet's nest over that," Forger explained.
"The admirals in Starfleet Security eventually bowed before Noyce's selection of Captain Oh as his successor. Nechayev's department heads will as well," Macen predicted.
"Except Nechayev isn't grooming a captain. She's focusing on Commander Michelle Prentiss from IA," Forger sighed, "She'd have to be promoted two ranks in order to be qualified for the position according to the Starfleet Charter."
"But Prentiss has a proven track record," Macen shrugged, "It's within Akaar's purview as Fleet Admiral to personally promoted Prentiss from commander over captain straight to commodore."
"Clancy's elevating Oh to prominence over the Rear Admirals in Starfleet Security's divisions certainly set the precedent but Oh was already a captain by that point. Something Prentiss can't claim. Nechayev is making her pitch to Akaar but I've heard through third-party sources he's resistant in the fact of internal opposition," Forger told him.
"Meaning Clancy, Oh, and their partisans," Macen said ruefully.
"You have a succinct grasp of the politics," Forger sighed.
"Normally Elias and Laren would be her first choices," Macen understood all too well, "But General Kira has made it clear that if Captain Vaughn isn't in command of DS9 then the Militia will assume full control of the station. And Commander Ro's rehabilitation terms prohibit her from assuming a command or even being promoted above her current grade."
"You do have a firm grasp on this. Although, Vaughn shouldn't have shared that detail without permission. It's considered 'classified' by Starfleet Security," Forger remarked.
"Since when has that stopped anyone in our little cabal?" Macen wondered.
"Your astute grasp of Starfleet politics makes me wonder why you refuse to understand why Starfleet wants the Terrans not only deterred but detained and returned to their universe," Forger said.
"That's a slippery slope for us to engage in," Macen warned her.
"But it keeps up appearances," Forger replied.
"And if they refuse to go?" Macen asked.
"Be persuasive," Forger cut the communication short at that point. Macen understood Forger's preference but at the same time, his own El-Aurian perception of space-time didn't detect a breach in the causality of the universe. The Terrans were meant to be here. Which begged the question of why Terran imperial agents needed to be in this Prime Universe?
They certainly hadn't been brought through the Nexus Ribbon as so many others had been recently. Even Captain James T. Kirk's emergence from an unknown parallel universe was pre-determined by the Prophets of Bajor. The Wormhole constructing aliens in their Celestial Temple saw a need for Kirk in the protection of Bajor and her colonies. All despite his being given command of the Protostar-class USS Pulse and sent on a five-year exploration mission in the Delta Quadrant.
Yet Kirk, before being given that command by Starfleet, accompanied Captain Chakotay in returning to Bajor to help defend the world from Starfleet invaders. Macen knew that Kirk would soon be encountering other potential threats to the Federation and the Bajoran Republic. Perhaps that's why he was caught in the Prophets' net. Kirk's ingenuity in dealing with hostile races was as famed as his tactical skills. He'd need both.
Macen served in the El-Aurian Survey Corps for over three hundred years before coming to the Federation as a refugee aboard the ill-fated SS Lakul. Macen had served aboard as Second Officer, filling a personnel gap to pay for the El-Aurian passengers fares. During his time in the Survey Corps he'd explored worlds as an Anthropology and Archaeology Officer.
So in 2303, ten years after his arrival in the Federation, Macen applied to Starfleet's Officer Candidate Program. He graduated the ninety day course as a lieutenant JG and assigned to a starship as Lt. Commander Idaho Smith's assistant A&A Officer. Doctor Jones, as he preferred to be called was the one to recommend Macen to Starfleet Intelligence after noting Macen's affinity for Cardassian history and culture after First Contact and exploring failed Cardassian colonies.
Macen rose to head the Cardassian Desk in Starfleet Intelligence's Cardassian Desk. It was from there that he was selected by Captain Alynna Nechayev to be trained, if he volunteered, as a field agent as well as an analyst in a pilot program as the Border Wars with the Cardassian Union had erupted. Lt. Commander Elias Vaughn personally trained Macen. Macen and Vaughn undertook several missions together, including being captured and escaping Cardassian custody together.
By the time the twenty-year border conflict was resolved by treaty terms establishing a Demilitarized Zone, Commander Macen had been in the field, living with the besieged colonists for twenty-years. As the Maquis formed up under Commander Calvin Hudson, the Starfleet colonial liaison for those Federation colonists remaining within the DMZ colonies, Macen was selected by Vice-Admiral Nechayev to pose as a freelance "information broker", parlance for "spy", and offer his services to the Maquis in general and to keep track of Cal Hudson and Lieutenant Ro Laren in particular.
Accompanied by Danan, Macen formed a crew for the Odyssey from a ragtag band of civilians. He struck up a friendship with Ro and told her about his official sanction by Starfleet. But Starfleet had the sent wrong agent to undermine the Maquis. Macen's loyalties were with the settlers. So Nechayev changed tactics and used Macen to steer the Maquis to dealing with common Cardassian threats. Waters and Liu also became true believers in the Maquis cause as well.
Hudson's death and Eddington's ascension not only changed how the Maquis fought but also ostracized Ro and the entire Ronara Prime Maquis cell. It splintered the cell as Tulley defected and took a dozen newer recruits with him to assist Eddington's total war by any means agenda. In the end, just prior to the Jem'Hadar purging the DMZ, Ro's cell was captured by Starfleet. Only Ro, Elfi Hendryks, and the Bolian engineer, Thool, had escaped in Ro's Ju'day-class Maquis raider. Macen and the Odyssey crew escaped as well.
Ro enlisted in the Bajoran Militia and received a lieutenant's commission. Macen returned to Starfleet Intelligence as the Dominion War began. After the liberation of Deep Space Nine, Ro and Macen concocted a behind the lines mission profile. Hendryks, Thool, Ebert, Eckles, Lacey, and Darcy would assist them and their Angosian volunteers. Macen had the Odyssey released back into his custody. Ro received a decommissioned Newton-class science vessel, the USS Asimov, re-flagged as a civilian vessel.
Assisting them off and on were Major Anara of Militia Special Forces and Neela, Kai Winn's chosen personal agent aboard the Karemma license built troop transport, the Ark of the Prophets. Tom Riker had escaped after transferred from Lazon II to Kodosh II. Macen outfitted him with a small shipyard and Maquis survivors as crews for former Maquis Ju'day-, Ma'jel-, and Peregrine-class raiders to serve as courier and smuggling vessels. Riker himself received a decommissioned Bonaventure-class starship from the turn of the 23rd Century. The starship class was the successor to the NX (refit)-class and the precursor of the Mercury- and Asia-classes. Riker named her the SS Iron Boots.
The war ended. Ro's agreement with Starfleet to obtain pardons for her entire cell, was that she resign her Militia commission and surrender to Starfleet. Macen ended up resigning after a few useless assignments. He took the monies made as a freelance spy and formed Outbound Ventures. Riker sold his shipyard to Eckles, Darcy, and Lacey and joined Macen.
Here, history diverged amongst parallel universes. But in the Prime Universe Macen's company was successful enough to expand to include other starships and crews as well as build the Nor-class Cardassian space station as a corporate headquarters in the Brsknir system containing the banking cartel world of Barrinor and its colony, Odin. Serenity Station was built in Odin's orbit. Barrinor had been a late 22nd Century Earth colony in barely charted Alpha Quadrant territory. The colony broke from the United Federation of Planets when it became a cashless society. Barrinor's banking cartels refused to give up their lucrative trade.
When Outbound Ventures secured the SID retainer and starship commanders and crews were vetted for contractor status by Starfleet Security and Intelligence, the corporation, headed by CEO Kathy Tyrol, quickly discovered demand far exceeded their capacity to provide services, even after the merger with the Rockford Detective Agencies. Macen initially only bought twenty-five premium line starships from the Iotian Starfleet. But soon, Tyrol returned to purchasing more while Fleet Admiral Clancy choked off their supply of decommissioned Starfleet vessels. The decision to expand purchases into the original design Asia- and Constitution-class standard line starships hadn't been made lightly. Neither had been the purchases of Constitution Phase II-, Enterprise-, and Interceptor-class starships.
Macen and Rockford received the most difficult SID missions. That rarified status also exempted them and the crew from wearing the corporate SID uniform based upon the Starfleet uniform circa 2255-2269. Standard corporate and station uniform was based upon the United Earth Starfleet jumpsuit. Even the Divisional color scheme was retained. As such, the Operations team aboard Serenity wore the SID uniform while standard employees wore corporate livery.
It also meant they addressed Forger's greatest concerns. Ardra, as a wanted Federation fugitive, was an obvious choice. But Intendant Kira seemed more of a Bajoran credibility problem then a concern to Starfleet. The Federation Security Service had her as the chief suspect of several key murders. Solarian's rogue operators were also a Starfleet problem. But Kira remained a mystery. Why did she pose a continued threat to the Federation in the Gamma Quadrant? And why block Terrans sent to deal with Kira rather than allow them to pursue their obvious mission and return to the Terran Universe? Stealing a decommissioned starship and a shuttle were non-violent crimes.
Starfleet had been paranoid regarding the Terran Universe since the Terran Gabriel Lorca had assumed command of the USS Discovery. The existence of the Discovery and her sister ship as well that of her crew and Emperor Philippa Georgiou assuming this universe's place and joining Section 31 in the Black Top Secret files that officially didn't exist regarding the CONTROL incident were known to Macen. Starfleet had destroyed all evidence of the ship and crew but S31 had retained its files. So when the SID was formed and took over Section 31's London Data Archive headquarters, the files became known again. Starfleet locked down all of S31's files so that only select officers were granted access to them.
Forger was one such officer. She in turn granted access to Macen and Ro. It was interesting reading but still didn't explain Starfleet's total paranoia regarding Terrans. Even their seeming ease of infiltrating Deep Space Nine and stealing starship plans at leisure didn't warrant the amount of security measures that had been put in place to deal with Terrans. Not Alliance forces but simply Terrans.
If half as many security measures were in place to deal with Romulan infiltrators then there would hardly be any in the Federation at much less Starfleet. The Alliance, with forces sent under Intendants Kira and Ro, had destablized relations of the Federation, Klingons, and Cardassians across the Alpha and Beta Quadrants. It had also proven that the Alliance had discovered a way to transport entire starships across the divide between universes. The Terran Empire, by Section 31's own accounts, was a decade behind the Federation in starship designs and further back then that in basic replicator technology.
The Terran Rebellions fusion with the remnant Terran Empire had proven to soften the apartheid system the Terrans employed before the Alliance formed against them. But the empire kept its name and basic prejudices, only hardened by the Alliance. So politically the Terran Empire was a gentler version of its former self, but the average Imperial was as racist as before. But the rebels had fought and died beside aliens. So they exacted a toll to hand over technology and support to the empire. Slavery was no longer tolerated in the Terran Empire. But the emperor had to be human. Aliens were granted equality within Starfleet and native governors could serve at the Emperor's behest, but none could rise to the central throne.
Macen had to wonder if the appearance of nine human Terrans together at Spacedock was significant or just an assumption made by imperials that humans would control the hub of Starfleet's operations around Earth. Whatever the case, the nine Terrans had immediately penetrated Starfleet Security and Starfleet Intelligence files on Kira's whereabouts. So the nine had to have doppelgangers in Starfleet. Doppelgangers with clearance. Macen shot off a request for the personnel jackets of the Prime Universe doppelgangers to get a glimpse of what the Terrans could look like.
The minimal staffing requirements of the Blackbird- and Barracuda-classes would make them optimal for such a pursuit. But an Emden-class escort would have maximized the raw firepower brought into the eventual fray. Macen checked with the Terra Nova Depot records and found no Emden- or Barracuda-class starships had been stored there at the time of the thefts. The Zuerich happened to be the sole remaining Blackbird-class scoutship in their inventory.
Commercial scouting interests had taken the scoutships while colonial defense forces had received the escorts. But, even with its weapons systems still active, the starship would need ordnance and phaser coils to operate as a weapon. So Macen began looking for thefts of such items from Starfleet armories or depots. None were reported. Starbases also reported full inventories. So he filtered traffic reports to discover an Iotian tender traveling through the Zuerich's path carrying those specific items. The tender was reported returning to the Beta Quadrant shortly thereafter. So the Terran Empire, learning from the Alliance, had visited Oxmyx and Kracko and scheduled a supply run.
Macen knew he hadn't been the only one to put the puzzle together. Too many SID analysts had accessed the same records recently for it to go undiscovered. The Iotians' current fleet was owed to stolen imperial starship designs provided by the Intendents. These vessel types weren't for sale yet. Macen doubted the modern Iotian fleets possessed the same level of medical technology as the Federation versions had given the Terran Empire's emphasis on weaponry.
So the Terrans stole a decommissioned starship because their command codes would work and they were already familiar with the design technology. It was a well laid out and perfectly executed plan. According to Forger, the Terrans also had a head start on the Obsidian. The Terrans obviously intended to use Starfleet's exploratory forces to find Kira. Their level of access meant they could eavesdrop on official reports and communiques. But Macen had the advantage of having unrestricted access to the Militia's reports through General Kira. Knowing they were pursuing the Intendant among others, General Kira would give the SID free rein to access Militia security channels.
Outbound Ventures remained one of the Militia's most valued allies, working for the Republic at cost when security needs mounted and the corporation's presence was required. Outbound Ventures also provided Neela, her crew, and starship unlimited support. That included financial support for expenses incurred on foreign worlds and housing on Serenity. Kira would never know why Bajoran security was such a priority to Macen and Rockford but she was grateful for it. It was enough that General Anara of the Colonial Defense Forces knew because of Neela.
Starfleet and the Militia Scouts sought two different kinds of worlds. Starfleet looked for advanced cultures to befriend. The Scouts looked for uninhabited but habitable worlds or low density populated worlds amenable to a Bajoran colony. The Bajorans were already sharing the colony of New B'Hala. The original all-Bajoran settlement had been slaughtered by misguided Ascendant forces. Before their "Emissary" came to true belief and sense of purpose in the Prophets. Iliana Ghemor had been delivered to them but she'd retained her hatred of Bajorans and the Ascendant were fearful of them, having been conquered by Bajora heretics thousands of years ago.
Now Ghemor and the Ascendancy were the Bajoran Republic's strongest allies in the Gamma Quadrant. Recent tensions with Starfleet, including the joint Starfleet-Orion Syndicate bloodbath and seizure on Waypoint Station had only heightened strained relations frayed since the war the Federation waged against the Bajoran Republic. Now the Militia went from a broad acceptance of Starfleet to dealing with select people. Captain Vaughn and Commodore Saavik were among them. DS9's Senior Staff and the crew of the Defiant could never forget they served at Colonel Cenn Desca's forbearance. What had begun as a Starfleet led mission aboard the station was now a Militia led operation with Starfleet welcome in passing but permanent personnel transfers had to be approved by Cenn.
Recently promoted to dal, Zivan Slaine served as a Cardassian Guard exchange officer with the Militia aboard the station. Vaughn allowed her aboard the Defiant as well. Despite Starfleet's continued protests, Vaughn maintained a mixed forces crew aboard the station's outrigger. Militia officers served posts in the Cardassian Guard as well. Kira and Supreme Legate Malyn Ocett had pioneered the initiative together. Now a dozen officers from each military served with the other side's
The Colonial Defense Forces' defense of Cardassia Prime had allowed Ocett and her Damar-class dreadnoughts to return from the Dorvan Sector to deal a final blow against Gul Maret's rebellion. Now Maret awaited execution. His co-conspirator, Gul Macet, had also been captured, tried, convicted, and sentenced to death. But their supporters had simply fled outward to lord it over the Subject Worlds that Castellan Rekena Garan had slowly been granting independence to. Ocett was too busy insuring her remaining forces were truly loyal to liberate the re-enslaved planetary populations.
Garan had used Starfleet Special Operations Command units to suppress insurrectionist activities on the worlds that were impatient for further and faster reforms. Garan now gambled that those same worlds would be too grateful to be liberated from their oppressors to rise up against the legitimate Cardassian Union forces and prefects. The Detepa Council knew that simply liberating the Subject Worlds would pacify discontent. But a further set of reforms had been derailed by the civil war. The evolving security situation would determine the speed at which those reforms were passed.
Macen's office door slid open. He maintained an open door policy where any team member could enter at leisure without petitioning for entrance. To his delight, Rockford leaned up against the door post, "Miss me?"
"Terribly," he admitted.
"Amanda Forger paged me. She's asking that you stop pulling so many reports so fast from her analysts," Rockford chuckled, "She then hated the fact I had them pull everything for me too."
"Good for you," Macen appreciated the humor behind her mood, "So you saw the same patterns in the Terrans?"
"Without the context behind the why of what you're looking into it," Rockford took a seat on the couch, "Forger said to ask you."
So he explained and she was as perplexed as he was, "Intendent Kira is a problem from their universe. Why not let them deal with her?"
"I know, right? She's a war criminal in the Terran Empire's eyes. It's better to let them have her," Macen agreed.
"So, how are they getting home?" Rockford asked.
"I was assuming they brought an interdimensional transporter modification module with them to use on the Zuerich's transporter," Macen admitted.
"Assumptions kill. And the transporter log from Spacedock had them with just the clothes on their back," Rockford pointed out his oversight, "Unless Kira has a module, this is a one-way trip for them."
"And Starfleet is terrified of having one Terran in this universe much less nine of them," He understood now.
"The odds of them staying put in the Gamma Quadrant and not returning to the Alpha and Beta Quadrants is pretty slim," Rockford sighed.
"They got lucky with Georgiou. She at least absorbed some of the Federation ethos. Nine war hardened Terrans are less likely adapt as she did," Macen concurred.
"How long until we crossover to the Gamma Quadrant?" Rockford asked.
"We already have. Four hours ago. We're moving out of Waypoint Station's feed from the Alpha Quadrant so we're going to start experiencing comm buoy lag," Macen grinned, "I was about to contact Jim McKinley and get an update on the developing situation they're facing. Plus Lin and Moonbow are on the scene. So I can get situation reports from them as well."
"You and your Maquis operatives," Rockford groaned.
"I'll transfer the signal to the wall monitor so you can join in," Macen told her.
"You'd better," Rockford warned him.
It took dealing with a haggard looking junior officer to get McKinley on a screen from his Ready Room, "Brin, Celeste. Always a pleasure. How can I help?"
"How're things progressing?" Macen asked.
"Terribly," McKinley admitted, "Both sides fanatically believe their sales receipt is the genuine article. They found a single issue to unite behind and that's the idea that Bob and Starfleet are to swindle them somehow. They've both launched ships to detain us. Liefers has Grace and her other squadron on constant deployment to keep the ships back."
Lt. Commander Elizabeth "Liz" Liefers was the Flight Operations Officer in command of the Intrepid's twin fighter squadrons. Lt. Commander Hannah Grace was Alpha Squadron's flight leader. Grace was also a Kelvan and capable of of superhuman feats. She was Delaney's wife atop it all. Once upon a time, Grace had been a member of the SID team. That had ended badly for everyone involved. Life was much simpler now.
"How are my people doing? Has Bob found a use for them?" Macen asked.
"Lin and Moonbow are reluctantly operating under Delaney and Massoli's direction. They're still Maquis through and through and resent the hell out of taking orders from Starfleet," McKinley almost smiled.
"Trust me, I'll hear about," Macen groaned, "But they're cooperating?"
"For now," McKinley confirmed it.
"How are they being accepted by the natives?" Rockford wondered.
"Federation and other stellar nations have merchantmen following Starfleet and the Militia's progress through the Gamma Quadrant. So everyone assumes Lin and Moonbow are traders. They're playing up to it," McKinley reported.
"It's a cover they use all the time," Macen conceded, "How are Doctor Desai and Chondra's services being accepted?"
"Desai has already treated patients in the capitals of both warring planets and is shuttling back and forth between them. I don't think their limited amount of med supplies will last much longer though," McKinley said, "There's a real need here."
"They can resupply at Waypoint," Macen told McKinley, "The Militia stockpiles medical supplies for the colonies as well for sale to passing ships."
"I'll let Lin pass the word since she's proven herself to them," McKinley offered, "I wish I had better news."
"Did you happen to spot the USS Zuerich over the last day or so?" Macen asked.
"They went through the system and ignored our hails. We thought maybe she was one of yours. So the behavior seemed odd," McKinley admitted.
"It's a long story but Starfleet Command wants the crew detained," Rockford told McKinley, "Personally I think it's an overreaction to stealing a shuttle and then a decommissioned starship."
"That can't be the whole story," McKinley didn't buy it.
"See if you can get Command to tell you the whole story. Otherwise we've hit the limit of what we can share," Macen said sadly.
"They'd damn well better tell me after wetting my appetite like this," McKinley said sourly.
"I'm just surprised no one thought to tell you to be on the lookout for them," Rockford confessed.
"Now I'm really irritated," McKinley told them, "I have a few words to exchange with Starfleet Command."
"We'll leave you to it then," Macen signed off.
"Jim's pissed," Rockford whistled.
"He should be," Macen felt for him, "Meanwhile, Shannon should have received Solarian's course out of the system from Delaney and Massoli by now."
A familiar vibration passed through the bulkheads and Rockford grinned, "We're back to warp speed."
"But headed where?" Macen wondered as he pulled the helm's course setting and compared it to Randle's homing beacon signal, "We seem to still be following Captain Randle."
"You honestly think Randle can buy her way to Kira?" Rockford wondered.
"The payout is worth it," Macen told her, "Randle is looking pretty desperate for a big score since her last outing with Harri."
"She has a blood debt with the Breen. She might be trying to buy her way out of it," Rockford had done some digging into Randle's recent past.
"More likely she's looking to hide since the Breen will only accept her death to pay for the debt," Macen replied.
"The Breen are blocked by treaty to enter the Brsknir system so she's safe there," Rockford pointed out.
"But quarters on Serenity cost and so does buying citizenship on Odin or Barrinor," Macen reminded her, "Her funds are dangerously low and she can't afford another month in the system or on the station."
"And if Kira, Ardra, or whoever is running Solarian's operation refuses to pay?" Rockford asked.
"She'd best hope we catch up to her by then," Macen said grimly.
"Now this is luxury," Ardra swept into the throne room.
"And the natives are attractive enough to suit my needs," the Intendent replied. Solarian was putting down continued resistance across the planet. It was advanced enough to fabricate ordnance replenishments while lacking an adequate defense fleet. Solarian's Pincer-class cruisers had made short work of the natives' defense forces, "I do hate insurgents."
"The locals will bow the knee soon enough. Their royals certainly sold them out fast enough," Ardra laughed.
"Their generals were resistant though," Kira pouted.
"It gives our Solarian friends something to shoot at. It's why they're here after all," Ardra motioned for Bortix to check the balcony before she went out onto it. Military landers from Solarian cruisers continued to flyby. Solarian ground forces were in the streets shooting any and all opposition.
Three transporter halos appeared and materialized into Captain Sheri Talbot, Colonel Deg Grendle, and Lieutenant Mitch O'Connell. The Captain led the fleet. The Colonel commanded the ground forces. O'Connell was the intelligence officer. O'Connell was young but a competent boot licker. Anything Talbot and Grendle wanted to hear, he reported on. Personally, Ardra felt he skewed his reports to give the petitioner exactly what they wanted to hear.
"Status, people?" Kira asked playfully enough.
"We've secured the system and have been scouting the rest of the sector," Talbot informed her.
"All ground forces have been deployed and counter insurgency operation are already underway," Grendle told them.
"And how long will they last?" Ardra was already irritated by the sound of weapons fire and explosions. The screams she could tune out easily enough.
"Despite the natives having an inadequate starship fleet, their ground defenses are formidable enough. Each of our cruisers deployed four landers with twelve man squads in each lander. We're severely outnumbered but our technical superiority is playing to our advantage," O'Connell was quick to point out.
"How long?" Ardra repeated as if speaking to a dimwit.
"Mere days," Grendle promised.
"Too long," Ardra groaned, "Eradicate a few cities to make an example of what happens to troublemakers."
"We'll need those cities to fabricate replenishment parts and ordnance. We can't afford to lose one," Talbot at least had a spine.
"But cities don't need their present occupants. We can always relocate outliers to them to fill our labor shortages," Kira laughed.
"We can dominate this world with our standard shock and awe tactics and strategy," Grendle was offended by Kira's lack of faith in the Solarian methodology.
"I lost a world to insurgents," Kira suddenly snapped ay him, "Leniency is seen as weakness."
"Leaving survivors is a necessity," Grendle argued back.
"Until we can draw resources from other worlds, we can't afford to lose too many inhabitants here," Talbot stressed the point.
"How many ships remain in the solar system?" Ardra suddenly asked.
"Just my own command," Talbot told her.
"Fire a brace of torpedoes at a poorly inhabited stretch of land next to the capital. Let them see what we're capable of delivering if they don't remit," Ardra suggested.
"We control their broadcast emissions so we can deliver any amount of propaganda and public announcements we choose to make," O'Connell redeemed himself.
"Do we even know what they call themselves or their planet?" Ardra asked.
"The universal translator renders them as referring to themselves as the 'People' and their planet as the 'World'," Grendle had sat in on interrogations of prisoners taken in combat, "Despite having developed warp drive, they seem to regard themselves as the only truly superior form of life."
"We must come as a shock to them then," Kira laughed.
"More of an existential crisis," Talbot clarified, "Which, essentially we are."
"These people are united behind a common religious belief structure," O'Connell explained, "They were made in the image of their creators. One voice commanded nine singers to harmonize the World and the People in it together. They've demonized our forces and are literally waging a holy war against them."
"This is why my Bajor never believed in gods," Kira shuddered, "Imagine how weak they would've been if they'd believed in fairy nonsense like 'Prophets'."
"Our Bajorans believe and they defeated four Federation invasion attempts," Talbot warned her.
"This belief structure pits anyone who can fight against us," Grendle explained, "They'll always resist so long as they believe."
"So we take their faith and use it against them," Ardra said, "Simplicity itself. We become their gods"
"How so?" O'Connell blurted the question, "We look nothing like these people."
"But they've never seen their Singers or Voice," Ardra laughed, "Have they?"
"Nothing in our translations of their holy books says they have," Grendle understood better than O'Connell did.
"Bring me their religious leader," Ardra instructed, "I persuade him or her and we pacify these people. I'll need some basic supplies and a quick transporter operator."
"Our stores are yours, of course," Talbot was catching on as well.
"I'll need a field voice amplifier, universal translator, a recording of their holy mantras, and a few replicated facsimiles of their revered objects. The transporter operator will receive cues from my comm badge and beam down objects I determine in a sequence I determine," Ardra explained for Talbot and Grendle. For O'Connell she simply said, "Locate this person for Colonel Grendle. The good Colonel can take it from there. And bring me the royals. They need to see this as well. It seems their transfer of power to us wasn't fervent enough. Time to make believers out of the secularists."
"I'll have the transport ferrying the royals to their colony world turned around," Talbot told Ardra, "They'll be back in twenty minutes."
"Time enough to prepare," Ardra smirked, "Colonel, Lieutenant, find me their revered figure."
They summoned transports from the ship in orbit. Talbot returned to her command and began issuing orders. Grendle selected a squad of troopers to penetrate whatever extensive defenses these people would have erected around their religious leader. O'Connell divided his time between locating the said leader and supplying Ardra with music samples and scans of objects taken from temple sites, including the primary temple in the capital. He even provided key passages of their holy tests for her to draw from.
"You seem adept at this," Kira noted as Ardra did her research.
"The simplest scams work the best," Ardra told her, "These idiots are making this easier than I thought. Their holy books are written in a dead language only the priesthood still reads or speaks in. They're the sole conduit between the masses and their gods. Their religious leader is seen as the voice of their Singers on the World. He or she as well as their church are seen as infallible with tradition equal to scripture. So we simply establish a new tradition that places us at the pinnacle of their religion."
"It's really that simple?" Kira asked in disbelief.
"Everything is built around intermediaries. The 'Voice' commanded nine 'Singers' to create. Nine Singers created the People and the Church and its scriptures were created through a series of intermediary messenger beings. They don't believe their 'Voice' has ever had direct contact with them. Until now, that is. That'll be my sales pitch," Ardra explained as she read O'Connell's synopses.
Ardra tapped her Solarian comm badge, "Two to transport."
She and Bortix faded in an energy halo. Kira was left behind to wonder if such tactics were truly as effective as Ardra believed they would be. The royal family had been venal enough to simply bribe out of the way. They'd feel betrayed by their return to the World. Kira would cow them easily enough to give Ardra's plan a try.
The People had made contact with more advanced civilizations in the recent past. Those contacts were a state secret established by the royals. Those ship crews and commanders disposed of to maintain the People's belief in their own inherent superiority. The few commanders and crewmen that saw reason were enabled to continue to make contact these other worlds in order to discreetly establish trade ties.
The Royal Academy of Science was in on the secret. They'd detected alien subspace transmissions and electromagnetic radio signals decades before the first warp drive was tested. Some of the design schematics for the interstellar drive had come from such sources. At their leaders' behest, the scientists claimed they'd been "divinely inspired" in their design work. Amateur radio enthusiasts had intercepted the audio and visual signals arriving at the planet. They were discredited as heretics by the Church and hunted down and persecuted for claiming there was other intelligent life beyond the World and its colony.
The Church had no representation on the Colony. The Royal Academy relocated there to further study the signals and develop a dialogue with the alien cultures, though they had no words for such. Alien life was an open secret on the Colony. Those chosen to build and populate the domed cities on the K-class world were the burgeoning beginning of a godless society. It was little wonder the royals felt they'd find sanctuary there.
So the three entities had found a perfect planet to exploit for their divergent purposes. Kira had a world to dominate and expand from. Ardra had a world to plunder. Solarian had a home base from which to build Kira's forecasted interstellar empire. A world Marko Vilnius, the court appointed new CEO of Solarian Security Services couldn't track them to. Even Starfleet and the Militia Scouts hadn't detected or visited the World before now. If they attempted to chart it, Solarian would be ready to repel them.
The stolen USS Zuerich followed Miranda Wells and the War Profits' wake. The Orion Syndicate's merchant fleet was dwindling in size as "embassy" ships dropped out of formation to set up in orbit or at space stations to establish an Orion presence at passing worlds. The Terran crew listened in on Wells' reports to Darcy and Treir back at Waypoint station.
Starfleet hadn't been in this direction yet but the Militia Scouts had been through and dropped subspace comm buoys in between populated star systems that had their own networks the Bajorans had received permission to utilize. The Syndicate simply piggybacked the Militia signal pathways. Thomas Darcy was pleased with their progress thus far. Treir, however, was far more turbulent.
"Starfleet is uniting the warring factions Ardra created," Treir's image could be seen complaining, "And our spies tell us the cargo the Bolians were expected to deliver was transferred to Teresa Randle."
"I'm unfamiliar with the name," Wells' image admitted.
"The new alias for the Fabrini smuggler named Aerie," Darcy explained, "She's accepted within the Syndicate's persons of use."
"But she received the cargo on Serenity Station," Treir said with vehemence, "There's no reason to doubt that Outbound Ventures learned of the cargo."
"But why allow it to pass then?" Wells had to ask.
"A fair point that's been mentioned before," Darcy said with some irritation.
"Entrapment," Treir argued, "You don't think that bar fight that got you arrested didn't serve multiple purposes for Outbound Ventures?"
"I don't appreciate your mocking tone," Wells warned Treir.
"Then you shouldn't have let corporate security catch you," Treir said snidely.
"And what happened to you?" Darcy mocked Treir.
"Are you on Intendant Kira's trail or not?" Treir snapped.
"Still," Wells grated.
"She owes Gomer and we intend to collect," Treir reminded Wells.
"I can find her but the War Profits isn't up to going up against an entire Solarian fleet of Pincer-class cruisers," Wells reminded them.
"Just find her. We'll make arrangements afterwards," Darcy told her.
"Just get it done," Treir snapped as she cut communications.
The Zuerich's comm surfing went to Militia channels next. There, an Archer-class scoutship from a Starfleet design preceding the Zuerich by two generations, was reporting in. The Prophets Scout had been encountering worlds where Kira had made an unfavorable impression. The Terrans attempted to trace the signal through the relay network back to its origin point.
Major Bol Herre, CO of the Prophets Scout reported to Colonel Fera Geldi, CO of Waypoint Station, "Another sighting of the fake General Kira, Colonel. We've managed to repair the Militia's reputation by informing the locals that they didn't encounter an actual Militia officer but a rogue element we're trying to track down. They gave us the Solarian fleet's exit vector and course setting. We're making way now. We'll burst transmit our full report on the system and the nearest solar systems."
"Good work, Major. We're standing by for your report," Fera replied, "Happy hunting."
"We'll find her, Colonel. General Kira can rest assured of that," Bol promised.
"I have confidence in you and your crew, Major. Waypoint out," Fera cut the transmission.
"Did you trace them?" Matthew Lebeauf asked Wei Soo-long, who manned the OPS station. Lebeauf was the nominal commander of the mission. Back in the Imperial Starfleet he held the rank of commander. Everyone else aboard the Zuerich was a subordinate officer. Wei, herself, was a lieutenant.
No one aboard wore Imperial Starfleet uniforms. They'd crossed over the dimensional line wearing civilian clothing to better fit in when they encountered other humans. But their tendency to favor leather clothing and their adopted subculture personal styling still made them stand out against the average Federation citizen, they'd discovered. But it hardly mattered, their mission was ongoing.
"I have both sets of spatial coordinates," Wei answered him, "Transferring data to the helm."
Lieutenant Marissa Torres manned the CONN, "Coordinates received. The Bajorans have outpaced the Orion ship. I'll lay in a least time pursuit course for them."
"You'd better," Lt. Commander Lucinda Perez stated from Tactical, "That Bajoran ship is older and slower than even the Orion yacht."
"I have the sensors constantly updating cartographical data," Lieutenant JG Tao Gozen informed Lebeauf from the Sciences station that served primarily as a long and short range sensor posting. Her older sister, Lieutenant Tomoe Gozen, served in Engineering with Lieutenant Adijaya Budi. Ensign Tea Carrera was their medic and Lieutenant Luis Gomez was the strike team leader.
"Engineering, how long until we can resume maximum warp?" Lebeauf asked over comms.
"Two more hours," Budi replied, "These systems are more durable than ours but we strained them already. Gozen and I are affecting maintenance repairs that need to be finished before we can exceed nominal cruising speed."
"You have an hour," Lebeauf signed off, "Torres, make way at Warp 6."
"And when they fail to deliver in an hour?" Torres asked as she implemented the commands.
"Gomez reported finishing construction of the agony booth. Budi and Gozen can take rotations in it for an hour apiece to make up for the hour they wasted," Lebeauf had decided. Someone needed to be the first to test the booth. Budi was the lesser engineering talent. He could spend the first hour in the booth while Gozen handled repairs on her own. Her time would in response to her failing to accomplish the task even with Budi's assistance.
Perez chuckled her appreciation for the plan. Torres, Wei, and the other Gozen were subdued. Any criticism or protest and they'd earn their own hour in the booth and they knew it. They might no longer be aboard a Terran Empire starship but imperial discipline would be maintained. Engineers Gozen and Budi had another project to complete before they reached the Intendant. Something the Terran Empire had been perfecting since the loss of the ISS Charon. It was a one-use delivery system but the spore driven network transporter would give them the weapon they needed to combat the Intendant's gathered forces far more effectively than the Zuerich could alone.
Still, the crew had noted several improvements of the Federation Blackbird-class over the Imperial version. Carrera in particular was impressed with the Sickbay aboard the ship. Medical science was obviously a priority within the softer version of Starfleet. Terran medical technology and practices hadn't advanced much further than that purloined from the Constitution-class USS Defiant that crossed over in the 22nd Century and empowered Empress Hoshi Sato to claim the imperial throne.
After Spock failed to lead a revolt against the Terran Empire. Captain Kirk used the power of the Tantalus Device to become the Emperor Tiberius. He took the device with him as he departed the ISS Enterprise. That ship later disappeared after a slave revolt aboard it led by a Kelpian named Saru. The rebels aboard simply vanished from history. That mystery wouldn't be solved until the 24th Century in the Prime Universe. Even then, it would be kept a secret until the 32nd Century.
Tiberius vanished without a trace in 2393. It wasn't until the Terran Empire was rebuilt by Emperor Picard that Tiberius' whereabouts became known. He'd had a secret project called Genesis on the hidden planet Ba'ku. There he he waited until the Alliance was dismembered. A secret police within Starfleet called Section 31 had stood vigil and protected Tiberius' security while infiltrating every level of the Terran Empire and Terran Rebellion. From secret shipyards in the Brier Patch, unknown to either the Terran Empire nor the Alliance, Section 31 constructed a small fleet of advanced starships equal to the ISS Defiant. They'd even stolen the designs for that ship and replicated copies of it for their own purposes.
Tiberius gathered disaffected Terrans from the Rebellion who'd sought to fully re-establish Terran dominance over all life forms and races and forged a splinter faction of the expanded Terran Empire. Tiberius waited on Ba'ku for Picard to consolidate Terran power once again before striking out against the expended imperial forces to reclaim the Terran throne. Then he would repeal the reforms Picard had allowed to unify the Empire and enslave the quadrants again.
The Terrans aboard the Zuerich had no inkling these plans for their universe were underway. What they knew was that they'd sacrificed their old lives to hunt down and kill Intendant Kira. Afterwards, they'd carve out new lives in this softer, brighter universe. The very starlight itself was brighter. It was an adjustment that forced the realization they were alone in a different reality than their own.
They'd read Starfleet's new containment protocols for Terrans crossed over the dimensional barrier. They had little desire to spend their lives in a re-education center and forced into either a life adapted to the societal norms of the Federation or spent on a penal colony until they died of old age. Either fate was anathema to the Terrans. They'd proven their commitment to the cause by eliminating their rivals in a very limited candidate pool. They'd sacrificed their old lives but they would now have the opportunity to carve out an empire of their own making.
That was the reward offered by Emperor Picard. They'd be permanently stranded but they'd be free to pursue unchecked ambition, together or separately. And through a final application of spore technology, they'd be properly equipped. Afterwards, the last of the stored spores would be consumed with no means of cultivating more of them. The drive technology itself was lost with Charon. What had been designed as a desperate escape contingency for the Terran emperor would prove to be fatal for the last Alliance leader capable of mustering any unified resistance to the Terran Empire's resurrection and expansion.
Starfleet's report on Intendent Ro's fate during her tenure with the Orion Syndicate eliminated half of the Terran team's work. Ro had been the strategist. Kira was the demagogue. The Alliance had destroyed all evidence and records of their methods for transporting starships across the barrier. And those ships had been abandoned to the Iotian Federation's care when the troops returned home to fight the civil war that erupted between the Klingons and the Cardassians.
Ro's plan to initiate a war between everyone else against the Federation, Klingon Empire, and Cardassian Union hadn't materialized. As repayment for their failure, Kira and Ro had been stranded in the Prime Universe with no means of returning to the Terran Universe. They'd allied themselves first with the Iotians, then the Orions, and finally Cell 51. As each of these partners rejected them, Kira had pledged service to Nechayev in exchange for her life as Ro was assassinated.
Of course, Starfleet wasn't in the business of assassinating enemies. Or so the galaxy thought. The secretive Starfleet Intelligence 0 Sections did exactly that when called upon. But Nechayev had outsourced Ro's execution to a Bajoran agent who had barely been persuaded to spare Intendant Kira. But even then, Kira betrayed Nechayev with impunity and fully expected to get away with it. Nechayev's wrath had her pressure Forger and Forger in turn called upon Macen and Rockford.
But Forger had the insight to order Commodore Saavik to gather her exploration team and await the Obsidian's signal in order to interdict the Solarian forces and arrest the rogue employees. Marko Vilnius would then be given his assets' location and he could dispatch retrieval teams. Vilnius had already lodged official protests over the condition of his assets retrieved from the Plantation system. Starfleet had gone gently on the Solarian renegades but the Militia hadn't held back. Taggert had been one of the captains apprehended that day.
The Terrans knew the Prime Universe possessed security apparatus that they were unaware of since active intelligence operations had ceased from the Terran Rebellion after the capture of Regent Worf. Recent probes into Starfleet's situation had concentrated on uncovering which doppelgangers had access to data concerning Intendent Kira's whereabouts and updated intelligence concerning her. Starfleet had compartmentalized that access to the imperial candidate list had been understandably short. Most of the potential candidates had died in the war or during the rebellion. There had been a total of fourteen original candidates. Starfleet wanted to send a team of nine. So the candidates selected themselves by eliminating the excess numbers.
Having already proven they could work together, the team was immediately dispatched after being fully briefed on what had been known about the Federation ten years ago and what the covert probes had uncovered recently. As expected, Starfleet was wholly unprepared for the penetration that occurred at Spacedock. Furthermore, they'd never suspected the Terrans would head for the Terra Nova Depot.
Starfleet had considered any potential future crossovers occurring at Deep Space Nine as the most recent ones had been. No one at Starfleet Operations or Starfleet Security ever expected Terrans to even know about the Terra Nova Depot much less what was stored there. The very compartmentalization Security had developed to contain a Terran incursion worked against them since they hadn't alerted Sector Commanders of the possible entrance of a stolen starship, even after the missing starship was identified.
By the time the general alert went out, the Zuerich was already in the Gamma Quadrant and Deep Space Nine posted their belated report of its passage through the Wormhole. Further delays between Starfleet Security and the Militia made it so Waypoint didn't report the Zuerich's arrival and departure until the data breach was discovered by Starfleet Security and the doppelgangers identified. General Anara put the Colonial Defense Forces and Militia Scouts on alert but the Zuerich had already passed out of Bajoran colonial territory by then.
Commodore Saavik was apprised by Admiral Forger and not by Commodore Oh. In the face of such egregious security breakdowns and failures, Oh willingly handed over jurisdiction to the SID. It was a rare moment of cooperation between the Commodore and the Vice Admiral. Admiral Nechayev was kept abreast of the SID's ongoing efforts but not of Macen and Rockford's plans.
The Intrepid called in the contact with the Obsidian. They made no mention of Lin and Moonbow's participation in Johnson's efforts to mediate the situation. Captain Vaughn was diverted along with Defiant crew to the Intrepid's position to reinforce them should hostilities break out. Johnson was using the opposing forces' unity in blaming Starfleet as opportunity to get them to cooperate more fully in talks resolving their false claims of ownership of each others' star systems. Lin and Moonbow were covertly disabling the planetary defense structures from being able to contact their space forces if they committed to an attack. If they did so, their comm arrays would malfunction thus buying Johnson more time to peacefully resolve the situation.
Mudd reported to the Situation Center where Macen and Rockford were questioning Shade about Randle. Lee and Forte had their own questions for the pair as well. It was quickly determined that Randle held no love for either the former thief or the former confidence artist.
"She'll blaze her way to Kira and Ardra to get the latinum bounty on the cargo in order to pay her residence fees on Serenity and guarantee months' worth of occupancy while she arranges other jobs to continue on the station," Shade told them, "She studiously avoids Harri and I while she's there."
"She's a drama queen," Mudd snorted, "She got paid her cut."
"You paid her her promised cut and made three times that amount for yourself," Shade recalled the stories, "I wasn't much better to her. I distrusted her because she's Fabrini. I thought she'd been sent by the authorities on Yolanda to take me back in chains. I couldn't believe she was another exile just trying to escape a society that refused to leave a generational world-ship that was supposed to deliver us to a new planet to colonize. They don't want to leave because it's all they've ever known."
"So what happens to her when she's done being the hound?" Mudd asked.
"She'll get her payday and we'll cut her loose," Rockford promised, "We chose her after pressuring the Bolians with the Customs inspection looming over them to accept the cargo and get our own agent nearly in place."
"And if the Breen come to Barrinor and demand her arrest and extradition?" Mudd inquired further.
"That's up to the cartels' courts," Macen told her, "She has sanctuary on Serenity but we're still under Barrinor's legal jurisdiction. And she's on her own every time she leaves the system."
"The Breen will violate the system, treaties or not, to settle a blood debt," Shade warned them.
"And we'll defend the station and the system," Macen replied.
"Let's just hope she's sensible enough to avoid further Breen entanglements," Rockford sighed.
"So, just what does happen when Randle finds Solarian?" Forte was the one to ask.
"She makes her delivery and we contact Commodore Saavik. Saavik and Starfleet deal with Solarian while we focus on apprehending Intendant Kira and Ardra," Rockford explained.
"Don't forget Ardra's pet bodyguard," Mudd suggested.
"But what do we do with them?" Forte asked, "It's a long way back to the nearest Federation starbase. The files you gave us suggest there's another party involved regarding Kira."
Macen looked to Rockford who gave him the barest of nods. So he explained further, "Nine Terrans crossed over to this universe aboard Spacedock. There, they accessed Starfleet Security and Starfleet Intelligence's estimates regarding Intendent Kira's whereabouts and associates. From there they stole a Type 6 shuttle whereupon they flew directly to the Terra Nova Starship Depot and traded up. The manager didn't audit the depot for several days and didn't realize a starship was missing with the stolen shuttle in its place."
"So what did they take?" Lee asked, "Nine people can hardly crew a major starship even with automation systems engaged."
"They took the last remaining Blackbird-class scout in inventory. The USS Zuerich to be precise," Macen told him, "They can easily crew a ship of that class."
"Any ideas on who crossed over?" Shade asked.
"They all have doppelgangers in Starfleet. Personnel that made mysterious data requests at Spacedock, had command authority to assume command of the Zuerich, and made a second round of data requests from Waypoint Station," Rockford told them, "So we know approximately what they look like."
"And no one thought twice about these nine officers supposedly doing all of this?" Lee was struggling not be horrified.
"Terrans are identical to their Prime Universe doppelgangers down to the quantum level where there's a variance. We all know this from personal experience," Rockford reminded them all, "The depth and level of bioscans necessary to detect that variance aren't considered practical for standard security measures."
"We also know from the transporter logs that they used an interdimensional phase variance adapter on the transporter on their universe's end but the logs indicate they didn't carry anything with them. Just the clothes they were wearing. Which means they have no means of returning home. This is one-way mission for them. Starfleet's concern is what they intend to do after they kill Kira," Macen explained further.
"I'm sure Starfleet has pre-arranged options for them," Shade snorted.
"They do. There's an entire contact manual on how to engage a Terran after you capture them," Rockford said ruefully, "They accessed that as well. Trust me, a Terran would rather die than submit to the available options."
"Taking out as many lives as they could in the process," Macen warned them.
"The SID has access to Section 31's intelligence and contact reports regarding Terrans and their history. They prepared a summary for dissemination. Everyone on the team is receiving it. I suggest you study up," Rockford told them.
"Are Forger and Jones getting copies?" Mudd worried.
"The entire Senior Staff is getting copies. But their versions are tailored towards tactics and strategy," Macen told her, "Yours deals largely with psychology and a brief summation of known history."
"We know one physical difference that can work to our advantage," Rockford told them, "The Terran Universe is literally darker than our own. A fitting metaphor you'll understand when read the summary. It makes them light sensitive."
Daggit and Burrows requested and entrance and were allowed in. Burrows spoke up, "We're really going up against Terrans?"
"You've been previously briefed?" Macen guessed.
"Part of my SOC training. We were briefed on Terrans in general and the Terran Rebellion in particular," Burrows explained.
"I thought the Intendents were nuisances," Daggit grimaced, "These people make Cell 51 seem sane."
Parva, Tessa, and Ebert were the next to arrive. Parva snorted, "Terrans sound like humans raised on Orion."
"Humanity has enough criminal elements without adding these people into it," Ebert stated, "These Terrans could simply blend in."
"Not their psychological profile," Tessa had simply absorbed the report, "They want to stand out and dominate."
"Definitely Orion-minded," Parva snorted.
"But why now?" Ebert asked, "Intendants Kira and Ro entered this universe over a year ago."
Kerber and Smith entered the increasingly cramped space. Kerber had news, "The Terrans disabled the Zuerich's tracking transponder but not its comm identification transponder. They've been accessong Militia and friendly stellar nation comm relays in their pursuit of Intendant Kira. We've traced them to being just four hours ahead of us now at maximum warp."
"Except their maximum speed outpaces ours just slightly," Parva frowned, "Why the delay?"
"We brushed the Zuerich's automatic functions and they almost burned the warp drive out in their push to get out of Bajoran space and on Kira's trail," Smith explained, "The ship-class might familiar technology for them but still shares the same limits. They're having to fabricate parts on the fly because the stores were emptied when the ship was decommissioned."
"Captain Forger told me you've quadrupled the amount of time we can spend at maximum warp with the upgrades you designed and had Eckles and Darcy oversee installation of during the refit," Macen mentioned.
"Yup. We can maintain Warp 8 for forty-eight hours now. Making it possible for us to catch them if they still at cruising speed and within that proximity. Hell, we can still overtake them eventually even if they've restored maximum warp," Parva did the mental math.
"They have. They're underway at Warp 8.3 again. But they're still under the twelve-hour limitation," Kerber grinned.
"The Militia reported a number of inhabited, friendly worlds on our current course. Even if we haven't caught them we can still obtain information on their course and heading out of those systems," Macen understood, "We're nearing the edge of the Militia's charted areas. But the Prophets Scout reported in a possible sighting of the Solarian fleet on its current heading."
"Wasn't that the scoutship the Militia used to distract Solarian and the Caldraen fugitives when we snuck into the Plantation system?" Ebert recalled.
"The very same," Burrows recognized the name, "She was due for replenishment at Waypoint. I guess she set out again already."
"How are we supposed to contact Starfleet when we need to?" Lee asked a pertinent question.
"The Militia is sharing real-time intelligence with Saavik's command. She's constantly repositioning her starships to get closer to us as we narrow down Solarian's location," Rockford explained the exchange, "Thanks to the Militia's scouting, we have a clear line of communication with Waypoint. Thanks to Starfleet dropping comm buoys as they've explored, they have a connection with Waypoint, and through Waypoint, the transceiver at the Wormhole terminus and Deep Space Nine at the other end."
"Commodore Saavik and her ships are currently six hours away at maximum warp and closing with every hour. Soon, they'll land outside of any solar system we enter, allowing us to probe the system to positively confirm Solarian's presence. Form there, Starfleet will intercede, allowing us to assume orbit over the population center world and try and locate Ardra and Intendent Kira," Macen explained the overall plan, "General Anara is looking at redirecting some Colonial Defense Forces starships to defend their scout should it become threatened."
"How soon could we expect them?" Daggit asked.
"If they're coming, they're already underway," Macen told him.
"If?" Mudd sharply asked.
"The Militia is maintaining subspace radio silence regarding the possibility of Bajoran reinforcements," Rockford explained to them, "That includes with us."
"We've spent enough time here. We'll resume monitoring the Zuerich," Smith said abruptly. She and Kerber returned to the Data Womb.
"Goodbye?" Mudd snorted.
"Terrans hit a little close to home for Bailey," Rockford knew Smith, as Maarta, had been indoctrinated in the same racist attitudes as an heir apparent of Stratos on Ardana IV. Only giving Maarta Anara as a handmaiden and plaything had awoken the young ruler-to-be to the suffering of the Troglytes. Now, Anara and Maarta were still together under their new names.
Most of the team knew Smith and Kerber were aliases employed by Ardanan fugitives and former terrorists as part of the Troglyte Underground. Only a select few knew their real importance to Ardana IV and Smith's uncle, who viewed their very existence as a threat to his rule. Ebert was the only other one in the room besides Macen and Rockford that knew the complete truth.
"Forger to Macen. Can you and Detective Rockford report to my Ready Room to clarify a few things?" came the request over Macen's comm badge.
"On our way," he replied.
"That was later than expected," Rockford admitted.
"Expect a call to go maximum warp," Macen told Parva on their way out.
"I live to serve," Parva said snippishly, "I guess I'd better warn Gilan."
"I'd like to know more about the Terrans' psychological profiles," Daggit admitted curiosity.
"So would I," Burrows and Daggit were charged with threat assessment and containment for the team.
"You are so on your own," Mudd stepped out after Parva had gone.
"I'd like to stay," Ebert confessed.
"Pull up the sole extra chair," Shade offered, "Before one of our manly men take it."
So Tessa began explaining what Section 31 had compiled on Terran history and its impact on the average Terran psyche.
"You yelled?" Macen quipped as he and Rockford joined Jones and Forger in the Captain's Ready Room.
"Are these people psychotics?" Forger stared down at her padd.
"Sociopaths, actually," Rockford clarified, "It's inherent in the culture."
"Gee, you've made me feel so much better," Forger complained.
"They labeled the Maquis 'misanthropic sociopaths' yet you work with several of us," Jones pointed out.
"You still display antisocial tendencies," Forger warned Jones.
"Just because I believe it's easier to blow someone up rather than arrest them?" Jones snorted, "Kovic would agree with me."
"I worry about her at times too," Forger finally admitted.
"You worry too much," Macen chided her, "Jelena is hardly one to worry about."
"You should worry more about these two and their personal kill squad," Jones mirthlessly chuckled.
"Fortunately, they're not my purview. Mandy can worry about them," Forger replied with some relief. It was strange for Macen and Rockford to hear Amanda Forger referred to be her childhood nickname. Even then, the elder Forger was ten years older than her younger sister. One of the side effects of having two parents in Starfleet with long separations owing to duty assignments.
Amanda Forger had been raised at a boarding school with infrequent visits by her parents. Nigel Forger and his wife, Bettina, were both assigned to Mars when Sean Forger was born and began his transition into Shannon Forger at age seven. Unlike Amanda, Shannon was raised by her parents rather then sent away. The Mars Massacre had struck the younger Forger especially hard when she learned that many of her childhood friends had still lived on the planet when the synthetics went rogue.
Personal histories had been altered so now it was Nechayev that had recommended to Amanda Forger to send Shannon to Macen when she was forced out of Starfleet. In any history it seemed, the younger Forger would rise to command the Obsidian. Except perhaps in the Terran Universe or any similar one to it. Forger dreaded the knowledge that in some parallel universes she'd been forced to remain Sean Forger and live out her life in a dystopian nightmare.
Macen and Rockford's own histories now contained even more illegalities and skirting and breaking Federation laws for and with the Orion Syndicate and other criminal cartels. Outbound Ventures as a corporation had been complicit in these acts as had the Rockford Detective Agencies. That had been the basis for Clancy's protestations of granting the SID retainer to outbound Ventures. Of course, Clancy's self-serving interests in granting the retainer to Solarian hadn't come to light at that time. Her conflict of interests came to light and she had to divest her portfolio of Solarian stocks and she lost her lover when the married founder and former CEO of Solarian fled Federation space with the bulk of the corporation's liquid assets.
Clancy's best friend learned of her husband's infidelity with Clancy beginning on his wedding day through Internal Affairs, the SID, and JAG's mutual investigation into Clancy. Vice Admiral Alynis Tollhouse took great pleasure in Clancy's reduction in grade and being re-assigned to head up Starfleet Communications. Tollhouse also reveled in the fact IA was monitoring Clancy's conduct at Communications to insure that Clancy obeyed Fleet Admiral Akaar's and the JAG, Admiral T'Lara's, stipulations that Clancy be unable to utilize her position to spy on her perceived enemies or engage in retribution against them.
Still, there were younger flag officers that been elevated in grade during Clancy's tenure as Starfleet Commander and with her recommendation. So they, in turn, would reinstate Clancy as Fleet Admiral in another nine years. Meanwhile, the one hundred and twenty year-old Cappellan would step down in another year after reversing some of Starfleet's new isolationist policies and directives. Jellico would be next in line and would guide Starfleet until he retired and Clancy was restored as Fleet Commander.
Clancy would be forced to resign in dishonor as Commodore Oh revealed herself as General Oh of the Tal Shiar. Oh, having been made Director of Starfleet Security on Clancy's first watch as Commander of Starfleet and made Oh her most trusted ally in the Admiralty, couldn't withstand the pressures to resign and the investigations into Clancy's conduct re-opened stretching back to before the Mars Massacre and her first promotion to Fleet Admiral.
Commodore Shelby, who by that time was Admiral Shelby, would be promoted into the position of Fleet Admiral. She would take the NCC-1701 USS Enterprise-F as her flagship. She and it would be lost in the combined Borg and Dominion conspiracy that would be thwarted after the loss of many senior officers and Spacedock itself in the early 25th Century. Then the Luna-class refitted as a Neo-Constitution-class USS Titan-A would be re-christened the USS Enterprise-G under the command of Captain Seven of Nine.
One life, in particular, would be lost while uncovering the sweep of the Dominion's infiltration of Starfleet and their interest in Jack Crusher. Commander Ro Laren would give her life in the course of duty to hobble the Duderstadt-class USS Intrepid in order to allow the Titan to escape Starfleet custody and pursue all avenues of investigation into the Dominion's plan and eventually uncover the Borg component of the plot. In the course of these events, Admiral Jean-Luc Picard and his former Senior Staff would once again take command of the rebuilt USS Enterprise-D to combat the renegade Borg Queen, on the run from the Juratti Borg Queen, herself.
Picard's re-entry into Starfleet in 2399 subsequent to Clancy's fall from grace made him Commandant of Starfleet Academy. A post he retained until 2401 when he officially retired. The revelation that he had a son by Beverly Crusher, renewed Picard's sense of purpose and belonging in life. His positronic "golem" body insuring that he had time to create and maintain a connection with Jack Crusher, now an ensign and stationed aboard Seven's Enterprise.
After years of rehabilitation under Akaar, Jellico, and Shelby, and despite Clancy's return to office, Starfleet had restored its reputation and honor amongst the interstellar community. The Federation would continue to grown and thrive until the event known as "the Burn". That catastrophic event would upend the Milky Way. A new lawless galaxy would emerge from the ashes of the Burn. A reality that would endure for several centuries.
But for now, this SID team had a mission to undergo. Apprehending Kira and Ardra would be difficult enough thanks to Solarian and Bortix. The further complications of the Orion Syndicate fanning out across the Gamma Quadrant in their wake and the Terrans' dogged pursuit only complicated matters further. Forger shook her head, "There's no reasoning with these people."
"Everyone can be reasoned with, if they're properly motivated to listen," Jones said defiantly.
"Phillips Georgiou was proof enough that Terrans can be reasonable, if they're motivated to," Macen agreed with Jones, "We just need to incentavize them. Given the right offer, they'll listen."
"Why need give them the Intendent?" Jones asked.
"That goes against the terms of the contract," Macen told, "But, I think that's the right incentive."
"Incentive for what?" Forger asked.
"For making them citizens of this universe," Macen replied, "Even the Kelvans and Iridians listened to reasonable terms to co-exist in this universe."
"And why haven't they united to form up their own empire?" Forger asked.
"They'll cooperate long enough for that to happen. They need a structure to answer to. Even Intendent Kira, though grasping at power, needs someone to answer to. Because she always has had a Regent to obey even as the Intendent of Bajor," Macen explained the mentality, "These people respect raw, unbridled power and authority. It's why the disrespect the Federation democratic norms. We simply have to impose a sense of order upon them and they'll be loyal to a point."
"You're talking like you're recruiting them," Rockford pointed out.
"Nothing so formal," Macen explained, "But if we can provide a purpose for them before someone else can, and utilizes their sheer lethality, then we come out ahead."
"This is an epically bad idea," Rockford groaned, "And that's something coming from you."
"He's got a helluva point. Look at how he's repurposed so many Maquis that were on the fringes of polite society," Jones had to concur, "These people will never amount to SID agents but they can be put to good use the way individual Maquis serve as independent operatives for Outbound Ventures."
"I never thought I'd see you two on the same side of an argument," Forger confessed.
"Eddington's tactics and strategy may have poisoned our relationship, but in the end Macen and I are both Maquis through and through. We shared a common vision of independence for the colonies. We just differed on how to achieve our goals at the end," Jones told her, "I backed the wrong player. I can admit that. Eddington's escalation of things didn't bring us independence. It brought us Dukat's overreaction."
"But you agree with this idea?" Rockford narrowed the field down.
"It worked for me and so many others. Look at you, or Daggit, or even Ebert and Mudd. You were all fraying before you signed on. I don't know enough about Parva's history to say one way or another about her. Smith and Kerber were obviously at loose eneds. What about your own detectives?"
"Point taken," Rockford backed down.
"You want to offer gainful employment to nine people who, in their spare time, will try to conquer the universe?" Forger was incredulous.
"It's nice to have goals," Macen grinned.
"Even Danan would back this plan," Jones decided.
"She may have been the most reasonable member of the team and crew but I don't think her Maquis loyalties would stretch that far because of that factor," Forger argued.
"Then you never really knew her," Macen said, "Now or then."
"What'll you tell my sister?" Forger asked.
"That they returned home after all," Macen said, "Parva designed an insterstellar transporter modification devise and we sent them home."
"Could we actually do that?" Forger was hopeful.
"Deep Space Nine retained several left behind transporter adapters. They taken by Section 31 and locked away at Daystrom Station. That's how S31 gathered its recent intelligence on the Terran Rebellion and Empire. The security clearance required to see the specs or study the devices is waaay beyond anything even your sister has," Macen told her, "And the data is stored at Daystrom Station and wasn't at the London Data Archive."
"What about our buddies from Cell 51?" Forger asked, "Would they have access?"
"Sorbo would but I wouldn't give him any leverage to use to defend his prosecution," Macen warned her.
"The presence of the ISS Relentless certainly proved that the Terran Empire had the capability to send ships across at one time," Rockford pointed out a salient fact.
"Section 31 dealt the Relentless incursion and its crew," Macen told her, "You have access to those files but it isn't pretty reading. The point is, the Terrans thought the mission failed. So they abandoned the technology. The Alliance made their own recent version but they left their ships behind in Iotian space because they couldn't replicate it here while they did have transporter adapters."
Parallel universe give me a headache, no offense," Jones remarked.
"None taken," Rockford assured, "It's our headache too."
"So how do we sell it?" Forger sighed.
"I'm still working on that," Macen confessed.
Solarian tactical landers cruised over forests. Their sensors were attempting to locate insurgent encampments. The People had retreated from urban combat to forests, mountains, and jungles. They were surprisingly entrenched in those areas. Colonel Grendle's forward command position was outside of the capital. O'Connell had his analysts scouring over contact and skirmish reports as well as raw sensor feeds. Grendle saw many fresh faces as the shock troopers weren't required to wear their armor in the Green Zone, as base camp was known.
Force fields at the perimeter kept the artillery and drone strikes at bay. The insurgents had learned to time strikes for when troops were reporting in or exiting the Green Zone to their strikes could passed the opening in the force fields. The Solarian ground forces had resorted to their heavy armor because the People had abandoned using plasma weapons in favor of armor piercing rounds which went through the light body armor the shock troops were used to wearing to minimize particle beam and plasma damage to flesh. Hyperkinetically fired bullets didn't produce a muzzle flash and certainly didn't leave energy streams like the arms the Solarians carried.
Still, the heavy version armor had given Solarian forces an advantage in urban combat. But the armor was too bulky to wear in the rugged terrains of the World. Solarian troopers went without any armor whatsoever in these environs. That made them more mobile but dangerously exposed to the hyperkinetic rounds. Medical reports indicated that the People had adapted to that development and were simply firing beryllium ball bearings and saving their armor piercing rounds.
O'Connell's medical reviews revealed the beryllium was recently smelted. Yet Solarian held every foundry and refinery in the industrialized quarters. So where were the People getting the raw materials from? This initiated the sensor sweeps. But the tactical landers had limited shielding capacity. One anti-air missile would render the shields inoperable while a second fired nearly in tandem, would penetrate the lander's hull or disable its drive. Talbot's ship tended to damaged landers that made it back into orbit. Those with drive failures crashed and no one knew what became of the pilots and crews. When Solarian forces could and did reach the wreckage, they discovered the dead from the weapon's strike but no wounded or survivors.
O'Connell had the landers searching for Federation races' life signs as well as those of the People. So far, no one had been found or detected. When a squad of the People were discovered, troopers were directed towards them. They universally fought to the last man or woman. Most of the insurgents found now weren't even part of the military when Solarian arrived. They were guerrilla volunteers from the towns and cities.
Grendle could only hope Ardra's plan could end this struggle. It was the bloodiest form of warfare and his casualty counts reflected it. They'd found the holy man that reflected the People's Voice and Singers on the World. Whatever Ardra's showmanship was supposed to accomplish, she couldn't do it fast enough to satisfy Grendle.
"You'll have to forgive my translator. You can't speak the holy tongue. To even try would incinerate you," Ardra smiled slyly at the People's Vicar.
"You are claiming to be a Singer?" the Vicar was surprise dby her audacity, "Yet we look nothing alike. The People were created in the image of our creators."
"True. You represent the Singers that created you. I am the Voice, come to visit her people at long last," Ardra said.
"The Voice is spirit, neither male nor female," the Vicar protested.
Ardra was caught up by a transporter beam and rematerialized behind the vicar as his eyes swept the room, "What trickery is this?"
"A simple demonstration," Ardra's voice amplifier nearly deafened him. A recording of a Trill soprano played through the amplifier and objects resembling the temple's holy relics began to appear across the room. Ardra deactivated the theatrics, "My message is simple. I came to be embraced and to embrace you. But you have fought my messengers. This needs to end. Now."
"I don't know who you are but this farce needs to end," the Vicar replied, "We both know that there is no Voice and no Singers. The myths served to unify the People around a common rallying point. Those clergy high enough in our Order know the real history of the World and the People in it. So take your tricks and leave my planet."
"Why couldn't you have been a true believer?" Ardra sighed, "Bortix. Do it."
The hulking gray alien snapped the Vicar's neck and dropped him to the ground, "Now what?"
"Now we do things the old fashioned way," Ardra huffed.
"I told you it wouldn't work," Kira lounged across on a mattress and bed frame brought in from the Queen's own chambers.
"They want a war, Grendle will give them one," Ardra snapped at her.
"The Colonel is surprisingly reluctant to finish subjugating the People," Kira chuckled, "That's the problem with these Federation types. They have no stomach for a good old fashioned massacre or even a precision genocide."
"How many assassination attempts have there been today alone?" Ardra sulked.
"Seven," Kira pouted, "The People have no love for strangers."
"We'll simply import workers from Solarian's ambitions outside the solar system Preferably an underdeveloped but teachable race that can supply our labor requirements," Ardra shrugged, "It'll take longer but we'll have Solarian instruct them in manufacturing the goods they require to maintain their equipment."
"The Colonel is already whining about his personnel losses," Kira lamented, "It's so tedious to listen to. It's like listening to Garak drone on and on again. Or that harpy, Ro's scheming and endless plotting."
"Yet Ro strategized and completed a complete military victory that put the major powers on edge to this day," Ardra pointed out, "You managed to bed Oxmyx and Kracko."
"But they'll always remember me," Kira laughed, "They'll secretly pine away for me to return."
"I doubt that. The last word from the Iotian Federation was that Oxmyx had consolidated all of the Familias under herself and she and Kracko were having their DNA spliced to produce children," Ardra enjoyed telling Kira, "Never underestimate true love. You were a simple infatuation they shared together."
"I showed them ways to have to have sex they'd never dream of on their own!" Kira raged, "They can't afford to forget about me."
"And there's that ego that underestimated the Terran Rebellion and the remnant Terran Empire," Ardra sized her partner-in-crime up again, "That same ego that won't allow you to admit you made a mistake about this planet. We should have withdrawn a week ago before our losses started mounting. Has it occurred to you we can't replenish our dead soldiers? Natural procreation takes too long and we lack basic cloning technology."
"What are you trying say?" Kira grated.
"Even if we wipe out every last native of this planet and import workers, we may no longer have a sizable enough military presence to control them in case they also revolt," Ardra warned her, "We can't rule through sheer threat and intimidation of orbital bombardment."
"So you're saying you want to quit? Just like that?" Kira was on her feet now.
"You have to play the long con. We don't have the stakes to bet with," Ardra got in Kira's face.
"And let them win?" Kira demanded to know.
"We can always bombard them after we pull out," Ardra shrugged, "If it'll soothe your bruised ego."
Kira violently grabbed both sides of Ardra's head and pulled her in for a vicious kiss. She released Ardra with a shove, "We have a bed. We should use it."
"No," Ardra said defiantly.
"The floor works for me instead, if your prefer it," Kira laughed.
"I don't bed working partners," Ardra smoothed her ruffled dress, "It complicates things too much."
"You're rejecting me?" Kira was outraged.
"I'm thinking clearly for the long-term," Ardra told her.
"You dare reject me?" Kira demanded to know in imperious tones.
"You aren't part of the Alliance anymore, Intendent," Ardra sneered the title, "You're lucky I persuaded Solarian to take you on at all. They wanted to serve you up to Starfleet."
"Don't do me any any favors next time," Kira sputtered.
"I'm beginning to regret doing so the first time," Ardra warned her, "Talbot and Grendle listen to me. Not you. You're a sideshow to them. You play along with the game and you'll get everything you want, except me."
"Don't flatter yourself," Kira snorted.
"I didn't try to rip your head off to devour your tongue, now did I?" Ardra asked coolly, "We don't have the manpower to coddle your ego or your lusts. Either play along or I'll leave you here to face 'the People'."
"I know your plans," Kira warned Ardra.
"You know nothing. All you've done here is waste my time. Your usefulness is pretending to be General Kira Nerys of Bajor. That's outplayed itself since we've gone further out than the Militia. Prove to me you're still useful," Ardra told her.
"What?" Kira was both insulted and baffled, "I don't need to."
"Bortix, lock her away somewhere where I don't have to listen to her whining preening all the time anymore," Ardra commanded, "I'll be informing Colonel Grendle to begin withdrawing forces. Captain Talbot will be relieved I've come to my senses on the cost-gain ratio index."
"I'll get off this planet and I'll find you and make you watch as I eat your various organs," Kira screamed as Bortix manhandled her out of the chamber.
"Thankfully, that's over," Ardra sighed, "Hell of a kiss though."
Ardra set the wheels of withdrawal in motion. Even with transporters, they needed the tactical landers to retrieve the larger equipment pieces. It wasn't long before Grendle called in a new problem.
"We can't lower base camp's shield to intake new arrivals or use transporters to evacuate personnel. Apparently the People watch us more closely and through a network more interconnected than we'd dared realize. They're barraging us with artillery and drone strikes and we can't even detect where from," Grendle called in the report, "My people are assembling but they're caught in open ground with no cover except our camp itself. Even then, the drones are flanking us and attacking my personnel outside the shields."
"Can't you use transporters to evacuate those personnel?" Ardra asked the simplistic question.
"The amount of firepower they're dropping in confuses the targeting scanners. There's a real possibility of beaming up a live artillery shell or missile," Grendle explained, "These Grimes Armaments civilian built warships, not Starfleet construction. The transporters don't have ordnance and weapons screening abilities otherwise we'd never be able to use them to deploy."
"I'll have Talbot raze the surrounding area," Ardra told him.
"Wait!" Grendle jerked his head up, "There's larger projectile coming in."
She watched the visual as a ground quake from a detonation and a blinding flash cut communications. Ardra tried to re-establish contact. Finally she hailed Captain Talbot.
"What's Grendle's situation?" Ardra asked.
"They nuked his base," Talbot was enraged, "The shields barely held but they can't drop them without risking radiation exposure beyond what we're capable of treating."
"Beam anyone else you can from the planet that's still deployed. Then beam Bortix and I up and set course for our next likeliest candidate for a takeover,"
"You can't be serious," Talbot protested.
"As soon as their shields collapse, they're as good as dead. Use the transporters to collect the living. And retrieve as many of our tactical landers as you're capable of ferrying. We leave the rest behind," Ardra ordered.
"We won't be able to ever mount another invasion," Talbot warned her.
"We won't need to so. From now on, we talk our way in and surgically remove the obstacles," Ardra told her, "Now begin the evacuation."
Talbot signed off. For several minutes, Ardra doubted the Solarian captain would include her and Bortix in the withdrawal. But after her faithful retinue rejoined her, she felt the familiar annular confinement beam take hold of her and a white flash later she was aboard Talbot's ship facing the Captain herself.
"I used the ship's phasers to kill Grendle and his people rather than let them slowly of radiation poisoning at the hands of the enemy," Talbot seethed, "We never should have been placed in this situation."
"You'll notice the Intendent isn't joining us," Ardra smiled wearily.
"I'd say we bombard the whole goddamn planet with photon torpedoes but without manufacturing support, we can't replenish them," Talbot wasn't done seething it seemed.
"Then have your scouting ventures found us a likely candidate world?" Ardra asked.
"Other ships have encountered three highly advanced and lightly armed planets within range," Talbot told her, "All appear to be commercial hubs."
"Tread lightly, Captain. Commercial hubs generally have strong military alliances," Ardra cautioned the military woman, "Proceed to the closest one and let me do the talking. If the situation is conducive, I can get us a monopoly over the world without firing a shot."
"What about Intendent Kira? What happens to her?" Talbot asked.
"The good Intendent outlived her purpose," Ardra said coldly, "She led us into this fiasco. Let her remain behind to answer for it."
"We're all commodities to you, aren't we?" Talbot finally realized.
"All the better to remain a valuable commodity," Ardra smiled brightly.
"I'll alert all commands," Talbot relented, "They won't take it well that we were beaten back by a backward people."
"Once we secure an ordnance procurement center, you can bomb the People into oblivion and crack the World in half for all I care," Ardra laughed.
"Major Sophia Robb has assumed command of our tactical forces and Lieutenant Naranda Nemo replaces O'Connell," Talbot explained Ardra as she escorted her employer from the transporter room to the quarters provided to Ardra and Bortix. Those formerly occupied by Kira would be re-assigned to more deserving officers, "We've suffered a thirty percent loss of total ground forces and fifty percent of our landers owing to battle damage or abandonment."
"You'll manage," Ardra shrugged it off.
"Of those seventy percent remaining forces, over half are wounded," Talbot grated, "Our medical staff is overwhelmed even with the addition of the ground forces surgeons."
"We lost thirty percent of our armored units as well," Talbot continued though she knew Ardra could care less, "That severely limits our operational capabilities."
"Like I said, next time without a shot being fired," Ardra gave her her best smile, "Now if you'll excuse me, I have intelligence reports to read on our mark."
Talbot cursed Ardra's name in several languages and dialects as she stormed back to the bridge.
"How long can we hold out?" O'Connell asked Grendle.
"The shields have been bolstered," Grendle said wearily, "But we lost everyone outside of the Green Zone. I picked up subspace transmissions from nearby operating theaters. They're pulling out without us."
"How can they do that?" O'Connell was panicky.
"We can't drop the shields with the radiation levels being so high. We lack the medical capabilities to reverse the poisoning effects," Grendle grimly told him, "Our field replicators can provide food and water for as long as our shields hold. But if they drop any more tractical nukes, the shields will eventually collapse. So it won't matter. It all depends on how badly the 'People' want us to suffer."
"What do you mean?" O'Connell asked.
"Think about it, they can't encroach our position either. They have to know what the radiation will do to us as well. Or at least they're guessing. I expect them to resume their artillery barrage while they take the long way around to reach the capital. With our forces withdrawing, there won't be anything to stop them from reclaiming their planet. We're certainly in no position to offer more than token resistance," Grendle explained, "If our shields collapse, we'll die horrible deaths within weeks. Our anti-rad treatments will just prolong our suffering."
"How can Captain Talbot just abandon us?" O'Connell asked plaintively.
"Welcome to the life of a mercenary. Life is cheap when you're disposable," Grendle snorted.
Detonations began pounding at the shields once again as the conventional artillery barrage resumed. Grendle mirthlessly chuckled, "I guess they want us to die slowly."
The leader of the People's Army found Kira chained to the dead Vicar. He smiled, "I guess we get a trophy after all."
"I can help you rebuild. With my help you can repay those that came here and take their ships and weapons," Kira pledged.
"Tempting, but you'll never live long enough to see it happen," the General replied, "You'll stand trial, of course. After you're found guilty, you'll be executed. We'll do it the old way where we pull your entrails out slowly while you're still alive and awake to witness it. If you beg for mercy, we'll slow the process down to make you suffer even more. But I will offer this one concession, we'll grant you a quick death if you tell me what you did with the Royals."
"We paid them off and sent them to your colony world," Kira snorted.
"Thank you for confirming that," the General said in reply, "You just earned yourself a beheading. It'll be quick, unless your vertebrae are thicker than ours. Then it may take a few attempts."
"I could show you pleasures you never dreamed of," Kira offered as a last recourse.
"I prefer People over animals," the General replied and sealed the cell shut again.
"I'll see you dead before I die!" Kira screamed out at him as he departed.
"Keep her alive," he instructed the guards, "The People need to see her die. Now, contact the colonial officials and have our traitorous royals arrested and deported back here to stand trial and face public execution. The military is assuming control over the World. Find me a new Vicar to bless our assuming control."
"Yes, General," his attache hurried off.
"What now?" his Chief of Staff asked.
"Now we begin a generational project where we rebuild and develop our capabilities of that we reach out from the World and exterminate any and all animals we find living on other planets. Then we take those planets for ourselves. Our new Vicar will bless the campaign and make it scripture," the General told her, "Then we cleanse the universe of animals and the People will be all that remain. It will be our religion to do so."
"And the animal's encampment?" the Chief asked.
"They would have broken out or withdrawn by now if they could," the General decided, "Order our forces to suspend the artillery barrage. Let the animals last as long as they can. It'll only make their suffering worse to have hope. If any walk out of that nuclear wasteland, make certain they live long enough to die prolonged deaths."
"And those in the capital that were to close to escape the radiation from the blast?" the Chief inquired.
"Give them bombs and have them throw themselves against the animal's invisible barrier. Let their deaths mean something. Promise them an eternity filled with endless virgins and sex," the General told her, "Make certain the new Vicar promises that for all the People who die for our new holy cause. Make it the newest chapter in our open canon."
"Where will this endless supply of virgins come from?" she asked while taking notes.
"Why, the Singers themselves will create them as a reward for faithfulness. Promise them a paradise filled with every lustful pleasure, no matter how vile it was on the World," the General ordered, "That will inspire the type of followers we want."
"I'll get the clergy on it immediately," the Chief of Staff dismissed herself.
"The animals have given the military exactly what it needed," the General mused to himself in privacy, "And endless war, an abomination of an enemy, a pliable theocracy to rule through. What more could we ever want?"
Randle's scouter gig arrived in the World's solar system. She'd tracked Solarian here through an informant she'd paid to learn where Kira had been directed to. Only, there was no Solarian presence in the system. Debris from inferior technology ships filled the solar system. So there had been a fight. But apparently Solarian had moved on. Local transmission declared 'victory' over the 'animals' that had invaded the World.
From orbit, she detected Grendle besieged and shielded encampment amidst a radioactive wasteland. She estimated that a hydrogen bomb had been dropped on them. The camp survived but for some reason the Solarian troops were staying put rather than fighting their way out. Her own ship could barely manage to carry twelve people and even then, its internal resources would be strained to the breaking point. She did note a single Bajoran life sign in a major metropolitan area.
Randle wondered what that was about and transported the Intendant aboard. Kira smiled coyly, "My savior."
"Where did Solarian go to?" Randle asked.
"I have no idea," Kira admitted, "But I can help you find them. In fact, I'd like nothing better."
"What happened here?" Randle asked.
"Ardra and Solarian felt they were losing too many troops. So they pulled out and left me behind to face the natives," Kira answered.
"You had a falling out with Ardra?" Randle asked specifically.
"Let's just say we had a conflict of interests," Kira ran her finger down her lip, "But, I would looove to work with you to locate her."
"If you don't have any solid leads, I'll just beam you back to where I found you," Randle her.
"There are three trade hubs within a few days distance at warp," Kira replied as if bored, "They'll head for the closest one. And lucky you, I know the spatial coordinates."
"Don't frinx with me, I'm warning you," Randle replied.
"If I ever frinx you, it'll be mind blowing," Kira promised.
"Find a seat and input those coordinates," Randle grumbled.
"What do I call you?" Kira asked.
"Randle. Teresa Randle," the smuggler replied.
"That's an odd name for a Fabrini, don't you think?" Kira laughed.
"That's the only name you'll get," Randle was upset that her cover was so easily blown.
"Good enough then," Kira sulked, "Here are the coordinates."
Randle double checked the data Kira had inputted at the auxiliary console, "Seems to be accurate enough."
"I'm nothing if not precise," Kira promised, "I'll let you know precisely what I'm thinking at any time."
"Let's hold off on that for now," Randle replied sternly, "We have to get underway. I'm in a hurry to deliver my cargo."
"So you're the one carrying Captain Talbot's precious cargo," Kira laughed with delight, "That gives you leverage over her."
"I don't want leverage. I want to get paid," Randle replied.
"You don't know, do you?" Kira was astonished, "You're just blindly carrying the cargo."
"I don't need to know what it is," Randle grated.
"But you need to know," Kira promised her, "You have five isolytic warheads in your cargo hold. Now imagine how much those would actually be worth to Solarian now that they're planning to conquer and hold a solar system or two or three. Now, imagine how much Solarian would be actually willing to pay to obtain those weapons."
Randle mulled it over in her head and Kira smiled, "I see I've sparked your interest. I get you to Solarian and you give me Ardra."
"Why should I do that?" Randle wondered, "What makes you think they'll give her up?"
"Talbot doesn't need her and knows it. Keeping Ardra on as an official employer is a mere formality now. Solarian will have a freer hand without her. They'll beg me to take her," Kira promised.
"And once you have her?" Randle asked.
"You really don't care, do you?" Kira asked.
"I suppose not," Randle admitted.
"Good. Someone in your position can't afford a conscience. You'd start imagining what Solarian can and will do with those isolytic weapons and then you'd refuse to deliver them," Kira predicted, "But you're just interested in the payoff. I can tell. I like you, Teresa Randle. And you'll be in love with me by the time we reach Solarian."
"I don't love anyone. Not anymore," Randle set course and engaged the impulse engines to break orbit.
"That'll change," Kira smiled indulgently.
The Zuerich reached the same trading post that sold the speedier Randle her information on Solarian's whereabouts. Lebeauf ordered the ship into deep space then called for a full stop, "Activate the interdimensional beacon. Let the Empire know where we are."
"How long is this supposed to take?" Wei inquired.
"Instantaneously if they harnessed the original technology correctly," Tao Gozen replied.
An apparent isolated ion storm appeared and a mycelial conduit opened and dropped a starship out of the network. Lebeauf was overjoyed, "Hot damn! There she is! Our actual command, the ISS Scalphunter. One of the Empire's newest Hunter-class destroyers."
"She's pretty," Torres cooed.
Lebeauf activated the comms, "All hands report to the transporter room and prepare to abandon ship. Our new command just arrived from home."
"They say the engineers took the best aspects of the Defiant-class and minimized the personnel requirements when they built these," Perez was almost giddy.
"Shut all major system down. I don't care who finds this ship. Lockout all command codes and only leave the transporters working," Lebeauf ordered Wei at OPS.
"Done and done," Wei announced, "Turbolifts will be operational for another ten minutes."
"Then let's get going," Lebeauf told them all.
When they arrived in the transporter room, Tomoe Gozen, Budi, Carrera, and Gomez awaited them. Budi finished with the transporter controls, "The Scalphunter's systems are active and the transporter is locked."
"Then let's leave this damn ship behind," Gomez retorted.
Budi mounted a transporter pad and moments later, the transporter autocycled. They arrived in the familiar surroundings of a Terran Empire warship. The Earth with a dagger plunged through it emblazoned the wall. The dimmed lighting came as a welcome relief to the Terrans.
"To your stations," Lebeauf ordered, "We have an Intendent to catch."
"Now this ship I can love," Torres ran her hands across her console in a loving gesture.
"Don't orgasm yet," Wei chucklked, "All systems read nominal."
"Weapons are fully charged and loaded," Perez announced.
"All divisions check in," Lebeauf ordered shipwide.
"Engineering is pristine and ready to deliver full power," Tomoe Gozen announced.
"Medical is fully equipped," Carrera reported.
"All security and disciplinary equipment is stocked and standing by," Gomez made the final report.
"Anything on sensors?" Lebeauf asked.
"Nothing within scanning range," Tao Gozen answered from her station.
"Now we're a match for those civilian built warships," Perez boasted.
"CONN, status?" Lebeauf inquired.
"Course locked in and maximum warp is available," Torres replied, "We're rated for Warp 9.95."
"Let's test that theory," Lebeauf ordered, "Take us out."
"Should I target the Zuerich?" Perez asked.
"Why waste the torpedoes?" Lebeauf replied, "Some scavenger will pick at the carcass."
"Going from impulse to maximum warp," Torres announced.
"Now the hunt is truly on," Lebeauf chuckled nastily.
"We're receiving a hail from the Prophets Scout," Zimbalist informed Forger, "They say they found the Zuerich. They want to know if we want them to investigate it."
"What's the Zuerich's current status?" Forger asked.
"They say it appears to have lost main power and is adrift," Zimbalist answered after relaying the question.
"Warn the Prophets Scout off and have them send us the coordinates," Forger told him, "Aglaia, set course when we receive the coordinates."
"Receiving coordinates and adjusting course," Aglaia stated from the CONN.
"Prophets Scout said they'll standby in case we require assistance," Zimbalist told Forger, "They seem pretty insistent."
"Thank them," Forger sighed.
"That ship is no match for the Zuerich," Jones reminded Forger.
"You tell a Bajoran CO what to do," Forger suggested, "See where that gets you."
Jones laughed, "No, thank you. I've had my share of head to heads with Ro."
"I have the Zuerich on sensors," Galen 3 informed them from the Sciences station.
"Jaycee, pull up a tactical display of the ship class," Forger requested. A three-view of the Blackbird-class and its capabilities displayed on the main viewer, "Take us out of warp. Give me a deck layout and then display any life signs on each deck."
The deck layout displayed but no overlay appeared. Forger was confused, "Where are they?"
"No life signs, Captain," Galen 3 told her.
"The escape pods are all in place," Miller read her own scans.
"I'm detecting large traces of mycelial spores in the area," Galen 3 announced.
"Is that significant?" Jones asked.
"It's rare," Galen 3 told her, "It's theorized the mycelial network runs through the multiverse not just any one universe."
"Now that sounds bad," Jones opined.
"Inform Commander Macen," Forger Galen 3, "Let's see what his clearance level can uncover."
Rockford entered Macen's office, "You sounded pissed. What's up?"
"The Terrans used the mycelial network to transport a ship across the barrier between us and the Terran Universe," Macen grated.
"You know this for sure?" Rockford was alarmed as well.
"Pretty damn sure. Here's the pertinent data on the mycelial network and Starfleet's mid-23rd Century exploration of using it for instantaneous travel."
He let Rockford read Section 31's secret files on the USS Discovery, including their transit to the Terran Universe and bringing Emperor Phillipa Georgiou with them upon their return to the Prime Universe, "My God. Why hasn't anyone ever heard about this?"
"Go the next section and you'll discover why Section 31 went underground after officially being dismantled. The Discovery and her crew went through time to an unknown century and Starfleet buried the records of its existence to keep anyone from rebuilding an AI like CONTROL or attempting to secure the Sphere data from Discovery's computers," Macen summarized.
Rockford dutifully read the summary reports after he gave her the spoilers, "They did it so no one in the future would be looking for them."
"Essentially," Macen concurred, "But the spore technology was abandoned afterwards since one of its creators was dead and the other in the far flung future. No one could manage to replicate what they'd accomplished before that."
"All this was erased from the Enterprise records as well," Rockford noted, "Though Christopher Pike and the crew received top secret medals and citations for gallantry for the parts they played."
"And the universe was told to forget Spock had an adopted human sister. Ambassador Sarek and Amanda never spoke of her again," Macen pointed out.
"So Sybok was revealed to be Spock's half-brother but they denied Michael Burnham's existence?" Rockford found that a bitter pill.
"In the name of Federation security," Macen sighed, "It furthered the wedge between Spock and Sarek."
"How?" Rockford was puzzled. The biographies of Ambassadors Sarek and Spock spoke of Sarek's disapproving of Spock joining Starfleet but he later relented on the position and the two reconciled. They especially grew closer following Spock's death and resurrection.
"The loss of Burnham in the line of duty pushed Sarek further into disagreeing with Spock's Starfleet career and how it interfered with his courtship with T'Pring and her family. Sybok was already a renegade, Burnham was Starfleet's first mutineer, and Sarek feared Spock would be corrupted by humanity because of his hybrid nature," Macen recalled from his readings, "But Burnham had redeemed herself in Starfleet's eyes. Spock went on to become legendary. Sybok eventually sacrificed himself to save Spock's life but he'd been an escaped fugitive for most of his life. But Sybok's followers gathered on the colony world of Shial in the Dorvan Sector and most of the Romulan defectors ended up there since the Vulcans there embraced emotional expression."
"That's where T'Kir was from," Rockford knew the history.
"She was the sole survivor by virtue of being off world when the Cardassians attacked the colony," Macen said sadly, "She was a broken vessel when I took on as part of the Odyssey's crew when Ro couldn't stand her erratic behavior anymore."
"And in the end you married her," Rockford pointed out, "So she couldn't have been that broken."
"She was getting better but other problems arose along the way. She had psychopathic tendency that constantly needed to be kept in check. It was either restrain her impulses or the team would've killed her. In the end it didn't matter because Bertram Sindis did the job for them," Macen recited the event tonelessly.
"But you killed Sindis and restored T'Kir's katra to a clone body. Who joined Section 31 and I had to kill her to save your life. You said you didn't regret that or blame me. That still hold true?" Rockford wondered.
"That was a mockery of T'Kir's memory. She was a danger to us all with her intimate knowledge of us and how we operated. You did the right thing," Macen assured her.
"Glad to hear you still feel that way," Rockford was visibly relieved, "I don't think the 'here and now' Macen forgave me. Our marriage was a bigger surprise to the company officials and employees than our survival and return from the apparent grave."
Rockford had her own recollections, "Kathy Tyrol was the most surprised of anyone."
"She didn't hide that very well," Macen wore a half grin.
"So, Terrans have their own native starship. What can we expect?" Rockford wondered.
"There's been no new intelligence on the Terrans since Section 31 was finally taken apart and James Fowler was taken into custody. Cell 51 hasn't appeared to have furthered the intelligence gathering according to Ro's investigators. But we know they had access to the Defiant's schematics and even built several copies of the ship," Macen told her, "But even a Defiant-class escort requires more than a nine-person skeleton crew to operate at peak efficiency. I'm betting we'll see something new. Whatever it will be, it will be a pure blooded warship."
"Commander? Our target deviated into a solar system and then set a new course into uncharted territory," Forger came on over the comms, "We're detecting the warp signature of whatever ship the Terrans transferred to. Parva looked at Gaken-3's readings and estimates the ship can do over Warp 9 by a fair margin. We're not going to beat them to the Intendent."
"I never thought we would," Macen admitted, "The question remains of how will they deal with Solarian and will Solarian defend Intendent Kira.?"
"I thought she was a client," Forger replied.
"I'm beginning doubt there are any employer-employee relationships going on here," Macen told her, "Our last update from Starfleet included personnel jackets from Solarian courtesy of Marko Vilnius. The renegade captains missed out on heeding Benton Crawford's call to join Pytor Boromov because they were wrapping up a major assignment. These people are basically mercenary pirates at this point. I'd like a look at the solar system Randle went into and vacated."
"Why?" Forger was perplexed, "I thought Solarian, Kira, and Ardra were our priorities."
"Call it a hunch. I think it'll show us what Solarian is doing here with them," Macen told her.
"We're adjusting course," Forger replied, "I just hope Randle doesn't exceed the range of the beacon in the meantime."
"Randle's scouter gig is faster but it takes longer to recuperate from maximum warp and can't sustain its top speed for as long as we can thanks to Parva's redesign," Macen promised, "We'll pick up the trail again."
"You're calling it," Forger acquiesced.
"There was some disgruntlement," Rockford noted.
"Shannon occasionally feels restrained answering to our team's needs to investigate rather than pursue and confront," Macen had noticed.
"This is hardly a combat worthy vessel. She's designed to investigate. She's purpose built for it," Rockford reminded him.
"Shannon was a Starfleet Tactical Officer before assuming that role aboard the Obsidian. She still thinks like one. It limits some of her perspective on our role within the company and our work for Starfleet," Macen knew Forger had been with the ship longer than Rockford had been with the team.
"I think your recent stints as captain of the Solstice have her worried you'll try to take the chair from her," Rockford warned him.
"She should know better by now. I chose her to be the captain when I stood down. I could've recruited from the outside but she'd proven herself. She deserves the seat," Macen argued.
"Tell her, not me," Rockford chuckled.
"I think I will now," Macen moved from his desk and exited his own office. Rockford went to the Situation Center to check on her Detective Squad and how they were reacting to what little the could access on Terrans and their history. Section 31's summaries left out a lot of details that the actual reports focused on. But the broad strokes of how the Constitution-class USS Defiant, lost in 2267, moved through transphasic space through time and the dimensional border to arrive in 2154 in the Terran Universe and enabled the Terran Empire to dominate the Alpha and Beta Quadrants by the time Tiberius became Emperor.
But starship development, at first radically advanced by reverse engineering the Defiant, had stagnated by the time Tiberius assumed the throne. Kirk made a push for starship advancement that enabled a remnant of the Terran Empire to remain intact while most Terrans and their colonies were enslaved by the Klingon Cardassian Alliance. Tiberius himself disappearing, leaving the Terran Empire with just Earth, Vulcan, Andoria, the Rigel system and Tellar under its control. The new Terran Empress softened her grip on the alien worlds while the Alliance tightened theirs.
The merger of the new technology infusions stolen from the Prime Universe by Smiley O'Brien and the Terran Rebellion quickened the pace for the imperial engineering corps to develop starships on par with the Alliance vessels and then surpassing them. With Dukat going to war with Dumas, the Alliance fractured and the Terran Empire joined with Terran Rebellion to seize the moment and shatter both rival empires. Emperor Georgiou had blown up Qo'nos and Emperor Picard did the same for the new Klingon capital planet and Cardassia Prime. He took the skulls of Dukat and Dumas as trophies for his display case at the family manor.
That much Section 31 had uncovered before S31's collapse. Cell 51 had revived so much of Section 31's networks yet they neglected the obvious threat the Terrans could pose. Instead, first Jack Fowler and then Dylan Sorbo had tried to recreate a Terran Empire out of the Federation. That attempt had just barely failed in its infancy. Ro had Cell 51's leaders in custody and its adherents were being processed through the criminal court system. Meanwhile, Ro had a team of counter terrorism analysts digging through Cell 51's records and examining their past and recent operations and intelligence gathering.
Jack Fowler's last act was to launch his positronic brain, filled with Section 31 and Cell 51's secrets, into Dominion held space. There, the Vorta named Eris recovered the probe containing Fowler's head and artificial brain. A rogue group detached from the Great Link, disturbed by Odo's efforts to reform the Founders' methods, studied Fowler's records. Two Founders, in the guise of Fowler and Senior Agent John Browder, came to the Alpha Quadrant accompanied by two Vorta, Eris and Kilana, as well as a squad of Jem'Hadar and assumed control over Cell 51. But that was pretext to gain access to Daystrom Station.
Sorbo betrayed "Fowler" to Starfleet and he was extradited back to the Dominion where the Great Link would judge his actions and motives. Meanwhile, "Browder" and his accomplices ran free, chasing down the remnants from Project Proteus. The project name being the only reference Cell 51 had of the Founders' investigations. Ro was denied access to Daystrom Station and Section 31's labs there. The records concerning Project Proteus were buried so deeply even Admiral Nechayev couldn't access them. Even a presidential executive order wouldn't liberate the files. In response, the Daystrom Station archivists merely said the files didn't exist and there had never been a Project Proteus.
Ro maintained an active inquiry into the project and the Founders' interest in it but "Browder" had seemed to have left Federation space and assumed a new identity. Even his two Vorta and their Jem'Hadar had vanished. Still, Ro kept Starfleet Intelligence looking for their whereabouts. Meanwhile, she'd been tasked to personally oversee the inquiry into the Cult of the Pah-wraiths. An inquiry Ro knew would come into conflict with Neela's goals and aims. Ro wanted to apprehend the cultists. Neela wanted to exterminate them. There was no middle ground.
Ro had handed off a warning for Neela to suspend operations in Federation space. But she knew the Hand of the Prophets would ignore her. The Federation had once intervened to commute Neela's death sentence for murder. It was ironic that it might end up jailing her for life when she'd been pardoned from a Bajoran prison sentence by the First Minister before the Dominion War broke out. The Militia didn't actively condone Neela's self-appointed missions but they supplied a crew for Neela's starship.
If they were arrested by Starfleet or Federation Security, Ro wondered how General Kira would respond. Would she deny the obvious connection or would she admit to it and further alienate the Federation from Bajor?
These matters were in the back of both Macen and Rockford's minds. They materially and financially supported Neela in her quest, making them equally complicit as the Militia. Ro knew that yet duty made her look into Neela's actions in the Federation after already burying one investigation. Ro refused to do it a second time. Nechayev backed her in her stance that once was enough. Neela would either restrain herself and her activities in Federation space or face the legal repercussions. Outbound Ventures' participation was another matter entirely. That was a legal quagmire that might get the Starfleet contracts stripped from the company.
Rockford knew from oral history that Macen had broken from the SID for three years at one point. She'd run the team and the missions while he and T'Kir were incarcerated. But Starfleet made up their most profitable contracts. She couldn't see the company successfully replacing that amount of business despite the waiting list of clients. Her own detective agencies would still thrive because they weren't reliant on Starfleet's good graces. But the security contracting portion of the company would greatly suffer.
He returned from the bridge after private consultation that steadied Forger's nerves. He reported in to the Situation Center to see how everyone was coping. Lee was still apprehensive. Forte was calm, knowing Terrans weren't much different than her gang of pre-teens had been on Miri. Shade seemed to view them as classic criminals and therefore easily reached with a bribe of some kind. Rockford summed up those feelings out in the corridor.
Macen summoned Ebert, Daggit, and Burrows to his office while Rockford went to find Mudd. There he learned Parva shared Shade's perspective. Daggit preferred thinking of them as strictly combatants. Burrows had a more nuanced perspective of seeing them as imperialists with a simple agenda of conquer or be conquered. Ebert saved her reflections until Daggit and Burrows exited the space.
"These people are essentially every lover I've ever taken," Ebert shared, "They're not reasonable people. They're violently mercurial and prone to aggression at the slightest hint of provocation."
"I know," Macen assured her, "Bailey and Angelique see through them as well. That's why they helped clean up your past. Daggit and Burrows think they're prepared but it's you three that will be able to see what's coming before it does."
"You're going to kill them?" Ebert almost hoped.
"I'll give them choices. They can choose to remain in the Gamma Quadrant away from Bajoran territories. They can surrender to Starfleet and be imprisoned simply for being Terran. Or they can work for me," Macen told her, "I can employ their tendencies to maximum effect where it's called for. If they reject all of those choices, then it's matter of can we kill them? They have a warship now. The Terran Empire wouldn't have culled the last of their mycelial spores to send anything less. They obviously view the Intendent as an existential threat."
"You're not giving her to Starfleet, are you?" Ebert realized.
"She's the price to be paid to gain the Terrans' ability to negotiate. They won't relent or do anything else until she's dead. She also poses an existential threat to the Federation though they refuse to believe it. Nechayev is just teed off because Kira betrayed her. Alynna isn't used to having someone manipulating her. So Kira raised the stakes with Starfleet. But if she dies at the Terrans' hands, they'll be open to suggestions regarding their future here," Macen explained.
"And Solarian and Ardra?" Ebert was curious.
"Starfleet can have them. My mission is the Terrans. They can solve the Kira problem for us. It's what they choose to do next that matters most in this equation," Macen revealed.
"What can they possibly accomplish for you?" Ebert wondered.
"I have agents that can slip in and out of the Orion Syndicate. What I need is an insider to the Iotian Federation. I think Kracko and Oxmyx will leap at the chance to employ Terrans in their bid to rival the Federation," Macen told her.
"But why would they accept that role?" Ebert wondered.
"Because they'll work to topple Oxmyx and Kracko both to establish a new empire here in the Beta Quadrant and beyond out of the Iotian Federation," Macen admitted, "It'll be irresistible to them."
"Are they nuts or just plain stupid?" Ebert blurted.
"If the Terrans manage to gain control of the Iotian Federation, they'll be an obvious threat the Federation can prepare for and contain. Oxmyx and Kracko are too sly for the Federation to grasp what they're up to. So in the long term, they're the larger threat to peace and security," Macen explained.
"It's still taking one big frinxing chance," Ebert was still horrified.
"We've taken bigger," Macen reminded her, "This is just a matter of scaling the chance upwards to subverting an interstellar government rather than fighting two."
Kerber and Smith entered at that time. Kerber looked perplexed over Ebert's distress but smith immediately understood, "You told her the real plan."
"Damn straight he did," Ebert muttered.
"And you disapprove?" Kerber snorted, "I thought these were your type of people."
"Something I'm trying to change," Ebert hotly replied.
"Easy now. We're all friends here," Macen told everyone.
"We've never attempted to topple an interstellar government before," Ebert complained.
"We have," Smith told her, "With varying degrees of success."
"Your parents were killed and you were put under death sentences," Ebert replied.
"But the Troglyte Underground is stronger than ever and has support among many influential Stratosians now," Kerber retorted.
"We tried to topple the Cardassians' control over the Dorvan Sector. In the short term, we lost. In the long term, Gul Maret's empire within an empire collapsed and the Cardassian Union as a whole is now a semi-democratic state," Macen pointed out.
"At the cost of the Dominion War," Ebert reminded him, "And the Maquis were enslaved during the war and forcibly relocated afterwards."
"I didn't say the success was perfect," Macen shrugged.
"But you want to create a threat to the Federation in order to mobilize Starfleet against it?" Ebert was still aghast, "How is that any different than Chavy Sok or Auri?"
"The Terrans represent an obvious threat that Starfleet can contain," Macen stated again, "Oxmyx and Kracko aren't seen that way even though they're a far more subversive threat. No one is saying the Terrans, with a single starship, will overthrow Oxmyx and Kracko's control over the Iotian Federation and Iotians Starfleet, but they'll pose a threat to their control and distract them for a while to come."
"Does Starfleet support any of this?" Ebert finally asked.
"Starfleet is unaware of any of these intentions. This will be run as an independent operation in the same manner that we support Neela," Macen told her.
"And if Oxmyx and Kracko find out who is supporting the Terrans?" Ebert asked.
"We've regained access to Starfleet shipyard depots and armaments companies. We have viable options we can pursue should the Iotians terminate our replenishment contracts," Macen explained.
"So act friendly while working to undermine the government," Ebert digested it.
"The same ploy we used aboard the Odyssey as 'freelance information brokers' that worked for Cardassian interests as well as the Maquis and other high bidders. Only in reality we were serving Maquis interests above all others," Macen reminded her of their shared past.
"It's still dangerous," Ebert mentioned.
"Like being Maquis was any less dangerous?" Macen asked.
"Point taken," Ebert relented.
"We need your support in this, Tracy," Smith told her, "Only Celeste knows as well. She's less supportive but conditionally endorses the plan."
"What has Celeste worried?" Ebert wondered what the specifics were.
"She's afraid the Iotian Starfleet will target Outbound Venture starships and her detectives in the field outside of Barrinoran space," Macen told her.
"The way Solarian did," Ebert understood now.
"It compliments the risks of unconditionally supporting Neela's campaigns," Smith added, "Only in that scenario, we're left facing Starfleet."
"But the Rockford Detective Agencies would be immune from prosecution and arrest warrants," Kerber added, "So Celeste feels her people are insulated from the repercussions."
"Does Harri know any of this?" Ebert asked, "Because you three spent a lot of time and parsecs aboard the Freehold."
"Harri knew what we were doing then and why. It's why she volunteered to be our ride," Macen explained that scenario, "She has no idea of what we're doing besides giving material and financial support to Neela. Harri became a part of that when she gave the Razor's Edge to Neela."
"Harri never did explain why she did that," Ebert mentioned.
"We expunged her Federation record in exchange for her donating a starship she refused to complete work on or ever use," Smith explained.
"And I gave her the Freehold in order to provide her her security blanket of having her own ship," Macen stated, "The Militia was more than happy to sell me a Bajoran scout."
"And Celeste was part of that?" Ebert asked.
"She brokered the deal with Harri," Macen said.
"And you two knew about this?" Ebert asked Kerber and Smith.
"Yes," was all Smith would reply with.
"What kind of secret society have you been running inside the team?" Ebert finally asked.
Kerber and Smith nodded their approval when Macen gave them an inquiring look. So he told Ebert, "One we'd like you to join."
The captain of the Pincer-class cruiser that made initial contact had been expecting Captain Talbot's flagship to arrive and advised the Axian defense command of the fact. What the Axians hadn't expected was for the dozen Solarian Pincer-class cruisers to converge on their solar system. Solarian deployed over every settlement across the system. Even the ore refinery station had a Solarian overseer. The Axians saw the event as a threat and attempted to contact their allies. But the Solarian subspace jamming prevented outside contact. Ardra received her invitation at the price of delaying the defense station's retaliation and Solarian's attack upon every population center.
Ardra was was escorted by Lieutenant Naranda Nemo and a squad of Solarian ground troops delivered to the capital by a tactical lander. Ardra was met by a coalition of alien races that made up Axios' ruling Council. There was a yellow skinned humanoid, a blue-skinned humanoid, an amphibious alien, a cat-like member, a reptilian representative, and a bear-like attendee. It seemed Axios, like the Xindi, had several sentient races originating upon it. Unlike the Xindi, they hadn't completely destroyed their world in their internecine conflicts. Instead they'd developed terraforming technology to reclaimate the soils of the of their scorched planet while relying on replicator technology for food and water until their water sources were purified and their ecosystem restored.
"I'm so pleased to meet you all. I understand you're the freely elected representatives of your selective races on this benighted world," Ardra gushed, "I greet you in the name of peace, prosperity, and security."
"Why have you taken our system hostage?" the Amphibian's croaks were translated as by Ardra's universal translator matrix.
"Hostage?" Ardra gasped, "Hardly. We've secured your system from en encroaching threat. We know that the trading planet Khyber has enlisted pirates and mercenaries to invade your system to eliminate a rival. We came to offer our services in your defense."
"It's easy for mercenaries to claim other mercenaries are coming," the yellow skinned humanoid rebuked her, "Where you even from? I've never seen your races here before."
"We come from seventy thousand light years away," Ardra explained, "So you see, we have a technical advantage over any prospective enemy."
"And we're security contractors. Not mercenaries. Our role is to protect, not conquer," Nemo added.
"So your warships are 'protecting' us by looming over every population zone in our system?" the blue skinned humanoid scoffed.
"We still retain our hunting instincts from our predatory past," the Felinoid tiger-like representative countered, "I know a killer when I see one."
"If we're to conquer, why haven't we opened fire or landed troops?" Ardra laughed as Bortix loomed beside her, "We're displaying that we can secure your interests against any conceivable threat."
"We weren't threatened by anyone until you arrived," the Reptilian argued.
"Business acumen being what it is, surely you understand that Khyber and Mollust each view you as a threat to their expanding interests?" Ardra asked, "A threat that must be minimized."
"And what you ask in return for this 'protection'?" the Amphibian inquired sharply.
"We're a long way from home and require a home base and ordnance replenishment capabilities as well as repair facilities," Ardra told them, "That's all we ask in return is for space aboard your Defense Command Station and access to your markets."
"You wish to trade with us?" the Felinoid scoffed again.
"What could you possibly barter with?" the yellow skinned humanoid asked in return.
Ardra pulled several gold pressed latinum strips out of a wallet, "Inside the gold is latinum. The rarest of metals and one that cannot be replicated by any known technology. It's value is immeasurable. Or, are you already aware of its existence?"
"We call it by another name," the blue skinned humanoid told her, "But we trade in it."
"I'm well aware you have no native sources of latinum, or whatever it is you call it here. We have an abundance of latinum reserves to spend for our goods and services until you decide to hire us on. We'll gladly accept payment in the form of your local currency," Ardra promised, "I assume its negotiable with nearby trading partners."
"And if we eventually refuse your 'gracious' offer?" the Bear finally spoke up.
"Then we move on to find an appreciative client," Ardra stated, "One whose definition of protection might be more aggressive than your own."
"That's a veiled threat," the Felinoid accused.
"That's the practicalities of the business," Ardra shrugged, "I can't change interstellar politics or business interests."
"And you claim not to be mercenaries," the Reptilian hissed.
"Sometimes an offense is the best defensive measure," Nemo replied.
"And how do you propose to 'defend' us?" the Amphibian asked.
"We would leave garrisons of ground troops in your desert and polar regions as well as an intelligence unit aboard your defense command post while our cruisers deploy to secure your trade routes," Ardra predicted, "I would remain here, in your capital, with my personal bodyguard as a liaison between Solarian Security Services and your own Council."
"We need time to confer," the Amphibian advised Ardra.
"Time is not on your side," Ardra warned them, "A gathered pirate fleet is amassing along your principle trade routes even now."
"Still, we require deliberation," the Amphibian replied, "Wait here."
"They can't trusted!" the Felionoid declared angrily.
"I agree," the Reptilian concurred.
"Yet we receive daily reports of increased pirate activity from trading partners," the yellow skinned humanoid replied, "It's no stretch of the imagination to assume that Khyber or Mollust or even both of them are harboring these pirate forces."
"And the pirate activities are increasingly coordinated," the blue skinned humanoid admitted.
"We might have to concede this one after all to secure our trade routes and increase traffic with our partners," the Bear grumbled.
"So it's three to two on this matter," the Reptilian deduced, "You know that a tie equals a negative decision. What do you say?"
The Amphibian knew he was being openly challenged, "I say we approve this deal and further negotiate the price of doing business."
"You're a fool," the Felinoid decided.
"A naive fool," the Reptilian supported that assessment.
"Our partners have been threatening to pull out of our markets due to pirate activity. We've even intercepted comm traffic suggesting that convoy escorts could become a practice amongst our armed traders. And that those escorts would demand a presence in our system," the Bear explained his rationale, "It's better to negotiate an armed presence than have one thrust upon us."
"You don't consider this as a 'thrust'?" the Felinoid mockingly asked.
"They came in with their weapons deactivated and their shields down," the yellow skinned humanoid reminded the opponents to the idea.
"Our scans prove they could destroy our defensive station and lay waste to every population center yet they haven't threatened to do so. That shows business acumen," the blue skinned humanoid replied, "And business is what we do."
"We never should laid down our arms," the Reptilian accused, "Trusting the goodwill of others was our downfall."
"We haven't fallen yet," the Bear pointed out.
"Haven't we?" the Felinoid asked scornfully, "We've been occupied by an unknown force and leveraged to pay them for their goodwill. I call that extortion rather than business. Or is that how you do business dealings now?"
"We have a lot of negotiating of terms to do," the Amphibian ended the debate, "So let's get to work."
Ardra knew it was foregone conclusion but she acted delighted upon hearing the news, "Of course we'll be happy to discuss terms for further protection. But as a gesture of goodwill, we'll begin our work before we settle terms. If you'll allow me a pause to return inside our lander and signal our fleet commander to disperse the fleet and begin patrolling your besieged trade routes?"
"Please do," the Amphibian allowed Ardra the moment.
Talbot dispersed the cruisers, all except hers, upon hearing the news a deal was being reached. She had to admire Ardra's savvy. Tasking the scouting reports from Solarian's ships, she'd pieced together the gathering threat against Axios and its trade routes. She'd also theorized the connection between the pirates and the other trading planets that rivaled Axios in a relatively small span of a single sector. The fact that the pirates openly traded with Khyber and Mollust was a data scrap Ardra would feed them to sell Solarian's terms of the proposed deal. Talbot would remain in orbit since the ground forces and the intelligence unit were currently all aboard her ship.
Ardra and Bortix accompanied the Council back to their chambers while Nemo packed up and returned to Talbot's ship. The symbolic gesture meant to reassure that Solarian's ground presence wouldn't be invasive. But once Solarian deployed their off-ship personnel, they effectively controlled the planet. The intelligence unit under Lieutenant Sonya Vickerson would necessitate a security presence as well. So the defense station would be theirs as well.
Vickerson herself would accompany Major Sophie Robb in establishing a secret presence in the remaining wooded glens outside of the megapolis. Nemo would join them there in preparation for a surgical strike against the Council should they renege on the terms of the contract.
Master Sergeant Elita Smalls would lead the desert force that could deploy to overrun the farmlands. Meanwhile the polar force would be the caretakers of the tactical landers and oversee their security and deployment as air support for the ground offensive. Talbot herself would leave the system in the hands of the reduced ground forces and deploy outwardly to strike out with her fellow captains against Khyber and Mollust. The pirates would be dealt with by then. With Axios' trading partners decimated, the planet and would only become richer and the threat of outside violence even greater to the Axians' perception after Solarian falsely reported the action as a result of outward hostile forces. The terms of the contract would then be re-negotiated in the face of this illusory threat. Terms set by Solarian.
"What the frinx?" Randle blurted as she dropped out of warp as Solarian's cruisers made the jump to it. One final cruiser sailed through system and Randle attempted to hail it but was ignored as it to went to warp speed.
"I guess we found them," Kira snickered.
"Now how do I deliver?" Randle bemoaned.
"You have two options. The first being deliver to the Solarian forces still on the ground or your second option is to sell it as an insurance policy to the locals," Kira told her, "I know that some of the natives will not appreciate Solarian's presence or whatever scheme Ardra has running."
"You'd like that second one, wouldn't you?" Randle said snidely.
"I just want Ardra. You collect your latinum and I'll find a way to get the natives to give her to me," Kira shrugged nonchalantly despite the desire for revenge burning a hole in her soul.
"And if I were to sell you out to Solarian?" Randle asked.
"You wouldn't live long enough to, my dear Fabrini," Kira smiled sweetly.
"Stop referring to me that way!" Randle snapped at her.
"Whatever you want, but you really don't want me to stop. You want to take off those constricting clothes and join me for an ecstatic few hours of pure sensual pleasure," Kira replied.
Kira had been waging a sexual propaganda war since Randle beamed her aboard. Fabrini culture called on male sexual interaction only if so desired for procreation. Generally, the sperm was simply extracted from the male genitalia and injected into the female womb. Alternatively, the female eggs could be harvested for an artificial womb to bring the baby to term. Sexual pleasure was reserved for female Fabrini joined together. It had been months since Randle taken a lover. Kira seemed to sense that and fed off of it.
"I'll scout alternative buyers. Happy now?" Randle asked.
"I'd be happier if you put us in orbit of a nearby planet and indulged your every fantasy about me," Kira cooed.
"Not. Happening," Randle grated.
"No one should with so much sexual frustration. I can help you with that. But I warn you, afterwards, you'll only be satisfied by having sex with me. I'll ruin you towards any other woman," Kira advised her.
"Do you ever shut up?" Randle asked. The sensors showed an ore refinery station in the outer system around Class-D planets and several industrial colonies on the inner worlds. The second planet had two space stations. One was obviously a defensive post of some kind while the other was docking and undocking commercial traffic, it seemed. So she set course for that one.
"I drop you off on that space station that we're now headed for and we part company. Forever," Randle told Kira.
"Poor thing, now all you'll be able to do is dream about me. I promise you will," Even Kira's laughter was suggestive.
"I promise you, I won't," Randle vowed.
"I guess I'll never know unless you come looking for me," Kira was still vamping it up.
Randle had no plans on ever returning to the Gamma Quadrant again. She certainly wasn't taking Kira with her when she left. Kira could play out her little revenge fantasy and then deal with Solarian. Randle just wanted her payday and a clean exit.
"I haven't seen battle damage like this since we left home," Tao Gozen reported from her sensor readings, "They ripped through this defense force without mercy."
"I'm beginning respect our quarry despite their sheltering the Intendent," Lebeauf admitted.
"I'm still receiving a subspace distress beacon on the forth planet's surface," Wei was the next to report.
"Torres, put us in orbit. I doubt there's anything left in this system to threaten us," Lebeauf ordered, "Perez, keep your targeting sensors sweeping the system. I don't want anything surprising us while Gozen focuses on the surface."
"Captain, I'm detecting Terran and Imperial resident alien life signs on the surface beneath a shielded enclosure," Tao Gozen told him, "Someone set of an old fashioned nuclear bomb atop of them."
"They're from the Federation, Gozen. The Terran Empire doesn't exist here. Yet," Lebeauf corrected her terminology.
"Right. I'm also detecting signs of conflict and combat from across the planet," Tao Gozen continued her scans.
"They attempted to conquer this world and failed," Lebeauf chuckled, "Have they detected us?"
"Odds are likely but their tech base seems retrograde. Given Gozen's sensor readings, I'd say these people just recently discovered warp drive," Wei was studying the senor readouts more closely.
"And they still drove the invaders off?" Lebeauf had now lost all respect for Solarian after all.
"What do we do about the survivors?" Perez asked pointedly. She wanted something to shoot at to test the weapons.
"You'll get your chance to fire upon something soon enough," Lebeauf chided her, "Leave these people to die of starvation, lack of water, or radiation poisoning. I don't care what takes them. They deserve it for their ineptitude."
"I have a warp trail leading out of the system," Tao Gozen told him, "It's a different craft but a Federation warp signature."
"Follow it," Lebeauf decided, "They'll lead us to the Intendent."
"What if she's down there?' Perez asked.
"Gozen?" Lebeauf was certain she would have reported any Bajoran life signs.
"There are no Bajorans on the surface," Tao Gozen confirmed his faith in her.
"Transfer course heading to the helm and break orbit. Lay in at maximum warp," Lebeauf instructed.
"Gozen and Budi may not have locked down the drive yet," Torres warned him. They'd just come off of a significant drive at maximum warp.
"I'm certain Gomez would enjoy giving them some booth time again," Lebeauf chuckled, "Now do as I say!"
"Randle has settled into one spot in a star system at the edge of the beacon's range," Zimbalist advised Forger, "We're about to exit that range."
"I hope our Mission Commander knows what he's doing," Jones muttered for Forger's ears only.
"Captain! A ship just exited the approaching star system at high warp. It's the same drive we've been following," Galen 3 announced.
"Somebody inform Commander Macen," Forger ordered.
Zimbalist went to work and was astonished by the reply, "He still wants us to go into that system."
"What the frinxing hell?" Jones couldn't help but blurt aloud, "First he has tracking that warp signature and now we ignore it?"
"The Mission Commander moves in mysterious ways," Forger sighed, "Continue on course."
"He wants them to catch the Intendent," Miller said flatly.
"Better them than us," Zimbalist replied.
"But isn't our duty to our contract with Starfleet to apprehend the Intendent?" Galen 3 innocently asked.
"That leaves a broad spectrum of interpretation in Macen's mind," Aglaia chuckled.
"Look, I don't honestly like working for Starfleet most of the time but they pay their bills," Jones argued, "They wanted us to catch her and those Terrans. Why are we letting them go?"
"Macen feels there's something in the solar system ahead that will give us an idea of why Solarian sided with Ardra and Kira to come here," Forger grew more resolute, "Frankly, I think the backdrop of that info is worth the detour."
"That makes the best sense tactically," Miller agreed.
"They're mercenaries," Jones retorted, "What else is there to know?"
"Ardra wouldn't hire muscle," Forger stamped down hard on the simplistic idea, "It goes against her greed. She made a pact to deliver wealth to Solarian. We need to know the mechanism by which they intended to collect. And the Intendent really scrambles the cosmic egg."
"I'm slowing to impulse if anyone still cares," Aglaia announced.
"I'm scanning wreckage and residual radiation from antimatter detonations and nuclear warhead detonations," Galen 3 was already scanning the system, "There's a rudimentary colonial outpost on a Class-K planet. The pressure domes are intact and there's signs of a basic terraforming effort. But it's centuries behind our technology."
"Analyze the debris to determine the design factors and if any of it comes from Federation ships," Forger instructed. Galen 3 managed long range scans while Miller did the detail work on the remnants of the combatants.
"You're on to something," Miller reported, "All of these craft and basic ships are circa early 22nd Century level by Federation standards. They had basic warp drive but I'd guess their drives couldn't exceed Warp 1 by much."
"Weapons designs?" Forger asked.
"Pretty simplistic as well. Some signs of plasma weapons but most of it was plain ballistic launchers and missile tubes," Miller told her, "They were armed but they didn't seem to be prepared for an actual fight."
"What do you mean?" Jones wondered.
"There's no trace of defensive capabilities whatsoever," Miller replied, "Even Earth balanced defensive with offensive capabilities as they developed starships. These people didn't expect to get shot at apparently."
"Any subspace chatter?" Forger asked Zimbalist.
"I'm detecting a Federation distress beacon. It's growing fainter. I think the power cell must be damaged somehow," he reported, "Other than that, there's a lot EM spectrum broadcasting going on."
"Let's see it," Forger instructed.
"Captain, Commander Macen is ordering us to resume our pursuit of the tracking beacon," Zimbalist said sadly.
"What about the distress beacon?" Jones asked.
"We're to resume the hunt," Zimbalist shrugged, "I guess we leave the poor bastards behind."
"Jaycee, drop an emergency distress beacon buoy in the system and mark the location for the Militia or Starfleet. Maybe whoever gets here first can help," Forger instructed.
"You can't be serious," Jones railed, "Those people need help."
""Those people exceed the numbers we can bring aboard our ship," Galen 3 grimly explained, "We have crew capacity of eighty people, of which we half staff. We have an emergency evacuation limit rating of two hundred people. There's nearly a thousand Federation race based people Solarians left behind. They obviously can't drop the shields because they lack the ability to treat the radiation poisoning that would be inflicted if they did so. It's better to leave the buoy and get a starship or starships with the capacities to ferry that many people and treat them than to take a mere two hundred and leave the rest to die."
"This isn't Eminiar VII. We don't have a history of simply walking into disintegration chambers when ordered to," Jones grated.
"You're Maquis," Galen 3 angrily shot back, "You have a history of targeting civilians and using biogenic weapons for genocide. So don't compare our histories."
Jones was infuriated but she couldn't argue those points. She had done all of the accused actions as a Maquis. She'd gutted lightly armed Cardassian military freighters and left the survivors to die as their life support failed. She'd bombed civilian population centers on Cardassian colonies. She'd supported Eddington's usage of weapons of mass destruction to kill or remove planetary populations. Eminiar VII had been forced to abandon computerized warfare and death tolls in the mid-23rd Century and seek a lasting peace.
"I won't argue the point," Jones slowly settled down, "But I formally protest."
"Your objections are noted in the official flight recorder logs. The corporate legal teams will review them and make official policy recommendations," Forger told her, "But you can't seriously expect them to recommend we remand the corporate owner over to Federation justice."
"I suppose not," Jones deflated, "I guess I shouldn't have a right to be outraged. It just feels like we're abandoning them the way the Federation abandoned us."
"Macen will feel the same way. If not, Tracy Ebert will shove it down his throat. Either way, you'll notice that word hasn't come down to stop us from leaving the beacon buoy," Forger noted for her.
"The Commander requests that we deposit a comm buoy at the edge of the system so that he can contact Starfleet and the Militia and apprise them of the development," Zimbalist said with relief.
"Is he spying on us?" Jones suddenly felt very paranoid.
"No, but Kerber and Smith might be," Forger admitted, "They seem to monitor internal security sensors."
"We're departing the system and I'm engaging the warp drive. Anyone care to call out a recommended speed?" Aglaia interrupted their conversation.
"Lay in at Warp 6," Forger told her, "Parva will probably want to re-tune the engines before we reach our targets."
"We should reach the tracking beacon in under an hour," Zimbalist told them, "So Parva better work fast."
"She always has," Forger chuckled.
Ardra was put up in a swanky hotel suite that was rather palatial and suited to her tastes. Bortix swept for surveillance devices, "They didn't even bother to bug us."
"It's the cat and the lizard I'm worried about. The others know they're beaten. But those two representatives resent the hell out of our being here," Ardra replied as she lounged on a luxurious couch.
"They'll make a token play," Bortix warned her.
"Of course they will. But they don't have anything in their inventory big enough to crack a Solarian cruiser's shields before Talbot could have them destroyed. That defense station is a joke on them," Ardra laughed.
"It's assassins I'd be worried about," Bortix told her.
"That's why I have you on the payroll," Arda chuckled, "We've faced worse possibilities before."
"I'm still preparing some surprises for uninvited guests," Bortix warned, "So I hope you aren't intending to actually use that balcony."
"I'd never dream of giving a sniper a clear shot," Ardra confessed, "Do what you do and tell me where not to step and we can rest happily knowing that would-be killers will meet an untimely end."
"Just the way it should be," Bortix unpacked his gear and began making setting anti-intrusion devices.
Randle's discreet inquiries on the trading station regarding people interetsed in increasing their civil defense capabilities came to be known to the Felinoid and Reptilian representatives on the Council. They sent a delegation to the station to meet with Randle. The Bear sent an accomplice along as well despite voting for the Solarian contract, the representative didn't trust Ardra or the security contractors. So he added a member to the team.
Randle sat back in a lounge and courted prospective buyers. But most were fellow smugglers or simple traders looking for a hot ticket. The arrival of the tiger-like Felinoid, a different species of Reptilian, and an armored polar bear gave Randle pause and excited Kira. The Intendent had silently sat through every trader's probe into what the cargo could be without saying a word. But Kira sensed real opportunity with the delegates and said as much to Randle.
"I'll handle negotiations," Randle grated, "You just back and continue spending my latinum on free food and drinks."
"You're one of them," the Felinoid accused, "Why would you betray your own kind?"
"First off, I'm simply me, not a 'them'. Secondly, they aren't here to deliver to. So that makes my cargo auctionable. You want a weapon capable of defeating Solarian? I have five warheads, each of which can destroy several starships at once," Randle told them more than she'd revealed to any other prospective client.
"We'll listen," the Reptilian took a seat. The Felinoid joined him. The Bear simply stood by, lacking suitable seating requirements.
"Who do you represent?" Randle asked, "Because I'm not letting these go to just another trader."
"We represent disaffected members of the government that are concerned for our own safety and planetary security," the Bear told them.
"Then I have just what you need. All that's required is a launching mechanism," Randle said.
"What kind of weapons are these?" the Felinoid got to business.
"Isolytic weapons. I can see you're not familiar with the idea behind them. They tear through subspace to rip a vessel or vessels apart as they shift partially in and out of subspace and real space combined. Shields won't block the effects. The only thing that can neutralize an isolytic burst is the detonation of a warp core. Which would leave the remaining cruisers on auxiliary power and therefore vulnerable since they'd be deprived of their main power and warp drives would be inoperable. In other words, they'd be trapped while you muster up up whatever it is you can muster up to destroy them," Randle explained.
"And why would you betray your own kind?" the Feliniod repeated.
"They aren't my kind. I just look like one of them," Randle explained,
"What are you asking for?" the Reptilian asked.
Randle named a sum, "That's a mark up from what Solarian promised but it's simply insurance in case you fail to stop them. I'll need money to hide with."
"And, I want Ardra," Kira suddenly spoke up, "Without that guarantee, there's no deal."
Randle shot her an angry glare that Kira ignored. But the delegates all chuckled nastily. The Felinoid sealed the pact, "We'd be delighted to meet all of your terms."
"Then I'd say we have a deal," Kira smiled a predatory smile. Randle wondered how she'd lost control of the negotiations. But she'd get the price she asked for without any haggling it down. So she allowed the Intendent her victory.
"Dropping out of warp," Torres announced as they reached the outer Axios system.
"The system is filled with colonies and there's a Class-M planet in the system's secondary orbit. I'm detecting heavy traffic surrounding one space station and an armed space station in a nearby orbit. The traffic lanes are within its presumed weapon's range," Tao Gozen reported from her Sensor Station, "The warp trail we followed here leads to the planet."
"Torres, set course for the trading post," Lebeauf was playing a hunch.
"Why there and not the planet itself?" Perez was impatient.
"Because we need intelligence on the Intendent's whereabouts and activities," Lebeauf snarled, "And a trading post is the best place to acquire that kind of information. We don't even know if these people have ever seen a 'human' or a Bajoran before. If they have, then we'll know Kira's allies have been here or established a presence here."
"We're being hailed by System Traffic Control," Wei told him.
"Acknowledge signal and request a docking berth at the trading station," Lebeauf ordered.
"We've been cleared," Wei told, "Once we're there, then what?"
"First we scan the station for Bajoran life signs and then we mingle with alien trash and find out if the Intedent was ever here,"Lebeauf told them all, "This will be a crew wide effort. So pretend these things aren't inferior and treat them as at least resident aliens within the Empire."
"This should be taxing," Perez groaned.
"Just imagine the smells to come," Torres grimaced.
"Station Operations wants to guide us into a berth," Wei told her commanding officer, "Should I give them access?"
"Are the firewalls engaged?" Lebeauf asked.
"Up and running. Some of the Empire's best work," Wei said proudly.
"Then give them the helm," Lebeauf replied, "Torres, be sure to relinquish control. Perez, make certain our weapons are on hot standby. I want them charged in a second if we end up needing them."
"They're wondering if we want a power and support umbilical," Wei told him.
"Tell them all we need is the airlock," Lebeauf said, "Hopefully these things breathe a compatible atmosphere."
"It's a little richer in oxygen than we're used to but that'll just sharpen our minds and reflexes," Tao Gozen told them.
Torres lifted her hands from her board, "They have helm control."
"Be ready to break away if we need to," Lebeauf cautioned her.
"We're docking," Wei told them as the braking thrusters fired, "Airlock is sealed and secured."
"Attention all hands, report to the primary lock at once. You'll receive further instructions upon arrival," Lebeauf broadcast across the ship for Tomoe Gozen, Budi, and Gomez's digestion, "Wei, set anti-intrusion and secure the ship by quantum signature access only. I don't expect our doppelgangers to be out here but it's a strange universe."
"No Terran has ever been this far from the Empire before," Perez cautioned them, "And we won't be carrying weapons. But we are weapons."
At the airlock, Lebeauf assigned teams. The Gozen sisters would check out the closest tavern together. The others split apart to check the equivalent of coffee houses and other bars to seek information regarding their Bajoran quarry and any humans that had entered the system recently. The Terran Empire had supplied them with latinum slips, strips, and even some bars to cover expenses until they could manage to earn their own keep.
The Gozens created quite a stir. Not that they wouldn't have amongst humans as well. Tao wore her shoulder length hair bleached blonde and Tomoe wore her green hair in a tomahawk and they wore head to to toe leather. They drew interest from being curiosities. But they learned that Solarian had entered the system. More to the point, a "human" and someone matching a Bajoran's description had been in the tavern just hours ago.
Tao Gozen leaned up against the counter top while Tomoe Gozen tested out a local alcohol. They had to keep up appearances until the designated time to return to the ship to compare notes. Kira was traveling with an apparent human and shopping around a cargo. Tomoe Gozen finished her drink, "Not bad."
"We should check out the docking slips to see if we can spot any humans," Tao Gozen suggested to her sister.
"That's not our orders," Tomoe Gozen scowled, "I've done enough time in the booth on this trip already."
"But if we capture this human, we can get information out of her about Intendent Kira. Kira might even still be with her," Tao Gozen was excited.
Tomoe knew her sister was desperate to advance in rank and status. The elder Gozen sighed, "All right. But I'll rat you out as this being your idea if it goes sideways."
"It won't," Tao Gozen promised Tomoe.
Budi made an impression to. The traders and locals didn't realize Indonesian men weren't supposed to be blonde but they didn't know enough to distinguish that. All they saw was another outsider from the other part of the galaxy. Word of Solarian's origins had spread quickly. He quickly learned that Solarian had forced its way into a contract with the Axian government and deployed to secure its trade routes. The change from invading to a protection scheme made better sense now that the bulk of Solarian's potential ground forces were left behind on the World. Budi ordered up to maintain appearances and waited out the time until the rendezvous.
The local traders and planetary natives spotted Gomez as he entered a the tea shop. They noted he was of the same race as the bulk of the force that had landed as escort for Ardra. Imagery of them had spread throughout the system and now the sector. They didn't realize blue wasn't his natural hair color. Solarian and their deal with Axios was all anyone was talking about. But Randle and Kira hadn't made an appearance in the shop, so Gomez perused the menu and left without purchasing anything.
Perez and Carerra had ended up at the same shop serving the local variant of coffee. Carrera's blue hair and Perez's magenta hair were deemed natural for humans since the local traders and patrons had no basis for comparison. The shop was abuzz with the news of of the Solarians' arrival and new deal with the Axian government. Some felt safer knowing Solarian would be patrolling their tarde routes now. Others felt more threatened before, not having any guarantees that Solarian wasn't just a better organized band of well armed pirates. But no sighting of Intendent Kira had occurred within the shop, so the Terrans left, disgusted with their results and the brews they had purchased.
For the traders and locals at the rival brewing shop, it was easier to spot that red wasn't Wei's natural hair color since she grew her hair out several inches and dyed the remaining lengths. Wei discovered Randle and Kira had dropped in during their sales effort. Apparently the Intendent was traveling with a lone 'human' and the human had been seeking a buyer for her cargo. But she'd struck out at that venue. Wei hurried off to locate Lebeauf and inform him of the development.
Lebeauf's own grey tipped hair was unnatural but seemed normal to the native Axians and local traders because they lacked a frame of reference to his his age. Lebeauf left the shop disgusted by how own lack of progress and the vile swill they deemed as being their version of what a Terran would call coffee. Wei found him and told the news that Kira had been spotted in the company of a human cargo runner seeking to offload a valued shipment. Lebeauf hurried them back to the ship to inform the crew so they could begin hunting this trader and the Intendent.
The leather clad Terrans all arrived at the ship by the appointed time except for the Gozens. Lebeauf was outraged, "Where are those idiots?"
His comm badge chirped and he slapped it against his chest, "This had better be good for your own sakes."
"We tracked down a human trader seeking offload isolytic warheads to the local government," Tao Gozen reported, "We have eyes on her but there's no sign of the Intendent. The trader has transferred the cargo to another vessel and is making ready to depart. Tomoe and I are ready to stop her."
"You'd better or you'll die in the agony booths," Lebeauf warned her.
"Copy that," Tao Gozen signed off.
"We'd best track down those idiot sisters and make certain they don't frinx this up," Lebeauf grated.
"I have their location," the bleached blonde Mexican, Torres, told them, "They're at what we'd consider Docking Port Six. It's one level down."
"Then let's go!" Perez demanded to see some action.
Tomoe and Tao Gozen simply strode into the cargo bay where Randle had completed her cargo transfer and was ready to board her own ship when the Gozens intercepted her. Tomoe physically blocked the route to the airlock leading to Randle's scouter gig.
"Going somewhere?" Tomoe Gozen inquired nastily.
"Who the hell are you?" Randle asked, "You're certainly not any Solarian I've ever spotted before."
"We aren't Solarians. We're infinitely better," Tao Gozen said from behind her.
"Look, I don't any trouble," Randle told them, "I just want to be on my way."
"We'll let you keep your latinum in exchange for information, "Tao Gozen said reasonably.
"And what would that be?" Randle was suspicious.
"Where's Intendent Kira now?" Tomoe Gozen asked the pertinent question.
"I don't precisely know," Randle told them, "She left the station with planetary officials. She's out for revenge against a business partner that burned her. She made getting her target part of the sales bargain for my warheads. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have to leave this sector before Solarian discovers I sold their weapons to the natives. But she's the only Bajoran on the planet. So you should be able to easily find her. Can I go now?"
"You're afraid of the wrong people," Tomoe Gozen warned Randle, "You'll be coming with us to make certain you're telling the truth."
"If you aren't, we have means of extracting a confession out of you," Tao Gozen added.
"But I told you the truth," Randle protested.
"We'll soon see," Tomoe Gozen was without pity.
Lebeauf and the others arrived on cue, "This is the trader?"
"She's says Kira is on the planet. But we held her so Gomez could make certain of it," Tao Gozen reported.
"Use the agonizer," Perez wore a wicked smile.
Gomez fished a comm badge sized device from his vest pocket, "This will hurt. It'll end when you tell us the truth."
"What the frinx?" Randle asked as Tao and Tomoe Gozen grabbed hold of her arms and Gomez applied the agonizer to her chest, "Release her."
"Get this frinxing thing off of me!" Randle demanded.
"Where's Kira?" Lebeauf asked again.
"I told these two she's on the planet. She's the only Bajoran there. So you can easily detect her with your sensors. Now let me the frinx go!" Randle was starting to panic.
"Jolt her to make certain she isn't protecting the Intendent," Lebeauf ordered.
Gomez remotely activated the agonizer. Every nerve in Randle's body registered pain at once and she screamed. Then the pain began shifting from nerve bundle to nerve bundle, never wearing down or creating resistance to the pain as it constantly flowed from one nerve to another. Gomez deactivated the device when Lebeauf signaled him to.
"Now, where's Kira?" he asked one last time.
Randle's knees went out from beneath and she groveled on the deck plating, "I told you. She's on the planet."
"I believe her," Even the malicious Perez had to admit, "She has no loyalty to Kira."
"I could have told you that," Randle gasped as she tried to speak through her scream ravaged throat.
"Take the agonizer off of her," Lebeauf ordered. Gomez detached the device and roughly shoved Randle to the deck. Lebeauf wasn't finished, "Good work you two. There's hope for you yet."
"She would've already been departing if we hadn't stepped in," Tao Gozen explained the urgency of their mission, "That's why we didn't report in with you at the ship."
"Good initiative. But ambition will only carry you so far in this universe. You were right to come straight here but if you disobey orders too often, it'll make us all think you're challenging authority. That's what the booths are for."
"We only sought to complete the mission," Tomoe Gozen quickly said.
"Let's go before anyone decides to investigate what they heard here," Lebeauf ordered everyone back to the ship, "We need to depart for this planet 'Axios' immediately."
Randle was content to lay on the deck plating until the local variant of constables and medics arrived. She refused to answer any questions regarding her assailants, saying only that they attacked her from behind. They didn't know her physiology so they were uncertain how to treat her. The constables knew she'd received a large payout from the government. But she didn't report the latinum missing or stolen.
"It's secured in a hold aboard my ship," Randle told them, "They didn't have time to search it. Can I please just go now?"
The medics cleared Randle because they didn't have a clue as how to help her. The constables realized that Randle had said all she was going to. So they cut her loose and advised System Traffic Control and Station Operations to clear her departure.
Randle thanked them all and boarded her ship. Once she'd cleared the system and gone to warp speed, she crawled into a hammock and cursed Kira's name.
"I hope they do to you what they did to me for hours on end," Randle whispered before she passed out.
"Target beacon is on the move," Zimbalist warned Forger as they dropped out of warp in the Axios system.
"Ask our mission commander if he wants to pursue," Forger instructed, "What's her course heading?"
"Back towards Bajoran territory," Galen 3 told her, "Her holds read empty now except for a large cache of bars of gold pressed latinum in a hold she thinks is shielded enough to defy sensor readings."
"Then how are we detecting it?" Jones asked, "That's an attractive prize to be dangling out in front of potential pirates and raiders."
Forger knew she spoke from personal experience as both so she added to Zimbalist's instructions to include both data points. Galen 3 was startled, "The hold is now secured from sensor readings."
"Thank Kerber and Smith for that," Jones chuckled, "I wonder what happened to Randle that she set out without securing her sensor blind."
"Are we certain Teresa Randle is human?" Galen 3 asked, "Because I only detected a Fabrini life sign."
"Randle is her alias," Forger explained, "She prefers not to advertise she's Fabrini. Only criminals get exiled from Yolanda so she doesn't blatantly display the fact."
"Unlike Shade," Zimbalist snarked.
"You're just upset that Shade buys into the Fabrini belief that men are only useful for procreation," Miller laughed, "She turned you down flat when you asked her out on a date before you started courting Sveta."
Zimbalist had never heard anyone refer to his relationship with Korepanova as "courting" before. But he had to admit he was looking towards a long term future with her, legally binding or not. They'd discussed marriage options and Korepanova would commit to five-year marriage licenses at a time. Still, even five years with her was a commitment he could easily make and come back afterwards to negotiate another license.
"So, when's the wedding?" Aglaia suddenly asked.
Zimbalist was caught by surprise. No one was supposed to know they'd agreed on the five-year marriage yet. Yet Aglaia wasn't joking. It was a serious inquiry.
"What aren't you telling us, Edwin?" Miller asked.
Zimbalist sighed, "Sveta and I came to an agreement on a five-year marriage license with options to renew."
"Congratulations!" Forger said.
"My God, Sveta is getting married?" Jones blurted.
"Why haven't you told us?" Miller asked accusingly.
"We didn't want to announce anything until we had a date set," Zimbalist explained then confronted Aglaia, "How the hell did you find out?"
"I have a friend in the licensing department on Serenity. He told me about your application and approval," Aglaia laughed, "There's no hiding anything, Zimbalist."
"Just how 'friendly' are you?" Miller asked.
"We gossip between orgasms," Aglaia smirked.
"I didn't need to know that," Jones complained.
"That was a little too much info, Aglaia," Forger chided her.
"What?" Aglaia laughed, "Tessa bares all, all the time, about her sexcapades with Galen 3 and no one says a word."
Galen 3 blushed and Forger groaned, "It's a glitch in her programming they haven't been able to resolve."
"Kerber and Smith just want don't to," Miller pointed out.
"She makes a helluva a point," Jones admitted.
"Captain! I have a Federation type warship decamping from an apparent trade center space station and headed for planetary orbit," Galen 3 suddenly reported.
"Edwin?" Forger prompted him.
"I'm pinging its transponder," Zimbalist was all business again.
"System Traffic Control is querying us for a destination," Aglaia informed her.
"Stall them for a second," Forger replied, "Edwin?"
"She's registers as the ISS Scalphunter," Zimbalist got a registration after trying alternating methods of getting a transponder ID response.
"Definitely Terran then," Forger said grimly, "Aglaia, tell them we're making planetary orbit."
"That's one hell of a pocket sized battleship," Miller whistled, "She's as armed as a Defiant-class and comes in as a smaller package. She has atmospheric capability."
"The Terran Empire has had access to the Defiant-class specs for over ten years now. It's no wonder they were able to adapt its features," Jones pointed out.
"Solarian doesn't have a presence here and yet Randle lit out as though she'd made her delivery," Forger noted.
"Maybe she sold out to the highest bidder," Jones offered, "I've done it a time or two."
"The second station is a defense platform," Galen 3 advised the Command staff, "I'm detecting five isolytic weapons aboard her. They're more advanced than any other warhead in their arsenal."
"So maybe Solarian was here and they're getting ready for their return?" Miller suggested as a question.
"Captain! I have a dozen Pincer-class cruisers dropping out of warp in the outer system," Galen advised her.
"Should we still assume orbit?" Aglaia asked.
"No," Forger replied, "Steer for the trade station instead. Inform System Control we changed our minds and will will contact Station Operations about a docking berth."
"They're wondering about the change?" Aglaia told her after a textual exchange.
"Tell them we realized we have no goods or services that they need but we can get a price for them on the station," Jones interceded.
"System Control is transferring us," Aglaia replied moments later.
"Now, when we get assigned a berth orbit the station instead of releasing docking controls," Forger instructed.
"We've been assigned a slot in the docking queue," Aglaia told her, "So there's no conflict of interest."
"Let's just hope Solarian doesn't notice us as they approach," Forger said.
"They shouldn't be looking for us or any Starfleet vessel," Jones told her, "They showed up in force for a reason. They'll play it out."
"We're now in the queue orbiting the trade station," Aglaia told them.
"Status on the Scalphunter?" Forger asked Galen 3.
"They've assumed orbit over the planet," he replied.
"They'll be spotted for sure," Miller retorted, "That'll frinx things up."
"It'll put a spin on things, that's for sure," Jones muttered.
"What's the Federation ship doing?" Lebeauf asked Tao Gozen.
"They've assumed a position in the queue for the trade station," she answered, "They have a non-Federation registration and are not part of Starfleet."
"You're certain?" Lebeauf wanted to double check.
"They're a small, lightly armed vessel," Perez told him, "They're obviously no threat to us. They'd be a match for the Zuerich but not the Scalphunter."
"What's her ID?" Lebeauf asked.
"The SS Obsidian," Wei answered, "She does possess a secondary registration with the Federation. But she's listed as a private sector scout, not a military vessel."
"So they managed to find their way here?" Lebeauf asked, "Now?"
"The trader we interrogated was here with Kira," Perez reminded him, "Maybe these are the Intendent's allies as well."
"Some ally," Torres snorted.
"Commander, I have a dozen warships dropping out of warp in the outer system," Tao Gozen told him, "Unknown class. Non-Starfleet but Federation registered."
"Search the stolen database for them as well," Lebeauf told Wei.
"They're still individually no match for us," Perez reviewed Gozen's sensor readings, "But cumulatively they could do us some damage."
"They're registered to a Solarian Security Systems. A private security contractor," Wei read off her findings, "Essentially mercenaries with a fancier title."
"Now these are Kira's allies," Lebeauf chuckled.
"Did she summon them?" Torres wondered.
"The local gossip was that the planetary government was blackmailed into signing on Solarian as defense force," Tao Gozen recalled, "The planet's leadership hates them but saw no peaceful alternative then to hire them on."
"You and your sister did better than I thought," Lebeauf congratulated them both.
"I have a Bajoran life sign on the planet below," Tao Gozen suddenly reported.
"Transfer her coordinates to the transporter's targeting sensors," Lebeauf told her, "Perez, go back up Gomez and Carrera as they take the Intendent prisoner."
Perez left her station and Lebeauf assumed it, "Watch those warships carefully. I want to know if and when they're provoked."
"Transporter is signaling," Wei told him, "They have Kira."
"Put her in an agony booth and tell Gomez to await further instruction. I want Carrera to keep her alive for as long as possible."
"No response from the warships," Tao Gozen informed him, "They're assuming a blockade formation around the planet."
"We're being hailed," Wei advised their commander.
"I'll take it on my screen," Lebeauf told her.
Talbot appeared, "Who the hell are you? How did an Iotian ship get this far out? State your business."
"We came for the Intendent. We have her now and have no further business with this world," Lebeauf replied as Perez returned to the bridge and awaited the return of her usual station.
"The Intendent? We left her behind," Talbot was baffled.
"She got a ride with a Federation trader and came here. Is this an issue?" Lebeauf asked.
"We have no need or desire to see the Intendent again. You can have her. But I want you out of this system immediately," Talbot instructed him.
"Very well. We'll be breaking orbit and departing then," Lebeauf told her.
"You'll be closely watched, I warn you," Talbot was getting on Lebeauf's nerves.
"Understood. Out," he cut the channel and returned Perez's station to her, "Break orbit already and set a course out of this system."
"Where are we headed?' Torres asked.
"Back to the Wormhole and the Alpha Quadrant," Lebeauf answered, "From there we begin to forge our new path."
"Commander, the scout ship has broken from the queue and is following our course out," Tao Gozen told him.
"They're hailing us while being hailed by this 'Solarian'," Wei explained to him.
"Put them on screen," Lebeauf told her, "I'm curious as to what they think they can do to us."
Forger dealt with Solarian while Macen spoke with Lebeauf from his office. Forger sat nearby, serving as a witness and a counsel should the talks break down.
"I trust you have the Intendent in custody by now?" Macen asked.
"Who are you really?" Lebeauf demanded to know.
"I'm Solarian's biggest rival. Personally, I'm an investigator but my company is in direct competition with Solarian. They'll be landing forces now, I presume. Starfleet has been summoned. You'll want to be away from here before they arrive. They have orders to detain you all," Macen explained, "But I can provide an alternative for you in the Beta Quadrant."
"What kind of 'opportunity'?" Lebeauf was still suspicious.
"A chance to carve out a new empire out of the Iotian Federation," Macen explained.
"This 'Solarian' mistook us for Iotians. Why?" Lebeauf felt insulted.
"Your registration is identical to one the Iotians use. They created a rival federation to the original Federation and blackmail planets into accepting their protective umbrella. At one point they allied themselves with Intendents Ro and kira. But that alliance broke down when the Klingons and Cardassians evacuated back to your universe," Macen continued explaining.
"So what is this 'opportunity'?" Lebeauf still semi-sneered.
"I'll make an introduction to the leader of the Iotian Federation and the leader of the Iotian Starfleet. You'll have to play a subservient role while you gather adherents and topple the government and seize control over their Starfleet," Macen told him, "From there, you'll establish control over your own, pre-conquered empire from which you can expand from."
"And what do you get out of this?" Lebeauf wondered the cost would be for the introduction.
"I have several ordnance replenishment contracts with the Iotian Starfleet as well as starship orders. I'd accept a renegotiation of the terms of those contracts in exchange for my recommendation," Macen told him.
"You're gambling that we can conquer this 'Federation'," Lebeauf realized.
"You're Terrans. Conquering is in your blood," Macen replied.
"You seem to know a lot about our universe," Lebeauf stated.
"I have access to Starfleet's classified files because I do work for them. I'm under contracted orders to arrest you. I prefer setting you loose on the Iotians," Macen admitted.
"And why is that?" Lebeauf was amused by the idea of Macen attempting it.
"Clearly, I'm incapable of arresting you. But I can report your supposed escape deeper into the Gamma Quadrant and Starfleet can waste time looking out for you here and beyond in deeper space. Work with me to undermine the Iotians and you get to do what you came here to do beyond killing Kira and you can receive financial and material support from my corporation."
"You consider them a threat," Lebeauf slowly realized.
"I think they're a growing threat that the Federation refuses to recognize as such. That will work to your advantage when you assume control. The Federation will never see you coming," Macen told him.
"You'd betray the Federation that hires you?" Lebeauf asked.
"I'm actually doing this for the Federation. When you attack them, which we both know is your ultimate goal, they'll finally respond to your empire they way they should respond to the Iotians. But, to be honest, considering your history compared to the Federation's, you stand a good chance of taking Earth and the Federation itself. In that case, I'd be positioned to be an ally rather than a foe. I can promise you that my company will not engage Iotian forces under your control. We'll remain neutral so long as you respect Bajor's, Cardassia's, and Barrinor's neutrality," Macen explained further.
"Why those places?" Lebeauf didn't like the terms.
"Because I have vested interests in them all," Macen revealed, "And I have over one hundred starships at my disposal. So, I can help tip a delicate balance of powers."
"I'll give you this 'Barrinor' and Bajor. But Cardassia is ours to take," Lebeauf warned him.
"Bajor has mutual defense pacts with both the Iotians and Cardassia," Macen advised him, "They won't sit out an Iotian attack on Cardassia. I won't sit out an attack against Bajor."
"We'll revisit this at a later date," Lebeauf told him, "But how will you explain our presence in Bajoran space if we escaped out into the Gamma Quadrant?"
"The commander of Deep Space Nine is a personal friend. I can convince him to look the other way in defiance of official orders," Macen assured him, "But I would have to escort you through the Wormhole and the Bajor Sector through the Kalendra Sector to our sopace station where your crew could be fully briefed on what they'd be facing if you agree to my terms. From there, I can advise Oxmyx and Kracko about your coming to them seeking employment. I can also strenuously recommend that they accept your offer."
"You seem very well connected for a mere scout," Lebeauf accused.
"I'm useful to a lot of people," Macen admitted, "And that makes me a valuable ally in a strange universe."
"Or you're proposing you'd be formidable opponent," Lebeauf accused.
"You could simply destroy my ship and kill everyone aboard it but that would pit my entire corporate fleet, Starfleet, the Bajoran Militia, the Cardassian Guard, and even the Iotian Starfleet against you," Macen advised him, "Every one of them is indebted to me and my crew and they would take our deaths personally. Don't begin your life in this universe by alienating every power that controls every territory you'd have to cross through to reach a neutral system."
"The Starfleet database registers the Kalendra Sector as neutral. It borders the Bajor Sector," Lebeauf retorted, "I'd just have to fight my way through Bajoran space."
"The Kalendrans just signed on with the Iotian Federation," Macen told him, "They have ships in that sector already. Starfleet Intelligence is aware of this but apparently hasn't updated Starfleet Operations' database yet. Your best hopes are allying with either the Breen or the Tzenkethi, which we know is impossible. Or you could strike out into the narrow buffer region along the Cardassian Farside border and Breen space to enter into the unexplored Deeper Alpha Quadrant."
Lebeauf scowled, "It seems our intelligence about your universe is out of date."
"Ours lags five years behind on yours as well," Macen admitted, "The Terran Rebellion hasn't crossed over an agent for almost ten years. Similarly, the agency watching your universe stopped doing so after the rise of the Terran Empire when it fused with the Terran Rebellion. The Alliance presence we endured and the Intendents' continued presence in our universe revealed the splintering of the Alliance and suggested the victory of the Terran Empire."
"You judge well," Lebeauf admitted, "The Terran Empire triumphed over the Cardassians and Klingons after letting them ravage one another as such scum will do."
"You'll find the Klingon and Cardassians here to be entirely different than what you're used to," Macen told him.
"You're committed to this offer?" Lebeauf asked.
"I am," Macen confirmed it.
"We'll accept it conditionally," Lebeauf decided for the crew, "If in time it works against our interests, we'll break our trust in you."
"I expected no less from you," Macen confessed.
"Then we'll except your escort," Lebeauf replied, "What is your rated cruising speed?"
"My ship can easily sustain Warp 6," Macen informed him.
"Then we'll agree to travel with you at that speed. But you'll lead us and since we detect you have no chase armament, you'll be committed to honoring our pact or we will destroy you without hesitation," Lebeauf dictated.
"I'll inform the crew and we'll proceed from there," Macen cut the channel.
"I hope you know what you're doing," Rockford opined.
"So do I," Macen confessed.
Talbot deployed the tactical landers upon Axios. Major Robb and Lieutenant Vickerson set up their secret encampment outside of the Axian megapolis. Meanwhile Sergeant Smalls began establishing a base in the desert while Lieutenant Nemo set up in the polar region. Sergeant Miranda Tate established an intelligence corps aboard the Axian defense station. Ardra's plans for Axios had came to realization.
Captain Talbot reported on the successes Solarian cruisers had against pirate forces. Her ships had returned to update the Axian Council and to deliver the plans for industrial and ordnance replicators needed to replenish and repair her starships. Then her cruisers redeployed, leaving behind the ground troops who entrenched their positions.
Incoming traders shared stories of Solarian interventions on their behalf. But they also hinted at the pirates amassing near Mollust. They'd shared this intelligence with Solarian and Talbot and her captains had promised to intervene. The Axian Council worried that Talbot intended strike out at Mollust itself, which had a native defense force, and embroil Axios into a war.
Ardra's reassurances to the contrary belied incoming reports of Solarian forces dropping out of warp in the Mollust system that traders brought to Axios as they fled the Mollsut system. But the Council was vaguely reassured by Solarian's presence on the ground which meant Talbot wouldn't attempt an invasion or occupation of Mollust. As the days went by, traders attempting to Mollust were halted by a Solarian blockade. The pirates had been routed and few had escaped. But Mollust itself was in ruins as Solarian had bombarded the planet with photon torpedoes.
Warp cores dropped to the planet's surface from orbital installations had poisoned the planet's atmosphere and some major water sources. Survey teams discovered after the Solarian withdrawal. Talbot returned her ships to the Axian system leaving behind a legacy of death and destruction. It was then that the Axian Council knew with certainty what Solarian intended for their world. Talbot would know be the pirate queen in the name of Axios, threatening rival trading hubs and planetary systems alike. Those systems would blame Axios and retaliate. Thus making Axios dependent upon Solarian's ever increasingly costly protection.
The Felinoid and Reptilian Councilors revealed their secretive purchase of isolytic warheads mounted upon torpedoes and loaded into the defense station's launchers. Despite the catastrophic effects the weapons would have upon subspace stability in the inner system, sublight travel would be unimpeded. The Bear Councilor admitted complicity in the acquisition of these warheads and the making of the last resort plans to utilize them. Talbot had redeployed Solarian's cruisers for other attacks when Starfleet arrived and Commodore Saavik raised communications with the Council.
"Your analysis of your situation is logical," Saavik agreed, "However, these actions by representatives of our Federation are criminal and we are here to apprehend those responsible and liberate your system from Solarian threat as well as that posed by the criminal named Ardra."
"And how do you propose do that?" the Amphibian was translated as asking, "By waging war in our system?"
"We intend to surround your outer system and intercept Solarian starships as they arrive. You have stated they left ground forces embedded on your world. We would deal with them directly afterwards or assist you if that is your preference," Saavik negotiated.
"How is it your criminals acquired warships to begin with?" the yellow skinned humanoid asked.
"They were licensed security contractors in accordance to our laws until they went renegade. Since that time, we have been seeking them. No one contemplated a scenario whereby they engaged in terrorizing your quadrant," Saavik admitted.
"So now we pay the price for your short-sightendess," the Felinoid accused.
"Essentially. For which I can offer both official and private apologies for. We shall endeavor in the future prevent such occurrences from happening," Saavik told them.
"We have no standing army and only a lightly armed police force," the blue skinned humanoid advised Saavik, "We cannot assist you in capturing your own criminal element."
"I will supply an emergency beacon code to utilize should the Solarian ground forces and those aboard your defensive station prove hostile. One or more elements of my squadron will immediately respond," Saavik told them, "At such time I shall apprehend Ardra as well."
"We shall contain Ardra to her hotel suite in the meantime," the Bear recommended, "And cut all power to it to persuade her to surrender willingly."
"I find your terms most reasonable and thank you for their lack of severity," Saavik admitted.
"We are peaceful peoples after centuries of bloodshed. We wish to remain so," the Reptilian explained, "Do not force our hand into employing the warheads we acquired from a trader from your own Federation."
"I would be curious as to how this trader came to be in possession of banned weaponry," Saavik admitted.
"We will not divulge any details regarding the trader save that they already departed our system days before your arrival," the Felinoid replied, "She may have been our greatest asset in this sordid affair."
"Understood," Saavik di indeed. The Federation and Starfleet both had failed Axios. Something she intended to highly recommend amending, "After this affair is concluded, my government would appreciate the opportunity to fully represent themselves with diplomatic envoys who would come unarmed and negotiating terms of how to repay you for your troubles."
"Latinum speaks louder than words," the Amphibian leader replied, "But perhaps we could negotiate trade terms as well if your people behave honorably."
"I shall endeavor to connect you with the proper authorities," Saavik assured them, "For now, we must establish our patrols in order to intercept returning Solarian forces."
"We shall be watching, Commodore," the Bear warned her.
Saavik deployed her forces completely around the Oort ring surrounding the star system. The system's cloud was especially dense and filled with dwarf planets. They made perfect camouflage for her ships and forced Solarian's cruisers and civilian traffic to drop out of warp beyond the outer system.
Still, in the days to come, the Solarian captains put up quite a fight as they returned individually and in small squadrons. Their crippled ships were tractored into the Oort cloud and similarly hidden while their communications systems were disabled by Starfleet Security officers boarding them. Captain Talbot was the last to arrive and the first to break through the cloud to get a signal to Axios activating her ground troops. Her ship was duly captured before she could reach the inner system.
Major Robb deployed all of her forces at once, taking control of the megapolis' outskirts within hours. The Axian police force put up a token resistance. But the arrival of Starfleet Security being beamed in caused Robb to hesitate and eventually surrender upon learning Captain Talbot and the other starship commanders' capture.
That left Ardra sealed in her hotel suite. Bortix had set up transport inhibitors and sensor blinds so Starfleet couldn't beam them out or beam personnel in and they had no verifiable means of determining how large Ardra's party was. But after day's without food or water, the confidence artist and her bodyguard surrendered to the Axian police who transferred them to Starfleet's custody. The Solarian starships and vehicular assets were seized by the Axians. Despite Marko Vilnius' express instructions, Saavik allowed the confiscation of the weaponry so that the Axians could reimburse themselves through sales of the contraband. The Axians also recovered every bar of latinum they'd surrendered to Ardra and Solarian. Saavik knew they'd actually make a profit out Starfleet's intervention but she considered it good diplomacy in action as she made her recommendations to Starfleet Command.
As Starfleet departed, the Prophets Scout arrived in the system and made first contact. Its crew discovering that the natives had experience with the Intendent. The Major in command of the ship was able to persuade them that Intendent Kira was not representative of his people. She was an outlier who undoubtedly, upon her transporting off of their world, was now facing her own brand of justice.
Gomez would allow Kira twenty minutes of respite a day whereupon Carrera would inject her with nutrients and forcibly hydrate her before her return to the agony booth. This went on until they reached Waypoint Station. At which point, while Macen communicated the need for secrecy with Vaughn at DS9, Lebeauf had the Intendent brought to an airlock.
"It's been a pleasure serving you, Intendent," Lebeauf laughed.
"I'll survive this somehow but eventually you won't," Kira promised.
"We'll see, won't we?" Perez mirthfully asked her.
Gomez shoved her into the airlock. They depressurized the airlock before opening it so Kira was already oxygen deprived but wouldn't be explosively expelled. She slowly floated out into space before the airlock sealed again.
Lebeauf hit his comm badge, "What's the status on the Intendent's life signs?"
"She's dead already," Tao Gozen reported, "Our mission is accomplished."
"Now we'll see what this 'Macen' is really offering," Perez cautioned Lebeauf.
"Raise shields as soon as you return to your station but don't arm weapons yet," he ordered, "Let's see if they get us free and clear of the Federation."
"Commander, Macen is signaling that we can traverse the Wormhole passed Deep Space Nine and set course for the Kalendra Sector," Wei signaled Lebeauf.
"Instruct Torres to follow the Obsidian through the Wormhole and the course they set afterwards," Lebeauf ordered. He turned to Perez, "Time to return to the bridge and await whether or not Macen has betrayed us to the Federation."
The transit went smoothly. It still marveled the Terrans that the Bajorans in their universe and no awareness of the Wormhole and Terran scouts couldn't open the terminus even with the coordinates stolen from the Prime Universe. Their Bajoran didn't worship any Prophets. It was as though the multiversal Prophets neglected to appear in the Terran Universe until Doctor Bashir and Major Kira were thrust there by a malfunction within the drive of their runabout opened the Wormhole to the Terran Universe. It reopened to take them home but not since then.
The Obsidian and the Scalphunter traversed the Bajor system under the watchful eyes of the station and the Bajoran Militia's System Defense Force. From there they traveled to Free Haven where the Militia kept a J-class starbase as the headquarters of the Colonial Defense forces and its commander, General Anara. Macen's influence remained intact as they exited Bajoran space without questioning.
The Kalendra Sector was now under Iotian Starfleet control. Lebeauf and the Terrans prepared for a possible battle when the Iotian starships challenged them but Macen's sway got them passed the border controls and through the sector to the Barrinor Sector and to the Brsknir system, home of Barrinor itself and its colony on Odin, which Serenity Station orbited and approved the Scalphunter's docking request.
The Terrans were surprised to be greeted by Captain Tom Riker, who they confused for Will Riker, and Lisea Danan. Lebeauf expressed the crew's bafflement, "Admiral Riker, what brings you here?"
They could tell this was very different Riker than the one they knew. His left eye wasn't blinded by the same knife wound that had scarred him. And his beard didn't have two braided tassles hanging from it. His obvious attraction and comfortability with the Trill woman also added to their confusion.
Riker grinned, "You obviously have me confused with the doppelganger of my twin."
"Twin?" Perez was immediately even more paranoid.
"Captain Will Riker and I were the same person until a transporter accident separated us into individual beings. I'm Captain Thomas Riker, commander of this station and the corporation's Special Investigations Division qualified fleet. This my wife and Executive Officer, Commander Lisea Danan. She also heads up the Sciences Division."
"Fleet Admiral Riker would only keep a Trill as a pet and plaything," Gomez snorted.
"You'll find our universe works very differently," Riker was irked despite his warnings of Terran prejudices.
The Terrans could see the comment flared Danan's temper but she held her tongue. Lebeauf made the remark, "Your Trill seems to know her place."
"Lees," Riker said softly as Danan's temper threatened to explode. Danan stifled whatever retort she had planned and Riker told the Terrans, "If you'd follow us, we can take you to our local Quark's where you can order some drinks and meals. The corporation has set up a tab for you. Gambling and the holosuites are at your own expense."
Riker and Danan noted that the Terrans, though visibly disarmed had been scanned by Security's airlock sensors as carrying various types of knives. Gerrit Gren increased Station Security patrols across the Promenade. Aric Tulley personally oversaw security at Quark's. Radil Jenrya and her entire watch had been brought on duty early. They enjoyed company paid for synthale and meals while they oversaw internal security. Despite Radil being the Deputy Chief of Security for Beta Watch, she followed Tulley's lead since he was the expert on the going's on inside Quark.
The Terrans recognized Annabeth Frinks. Apparently she served as manager of the original Quark's on Terok Nor after Quark's execution. Rom had been killed as well, leaving the bar to Nog. Nog had maximized the profit potential of the bar before moving on to navigate the Great River. Frinks was left in charge as the manager.
Leighlah Travers was assigned as their personal server. Gomez scanned each portion of food and every drink before it was consumed. Travers reported in with Frinks and Tulley between orders, "They're completely paranoid."
"They seemed to recognize me, though," Frinks acknowledged.
"And in a good way," Tulley had noted, "There was recognition of me as well but less favorably."
"They certainly have a dangerous edge to them," Frinks had observed, "They're all ready for a fight. Maybe even a murder spree."
"They're discussing how strange Captain Riker and Commander Danan were. They referred to their marriage as 'unnatural'. They hate them both for 'defiling' the bloodline. They seem to be human supremacists," Travers collected her items and went off to serve the Terrans their third round of drinks. They weren't drinking synthahol and were downing the alcohol at a phenomenal rate withput any apparent impairment. So they could definitely hold their liquor.
Macen and Rockford entered in. The Terrans noted how they were the only non-Security officers that were armed. The tension level at their table ratcheted up exponentially.
"So, you've finally come to kill us," Lebeauf assumed.
"Hardly," Macen placed a padd on the table, "The introduction to Oxmyx and Kracko in the Iotian Federation has been made. This is the coordinates of Sigma Iotia II and your clearance to transit the Iotian Federation. Included is my letter of recommendation for your service in the Iotian Starfleet."
"I suspect you have an additional price for this 'service' to be paid," Lebeauf suspected.
"I don't want Oxmyx or Kracko killed. Exile them from Iotian Federation space or whatever you call it after you stage your coup," Macen told him, "Give them a warp capable shuttle and escort them out of your newly won territory. Their destination is irrelevant to me. I'll learn it soon enough. The rest of of my terms stand."
"Where do we even start?" Perez asked.
"I recommend contacting Governor Ishara Yar of Turkanis and her daughter, Captain Ishtashra Yar. Beyond that, you'll find interested accomplices on 492 IV and the rebels on Beta III," Macen told them, "They'll be the backbone of your revolution."
"Just like that?" Lebeauf was still suspicious.
"Not all at once. Establish yourself as loyal Iotian Starfleet assets before you begin plotting Oxmyx and Kracko's downfall. There are plenty of ambitious Iotian officers who will support you as well. But you have to find them on your own," Macen told them, "I'll provide this facility as a refuge should you fail. But I doubt you will. You are Terrans, after all."
"True," Lebeauf tossed down his last drink, "I suppose we should begin now."
"That would be best," Macen agreed.
"And if I betray you to the Iotians?" Lebeauf wondered.
"I'll cope," Macen answered.
"We ran a data search for a 'Brin Macen' and 'Celeste Rockford' in our database," Wei admitted, "You have no counterparts in our universe."
"We probably do but you wouldn't know them," Rockford told them, "Neither of us are human, despite appearances."
"You're aliens?" Lebeauf's suspicions grew.
"You may view us as second-class citizens our even slaves, but we're your best hope at establishing yourselves in this universe without a conflict with Starfleet," Macen told them, "The offer is on that padd. Go to the Iotians or not. It's your choice. But you're time on this station is over for now. Come back when you're feeling reasonable."
Macen signaled Radil and her Security force moved in, including Tulley. Macen told them, "Don't threaten them and all they'll do is escort you back to your docking port."
"I think we have an understanding after all," Lebeauf said, "For an alien, you think very much like a Terran."
"I'm sure that's a compliment from where you're from," Macen allowed.
The ISS Scalphunter made way under escort by four corporate starships that were returning to the drydock and R&R for their crews after lengthy convoy assignments. None were SID rated crews. Riker and his Ops team had been joined by Macen and Rockford.
"They're setting course in the right direction for Iotian space anyway," Korepanova stated from her readouts.
"You mind cluing us in why they thought I was Will and a Fleet Admiral?" Riker asked.
"I'll upload you all some heavily redacted Starfleet Intelligence files on the Terran Universe where they're from," Macen told them all.
"More visitors from other universes?" Liu asked. Like all of the Maquis in elevated positions that Macen had recruited, Liu and Korepanova both knew Riker, Danan, Macen's entire team, and the Obsidian's Senior Staff excluding Jones, were from alternate universes. They also knew Ro, Vaughn, Admiral Forger, Johnson and the Intrepid's Senior Staff excluding Grace, and possibly even Neela were as well. Starfleet was unaware of the personnel swaps made by the Prophets through the power of the Nexus Ribbon. For Macen's team and the Obsidian staff, they'd replaced their dead doppelgangers and assumed control over their tomb of a starship. All the others' doppelgangers were apparently swapped out and taken to parts unknown.
Neela had said the Prophets revealed they'd all come from doomed universes. A power, unknown and unreckoned with, was pruning away alternate realities. Only the four so-called "Prime" universes, the Terran Universe, and the as of yet unknown Kelvan Universe remained out of trillions of others. Where the doppelgangers had been sent to was mystery none of the replacements wanted to dwell on. The Prophets had acted to place everyone in this Prime Universe, split from the other three in first second of universal creation.
Why they all had been selected was a mystery when there had been so many options to choose from. The purpose seemed to be safeguarding Bajor's future and present security. In order to accomplish and other aims, Nechayev, Forger, and Johnson had pushed for the creation of the Starfleet Special Investigations Division which had been a part of their histories but unknown in this universe. The Mars Massacre and reading up on their personal histories had proven just how different and yet eerily similar this history had been.
Here, The Ferengi had applied for Federation membership rather than merely sign the Khitomer Accords. Here too, the Cardassian Union remained a political rival of the Federation rather signing those same accords. Bajor had been expelled from the Federation unlike any history they'd known. The Bajoran Republic and Cardassian Union had signed a mutual defense pact prior to the expulsion and had been used as political leverage to expel them.
Fortunately, the Iridians hadn't launched an invasion. The Omicron and their creators had never attacked. The Talarian Republic had never signed the Khitomer Accords and most importantly, the Typhon Pact had never come to be. The Typhon Pact in their history had been composed of the Romulan Star Empire, the Tzenkethi Coalition, the Breen Imperium, the Gorn Hegemony, and the Tholian Assembly and had been gathering lesser powers to its rolls such as the Andergani. Andoria had left the Federation to join the Typhon Pact due to a reproductive crisis that never occurred in the Prime Universe.
The divergence point for everyone seemed to be in the closing days of the end of the Dominion War. When the peace accords were signed and the conflict ended, history between universe splintered. Just as Picard's use of the Nexus Ribbon to stop Doctor Tolian Soran from destroying the Veridian star had fractured histories. Another crux point in recent times had been the Borg attack of 2373 and the assimilation of Earth in the past. Those events alone had diverged into thousands of separate alternate realities.
Only now, alternate realities were being pruned almost as quickly as they could be created. Some among the group theorized the Q Continuum was behind it all. Others chose other temporal bending alien races such as the Krenim. Macen's own belief that it was caused by the Temporal Cold War was met with skepticism and even mockery. No one had ever heard of such a thing. Even Rockford was dubious regarding his insistence that such a thing was underway.
Macen knew it to be true because he had residual memories of being on Earth in the 22nd Century while the NX-01 Enterprise crew was dealing with the Xindi crisis and aliens had traveled back into Earth's past to side with the Nazis to insure Hitler's victory over every nation. Even over Imperial Japan. That future had become Macen's reality while on Earth and then the Enterprise's intervention had reversed it and set history back into accordance to its previous self. As El-Aurians, both he and Guinan had known that history had been altered. They also knew history had been reset to its proper course when it was restored to the 22nd Century that they knew.
"Crossovers should be rarity again after this," Macen promised them, "The Terrans made a one-way trip to insure that Intendent Kira couldn't return to their universe. I've given them an opportunity to make something of themselves."
"Brin, you know Starfleet regulations specify that they should've been remanded to their custody where they'd be put on a penal colony to adapt to our universe," Danan reminded him. Of everyone, she still had the most idealistic view of Starfleet.
"They'd do the same to us without possibility of release because we infiltrated them," Macen reminded her, "Remember, this isn't 'our' universe either. It's just become that."
"We remember," Riker promised him.
"But it's easy to forget in the daily rhythm of life," Danan confessed.
"Remember Mars and Clancy and you'll know the truth of it," Macen said.
"We're insulated out here," Riker reminded him in defense of his wife, "We didn't directly deal with Clancy or Sector 001."
"Tom has a major point," Rockford also rallied to Danan's defense.
"We never notice the differences," Korepanova admitted, "So we forget as well."
"Our history with you all remained the same as what you remember," Liu stated.
"With one big difference: in our histories I never recruited all the Maquis I could track down in the Alpha and Beta Quadrants," Macen told them, "A mistake I rectified when the SID program began here."
"And our SID began almost as soon as the Dominion War ended," Danan informed them, "So we had a dry run."
"With a turbulent and tragic history," Rockford had her own memories, "One even worse than the Mars Massacre and the wars with Bajor and Cardassia. Billions of lives were lost. So, there are things we know should never be allowed to happen."
"So, what's next for you all?" Riker asked, "Chris Pike hasn't requested you specifically for any mission yet."
Lieutenant Christine Pike was Forger's official liaison with Outbound Ventures. Standard SID contracts came through her. Forger herself often personally handled Macen and Rockford's assignment notifications.
"Actually, I have an operation financed by Ro underway that we'll be joining," Macen told Riker.
"I wasn't aware," Riker frowned.
"It isn't an SID operation. All the players are ex-Maquis corporate operatives that would rather die than assist Starfleet. So they're unaware that Ro specifically requested their involvement," Macen chuckled.
"The Intrepid dropped Moonbow and Michelle Lin off at Waypoint Station," Danan told him, "They said they have information you need but they can't transmit. They contacted me because you were out of communications range."
"Have the other operatives arrived yet?" Macen asked.
"Every one of them made the transit while you were working for Starfleet," Korepanova told him.
"What operatives?" Riker didn't like being confused.
"Sorry, Tom. I needed you out of the loop temporarily," Macen told him, "Alert Chris Noble and tell her the Solstice needs a crew."
Christina Noble doubled as the Gamma Watch Duty Officer for Station Ops as well as captain of the Blackbird-class scoutship, the SS Solstice. Noble pulled assets from across the station duty roster, most from Gamma Watch. Tom Eckles, Heidi Darcy and the Bolian named Emjin Thool would her engineering staff. Christine Lacey would be the Tactical Officer. Aric Tulley and Sito Jaxa would come from Station Security to be the XO and CONN Officer respectively. Elfi Hendryks would be the OPS Officer. Everyone but Sito was former Maquis drawn from Ro Laren's cell on Ronara Prime. Eckles, Darcy, and Lacey had served during the Maquis rebellion and the subsequent Dominion War serving aboard an identical starship, the SS Odyssey.
"Why do you need support?" Riker asked more calmly.
"Thomas Darcy and Treir are on Waypoint Station directing Miranda Wells expansion of Orion Syndicate 'embassies' across the Militia charted sectors of the Gamma Quadrant. Wells herself is returning to Waypoint aboard Baroness Estella Grimes' armed yacht, the War Profits. Lin and Moonbow were gathering evidence of how the Syndicate was exploiting the disruption caused by Intendent Kira and Ardra as Solarian passed through the star systems Bob Johnson was holding mediation talks with. Lin and Moonbow were assisting Bob but they were covertly gathering evidence of the Syndicate's operations in the Gamma Quadrant," Macen explained, "Both Starfleet and the Militia will be very interested in what they've uncovered. If the evidence is weighty enough, we can arrest Darcy, Treir, and Wells and hand them over to General Anara's security forces aboard Waypoint."
"And afterwards Starfleet and the Militia can discuss extradition terms," Riker understood now, "Anara is in the know?"
"I made arrangements with her to operate aboard Waypoint before leaving Bajoran territory in the Gamma Quadrant," Macen explained.
"Considering what the Syndicate did on Waypoint under the Blood Queen's leadership, I'm certain that the Militia would love to prosecute Treir and Darcy, who were already the chiefs of the Alpha and Beta Quadrants at that time. So they would have been complicit in any Syndicate operation that drew from their trusted personnel resources," Rockford added.
"The Station Constable and her deputies have already spotted faces and ID'd participants in the massacre committed on the station," Macen told them, "They're just holding until we can arrive."
"But why call on Noble and her crew?" Riker asked, "I have other SID rated ships nearby in the Alpha Quadrant."
"Because this has to remain a Maquis mission in order to satisfy my operatives' sensibilities," Macen told him, "Sorry, Tom. Muster Noble's crew and get them aboard the Solstice. We rendezvous at the rally point at the system's edge in two hours."
"That's why hardly anyone exited the Obsidian despite her being in port," Riker realized.
"A few people had family or other matters to attend to they couldn't perform on the ship," Macen told him, "But we'll set sail in one and half hours."
"We'll make certain Chris Noble and the Solstice are cleared for departure by then," Danan promised.
"While you've been talking, I've alerted the crew," Korepanova told them.
"And I've got the Dockmaster making final preparations on the ship and have Flight Operations standing by to ferry the crew to the dockyards," Liu told them as well.
"See? A well oiled machine," Macen grinned.
"We'd better get going before Shannon thinks we're staying behind," Rockford urged Macen.
"So...why wasn't I told any of this was underway?" Riker asked Danan, Korepanova, and Liu.
"These Maquis operatives are under the same contract and license as Hakatay and Sakonna. They undertake similar missions for corporate interests," Danan tried to soothe her husband's bruised ego.
"Corporate interests being Macen's interests," Korepanova stated, "They rarely operate on the SID's behalf or for corporate fleet operations."
"We simply stage them wherever they're directed to and they usually find their own way back," Liu told him.
"Usually?" Riker noted that particular word.
"Three male ex-Maquis operatives embedded within the Orion Syndicate went native," Korepanova explained, "But they didn't betray their fellow Maquis which, in this case, meant us. So corporate operations against the Orion Syndicate have been underway for almost a year now."
"Ever since Gomer was arrested on Sigma Iotia II," Danan explained to him.
"They've also been infiltrating Cult of the Pah-wraiths temples," Liu added.
"They're particularly adept at infiltrating groups Ro is investigating," Korepanova said proudly, "Though, we lost a dozen operatives joining those terrorist cells as well."
"Mostly men again," Liu pointed out.
Korepanova sighed, "It seems male Maquis have a harder time committing to a new path than some of our fellow women."
"But even the women have a strong anti-authoritarian streak. You've been bound to notice the influx of punk oriented women."
"How could I mess them?' Riker chuckled, "They're the operatives? They seem to be a stand-out collection of obvious threats."
"Actually, it's because they are so blatantly anti-authority that makes them strategic assets. Rebel and criminal groups love to recruit them and they appeal to the Cult's sense of anti-establishment," Korepanova told him.
"But not everyone is a part of the Maquis grouping. Doctors Else Schneider, Sarai Chopra, Ranai Desai and Desai's pilot, Priyanka Chopra look the part but are independents operating out of Serenity," Danan clarified.
"Sarina Littlebird also works for us while the smuggler, Teresa Randle, stages out of Serenity for Barrinor's legal protections against a Breen erishgal, but has no association with the corporation," Korepanova explained.
"I know the Breen. They won't see us offering safe harbor to someone that owes a blood debt very kindly," Riker warned them.
"Fortunately, both the Kalendra Sector and the Bajor Sector buffer us from the Breen," Korepanova reminded him, "The Militia will resist to the last Bajoran before letting a Breen fleet through and the Iotian Starfleet has a presence in Kalendra so we'll get advance warning of the Breen dispatch through that sector. Otherwise, they have to fight their way through Tzenkethi space and First Federation territory before reaching us. Not to mention the violation of the treaties securing Barrinor's neutrality co-signed by the Breen. They can't afford the confiscation of their deposits on Barrinor and the military responses of other charter signatories."
"Because the Breen would attempt to rob Barrinor's vaults if they invaded," Danan pointed out.
"Even the Romulans couldn't afford not to respond and recover their deposits," Liu was quick to note.
"But what about this operation on Waypoint?" Riker asked, "The Orion Syndicate is sure to respond. Even the peace deal we made with Gomer won't stand after that. Our ships that encounter Orion and Syndicate armed vessels will automatically come under fire. And how does Brin expect to overcome the War Profits with just the Obsidian and Solstice? Waypoint Station isn't armed."
"We always knew the treaty with the Syndicate was temporary at best," Danan reminded him, "Starfleet is having us probe deeper into Syndicate activities every day. Conflict was inevitable. But capturing the top chieftains of the Alpha and Beta Quadrants together as they set up Gamma Quadrant operations is a windfall."
"But that still doesn't deal with the War Profits," Riker complained.
"But Waypoint Station, like Bajoran starbases, is a Colonial Defense forces command. Everything is being done in conjunction with General Anara," Liu told him, "She's re-positioned several starships to assist in capturing the yacht."
"How many and what classes?" Riker grew intent.
"Two Asia-class and three Constitution-class refits," Liu explained, "They've all worked with Macen before. General Anara is dispatching the Fist of the Prophets as well under Colonel Wyn Meru's command."
"Whatever happened to Captain Taggert?" Danan suddenly wondered.
"Commodore Saavik will be coming through the area with with her task force to transfer the Solarian criminals and Ardra to Starfleet custody at Starbase 375," Korepanova explained, "They recovered the stranded Solarians on the world they invaded and abandoned. No word yet on the Intendent Kira's status. She disappeared from the planet Axios that Solarian and Ardra had blackmailed into hiring Solarian for protective services. The Commodore will be surprised to learn that Macen delivered Taggert up to the Militia to be tried for her part in the Plantation massacres. Colonel Wyn is personally taking custody of Taggert."
"Neither Starfleet nor the Federation will approve," Riker grimly predicted.
"They aren't being given the option to re-take Taggert to the penal colony she'd been assigned to," Korepanova told him, "The best outcome the Federation can negotiate on Taggert's behalf is a commutation of the death penalty so she can extradited back to Federation space to serve out her penal time after serving a Bajoran prison sentence."
"The Federation already has that deal in place with Pytor Boromov," Danan reminded everyone, "So it shouldn't be a far stretch for the Federation Diplomatic Corps to arrange a similar arrangement for Taggert."
"Even the Cardies brokered a deal where Mudd Kenra testified against Guls Macet and Maret in exchange for extradition to a life term in prison on Bajor," Liu noted as well.
"Harri's father and brother are on penal colonies and so is Thadiun Okona," Danan mused, "It's hard to believe Harri Mudd is the only Mudd that hasn't been incarcerated."
"Harry Mudd III was an unscupulous scheister but he did run a lot of ordnance and small arms for the Maquis," Liu reminded them, "For all his money grubbing ways, he did actually have a soft spot for the cause."
Korepanova derisively snorted, "How can you possibly say that? He always asked for high premiums that were almost as bad as the Orion Syndicate itself."
"But like Okona, who occasionally showed up, Mudd III was always there ready to take on another contract," Liu pointed out, "He was even more dependable that the Graffs."
"That's because Harry Graff didn't want Ronnie anywhere near us," Danan recalled, "He thought we were a bad influence on her."
Harry Graff had been in his fifties when Veronica Graff was born. Her mother abandoned her into Graff's care at a young age. Ronnie had grown up on her father's freighter and become his navigator and chief engineer. "Barman" Brett, the long-faced alien cargo master had tinkered with maintenance before Ronnie showed an aptitude for engineering.
Ronnie wanted to be a Maquis, fighting for the cause. Graff made it plain he didn't want her anywhere near the fighting. But his daughter's impassioned pleas at least got them delivering medical supplies and the occasional arms smuggling contract. Ronnie had gone as far as convince her father to mount a rescue mission for stranded members of Ro's cell on one occasion.
The Graffs had ferried civilian colonists out of the DMZ as the Jem'Hadar began their purge. Graff was eighty years-old by then and looking to retire. Harry Graff stepped aside and gave Ronnie the SS Falcon, intending for her to carry on the family trade. What hadn't expected was for her to lease the freighter out and enlist in Starfleet as an engineering rating. She'd quickly risen to Petty Officer before she and the entire crew of the USS Shangri-La died in combat against a Jem'Hadar battleship. Harry Graff died shortly thereafter of a broken heart. Only "Barman" Brett still survived out and still worked aboard the Falcon as her owner-operator.
"If Anara is dispatching Wyn Meru out as the Fist of the Prophet's commander, I wonder who she selected as her Exec?" Liu asked.
"No one had an answer. Danan made a suggestion, "I guess we'll ask Neela when she gets into port. She and Anara discuss everything. So she'll know."
"The Fist still serves as Anara's flag command so it's not like she severed ties with the crew," Korepanova pointed out.
"It's hard to believe Anara started her Militia career as an engineering lieutenant aboard Deep Space Nine for three-month rotation before transferring out to join Special Forces," Korepanova mentioned, "Now she's a general and in command of the Colonial Defense Forces."
"She's been in command of the Colonial Defense Forces since she was a colonel," Riker said ruefully, "The general she replaced was so senile he thought the Vorta were still on Bajor and the Cardassians and Dominion still occupied DS9."
"But he managed to plot against Kira every chance he got," Danan was equally rueful.
"At least that situation was finally rectified," Korepanova said gratefully.
"Locarno's special flight just delivered Noble and her crew to the Solstice," Liu reported, "Nick handled the runabout himself to say goodbye to Sito."
"I had no idea that when we pulled Locarno away from that Genesis Device that he'd end up marrying Jaxa," Riker admitted, "She'd mentioned their time together in Nova Squadron at the Academy. But they'd never dated before. I found out then that Locarno had been looking for me to recruit to his 'Nova Fleet'."
"I guess he realized you already had a command of your own and that you'd be a valuable addition to his little enterprise," Danan remarked.
"He thought I was still captain of the Iron Boots," Riker chuckled, "He'd had no idea Sito was my XO."
"Brin didn't exactly advertise who was with him aboard either the Eclipse or the Solstice," Danan reminded him, "And when he received the Obsidian, you two had clashed while you were captain you transferred to another command before eventually settling down here on Serenity. So Locarno was blissfully unaware you had a situation you were comfortable with."
"That and Sito didn't come aboard the Solstice or Obsidian with you," Liu knew the history, "She'd taken a corporate security job."
"I'm glad she's happy with Station Security but she does love to fly still," Riker chuckled, "She was my exec and my relief helmsman aboard the Iron Boots."
"You still speak fondly of that ship," Korepanova had noted, "Why did you sell her?"
"It was a tough choice. Macen may have bought her and she was only a Bonaventure-class but she was my first real command. But when I signed up to captain the Eclipse, we were a one ship operation still. So I didn't know where or how to store her. The Bolians I sold her to were grateful to have a decommissioned Starfleet starship no matter if she was turn of the 23rd Century."
"I never served aboard a starship," Korepanova admitted, "I went into Starfleet Operations and stayed there until I resigned to join the Maquis."
"Same with me," Liu told them, "I never served outside of Starfleet Headquarters until I ended up working with Elijah Waters on Kalandra. I was officially transferred into the active reserves after I volunteered."
"They reactivated both our commissions while we set up the new Architect Project on Deep Space Nine to support Ro and Macen's mission behind enemy lines. We helped run Anara and Neela's missions as well," Korepanova remembered the wartime effort, "As soon as the war ended, "I was officially 'invited' to retire."
"So was I," Liu chuckled, "They saw me as a terrorist collaborator by that point."
"Ops is clearing the Obsidian and Solstice for departure as the scout is leaving drydock now," Liu noted on her board.
"Send them a note wishing them the best of luck," Riker instructed. Korepanova took care of the task.
"Captains Forger and Noble send their thanks," she told him.
"I wonder what our Terran friends have gotten up to?" Danan mused.
The Scalphunter was docked inside the new Douglas-class starbase that replaced a J-class starbase in orbit around Sigma Iotia II as Fleet Base One. Here Kracko served as Fleet Boss. Oxmyx ruled the planet from here in their shared quarters and her own offices aboard the station. Oxmyx retained her manor on the surface for official meetings with her capos and other top lieutenants. They all knew that the planetary don was watching them from orbit and she was literally in bed with the Starfleet Commander.
The Terrans were invited to Kracko's offices aboard the station. Oxmyx was there as the honored dignitary. Lebeauf got straight to the point, "We killed Intendent Kira and had no further mission in this universe. But we have no means of escaping it either. So we need to make something of ourselves. Commander Macen recommended your service and said you had arrangements with humans on Turkanis that would work for us as well."
"We do have arrangements with the colony of Turkanis. We allocated three starships to the human settlers and gave them license to operate as freelance operatives under our supervision. However, they've proven troublesome and defied Iotian Starfleet standing policy. Even with Macen's recommendation, how do we know you won't be as problematic for us?" Kracko asked.
"What are your 'policies' that you're worried about?" Perez interjected.
Oxmyx laid out Iotian Federation directives for all its military commanders, "So you see, the profit potentials are enormous. But everything requires that we fulfill our side of the contract. Captain Ishtashra Yar and her confederates from the Federation seem to find this difficult. Will you?"
"We have a warship and no wars to fight," Lebeauf informed them, "Give us a target and we'll deal with it. Give us a planet to recruit and we'll persuade them to enlist in your Federation. Your Federation doesn't sound much different than our own Terran Empire after the reforms."
"We have the makings of a deal then," Kracko told them, "And the Deeper Alpha Quadrant needs our commanders to delve into. Do you have problems potentially fighting Cardassians or Breen?"
"None whatsoever," Lebeauf managed to smile.
"Then we have a bargain," Oxmyx decided.
"Remember, we don't want the Fist to deploy to Waypoint Station until your other ships are already there," Macen reminded Colonel Wyn. The Obsidian and Solstice had transited the Wormhole and were within transporter range of the station, slowly orbiting it. Noble had taken Tulley, Sito, Hendryks and Thool and beamed aboard already. That left Lacey in command and Eckles and Darcy rerouting OPS to Engineering while Lacey rerouted Tactical to be available at the CONN.
"The ships are already being rotated out of their patrol routes and are en route to the station," Wyn told Macen, "I'm waving the flag at the colonies and inspecting our support for the soil and atmospheric reclamation projects at the Plantation colonies that are already underway."
Macen had been there with Wyn and other starship commanders as an insane vedek detonated warp core power stations to poison the Bajoran breadbasket colonies. Fortunately, Macen's team had intercepted transmissions between the vedek from her bunker and a freighter at Waypoint that was intended to collect her and her fellow religious leaders after Starfleet and the Militia withdrew from the solar system containing the three poisoned planets. The loss of lives had been catastrophic.
"Then we'll see everyone as they arrive," Macen said cheerfully and cut the transmission. He reported to the transporter room where Telrik held court. The atypically jovial Tellarite was entertaining the mission team. Joining he and Rockford was Daggit, Burrows, Lee, Shade, Forte, Parva, and most excitedly, Tessa.
Tessa didn't get out much despite her mobile emitter. Her presence in the Federation was illegal as a sentient hologram under the Synthetics Ban. Vaughn and his officers looked the other way aboard Deep Space Nine and the Bajorans weren't under the ban anymore. Captain Alfonso Reyes, the CO of Deep Space Three, was aware of Tessa's existence but couldn't rely on his officers and enlisted not to report Tessa to Federation authorities if she boarded his command. Knowing Ro would never forgive him if anything happened to Tessa under his watch, he simply couldn't allow her aboard his station.
Beaming over the station's transporter room was simplicity itself. However, the grave expression on the Chief Constable's face as she greeted them was anything but simple.
Constable Haji Deva had joined the Militia Constabulary as a young woman out of the Resistance. Waypoint was her first assignment as a Chief Constable. Like some other deputies that joined from the Resistance days, she'd wanted to stay in the field for as long as possible. However, she'd been given an ultimatum to accept the promotion and serve aboard the station, or find a new vocation.
Haji was pragmatic enough to finally realize that a Chief Constable still got her hands dirty in the investigation side of things so she agreed. She'd been with the station since its new crew was assigned after the Orion Syndicate had assassinated the bulk of the original crew. The survivors had been rotated to other duties.
"Commander Macen, Detective Rockford, we have a problem," Haji got straight to business, "More humans have arrived than those you told me to expect. They try to blend in but they feel off. Additionally, the Orions have reinforced with a dozen of their 'embassy' ships in orbit around Greyson. The Syndicate is moving personnel on and off the station on regular rotations. But Darcy and Treir have an assigned security detail with them now. There are also others that I suspect are assassins but they're to blend in as well. Everyone is watching everyone else and my deputies will be caught in the crossfire when the tensions finally break."
"How are Darcy and Treir operating here on the station?" Rockford asked, "The Bajoran Republic cut diplomatic ties with the Orions. So they can't be posing as diplomats."
"They leased retail space on our promenade. They actually do business in that sector. But Darcy and Treir are always in the back offices that they spent a great deal of latinum on bringing equipment in and using outside technicians rather than station personnel to install it all. We know they're running an independent comm array separate from the station's commercial array available for business traffic," Haji explained, "We've intercepted hundreds of signals but they're all encoded and we can't break the ciphers."
"Send them on to my team aboard the Obsidian. They can break the codes," Macen instructed, "Route them to Kerber and Smith."
"You know, it's hard to believe, but your operatives blend in better than our newest Federation arrivals. They play their role well but I've spoken to each of them and they share one quality with the Syndicate members," Haji told them.
"That is?" Tessa was dying of curiosity.
"They're all killers," Haji stated.
Haji took them to the most upscale restaurant and bar on the station and Macen and the other SID agents looked pained, "How did I know?"
Seated at the bar, replete in tuxedo, was Agent 0086. Commander James Smart of Starfleet Intelligence's secret 0 Section did his best to look casual, but his eyes constantly sought out targets and threats. His composure never changed as he saw the team with the Chief Constable standing at the entrance. The maitre d approached.
"I'm afraid you can't come in here dressed as common criminals," the officious little man told them.
"No, the criminals are already inside," Rockford noted.
"I beg your pardon?" the maitre d huffed.
"A topic for another day," Haji told him. She led the team to the Constabulary office, "Everything we've collected so far is here at your disposal. Will you be contacting your agents?"
"I'll be calling them off," Macen told her, "That's why I brought an additional ship with me. The Captain is under orders to locate and retrieve my operatives on the station and transport them back to Serenity Station."
Only Rockford had known this detail until now. Burrows scowled, "So, we're on our own?"
Haji took offense, "My entire department and every deputy are at your disposal."
"That'll be quite sufficient for our needs," Macen promised her.
"Is Captain Forger aware of this detail?" Lee wondered.
"Captain Forger has known all along that this was primarily a Bajoran Militia matter. The Syndicate is operating on their station. The Republic is willing to accept charges brought before them by the Federation to extradite Darcy, Treir, and their operatives on. After they've served prison time on Bajor," Macen told them.
"The Federation will not like this at all," Shade chuckled.
"The Federation can get used to disappointment," Haji said angrily, "It was their choice to betray us."
"We all agree," Rockford promised her, "Shade has an unconventional view of the Federation's laws as well."
"Bajor has primacy in this investigation and arrests," Macen promised Haji, "The Federation can wait until the suspects are released from Bajoran custody to take jurisdiction over the cases."
"Starfleet has a big enough problem bringing in Ardra and Solarian," Parva smirked, "Commodore Saavik won't press the issue."
"Starfleet contacted us and informed us Commodore Saavik and her squadron are two days out from us. You still want to time the confrontation for their entering the system?" Haji inquired.
"Yes, but I'll have to deal with Starfleet Intelligence's agents that are already here first," Macen told her.
"The humans?" Haji knew her instincts had been right about them.
"At least some of them. You have a few legitimate traders and freighters crews laying over as well," Macen stated, "Though, I'd like to see a list of the Federation flagged vessels in port."
"You suspect one of them?" Haji asked.
"I suspect that one or more might be Orion surrogates and I thought I spotted a familiar freighter," Macen replied, "If so, I'll need to bring two more people over to the station."
"Of course," the Chief Constable readily agreed.
Even Rockford looked puzzled over that turn of events.
Macen met Mudd and Ebert in the transporter room. Rockford was briefed after Macen confirmed the registration of a freighter he'd seen on his display as they entered orbit around Waypoint. The pilot and the con artist were here to help him make contact with the crew and their passenger.
"It's really them?" Ebert was distrustful.
"We're supposedly on the same side of the law now, Tracy," Macen reminded her.
"They helped arrest members of Ro's cell and a dozen other Maquis from across the DMZ," Ebert wasn't feeling forgiving.
"And don't expect an apology or any remorse," Macen warned her, "However, I suspect Harri will receive a warm welcome from one of our uninvited guests to the party."
"Why me?" Mudd wondered.
"Why was I asked to slip you personal messages?" Macen shrugged, "The agent in question has decided she likes you. Just go with it."
"I'm not used to law enforcement 'liking' me," Mudd admitted, "Even Lee barely tolerates me and he hasn't been a police officer for years."
"Even Celeste agrees Lee Kang has a stick up his butt," Ebert snorted.
"Security has them frequenting a local trader's tavern. So we'll go there and get reacquainted," Macen told them.
"The local constabulary knows their habits?" Mudd found that alarming, "Quite the surveillance police state the Bajorans set up here."
"They've learned from experience that some precautionary measures are more necessary than others for maintaining civil order," Macen told her.
"But the Resistance fought for Bajoran freedoms," Ebert was also confused.
"So the Militia understands that freedom can be threatened," Macen told her, "And the crew invited enhanced surveillance when they overstayed the usual visit. They've been here longer than the Orion Syndicate's presence has increased."
"Increased?" Mudd caught the word.
"The Orions got into bed with Varic before his untimely demise. They took over the Raasians' criminal networks in Ascendant territory and beyond. That's how Mudd Kenra got squeezed out and made her pact with Guls Maret and Macet. Darcy and Treir showing up to oversee Miranda Wells audition just escalated everything."
"Audition?" Now Ebert was surprised.
"Gomer wants Wells to coordinate and run the Syndicate Gamma Quadrant ventures. That's why she was chosen to lead the Orions' 'diplomatic' venture into the region. Thomas Darcy and Treir are here to evaluate her performance as a potential equal in the Syndicate," Macen explained.
"And how do you know this?" Mudd asked.
"I asked Gomer about it," Macen told her.
"And she made a confession?" Ebert was startled now.
"No, she denied everything. But her lying was obvious. And the questions were very precise. So her lies, and they way she presented them, painted a stark picture of what was really going on," Macen told them both.
"Damn Listeners," Mudd muttered.
"I can also hear you, Harri," Macen reminded her, "Anyway, everyone is at their assigned posts. So far I've spotted half a dozen Double 0s as well our friends from the Maquis days with their fellow agent."
"So Starfleet Intelligence sent assassins here?" Mudd didn't like where this was all colliding.
"Presumably to kill Darcy, Treir, and Wells," Macen replied.
"That would set off a galactic shuk storm," Ebert groaned.
"Which is why we aren't going to let them complete their mission," Macen told her.
"Wouldn't killing them be the easiest thing to do?" Mudd wondered.
"It's also incredibly shortsighted," Macen explained, "The three are known variables. Their replacements wouldn't be. And even under Gomer, the Syndicate is aggressively expanding its markets. Their recent flouting of interstellar treaties concerning Barrinor won them the respect of major hostile powers. So the Federation actually can't afford to drastically shake things up."
"And you explained this to Admiral Nechayev?" Ebert hoped.
"I did. The orders still stand because the Secretary for Starfleet fielded a complaint session from the President, who despite being an avowed libertarian, is finding the law and order aspects of administrating the Federation to be logically reliant upon strict interpretation of its laws. And a Vulcan can rarely be shaken from a logical conclusion. So the Secretary ordered the terminations. Nechayev followed orders from the civilian authority and handed the matter over to M. M dispatched 0086 and at least nine other Double 0s," Macen continued to explain.
"I thought you said you'd spotted half a dozen," Mudd pointed out.
"I did and I have. Nechayev gave me the numbers of the kill squad. Smart's running things in the field so we deter him and we deter the group," Macen said as if it were actually that simplistic.
"And you're just gonna talk him out of it?" Mudd found that to be a fool's errand.
"Of course not. But I will reveal his team's effort to the Syndicate if he refuses to back down," Macen answered.
"You'd turn them over to the Orions?" Ebert was even more shocked by that news.
"They'd easily do the same to us and Smart's not an idiot. He'll know I'm deadly serious," Macen assured her.
"So you would do it?" Ebert asked again.
"Of course I'd do it," Macen promised her, "I'd be saving more lives and protecting the mission better by handing them over than by letting them do something so stupid."
"But if you'd known Starfleet or Federation Security were going to arrest some Maquis, like Michael Eddington or Aric Tulley at the end, would you have sacrificed them?" Ebert was shaken.
"I would've gladly handed Eddington over and Tulley I would've protected," Macen explained to her.
"Why one and not the other?" Mudd found it incongruous as well.
"Eddington was an egomaniacal monster while Tulley was still lost in his hate. Or to put another way, Eddington was committing genocide to play the hero while Tulley wanted because he was consumed by his hatred for Cardassians. Eddington was delusional and lost in his own fantasy about himself but Aric could've been, and eventually was, reasoned with." Macen described the difference in his reasoning, "But Nechayev didn't warn me about Starfleet and Federation Security's counter terrorist activities. Just that Federation Security had allied itself with the Cardassian Guard to create that stupid Joint Counter Terrorist Task Force."
"I remember," Ebert bitterly recalled, "They cost good people their lives."
"Too many people," Macen agreed.
"So now we're gonna just sit down and chat with members of the same Federation Security team?" Mudd was dubious regarding this.
"They weren't in the field but they fed information to the field agents," Macen clarified, "Two of these agents haven't done field work in over a decade. The third is your friend, who you met in the field. In fact, you met them all."
"Say what?" Mudd couldn't recall willingly meeting Federation Security.
They reached the tavern, "Inside, if you please."
Mudd immediately spotted the three agents and her memory restored itself, "Aw, no."
"Go say 'hello', Harri," Macen grinned.
Brittney Darque wore a jubilant smile upon recognizing Mudd across the room. Agents James Swallow and Martina Harris, as the captain and first officer of the freighter flagged as the SS Official Secrets, sat at Darque's table with her. Darque waved them all to their table.
"Shoot me now," Mudd muttered before going forward.
"You knew this would happen?" Ebert whispered to Macen.
"I strongly expected it," Macen whispered his confession.
"Why?" Ebert had time to ask as Mudd was being fiercely hugged by Darque, much to Swallow and Harris' own surprise, knowing Mudd's criminal reputation.
"Darque asked to pass on private greetings to Harri during a mission brief. That got me curious about Agent Darque herself. It turns out she's a transbian and seems to have developed quite an attraction to Harri Mudd after she rescued Harri from a Solarian invasion with Captain Swallow and Commander Harris' assistance," Macen explained the details with her.
"You knew this going in," Ebert realized, "Harri is distracting Agent Darque and softening her up for you're telling them to get lost."
"Yup," Macen grinned again.
"And me?" Ebert asked.
"Oh, Agents Swallow and Harris remember us all too well. We're here to piss them off and make them decide to throw the mission away," Macen's grin grew wider.
"I can live with that," Ebert whispered conspiratorily.
"Are you sitting down or just standing there whispering back and forth?" Swallow was feeling irritable already.
Harris was far more professional in her demeanor but her recollection of Macen and Ebert from the Maquis days was evident on her face, "Please sit down is what he means to say."
"I think I can speak for myself," Swallow grumbled.
"How have you been, Harri?" Darque was overheard asking.
"Fine?" Mudd was deeply suspicious of Darque's motives.
"Did Commander Macen pass on my greetings?" Darque wanted to make certain.
"He did," though Mudd had had no idea of who Brittney Darque was at the time.
"And you didn't remember who I was," Darque realized.
"We only met for a few hours," Mudd recalled, "I didn't realize I was making an impression outside of business."
"That's okay. I should've expected you to want to forget about a Federation Security agent," Darque was disappointed but soldiered on, "It's an occupational hazard."
"So why do you stick with it?" Mudd was deeply curious since Darque seemed so disappointed by that fact.
"Because I believe in my job. The way you still believe in staying out of trouble and sticking with Detective Rockford," Darque told her, "But I can tell you aren't...interested...in forging a friendship."
"I'm seeing someone," Mudd had gotten Darque's vibe by now.
"Oh," now that truly disappointed Darque.
"Can we skip the melodrama. You should've known better," Swallow lectured Darque.
"James!" Harris scolded him.
"What? She wants to date a criminal she should be arresting?" Swallow asked her, "And we'll just let her?"
"I don't have a criminal record," Mudd grated.
"You've been lucky," Swallow retorted.
"Or, I'm just that good," Mudd hotly replied back.
"Back to you, Darque. Go to the restroom and jerk off until you cool your hormones," Swallow snapped, "We need your big head in the game."
"Jerk off?" Mudd's curiosity was piqued.
"I, um, never underwent SRS. As a transbian, keeping my genetic genitalia helps me get dates," Darque was embarrassed to be forced into explaining a very private decision.
"So, she can get it up with the best of us," Swallow snorted.
"Excuse me, please stand up." Macen told him. They both did so. Swallow barely had time to register the punch before it connected it was that fast. Swallow bounced off the bulkhead before hitting the deck plating.
"Mind your manners," Macen warned him.
"Funny that, given you're a former terrorist," Swallow got his feet only be knocked off of them again.
"That was also for being rude," Macen told him.
"Where the hell is Station Security?" Swallow spat blood out of his mouth.
"Two deputies are waiting outside for me to order them to arrest you," Macen informed him, "I'm very tempted now to do so and get it over with."
"On what charge?" Swallow tried not roar his indignation.
"As a formality, Federation Security is supposed to ask the Constabulary's permission to conduct investigations inside of Bajoran jurisdictions. As a mere factor in civility you should have informed Chief Constable Haji. But, you and your superiors failed to do so on all counts. Chief Haji is now aware of your operation and is evicting you from the station. My only regret now is that Agent Darque will probably opt to go with you rather than accept the courtesy extended to her to wait for private transportation."
"Oh, I think I'll wait," Darque said coldly.
"Good for you. Bad for them," Macen told her, "'Captain' Swallow, I'm advising you to depart this station before you're forced to."
"I'll end you, Macen. I promise you that," Swallow snarled.
"James, don't make it worse than it already is," Harris warned him.
"I'll have Federation Security investigating every aspect of your life. You won't be able to set foot in the Federation without being arrested," Swallow promised.
"Take that up with Starfleet. I only enter the Federation on their behalf," Macen coldly replied, "You want to change that arrangement, take it up with Rear Admiral Forger. I'm sure she could use the laugh."
"You have no idea of who my friends are," Swallow continued to rage, "Your life is over."
"James!" Harris grabbed his arm.
"Get off of me!" he yelled at her as well, "All these years of your coddling me and holding me back. I could have been a Special Agent-in-Charge of a planetary posting by now if it weren't for you."
"Brittney, I'll be staying here with you until we can arrange that ride to Deep Space Nine," Harris said with vehemence, "I protected you from our superiors for ten years now and gratitude is the last thing you'll ever feel over it. You're on your own now, James Swallow. You can shred your agency career to pieces on this vindictive pursuit, get investigated, and eventually relieved to drown yourself in liquor before you eventually kill yourself."
"You think that will happen?' Swallow was nearly apoplectic now.
"They showed me your psyche profile before they assigned me as your babysitter," Harris finally came clean after a decade's worth of frustrations, "I stayed with you out of a misplaced sense of guilt that I couldn't help you further. But you just spat on that for the last time."
Swallow punched her in the jaw and found himself facing the working end of Macen's phaser emitter, "I'd go quietly if I were you. This isn't set to stun."
The deputies intervened and arrested Swallow on assault charges that Harris agreed to press, "You just ended your career, Agent Swallow."
Harris turned to Macen, "Brittany I won't need that ride after all. I've been piloting the Official Secrets on my own for years now. I'll get us home."
"I'm sorry?" Mudd tentatively offered Darque, "You seem really nice and all."
"This was probably a good meeting after all. I can't stand long distance relationships anyways," Darque admitted, "So long, Harri Mudd. I hope things work out between you and your man."
"I never said he was a man," Mudd told her.
"The only woman in the room that sparks your interest is her. And even that is a fading glimmer," Darque nodded towards Ebert, "I'm guessing something passed between you two but things didn't work out."
"You're good," Ebert told her, "And I'm the reason they didn't work. It ran counter to what Harri wanted. So if you weren't a Federation Security officer and showed up six months ago, you would've stood a real chance."
"I'll keep that in mind in case I learn things fell through for you, Harri," Darque laughed, "Stay good."
"Genetically impossible," Mudd told her.
"I'm proof genetics aren't everything," Darque kissed her cheek, "Take care now."
Mudd leaned back in her chair and sighed, "Why is it I attract women I can't have?"
"You could have that one," Ebert chuckled, "She just doesn't want to give up her life for you."
"Now, you two settle back and enjoy yourselves while my ambush of Commander Smart plays out," Macen left in a hurry.
Smart exited the high end restaurant a few vodka martinis worse for the wear. But he trained himself to function at a high level even after copious amounts of alcohol through years of hard drinking. Still, entering his rented quarters and finding Daggit and Burrows waiting for him along with Chief Haji completely sobered him up, "Is there a problem?"
"Show me your hands and step away from the door," Daggit order with his rifle trained on Smart. Burrows had his shouldered and readied as well. Only Haji still had her weapon holstered.
"Gentlemen, I believe there's been a misunderstanding," Smart tried to maintain his cover. The door opened behind him and he turned and ducked to make a break for it to find a knee smashed into his face. He staggered back to find Macen with his phaser drawn on him.
"I've actually dreamed about this day," Macen admitted, "Get rid of the phaser."
Smart used two fingers in a very practiced maneuver to withdraw his Walther Personal Phaser Pistol and drop on the deck plating. Macen then instructed him again, "Gently kick it to the Chief Constable."
"That really does look like a PPK from the 20th Century," Burrows whistled, "You get these specially made?"
"A corporate contract," Smart replied while Haji placed him in binders, "They're available to licensed civilians. Which you're one of now, Lt. Commander."
"I'd be very cautious about rubbing salt in wounds while in your in binders on a foreign space station," Macen advised him, "The Chief's ongoing presence is a courtesy on your behalf."
"We both know I call my advocate and I'm released," Smart said smugly.
"You've never been formally arrested," Haji told him, "These men are just borrowing one of my containment cells to hold you in. The recorders will be turned off while they have a private chat with you. I'd answer their questions honestly because they don't seem to like you very much and there will be no witnesses to contradict their version of events that transpire while they interrogate you."
"I've escaped from tighter security than this before," Smart reminded Macen.
"Yes, you survived the Intendent's tender embraces before escaping down to Sigma Iotia II and making your way back to the original Federation," Macen recalled, "But it took a toll."
Smart didn't like recalling Kira's crushing of his testicles and penis to the point they'd been replaced with biosynthetics, "You've made your point."
"You'll be happy to know the Intendent met her end in this very solar system," Macen told him, "That'll be some cold comfort while you answer a few questions."
"I'm surprised you did it yourself," Smart was honestly startled by that revelation, "Nechayev wanted her back alive."
"She wasn't in my custody. So, I had no say in the matter," Macen told him.
"Now who is lying?" Smart chuckled mirthlessly.
"I actually didn't. The people she was with came here purposefully for one reason. Killing her was it. Now they're figuring the rest of their lives out," Macen said nonchalantly, "But you'll find all of that out soon enough. I suppose her body is still floating around out here somewhere."
"Am I entitled to know where it is we're actually going?" Smart asked.
"The Chief told you. We'll be placing you in a detention cell for a quiet chat," Macen told him, "You'll be protected by the force field. You won't get that guarantee on my ship."
They marched Smart to the Security Office and placed him a cell but the binders remained on. Haji dismissed herself as Rockford entered the holding area, "Take your time."
Daggit and Burrows took up position at the door. Macen began to explain the rules, "This is a simple, straightforward interrogation. You get three lies. And I'll know if you're lying because I'm more finely tuned than your standard biometric reader you've been trained to beat. After the third lie, one more and I kill you in 'self-defense' as you were 'attempting to escape'."
"You honestly believe anyone will buy that fable?" Smart scoffed.
"These are my witnesses. There is no electronic eavesdropping to maintain your security. But that protects your cover as well as endangers you. Now, I know you and nine other Double 0s are here to kill Thomas Darcy, Treir, and Miranda Wells. Admiral Nechayev herself told me that much. What I need to know is whether you can call off the attempt or is too late to do so and we're about to have a major problem with the Orion Syndicate?" Macen explained.
"It's far, far too late," Smart said glibly.
"First lie down," Macen was relieved, "Will you cancel the operation if I release you?"
"Of course," Smart said, "Obviously it's a bad idea."
"Second lie down. One remaining," Macen told him.
"You can't seriously expect to kill me and my fellow Double Os won't respond," Smart snorted.
"I absolutely expect them to respond. In fact, barring your cooperation, I'm counting on it," Macen told him.
"You're lying," Smart was feeling slightly nervous now.
"No, I've been and continue to be completely honest with you. If I have to kill you, the Double 0s will rally to avenge you. At that time the mystery three will reveal themselves and we'll be forced to kill every one of them in order to deter M from sending any more Double or even Single 0s," Macen stated.
"It isn't that bloody simple!" Smart told him.
"There was your third lie," Macen replied, "You have operational command which means it proceeds at your discretion. M can send individual agents after the targets at any point she so chooses. She chose now because all three are on the same station. Which also happens to be a Bajoran starbase, shifting the blame from potential Federation causes to Bajoran ones. Further threatening Bajoran security and enhancing Bajor's need to strengthen their strategic ties to the Federation and Starfleet."
Macen drew his phaser, "Will you deny any part of that?"
"No," Smart sounded defeated.
"So, what do you intend to do about it?" Macen asked.
"You want me to call it off?" Smart still wasn't listening it seemed.
"No, you want you to call it off," Macen told him, "Not for just your life but also those of your fellow Double 0s and the fact I will reveal this plot to First Minister Astris and General Kira without a moment's hesitation. They'll believe us over anything Starfleet Command or the Federation Diplomatic Corps has to say about it."
"The dog is straining at his leash?" Smart sneered, "Starfleet will abandon your company if you do this."
"The Militia is prepared to back any official reports I make about the incidents," Macen told him with complete confidence, "As will Admiral Nechayev and Rear Admiral Forger."
"Nechayev signed off on our mission," Smart heckled him, "Who do you think gave the orders to M?"
"And who do you think revealed them to me?" Macen countered, "Nechayev was compelled by civilian authority to deliver the orders but that didn't mean she couldn't countermand them in some other way. I happen to be that way. You can spare everyone a lot of grief and call off the strike. My team and the Militia are apprehending Darcy, Treir and Wells. We'll go through your Section do it, if need be. We don't have to be opponents."
"Nechayev warned M you could be too self-righteous for your own good," Smart was still defiant.
"Fine, your reader has access to a single comm channel currently linked to Nechayev's office. Her staff is standing by to connect you. Listen to her if you're doubting me," Macen offered.
"The binders?" Smart asked.
"Stay on," Macen warned him.
As promised Nechayev received Smart's message within minutes of his contacting her aid. She did not look pleased, "I see you're being unreasonable, Commander Smart."
"Excuse me?" Smart lost some of his defiance.
"Macen has been duly authorized to use any and all force he deems necessary to bring Darcy, Treir, and Wells to justice. That means two courts of law. The Bajorans get them first and after they serve their sentences, they'll be remanded to Starfleet custody to stand trial in the Federation. We can afford to wait for those days," Nechayev told him in a straightforward fashion, "So wise the hell up and stand down your unit."
"Yes, mum," Smart said with just a little cheek left in him.
"And Commander, I will be informing M that interstellar legal complication arose and advise her of the new plan. She can file whatever protests she wants with me and the Secretary for Starfleet," Nechayev told him, "Any reprisals made by your section against Commander Macen, his team, his ship's crew, or his jointly owned corporation will be deemed criminal offense. As a Double 0 you know what that verdict will bring about."
"Indeed, I do," Smart straightened up in his seat.
"Carry on, Commander. And I want this to be the last I ever hear of it again," Nechayev demanded before terminating the transmission.
"It appears you have the better of me," Smart was bitter.
"It isn't a win-lose scenario. As Nechayev said, it's a change in interstellar considerations. Starfleet decided to keep the peace with the Bajorans rather than risking them finding out they set them up for a conflict with Orions and the Syndicate they control. It's that simple," Macen tried to reason with him again.
"No, you've definitely taken the day. I and my fellow Double 0s will be standing down and withdrawing from this station aboard commercial transport," Smart was telling the truth, Macen could tell, "But, the 0 Sections have a long memory, Commander. This interference will not be forgotten. You should kill me while you still have the opportunity to do so."
"However you spin this to M, Nechayev warned you about taking reprisals," Rockford intervened, "Yet, you're still going to stir up trouble?"
"I don't lose," Smart promised them, "Nechayev is looking to retire. I can wait until she's out of the way."
"And, you just confessed your intentions to violate a direct order from the Director of Starfleet Intelligence for the recorders I turned back on while you were discussing the matter with Nechayev," Macen showed the remote.
Smart's eyes cast about his cell and he saw the red indicator on the monitor in his cell. Other indicators were on across the detention center.
"So it's to be blackmail?" Smart asked, ":I don't get blackmailed."
"No, you'll be held here long enough for me to transmit the recording to the Admiral. If she orders your release, you'll still walk free. But I have a strong suspicion your life is about to radically change for the worse," Macen told him.
He and Rockford exited to use Haji's comm system to report back to Nechayev, who was awaiting a final report on Smart's reaction. She scowled, "I can't have a rogue Double 0 running loose. I'm contacting his team. They'll bring him in."
"And if he refuses to go willingly?" Rockford asked.
"There's nothing worse for the Federation than a rogue Double 0," Nechayev insisted, "It's happened before and will again. Standing policy has been, since the 20th Century, to detain if possible and kill if necessary. James Smart is hereby relieved of his Double 0 status and his Starfleet commission. He will come quietly or be executed as a traitor. The situation is that dire. And is for you as well now that Smart is fixated on your team."
"We'll standby until the other agents report to take him away," Macen told her, "It's too easy for him to escape this holding cell otherwise."
"0086s are inherently unstable. That's why Captain Sheridan is one of the few to have survived his tenure as one," Nechayev told them, "It's another tradition dating back to the 20th Century. James Smarts are always troublemakers. But they're effective blunt instruments of destruction."
"So Gul Maret discovered," Rockford recalled.
"One of many such episodes," Nechayev assured her, "Now he's down to a single option."
"He won't accept that," Macen warned her, "I listened to him. He's going to fight the system. He'll fight all of Starfleet if he has to now."
"Then he'll lose more than his freedom," Nechayev scowled.
"You rehabilitated Ro after two separate court-martials. Why not give Smart a similar opportunity?" Rockford asked.
"We'll try that out. But he'll know the stakes going in," Nechayev told them as she cut the transmission short.
"One crisis averted," Rockford sighed.
"Or just delayed," Macen warned her, "Smart is a vengeful man. He will try to come after us and the team at some point after Alynna retires."
"Even knowing what it could cost him?" Rockford was skeptical.
"Especially knowing what it could cost him. He'll make certain there are no witnesses left to report his actions," Macen had gotten a good sense of who James Smart was.
"I thought Starfleet was supposed to be a rectitude of morality," Rockford said.
"Yet the Dominion War elevated junior officers into command positions after being scarred by the war. We've seen how that plays out several times already," Macen reminded her, "Then, there's always been the 0 Sections to take in the morally ambiguous and cultivate them into hardened killers."
"I thought was what Section 31 was for," Rockford frowned.
"Same ideas, different different commanding officers. At least with 0 Sections, it was thought they'd be aimed by a conscientious commander with civilian oversight. Section 31 lacked even that accountability after it was driven underground," Macen clarified for her.
"So now we wait?" Rockford asked.
"I'd like to meet who they send to talk Smart down," Macen told her.
"Commander and Detective Rockford, Admiral Nechayev is asking to speak with the prisoner again," Haji approached them.
"Patch her through. And allow whoever shows up to retrieve the prisoner access to the detention area," Macen instructed.
"Of course," Haji consented.
An African woman arrived later in a glossy dress, "I'm Agent 0099. I've come for Agent 0086."
"Has he agreed to the terms of his probation?" Rockford asked.
"He hasn't spoken with you since being contacted by Admiral Nechayev and M?" 0099 was surprised.
"He harbors a grudge," Macen explained.
"Smarts are known for that trait," 0099 sighed, "Our mission here has been aborted. But 0021 is still embedded as Darcy's lover of the moment. She can't be extracted until you take him into custody."
"How will we recognize her?" Rockford asked.
"She's precisely Darcy's type: a fake blonde that's a sexual object rather than a true representative of the human race. She's playing the part in order to feed us intelligence on Darcy and Treir's activities. M has directed her to switch off to feeding you the active intel," 0099 explained, "M provided her with your contact information. She'll report in when she can. Darcy likes to keep his playthings on a short leash before killing them to prevent them from revealing his secrets. Her lifespan is literally measured by how much gratification she can bring him now."
"Nechayev is placing a lot of trust in you. More than our section, it seems," 0099 was bitter, "Don't frinx this up."
"I believe you have some information for us?" Rockford derailed 0099's complaints.
The agent handed over a padd, "Every Syndicate operative we've managed to ID so far. A few aren't registered in Federation Security's database. Only individual star system law enforcement files and a few allied stellar nation law enforcement run ins. I don't suppose Federation Security was much help to you at all."
Darque had forwarded their investigation files and reports on to the team. The Detective Squad was pouring over them now. 0099 was fishing, looking for any excuse to hand to her compatriots over why they'd been pulled from their mission. So, she wasn't finding any comfort with them.
"Federation Security has been most cooperative," Macen said evenly, betraying nothing, "Our team is examining their reports now."
"And the good constables here?" 0099 wasn't done looking for excuses.
"Have also been quite informative," Rockford replied, "It seems your agents were redundant except for the assassination part."
Seeing she wouldn't get redemption here, 0099 moved on, "I'll just collect 0086 now."
"Our men are standing by for the transfer of custody," Macen told her, "He's been in better moods."
"He doesn't take losing well," 0099 admitted.
"Being ordered to stand down isn't losing," Rockford was irritated by all that talk.
"It is to him," 0099 smirked before she entered the detention area.
Moments later, 0099 led 0086 out of the detention area and Daggit and Burrows followed them out. 0086 pointedly ignored Macen and Rockford's ongoing presence as he confronted Haji, "I want my weapon returned."
"Not on my station," Haji replied sternly, "I've seen that look. I hand you your phaser and you'll use it right here and now."
"I'm presumed innocent until proven guilty," Smart replied irritably.
"Not on a Bajoran station," Haji's hand went to her own phaser on her hip as Smart eyed it.
0099 intervened, "We'd need to go. Your things are packed and we're catching transport back to Federation space in twenty.":
"Good. The sooner I get the smell of Bajorans off of me, the better," Smart growled as he and 0099 exited.
"That man would make a good Cardassian from the Occupation days," Haji opined.
"I hope your 'second chance' plea with Nechayev works out after all," Macen softly said to Rockford.
"I was given one once," she reminded him, "You should give him the same accordance you gave me."
"Commander, Celeste, we've uncovered a minefield of information," Forte reported to them, "There's literally no means of connecting the Syndicate to anything illegal on the station or in the quadrant."
"They're staying clean while they remain aboard," Haji admitted.
"Do we have a status report on those communications yet?" Rockford asked.
"Bailey and Angelique haven't given an estimate on how long it will take to crack the cipher. Orion linguistics are almost completely unknown to outsiders Bailey reported. She's literally creating a translation matrix for an Orion dialect the universal translator has never encountered."
"Meaning it could be a dead language," Macen understood all to well from his time as an A&A Officer. As an Anthropology and Archaeology Officer with the El-Aurian Survey Corps he'd done his fair share of rooting around languages from long extinct people groups, "I might actually be more useful to them aboard the ship than here."
"Go, we'll manage to sort through the evidence the Constabulary has collected so far," Rockford assured him, "Rab and Tony can stay on as security for my people. We also have Tessa available in case something goes wrong."
"I'll collect Parva, Tracy, and Harri and beam back over," Macen kissed her, "Don't have too much fun in my absence."
"You honestly think it'll be an easy enough translation for Parva to know the language?" Rockford was skeptical.
"I rather doubt it," Macen admitted, "But there may still be some common linguistic links to a current dialect that Parva can point out."
"Go. Take all our women," Burrows mock complained.
"Harri will be glad you feel that way," Macen grinned.
"It's no coincidence that Macen and Rockford are here," Treir advised Thomas Darcy.
"I agree," Darcy told her, "Our lookouts spotted several former Maquis collecting the ex-terrorists that had already taken an outsized interest in our people's comings and goings."
"But why pull the support away if they intend to make an arrest?" Treir puzzled over that one.
"Macen hauled our bothersome barfly into the detention center and then cut him loose. Bastic followed them. A large group of humans is boarding a transport eventually bound for Kalandra and Federation space," Darcy told her, "Our gadfly is one of them."
Olga Bastic was their chief enforcer/assassin assigned to their mission. She'd been the one to notice an increasing number of humans aboard the Militia starbase since the Syndicate's arrival. Teresa Randle had also been and gone, requiring fresh dilithium after depleting her own crystals from overtaxing her warp drive. Randle was a known quantity to the Syndicate. Her erijah made her toxic to work with but she managed to still find work as a smuggler for lower paying clients or the truly desperate.
Bribed Customs officials had reported that Randle's holds were empty of everything but a sealed cargo box filled with gold pressed latinum. So wherever she'd been, it had been lucrative for her. Darcy wanted details. But Treir convinced him they could simply buy that information from her at their leisure. It was better to remain distant from her in the Constabulary's eyes.
The rules of their game had been established rather quickly. The Syndicate avoided implicating itself aboard the station. In exchange, the Constabulary pretended not to know who they were. But Macen and Rockford's arrival complicated matter with the handover of control to Wells and her imminent arrival. Additionally, Varic had survived his last encounter with Macen and the Militia. A few members of his crew survived with him long enough for one of his vessels to return and recover them.
He and his crewmen were pariahs on Raas and in Ascendant space now. But Varic was eager to re-establish himself and was willing to place his Pincer-class cruisers at Wells' disposal. Darcy and Treir would be taking the War Profits and using it to return to Federation space. Varic had argued that the Syndicate should expand into Ascendant space because religious people could be the greatest hedonists if they believed they weren't being watched by their neighbors. Orion embassy ships, with their onboard bars, brothels, and casinos were the perfect private getaways for the otherwise pious.
Since Varic already had an established criminal network in the Gamma Quadrant, Gomer had decided to make him one of Wells' lieutenants. The fact that he could also provide six warships didn't hurt his cause any. But Macen was obviously hired to be at Waypoint at this critical juncture. Soon, Wells, Darcy, and Treir would be occupying the station together. A tempting target for law enforcement across the Alpha and Beta Quadrants.
The Syndicate had learned Commodore Saavik was leading a squadron Starfleet vessels through the area on their way to Starbase 375 in the Alpha Quadrant. They were transporting rogue Solarian employees and they'd finally manage to track down and capture Ardra. But there was little hope in recovering the latinum she'd stolen from the Federation's treasury. Starfleet was too busy containing the mercenaries to want to take on additional prisoners despite the multiple warrants for Darcy and Treir's arrest.
The Federation had also issued warrants against Wells. But Macen lacked the obvious resources to apprehend them or take on the War Profits. The Militia Constabulary hadn't posted any arrest warrants on the trio but then again, Bajoran courts could issue sealed warrants invisible the public and not a matter of public record. But the Syndicate hadn't acted against the Bajorans since the Blood Queen's fall.
However, Darcy and Treir had supported Macet and Maret through financial loans and credit to buy weaponry to arm their rebellion against the Cardassian Detepa Council. Maret and Macet both had staked property across dozens of worlds as collateral on the loans. They were dead now, executed by the state, so they couldn't repay the short term loans. So Syndicate's lawyers had issued writs to seize the properties.
This was done in defiance of the Detepa Council and Castellan Rekena Garan's own passage of laws prohibiting the Syndicate from operating in Cardassian space. But prominent Orion families now controlled swathes of property across Cardassian colonies, including those in the former DMZ and throughout the Dorvan Sector. Those families could then construct trade centers on the properties. The trade would of course be the Syndicate's usual brands.
The tensions between the Bajoran Republic and the Federation might dissuade them from acting on the Federation's behalf and capturing the Syndicate leaders. But it was an open question of whether they would so at Cardassia's behest. Or even that of the Iotian Federation if it felt so inclined. Macen and Rockford were known to work for and with all three governments. The informants in Station Operations hadn't reported any orders coming through to redeploy Militia starships so it seemed the Bajorans would continue to sit out this affair.
But the Cardassian Guard or Iotian Starfleet were easily poised to muster forces to send through the Wormhole. Yet, no one in either force was talking. There was no reported build up of military forces by either power along Bajoran borders. The only visible sign of anything to be attempted was the Obsidian's arrival and the removal of the Maquis and nine Federation citizens. None of it made any sort of logical sense.
Both Darcy and Treir were beginning to feel paranoid for feeling threatened. Treir said as much, "Maybe we're just imagining a threat developing."
"Macen and Rockford were met at the transporter by Chief Constable Haji herself," Darcy reminded her, "So whatever is going down, Station Security is in the middle of it."
"Yet they've been given no orders to detain us, now or after Wells' arrival," Treir pointed out.
"I don't trust Bajorans," Darcy confessed, "The Resistance made them too damn sneaky. They can move orders around and we'd never now if one of our informants was left out of the loop."
"But first they'd all have to be identified by Security," Treir naysayed.
"Who's to say they haven't been?" Darcy asked.
"But none of them have signaled that they've been compromised," Treir pointed yet another obvious fact that seemed to belie the feeling of dread they'd both fallen under.
"It can't just be about Wells," Treir argued, "Outbound Ventures handed her over to Barrinor and Barrinor extradited her to Orion for a hefty ransom. Barrinor would do the same again."
"Except Gomer might not pay out a second time. And Barrinor doesn't have a double jeopardy exclusion," Darcy fretted, "This is threatening to drive me insane."
"Maybe that's the point. We'll driven to distraction and actually slip up and violate Bajoran law," Treir offered a plausible explanation, "This is all smoke and mirrors."
"Gomer and Macen had an understanding before the Iridians attacked and he was presumed dead," Darcy complained, "Outbound Ventures didn't overtly interfere in Syndicate business and we didn't interfere in his. Then he came from the dead, married again, no less and suddenly our mutual understanding vanishes with the detainment of Gomer and the elevation of the Blood Queen. Then, of all things, Gomer gets ransomed from the Iotians to replace the Blood Queen, the blood debt gets lifted from both Macen and Rockford and suddenly we're potential adversaries."
"I lived on Macen's station when Gomer was captured on Sigma Iotia II," Treir reminded him, "He's a myth. He can't live up to his own legend. We've taken suitable precautions against Station Security. Let's trust our people and get on with this handover."
"Do you really think Wells can handle this?" Darcy asked in a grim tone, "She was captured on Serenity Station and her activities revealed."
"So was I when I was managing the Quark's aboard the station," Treir reminded him, "Yet I earned my place as the Beta Quadrant Boss just as you earned the right to run the Alpha Quadrant's operations. Miranda Wells seeded a foothold into the Gamma Quadrant. Our business interests are already thriving on the worlds she selected for investment. I think she's capable of far greater things than simply pretending by the manager at a Quark's."
"We entrusting her with a quadrant at the edge of Dominion space. She'd better be," Darcy said somberly.
"What the frinx is this gibberish?" Parva asked as she read the padd's display screen.
"That is Orion script," Smith told her, "Or at least a version of it."
"I see some resemblance to modern writing but this is screwed up," Parva complained.
"Before my people unified under the major families, there were dozens of languages all across the planet. Each had their own alphabet. But they're all dead languages. No one studies them or knows how to read or write in them anymore," Parva shrugged.
"Somebody does," Kerber argued the point, "Because all of the messages the Syndicate has sent and received is written in that language."
"Good luck then," Parva handed the padd back, "Sorry I couldn't help more."
"So, this is your area. How do we proceed?" Kerber asked Smith.
"Macen's calling on some friends," Smith replied, "They might be able to point in the right direction."
"I've never seen it before," she hated being stumped, "Modern Orion script and their alphabet doesn't even contain these characters anymore."
"I've seen it," Smith suddenly looked up, "It was at an abandoned settlement we surveyed near the Orion borders. Doctor Jones is right. Modern Orion doesn't contain these characters anymore. But if you walk it back through Miradorn about four hundred years ago, you'll find linguistic similarities. The tablets we saw were incomplete so we never got a full translation but the Miradorn had a presence on Orion back then and one of their early interstellar efforts was by a trading tribal group that hitched a ride with Miradorn to colonize a planet of their own. The colony collapsed without Miradorn support, which they obviously withdrew. But the Orions adapted their trade language to fit both Miradorn and their native tongue."
"Thank you both. I'll alert my linguist and she'll get back to work on it," Macen grinned. Then he delivered the news to Smith.
"Four hundred years, you said?" Smith was searching Federation linguistic databases. In her search, she found Doctor Smith's papers on the Orion record tablet fragments with links to the Miradorn. Smith quickly absorbed the basics of the Miradorn tongue and its written format at the time of the tablet inscriptions. Perusing known Miradorn history, she found the link between them and the Orion trade language that gone extinct when the people group fled Orion and were later abandoned to a slow death by the Miradorn.
Fully revitalized, Smith attacked the linguistic tangle that the transmissions appeared to be to modern eyes. But armed with historical context and a langue base, she began methodically translating a few documents. Then she programmed a translation matrix and the computer took over and began compiling and translating reams if data. These translations she forwarded back to Rockford's working group and Macen's office next door.
"It seems Macen knows the right people after all," Kerber smirked.
"They're a corporate and SID resource now," Smith told her, "He lured them away from Starfleet with the promise of being contracted to support and assist A&S missions conducted by the Archaeology Guild and the Daystrom Institute. It seems that investment has paid off more than once now."
"So what's going on?" Kerber asked.
"Miranda Wells is heading up the Orion Syndicate's expansion into the Gamma Quadrant," Smith summarized, "And, our Raasian friend, Varic, is very much alive despite his apparent death."
"The Ascendancy will want to know that," Kerber predicted, "Is Wells staying aboard the yacht to manage affairs like Baroness Grimes did?"
"No, they've created a communications hub inside of Waypoint Station," Smith explained further, "Using this dead language, they thought they could communicate without eavesdropping. I've delivered the translation matrix to the Constabulary and the Militia as well. The Syndicate will find it very difficult to operate in secret from now on."
"Or until they change their transmission protocols and encryptions again," Kerber advised Smith.
"I'm looking forward to that challenge," Smith said with relish.
Colonel Wyn Meru appeared on Macen's screen from the captain's chair aboard the Fist of the Prophets, "Commander, we're in position. When do you want me to move my ships in?"
"Wait until Waypoint Traffic Control signals you that War Profits had entered station orbit," Macen instructed, "Then keep the Fist in reserve as you dispatch the rest of your squadron."
"Station Ops informed the yacht is expected within the hour. She's reached the neighboring system and is slowing on her approach to the Greyson system," Wyn advised him, "She's displaying a fair degree of caution for what should seem to be a victory lap."
"Treir and Darcy have to know we're aboard the station by now. We have history with Miranda Wells and Treir. They'll proceed cautiously as the bosses hand over control of the Gamma Quadrant operations to Wells," Macen told her, "However, we've never dealt with Darcy before. So this will prove informative."
"I'm surprised you're viewing it as an intellectual exercise," Wyn admitted, "I understand Darcy can be dangerous when provoked."
"Darcy is more hands-on than either Wells or Treir, but he's overly reliant on the killers and security he's brought aboard the station with him. Station Security has identified almost all the Syndicate operatives aboard."
"Almost all?" Wyn was also surprised by that.
"Darcy is cunning enough to use agents with no record in the Federation, Republic, or Cardassian Union. All of which Chief Constable Haji has access to. I expect he's employed mercenaries to help defend them," Macen warned Wyn, "We have to be prepared for actual combat when we attempt to take them down."
"So they're expecting trouble," Wyn didn't ask.
"Our arrival alerted them to the possibility," Macen told her, "The arrest warrants might be sealed but the Syndicate bosses didn't get to their positions by being reckless. But they know that the Bajoran courts haven't issued standing charges against them. They aren't expecting the Constabulary to arrest them on Cardassian charges."
"Dal Slaine is aboard to oversee the arrests," Wyn told him. Zivan Slaine was a Cardassian Guard exchange officer serving with the Militia just as Militia officers were serving in the Guard. Slaine was typically assigned to Deep Space Nine. So General Anara had pulled some strings with Colonel Cenn Deska, the Militia liaison officer aboard the station, to get Slaine attached to the mission.
This was Wyn's first assignment as the Fist's commander other than routine patrols. Anara had opted to let Wyn undertake this task on her own rather than come along along as a flag officer. The newly minted flagship commander had no intention of letting her superior down. Despite her junior status in rank, as the flagship CO, she was in command of the rest of the squadron. Wyn hoped Anara knew what she was doing when she appointed Wyn to her station.
The majors in command of the other ships hadn't balked at taking orders from a newly minted superior in rank but junior in seniority. They all knew Wyn had been Anara's personal choice to command her flagship. The Militia operated differently than Starfleet in that Wyn still commanded greater status than her firmer fellow majors because of which ship she commanded. She also held elevated status as Anara's chosen successor in command of the starship. So every CO would follow her plan of action rather than balk and try to assume command of the rest of the ships assembled for this task.
Wyn's strategy was a two-fold "shock and awe" approach. First the three Constitution (refit)- and two Asia (refit)-classes would surround Waypoint Station in a blockade of all departing traffic. If the War Profits did not immediately stand down, the Enterprise-class flagship would enter the system in support of the other colonial Defense Forces starships. The Obsidian would employ its enhanced sensors to warn Wyn of any unexpected approaching traffic in support of the Syndicate's leaders on the station.
Deep Space Nine was now on alert and monitoring traffic to and from the Wormhole and the USS Defiant was on patrol along the Militia System Defense Force. The Colonial Defense Forces in the Alpha Quadrant were also on heightened state of alert to ward off any Orion or Syndicate reprisals to be taken against the Bajoran colonies in the sector. The Gamma Quadrant patrols were alerted to the possibility of offensive action being taken against them and their colonial charges.
Both the Iotian Federation and the Cardassian Union wanted Darcy, Treir, and Wells to stand trial. Their verdicts, already decided, Oxmyx decided for the Iotians that their claims on them could wait to see if the gangsters could survive in Cardassian labor camps. The Federation itself had outstanding warrants against the criminal leaders and many of their minions. But the Bajoran Minister of Justice recommended to First Minister Astris Beru that she extradite the prisoners to Cardassia rather than the Federation.
It was a pivotal point for the Bajoran legal system where they recognized Cardassia's claims as having primacy over those of the Federation. Even the Ministers of Finance and Trade urged greater cooperation and enhanced ties with the Cardassians and the Iotians over fostering new business with Federation worlds. Existing Bajoran trade ties with Federation worlds would be met and maintained but Bajor itself no longer encouraged private enterprises to deal with Federation partners. And the government now incentivized trading with other partners.
Finance Minister Kara Gena saw an influx of revenues coming in to cover budget shortfalls after the disastrous defaulting of massive government loans to certain Vedek Orders. The remaining largess from the Federation's war reparations covered the budget for now but either public spending had to be decreased or new revenue streams from corporate and business taxes and customs fees had to increase by volume rather than increase the amounts or the administration would have to favor austerity measures over continued support of public services.
Kara worked hand in hand with the Trade Minister's efforts to create new openings for private concerns to exploit and profit from. The resultant economic boom continued financing the military buildup begun after the war's favorable conclusion. Interstellar policy changes implemented after Bajor's expulsion from the Federation aided in the recovery efforts. The Bajoran Republic controlled one of the most strategic positions in the Alpha Quadrant because of the Wormhole and renewed exploration and trade efforts in the Gamma Quadrant following the detente established with the Dominion fostered new opportunities for the Republic and its trading partners.
Customs cutters now inspected trade vessels en route to and from the Gamma Quadrant, levying revenues from non-preferred client state flagged vessels and charging modest transit tolls for preferred client states. The Federation Diplomatic Corps strongly protested the Bajorans charging Federation flagged vessels transit fees. The official reply was that the Federation could forfeit its preferred client state status and really pay tolls and duties. That generally sent the delegations home to complain to the Federation Council once again for its shortsighted, politically motivated expulsion of the Bajoran Republic and the loss of strategic and economic partnerships.
None argued these points more strenuously than Vice Admiral Robert Tavar Johnson. Starfleet's special diplomatic envoy to crisis spots frequently lectured the Federation Council not only on its blunder but their brash assumption that Bajor would simply rejoin when the offer was made. Starfleet's unprovoked attack on Militia forces that opened the war was only outstripped as a strategic concern to the Bajorans by the revelation of Commodore Oh's plans for Starfleet Security to militarily occupy Bajor itself. Plans the Commodore kept as an open and constantly revised action plan.
Oh sought to make an example out of the officer who leaked her top secret planning to the actual General Kira. But Kerber and Smith had scrubbed the routing information to make it appear that the data was sent from Oh's own office comp/comm. Ro had been protected by this. Oh knew Internal Affairs watchdogged her Security Division on behalf of the Judge Advocate General but she hadn't yet realized Starfleet Intelligence had cultivated its own moles within Starfleet Security. Ro had broadly interpreted Oh's planning as an act of potential state sponsored terrorism. Only this time, Starfleet and the Federation were the sponsors. So Ro carefully monitored Starfleet Operations' directives concerning the Bajor Sector and the Republic's Gamma Quadrant colonies.
Macen was all too aware of the interstellar politics surrounding the apprehension of the Orion Syndicate's quadrant leaders. Rockford was focused on the investigation into the Syndicate's legal and illegal acts aboard the station as well outlining their security arrangements. This left Macen free to juggle the competing demands of his usual employers for the operations penultimate outcome: the apprehension and detention of the bosses and their minions. Whoever Macen chose to turn them over to would be a politically charged statement.
The Militia had no overt interest in prosecuting the gangsters so they became his logical choice. The Ministry of Justice had chosen to surrender the quadrant heads to Cardassia Prime. That was their right as a sovereign state. Oxmyx seemed to understand the political realities in play here. She was leveraging the Iotian Federation's acceptance of whatever outcome the Bajorans chose as her overture. Castellan Garan and the Detepa Council saw the Militia operating on their behalf as validation of their politically risky choice to sign a mutual defense pact with the Bajorans. A pact that already helped save the government from Gul Maret's invasion attempt of the Cardassian system.
It was the United Federation of Planets that seemed ill disposed to accepting the outcome. That was plainly evident in the Secretary for Starfleet ordering M to deploy the Double 0 Section to kill the quadrant leaders rather than allow them to be prosecuted by a foreign power. Macen didn't understand that imperative yet. What necessitated an execution rather than a lawful prosecution? It was illegal in the Federation to order a political assassination. That's why the President didn't know of the 0 Sections' existence. The Federation Council was also blithely unaware. The only civilians to know of it were the successively appointed Secretaries for Starfleet. Select neurological condition afterwards performed by Vulcans within the 0 Sections would erase any knowledge the outgoing Secretary would have.
But Akifa Chol had confirmed its existence to Cell 51's leadership. A bargaining chip Director Dylan Sorbo held over Starfleet's head. The Section's telepaths had attempted the same erasure techniques on the Cell 51 prisoners. But they'd been mentally conditioned to resist such invasive reprogramming. Sorbo and his confederates were held in complete isolation from the public and each other. But Doctor Elena Kita remained at large. Cell 51's own records proved Kita had knowledge of the 0 Sections' existence and was blackmailing Starfleet into reducing the charges against Cell 51's membership.
Removing the treason charges also reduced the severity of the punishment and shortened potential sentences. Reducing the charges of terrorism reduced the chances of being sent to the highest security locations for incarceration. Kita was demanding all of that and more. Fiona Shaw had already been released. Her publicized trial for aiding terrorist organizations had become a debate on freedom of the press. Shaw had won her release but hadn't escaped a ban on rejoining mainstream media outlets. She was now confined to fringe news outlets that catered to conspiracy theorists and radical groups across the Federation. Her renewed punditry was quoted, once again, by news outlets across the Federation rival states' media platforms.
Shaw had capitalized on her notoriety to win favor from Praetor Tal'aura of the Romulan Star Empire. Allowed access to the new capital planet, Caligula, Shaw "interviewed" Tal'aura, Proconsul Donatra, and the Director of the Tal Shiar, Sela. In the one hundred minute spectacle, Shaw spent thirty minutes with each official asking them "soft" question regarding Romulan Orthodoxy and its governance of daily life. The last ten minutes were spent in the Federation studio extolling the virtues of Romulan Orthodoxy and its autocratic grip on daily life The Romulan Senate's dictatorship was presented as a benign public trust that safeguarded Romulans from moral and cultural decay.
In each interview, a different emphasis was spun. With the Praetor, the primacy of the Star Empire's governance over the democratic norms of the Federation. With the Proconsul, the "superior" might of the Imperial Navy over Starfleet. With Sela, the Tal Shiar was presented as a friendly policing force that only acted in a citizen's best interest in serving the state. Even some of Shaw's core audience members that had followed from the Federation News Service to her new fringe sites, turned away after the blatant propaganda proposing the federation surrender to the Star Empire and be absorbed as a "protectorate" of the Romulans.
Despite the harsh criticism of the news piece, Shaw followed up with a thirty minute series of interviews of humans living in the Romulan Star Empire. There were those that had been raised in the Empire as the descendants of humans taken prisoner during the Earth-Romulan War of the 22nd Century. The original prisoners had been enslaved. But their children had been taken in by the Tal Shiar and trained as covert operatives. Retired operatives, aged out of field work, extolled the retirement packages the Tal Shiar afforded them and their embracing Romulan Orthodoxy. That embracement included the belief that Romulans were a superior life form compared to humans and all other alien races. Humans taken captive and enslaved were selectively interviewed and represented by those that praised their "kind and beneficial" masters for their "benevolence" in enslaving them and "liberating" them from their "fruitless" lives of "indulgence" in the Federation and the "contentment" they found in lives of menial labor.
The secondary segment alienated Shaw from much of her remaining audience. However, the radicals still tuned in. Shaw's messaging had changed from the simplistic demand to "Make the Federation Great Again" to demanding capitulation to the Star Empire to accomplish that original slogan goal. If the Federation wouldn't surrender its electoral processes then it needed to submit to an authoritarian state for its own good and protection, in Shaw's perspective that she broadcast nightly.
Two ex-Federation presidents would soon be going on trial. Ardra was captured and facing crimes against sentient life, bribery, corruption, and theft. Auri was facing charges of violating her oath of office, violating nearly every tenet of the Federation Charter, and for elevating a terrorist organization to being a state sponsored security agency along with masterminding the kidnapping and detention of her own Vice President. Both officials had been impeached by the Federation Council and all claims of total executive immunity rejected by the High Court.
Auri faced a life sentence in a maximum security prison. Ardra's potential sentencing would be unprecedented because no other Federation president had committed the financial crimes and crimes against sentient life that she had. Prosecutors were expected to ask for life imprisonment in a maximum security site. Because individuals, even those indicted for high crimes, were presumed innocent until proven guilty before the law and guilty verdict rendered by a jury of Federation citizens, Auri continued to serve in the Federation Council as Alpha Centauri's senior representative. Ardra was a proven flight risk so she would remain jailed.
Auri's term on the Council was ongoing but she was placed on house arrest. She could continue her role and responsibilities to the Federation Council within specified hours at her Councilor offices and the Council chambers before returning to the embassy to remain within its grounds during required periods. If needed, she could continue her work from within the embassy.
Bail would be sought for the Syndicate bosses as a matter of typical recourse within the Federation. And since all three defendants would classified as first-time offenders, it would be granted. And they'd simply disappear. One of the many reasons the Militia wouldn't extradite the prisoners to the Federation. Cardassia and the Iotians had already determined their own brand of justice to be dispensed that would remove the bosses and their minions from freedom of movement. It would be up to Gomer whether or not to mount rescue efforts. The Cardassian Ministry of Justice had determined their twenty-year sentences on Lazon II in the labor camps before issuing the warrant request with the Bajoran Militia Constabulary. Oxmyx wanted them dead. It was debatable over which fate was kinder.
The Iotian Federation had gone from tacit cooperation with the Orion Syndicate to outright antagonism as the Iotian Starfleet began engaging Syndicate pirates in protectorate and Iotian Federation space. Gomer's release from Iotian custody was the last cooperative effort between the two parties. Now they were engaged in outright hostilities as more systems subscribed to the Iotian Federation's protection racket, they had to make good on their promises. So a heated struggle had broken out across the Beta and Alpha Quadrants where the Iotians had member planets and subscribers.
Even the long neutral Kalendra Sector had had joined the Iotian Federation, shoring up the Bajor Sector's border along that line. But for the Syndicate, that had operated with impunity throughout the sector, it was death knell for business. Despite the Iotian Starfleet's role as the Militia's main arms supplier, the Bajoran Republic had only signed a non-aggression pact with the Iotian Federation. Unlike it's mutual defense treaty with the Cardassian Union, the Militia wasn't required to defend the Iotians. But neither were they allowed to act against the Iotians should the Federation or Cardassians, the Bajorans' main allies, go to war against the Iotian Federation.
The Federation, once finally informed by Vaughn, would pressure the Bajoran Ministry of Justice to extradite the prisoners. The ratcheting tensions between the Republic and Federation could create a diplomatic crisis when the Militia Constabulary released the prisoners to Cardassian custody. Starfleet would demand answers from Macen, Rockford, and even Vaughn for his accepting the Militia's warning of potential Orion reprisals without alerting Starfleet Command of the reasons why. Rear Admiral Forger would call into question Outbound Ventures' role in the affair. Admiral Nechayev would quiet Forger's discontent with the outcome and would answer to the Secretary for Starfleet for calling off the Double 0 hit squad.
These were the realities surrounding the ongoing investigation and operation. Rockford and her detectives were compiling evidence of Wells' budding operations in the Gamma Quadrant and Darcy and Treir's funneling support and resources into building the illicit trade conduits. Since the Cardassian courts had already decided on their verdict and sentencing, the evidence as being gathered for Starfleet in order to prove the veracity of the Cardassians' claims against the Syndicate. The details of the investigative inquiries would also enable the Militia and Starfleet to shut down the pipelines of drugs and sentient trafficking into the Gamma Quadrant.
What no one had counted on was the arrival of the USS Intrepid preceding the War Profits return to Waypoint. Commander Jonathan Striker took command of the Akira-class carrier variant while Vice Admiral Johnson and Captain James McKinley beamed aboard the Obsidian. Rockford returned to the ship to meet with them alongside Macen.
"You don't look pleased to see us," Johnson immediately noted.
"We've a joint operation with the Militia and Station Security underway and your presence complicates things," Macen bluntly told them.
"Excuse me?" McKinley was irked by that assessment.
"He means your presence will spook the Orion Syndicate quadrant bosses already on the station preparing to anoint a Gamma Quadrant boss for Gomer," Rockford dialed it back.
"All hands, yellow alert!" Miller's voice came over comms.
"Damn! The War Profits just arrived," Macen grumbled, "We need to return to the station."
"You mean Baroness Estella Grimes' missing yacht?" Johnson recalled Commodore Oh's briefing about the armed yacht going missing.
"She's never been missing. The crew signed up with the Orion Syndicate and has been operating here in the Gamma Quadrant as Miranda Wells' personal conveyance," Macen told them, "She's being appointed as the Gamma Quadrant boss after seeding Syndicate operations in Ardra and the Intendent Kira's wake."
"And our presence will make the Syndicate leaders paranoid," McKinley understood now, "But we can't just walk away."
"Actually, you can. None of the Syndicate leaders have outstanding warrants in the Federation and this is Bajoran jurisdiction, not the Federation's," Rockford clarified further.
"But the Militia Constabulary has warrants for them?" Johnson found it hard to believe since the Militia policed Syndicate activities in the Bajor Sector to near non-existence.
"The Ministry of Justice has issued sealed warrants on behalf f the Cardassian Union," Macen hated to have to divulge, "The Cardassians have already decided on a sentencing for the Syndicate leaders and their operatives."
"I'd think you'd be the last person to hand someone over to the Cardassians," McKinley noted, referring to Macen's past as a Maquis and a former Cardassian captive as a Starfleet Intelligence operative.
"Brin, Celeste, we all know why you feel indebted to defend Bajoran interests. We all share those sympathies, but handing suspects over to the Cardassians for a show trials is wrong," Johnson argued.
"Bob, you of all people should reflect on the fact that the Prime Directive means you shouldn't interfere in the internal affairs of other stellar powers. The Bajoran Republic is no longer a member of the Federation by choice of the Federation Council. The Bajoran government accepted the arrest warrants and extradition entreaties from the Cardassian Union. None of this is occurring within Federation space. You have to respect their internal processes," Macen rebutted him.
"Even despite your past, as a Federation citizen, you should be concerned about serving Cardassian interests. Not to mention you're frequent employment with Starfleet," Johnson pressed the issue.
"I'm not a Federation citizen," Macen revealed to him, "I met the increased scrutiny standards for Starfleet applicants from non-member worlds and served until I resigned. We both know that resignation was forced upon me. But I never applied to become a naturalized citizen."
"And neither have I," Rockford told them, "Even though Angosia bought its membership in the Federation by having Daggit and the other Augment commandos serve with Ro and Brin during the Dominion war, Augments had to individually apply for citizenship. I never did."
"But Bajor rejected the Federation's offer to rejoin. So their lack of membership is their choice," McKinley futilely argued.
"Would you realign with the very power that cast you out and subsequently invaded your territory?" Rockford snorted.
"Nechayev and Amanda are aware of your non-citizen status?" Johnson was more subdued.
"They always have been," Macen told him, "Clancy tried to weaponize that fact when arguing with the Federation Council over the SID retaining Outbound Ventures as their principle irregular forces."
"Why was I unaware of this fact?" Johnson asked, "I've seen your service record. It's incomplete to say the least but I don't recall any mentioning of you being a non-citizen volunteer."
"It's redacted. My entire service record from the point I was selected to be cross trained as an operative to my resignation is redacted. Even as a Vice Admiral, as a non-security portfolio flag officer, you don't have the clearance to read my unredacted file," Macen explained, "My security clearance is active and higher than yours. You'll find Starfleet has a treasure trove of secrets you can't access even as a Vice Admiral."
"This is disturbing to say the least," Johnson admitted.
"Which part?" Rockford was curious to know.
"The clearance issue," Johnson told her, "Akaar told me I was being cleared for 'ultra top secret' information."
"And you were," Macen assured him, "These matters go above that. Even my awards and citations are classified above your access level. If you think my record is difficult to get into, try accessing Elias' personnel jacket. Or even Ro's since she was reinstated."
Johnson frowned, "I don't like the idea of not being able to fully access the records of people I might be depending on."
"It hasn't stopped you until today," Rockford pointed out.
"I didn't realize I wasn't getting the real files on Brin and Elias until now," Johnson scowled, "Security is paramount for an organization like a protective service but hiding pertinent information from a flag officer seems to defeat the point."
"And we all know the files on all of us are inaccurate now," McKinley wisely reminded Johnson.
"But this was the case before as well?" Johnson asked.
"Not to the same degree but the essential gist of it was the same," Macen told him, "You largely accepted Elias and I on Ed Noyce's recommendation."
Vice Admiral Edward Noyce had been Johnson's friend and mentor as well as Director of Starfleet Security before he groomed Oh to succeed him when he retired. But times and places had literally changed. But Captain Oh had still made Commodore and replaced Noyce in the here and now. Oh had been in Starfleet nearly as long as Macen and Vaughn but as a Vulcanoid she didn't appear to be as old as she actually was. Nor was anyone in Starfleet aware that she was a Romulan intelligence agent charged with protecting Starfleet's greatest secrets.
Vaughn and Oh were even more notorious for refusing promotion than Will Riker was for declining his command for fourteen years to remain Picard's XO. Vaughn remained a commander to avoid being put on the list of commanding officer despite the fact that Vaughn essentially commanded Starfleet Special Operations Command. But he also a field operative so he wasn't the official commander. But he had more years in SOC than either the captain or admiral placed directly above him.
Oh had been a captain for nearly as long as Vaughn stayed in grade. She'd refused promotion that would transfer her out of Starfleet Security. Until the day Noyce appointed her as Deputy Director of the Security Division. Than as a commodore she became the lowest ranked flag officer to ever command a Division. Even Amanda Forger had promoted from commodore to rear admiral to command the newly instated Special Investigations Division.
Johnson and Forger found themselves promoted to rear admiral at the same time in the same ceremony. Something that coalesced with other circumstances to firm up their interpersonal relationship. Now it bordered on something akin to commitment. Neither would say that aloud but both felt it and had finally shared with one another the fact of that bond and their mutual attraction just prior to Johnson's mission to the Gamma Quadrant.
For McKinley and Doctor Andreja Sikorsky, in particular, watching Forger and Johnson dance around the issue had been as painful as watching Commander Robert Caplan deny his true feelings for Lt. Commander Liz Liefers or McKinley argue that he couldn't begin a relationship with Massoli while she was under his command. Both situations had called on their friends and subordinates to mount interventions. At least Delaney had easily courted Lt. Commander Hannah Grace and persuaded her to transfer to the Intrepid crew after they married. The odd men out seemed to the ship's exec, Striker, and the CONN Officer, Lieutenant Alessandro Pedrossi.
Pedrossi was the youngest member of the Senior Staff had was enjoying being a bachelor. Striker, however, didn't seem to be playing the field nor did he seem discontent. He'd begun "disappearing" when the ship was at Spacedock between assignments. Massoli and Delaney had offered to have him tailed but McKinley stomped down hard on invading Striker's privacy despite his own curiosity. Striker was far from a loner. His friendship with Caplan proved that. But Caplan wasn't revealing anything. Not even to Liefers.
"Commander, the War Profits is assuming station orbit opposite of us," Forger said through his comm badge.
"Inform Chief Haji we're on our way back," Macen instructed, "Now, if we can escort you back to the transporter room?"
"We'll get underway," McKinley said solemnly, "But Starfleet will know about this operation."
"And they can file any protest they wish with the Bajoran government," Rockford replied.
"Any special messages for Admiral Forger?" Johnson asked in an irritable mood.
"I wouldn't want to intrude on your own special messages for her," Macen said evenly.
Johnson accepted that but didn't like it. Then again, when Macen and his corporate fleet rallied to defend Bajor from Starfleet beside many sympathetic and legendary starship captains and crews, the Intrepid had sat out those engagements. She'd helped secure the Bajor Sector's border with the Kalendra Sector, but she'd avoided the fighting until it turned against Cell 51. Johnson and McKinley had been in agreement on that course of action. Like Nechayev, Amanda Forger, and even Ro, they didn't feel beholden to the Prophets or Bajor. Vaughn felt differently.
The walk to the transporter room wasn't filled with its usual jovial small talk. When they reached it and Johnson and McKinley stood upon the pads, the Admiral had one final question, "Think about it, can your company survive without its Starfleet contracts?"
"I think a better question is: in this climate and Starfleet's current status, can it survive without us?" Macen asked in return.
"I suppose we'll know soon enough," Johnson said grimly., "Energize."
"That could have gone better," Rockford said ruefully as the two Starfleet officer dematerialized in a halo of energy.
""They'll always put Starfleet and the Federation first as they deem fit," Macen reminded her, "Telrik, beam us over to Waypoint. Miranda Wells should be paranoid by now."
"Aye, Commander. It'll be a pleasure," Telrik said jovially.
"How the frinx did Starfleet end up here?" Wells verbally accosted Treir and Darcy.
"It's an aberration," Darcy told her, "The Intrepid was returning from a border dispute and learned the Obsidian was here. So they met up."
"The Intrepid broke station orbit and is en route to the Wormhole terminus," Treir assured her, "Commodore Saavik's task force is scheduled to bypass the station and proceed directly to the Wormhole for passage back to the Alpha Quadrant."
"They're headed for Deep Space Nine?" Wells asked.
"They far too many prisoners to process for that station," Darcy interjected, "They're transferring the prisoners to other starships to ferry the back to Earth at Starbase 375."
"Earth? Why go all the way back to Sector 001?" Wells was baffled.
"The prisoners include former president Ardra," Treir smirked, "It seems the Federation and Starfleet tracked her down after all."
"We could mount a rescue. That might prove profitable," Wells thought aloud.
"We lack the resources to confront six starships," Darcy scowled, "But, while Saavik is busy with transferring high value prisoners in the Alpha Quadrant, Starfleet will have a minimal presence in the Gamma Quadrant. That opens up avenues for you to explore in their absence."
"What about the Bajoran Militia?" Wells asked.
"They have no quarrel with you or the ship's captains we're sending through the Bajor Sector to accommodate your business ventures," Treir reminded her.
"And Macen and Rockford's presence here is a mere coincidence?" Wells sneered.
"They obviously mean to arrest us," Darcy chuckled maliciously, "But this is a Bajoran space station and the Bajoran Ministry of Justice has denied the Federation's outstanding arrest warrants on us."
"The Bajorans themselves have issued no warrants so we can operate with impunity as long as we don't violate station regulations or Bajoran law in their territories," Treir concluded Darcy's thought for him.
"Macen allowed you to freely operate as our go-between Quark and the Syndicate until you threatened a Station Security officer. That was unwise. Otherwise you'd still be in place and moving contraband into the Brsknir system for everyone," Darcy grew irritated, "You're lucky you found favor in Gomer's eyes or you'd be left to rot in a Barrinoran prison."
"To go from an obvious blunder and disgrace to heading up a budding organization in an unexplored quadrant is a rare twist of fate," Treir told her, "I at least was given an established quadrant business to run on the Syndicate's behalf. But you have the freedom to build up the Syndicate's interests in this quadrant however you deem fit. Cherish that while it lasts."
"And know if you blunder here, you won't survive making the mistake," Darcy warned her, "The stakes are that high."
"We've clearly established your command post and its cover here aboard the station," Treir told Wells, "The Constabulary knows what we're about but your operations are outside Bajoran territory so they look the other way."
"Don't mistake Chief Constable Haji as a blundering idiot. She's ex-Resistance and knows smuggling as well as you do. So be careful what you bring through this station," Darcy counseled her.
"Your operations staff is set up here in these offices. We're leaving security and enforcers. Now we'll be taking the yacht and returning to our operations centers," Treir told her.
"I'll still need a ship," Wells warned them.
"And you'll have one at your disposal soon enough," Darcy informed her, "But you don't need Baroness Grimes' personal yacht anymore. Gomer herself wants to claim it. It was simply on loan to you as you ventured out into the Gamma Quadrant. That loan will now be repaid."
The office chimed and Wells snapped, "Come!"
The door opened to reveal two Melbanians. The humanoid with the blue hair was nearly naked as was the custom of her tribes. The mint green haired one wore sewn together leaves to form a dress. She also wore a woven, floral mask. They were Oliania and Melania. Both were former capos under the Blood Queen. They'd sworn oaths of allegiance to Gomer and now served as Wells' new lieutenants. Both looked unhappy.
"There's news from Station Operations," Oliania warned, "Five Colonial Defense Forces starships have just arrived."
"This is a Colonial Defense Forces starbase. Having their ships report here is nothing new. The station was built to support their missions here," Treir shrugged it off.
"Having five arrive together is something unusual even for the Militia," Melania warned them.
"We should investigate this further," Wells decided for her new lieutenants, "What do we know about these ships and their commanders?"
"They consist of three Constitution-class heavy cruisers and two Asia-class light cruisers," Oliana answered.
"All five commanders and crews have experience working with Macen as commanding officer of the Solstice scoutship," Melania advised them all.
"Would they accept orders from Captain Forger on the Obsidian?" Darcy asked. He'd reviewed the briefs on the ship and her crew. Outbound Ventures had rarely been a thorn in the Orion Syndicate's side but perhaps things were changing. As Wells had intuited, Macen and Rockford's presence wasn't coincidental to their own.
"Not likely," Oliana said, "The five are veterans of several Militia campaigns. They'll work with Outbound Ventures but not for them."
"Still, that's a disturbing possibility," Darcy concluded.
"Is it possible Macen and Rockford led their team here working for the Militia?" Wells asked.
"The Constabulary has no outstanding warrants on any of us or our people," Treir denied it, "They have no motive to arrest us."
"We need people inside the Bajoran Ministry of Justice," Wells argued.
"I'm working on that," Darcy assured her, "The Bajorans take a dim view on 'collaborators' in particular and criminals in general."
"What about the Cardassians or the Iotians?" Wells pressed the issue further, "They're both major allies to the Bajorans?"
"The Cardassian Ministry of Justice has issued arrest warrants to the Cardassian Guard for Thomas and I," Treir admitted, "But you're excluded from that grouping."
"And the Iotians?" Wells asked again.
"Unknown," Darcy confessed, "Oxmyx has consolidated power from the Five Familias. Our working arrangements with the Iotian Federation have been falling apart. She and Kracko may lash out against us if provoked. But there hasn't been any incidents between the Iotian Starfleet and any Syndicate operator yet."
"How did Oxmyx consiolidate power?" Wells asked.
"She killed three Family heads and made two bend the knee to her," Treir chuckled, "An unexpectedly wise move on her part since the Familias were plotting against Oxmyx and Kracko."
"You were supporting them," Wells realized.
"Confusion breeds opportunity," Treir laughed, "And earns loyalties and concessions from rivals."
"They won't take that well if it's discovered," Wells said unhappily.
"I eliminated all of my contacts. There's no one left to implicate me in the Familias' potential uprising," Treir promised.
"You can't be certain someone didn't talk before you had them killed," Darcy scowled again.
"I took care of the problem," Treir said haughtily.
Darcy knew Treir had her position as Beta Quadrant Boss through her personal connection with Gomer. Orions always had an in with the Syndicate. Humans like himself and Wells had to forge interpersonal working relationships with Orions in order to advance in status. The patronage system was convoluted best and prohibitive in nature.
Both Wells and Treir had grown in prominence while serving as the manager of the Quark's bar on Serenity Station. Darcy had to wonder why their eventual discoveries as criminal entrepreneurs and intermediaries hadn't disqualified them from higher postings. He saw it as a distinct failing of the classical Orion patronage system in action. Treir's adventurism in Iotian affairs was a step too far in his opinion. The Iotians were getting serious about the protection they were selling to their Federation member worlds and client planets. It was a newfound tendency that excluded Syndicate operators from many of their old clients. Treir was only accelerating the eventual clash between the two parties.
"What are the Militia starships doing?" Darcy asked.
"They're assuming a broader orbit around the station," Melania told them, "They appear to be setting up a perimeter."
"Still, we're on schedule to depart," Treir boasted.
"That may be premature," Darcy advised her, "Dispatch the War Profits without us aboard and let's see how the Militia reacts to it."
"A novel idea," Treir laughed, "But I prefer to return the yacht to Gomer as promised."
"I'll wait here for commercial transport then," Darcy decided.
"Have it your way," Treir activated it her comm badge and contacted the yacht's captain had herself transported aboard.
"That transport should have been reported to Station Operations," Oliana told Darcy and Wells, "Which means the Constabulary will know as well."
"Let's just see what happens next," Darcy advised everyone.
The Temple of the Prophets, the Tales of the Prophets, and the Triumph of the Prophets surrounded the departing War Profits and threatened the captain with immediate hostilities if he didn't surrender both the vessel and the Syndicate leaders aboard. The station had raised its shields so Treir couldn't beam back to it. The Asia-class Faith in the Prophets and Security in the Prophets stayed in close proximity to the station at Haji's request. Station Operations had detected a single undocumented transporter signature between the yacht and the station.
"The Militia has detained Treir," Oliana reported to Darcy and Wells.
"Overconfident bitch," Darcy muttered vilely, "Now we'll be forced to mount an intervention."
"The Constabulary is arming themselves," Melania warned them.
"They're coming after us next," Wells predicted, "Alert everyone. We need an escape."
"And somebody message Gomer," Darcy said angrily, "She needs to know about this escalation by the Militia."
"The Bajorans won't hold us without cause," Wells said confidently, "Our legal teams will shred their cases."
"If we're tried in a Bajoran court," Darcy retorted, "The Bajorans have no warrants out on any of us. We haven't violated station regulations that they know of. They're acting on someone else's behalf."
"But who, I wonder," Wells said.
"Has to be either the Cardassians or the Iotians. The Bajorans refused to arrest us on the Federation's behalf."
"So now we know why Macen and Rockford's team is here," Wells stated, "The Militia hired them to assist in the arrest."
"The constables and Haji won't live long enough to arrest us," Darcy vowed.
"I don't want my people involved in this," Wells told him, "Use your own operatives. But neither the Iotians nor the Cardassians have a case against me. I don't want to create one with the Bajorans by assaulting them."
"Fine," Darcy growled, "My security will get me off of this station and back to the Alpha Quadrant. But you'll get your hands dirty soon enough."
"I already have," Wells told him, "But I'm smart enough not to leave a trail the Iotians or Cardassians can find."
"Frinx you, Wells," Darcy snapped at her.
"Not on the best day of your life," Wells laughed, "Or on my worst day."
"Some day I will frinx you to death. You'll be begging me to stop and I won't until you're a corpse and even then I won't stop until you're cold and blue," Darcy vowed.
"I heard you had some kinks," Wells laughed again.
Darcy took a step towards her and Wells was on her feet with a blade poking into his erect penis, "You want to lose your head after all?"
"This isn't over," Darcy warned her, "Gomer won't protect you forever."
"Who says she needs to?" Wells asked.
It was then that Darcy realized Melania and Oliana had drawn phasers on him. Wells shook her head, "If it wouldn't create such a headache with the locals, I'd have you vaporized right now. Someday I will. But for now, get out of my offices."
"You'll be begging me to stop but you'll bleed out before I do," Darcy warned her as her lieutenants showed him to the door.
They returned moments later, and Oliana spoke first, "His security took him out of the premises. But do you think it was wise to antagonize him before you're secure in your role here?"
"I'll have his territory as well as this quadrant before I'm done," Wells promised her.
"And Treir?" Melania asked.
"Too well connected on Orion," Wells sighed, "But she'll answer to me nonetheless," Wells told them, "Gomer is tiring of Treir's adventurism. She's creating more problems than opportunities for the Syndicate by supporting the Five Familias' little coup attempt."
"But if it had worked, Treir would be beloved by the Syndicate families," Oliana warned her.
"It was never going to work," Wells told them, "Even if I hadn't tipped Oxmyx off, Kracko would've learned of it long before they could strike."
"You warned Oxmyx?" Melania was surprised by this.
"I was Gomer's private go-between with Oxmyx and Kracko," Wells reminded them, "Quark got a cut of everything but I represented Gomer alone in talks with the pair. They came to reasonable settlement in exchange for the intelligence on Treir's activities. Gomer already used that information to undermine Treir's position with the Orion families. Treir would've remained Beta Quadrant Boss before she was stupid enough to get captured by the Bajorans and whoever they hand her off to. But mounting a rescue will be costly and Gomer will exact a price for it."
"And Thomas Darcy?" Oliana asked.
"Has made more enemies than friends in the positions of power," Wells shrugged, "Gomer wants someone loyal in command of the Syndicate's operations beyond the Beta Quadrant. The Gamma Quadrant is a wipe frontier but the Alpha Quadrant requires a subtler hand. My hand. When I assume control, you two will retain control over the expansion into the Gamma Quadrant. I made certain to insure that with Gomer."
"So, you are delivering on your promises," Melania smirked.
"But both us us will be equal in rank?" Oliana wondered.
"An unusual arrangement in Orion circles but Gomer feels you'll be more pliable to her direction if you're competing against one another," Well explained.
"So she still doesn't entirely trust us," Oliana stated, "But she finds us invaluable."
"Good," Melania said darkly.
"We can't move too quickly," Wells warned them both, "Darcy made his ambition to take control obvious during the tumult that led to the rise of the Blood Queen and the revolt that brought Gomer back to power. That earned him too many enemies on Orion. Distanced as we are from Orion, we can operate fairly freely so long as Gomer doesn't take too keen an interest in our affairs."
"Melbania may be enslaved now after the Blood Queen's fall but we can forge en empire out here beneath the federation's influence and beyond," Oliana gloated.
"And an underworld beneath the Bajorans' noses," Melania predicted.
"And it all begins now," Wells chuckled evilly.
Darcy dispatched Olga Blasic to collect 0021. Basic hid in plain sight at the Promenade's finest, elitist restaurant at the bar everyday. When she received Darcy's word to to gather up his human sex toy or put her down, Blasic relished the job. Blasic had her own lust for Darcy but knew he didn't find her attractive enough for his usual tastes in playthings.
Blasic managed to hide a phaser pistol within her reed evening gown replete with hood satin overcoat in a matching shade. She slipped off her stiletto heels as she buzzed the chime at Darcy's guest quarters. Holding the phaser up, she waited for 0021 to put on the meagerest clothing for modesty's sake since Darcy preferred his latest acquisition in a constant state of undress. The door opened to show 0021 wearing an open shirt with nothing else on.
"Time to go," Blasic told her.
0021 eyed the phaser pistol and adopted a wary look. Blasic grew impatient, "We can leave now or you can die here. Your choice."
Blasic suddenly found 0021 expertly kicking her between the thighs into her clitoris. The assassin/security agent gasped in pain and found 0021 following up with a palm strike into her nose while the other hand took a grip on the phaser pistol. Blasic lost her grip on the pistol as she staggered back and bounced off the bulkhead, blood spurting her wounded nose.
"Who are you?" Blasic managed to ask before 0021 shot her with the phaser.
0021 dressed quickly. If Darcy were sending his goons after her then he was departing the station under duress. She was already angry that M had kept her in place while the Double 0s departed the station. Darcy was a sexual sadist. It was part of her job to endure his depravities but that didn't mean she appreciated M's directive.
Once dressed properly, 0021 drug Blasic into Darcy's rented quarters and shot the locking mechanism with the phaser set at maximum. That would trap Blasic until the Constabulary could collect her. Station Operations could bill Starfleet for the damage. In the meantime, 0021 had to get to a place of safety before Darcy sent other agents to kill her for her not appearing when summoned.
"What is taking so long?" Darcy fumed in the shuttlebay.
Melva Hawke and Ekaterina Gregarina carried ballistic pistols that electromagnetically fired bullets rather than particle beams. Evelyn Truax and Emily Knowles carried PPP phasers similar to those brandished by Double 0 agents.
Gregarina was in charge of his personal protection detail, "Do you want us to investigate?"
"No," Darcy snarled, "Send Takaga and his team. I want Blasic and that bitch what's-her-name killed on sight."
The Nalori led an assassination squad aboard the station. But Darcy quickly learned from Takaga that Amari and Kendo, who had been transferred to Wells' staff, refused to accept Darcy's order. This further enraged Darcy.
"Kill them when you finish with those bottle blonde bitches," Darcy ordered Takaga.
"It will be done," the Nalori would enjoy the challenge.
"We're drawing attention," Knowles warned him.
"I don't give a frinx!" Darcy shouted at her, "That frinxing Wells has set me up!"
"I think you did that on your own," Truax had had enough of Darcy's violently mercurial mood swings. They were bad for business, "Let's leave him to his fate."
"Gomer won't like it," Hawke warned.
"Who do you think abandoned him?" Truax adjusted her eyeglasses. Their Heads Up Display indicated the constables were sealing off the deck containing the commercial shuttlebay, "We have just enough time to still get out."
"I'm with her," Knowles decided enough was enough.
"It appears you're on your own," Hawke opted to find an exit while they still could.
"Gregarina, you're still with me," Darcy ordered her.
"I don't think so," she replied, "You have always been a demented idiot. Your viciousness served the Syndicate's purposes for a time. I think Gomer is looking to replace you as Alpha Quadrant Boss. I'm rolling with that tide."
"I will frinxing frinx you all too death!" Darcy screamed at them as they began to leave, "I'll phaser burn holes in your heads and frinxing frinx your frinxing brains out!"
"My point exactly," Gregarina called back to him. Darcy watched as the other shuttle passengers waiting for the next transport edged away from him.
"What? Do I have a frinxing target on my back?" Darcy screamed at them.
Which was exactly what the Bajorans and Federation races thought. The bay doors opened in the waiting room and Darcy spun to face them, "You can't come crawling back now!"
"I wouldn't dream of groveling before you," Haji and her constables had their weapons drawn and ready, "Please come quietly. Or not. Your choice."
"Don't be a frinxing smart ass!" Darcy snarled, "You've all earned death marks today. And I will collect on them."
"You'll be too busy trying to survive Lazon II for me to worry about you," Haji replied.
"Lazon II?" Darcy paled at the name of the infamous labor camp. Only Kodosh II was considered more brutal with shorter life expectancy. Darcy switched tactics, "I can make you all wealthy beyond your wildest dreams. Think of it! You could each own your own Class-M moons or asteroids!"
"Stun him and stun him now," Haji had quickly tired of Darcy.
"Don't be fools!" Darcy screamed before he was knocked unconscious.
"Collect him and we'll have transported aboard the Faith in the Prophets. He and Treir can enjoy their ride to Deep Space Nine together in the same brig cell," Haji instructed her constables.
"What happens to them now?" Deputy Dross asked.
"The Cardassian Guard will collect them from DS9," Haji told him, "From there, who cares?"
"Chief, several of our suspects have gone missing," Deputy Furlong reported, "And Station Operations reported a new problem."
"What kind of problem?" Haji had to ask.
The Fist of the Prophets quickly warped into the system to assist her badly outnumbered fellow starships. Wyn quickly contacted Kolikova, "Captain, the Militia has impounded that yacht. You can take up repossessing it with Militia Command."
Kolikova's bright, rainbow colored hair was as colorful as her uniform, "Major, I don't want to create an incident. But the rightful owner of this vessel wants it returned to her."
"Her?" Wyn was confused.
"The Baroness Estella Grimes," Kolikova explained, "She's been released from Iotian custody and returned to Earth. She's the registered owner of the yacht. I'm here to assume command of the War Profits, deal with the mutineers aboard her, and return her to Earth."
"Why would Solarian send a task force to collect a single yacht if you don't want an incident?" Wyn had to wonder.
"Most of these ships are headed to a planet called Axios that Starfleet recovered our own mutineers from. They'll be collecting our impounded starships from the locals there and also returning them to Solarian shipyards," Kolikova explained.
"Why would Solarian get involved with recovering an impounded yacht?" Wyn asked.
"Baroness Grimes is the Chairperson of the Board of Directors for Solarian Security Systems. As the largest stockholder, her vote outweighs even that of Chief Executive Officer Marko Vilnius. She wants her yacht returned to her and we get it done. Would you like to speak with Baroness Grimes directly?" Kolikova asked.
"Yes, I would," Wyn replied.
The image on her viewer changed to that of Grimes lounging in her penthouse in Manhattan on Earth, "Colonel Wyn, I'm told you're an impediment to my reclaiming my property."
"You don't hear the word 'no' very often do you?" Wyn asked.
"Someone of my estate can afford to be indulged," Grimes told her. She didn't appear to be addled by narcotics or alcohol as her reputation had preceded her to the Militia. Grimes had evidently cleaned up while in Iotian custody. But she was still petulant, "It's my yacht. My property stolen from me. And I will have it back."
"You can take up reclaiming it from Militia Command," Wyn repeated her earlier statement.
"I will have it back and I will have it now," Grimes warned her, "My forces are standing by for my order to disable your starships and take back what is rightfully mine."
"You will go through the proper channels. Baroness or not," Wyn told her.
"I'll be speaking with your First Minister, Colonel Wyn. This will go badly for you," Grimes warned her.
"Contact whoever you feel so obliged to," Wyn replied.
"Colomel, the Solarian task force has raised their shields and primed their weapons," Major Horst Mendel, Wyn's XO, warned her.
"Alert all commands to raise shields and arm weapons. And make certain Waypoint keeps her shields up," Wyn instructed, "Sergeant Triss, get me General Anara."
Tech Sergeant Triss Glivi complied at her Communications station, "General Anara on screen for you."
So Wyn began explaining the situation to her ranking officer.
Tagaka was one of the few Syndicate operatives to know that Darcy had replaced his organic phallus with a twin biosynthetic replacement. This enabled to Darcy to achieve double penetration of both the vagina and anus simultaneously. Which also resulted in a great deal of damage to both since Darcy could remotely control his erection and only subside it when he felt too tired to maintain sexual activity. He could literally drain his testicles of all semen and still continue to orgasm as his body attempted to repeatedly ejaculate.
This sustained activity damaged his partners genitalia and anal lining. But Darcy didn't care as long as he achieved the maximum number of orgasmic experiences as his body could tolerate. He'd frequently killed his sexual partners as they bled out while he continued to thrust until the bodies, now corpses, literally cooled. So his threats to Wells and others were backed by experience and not to be idly taken.
Takaga had thought about undergoing the implant procedure himself. It seemed a pleasurable way to kill female targets. Nelori assassins were trained to achieve climax through the kill of any gender. But Darcy's example proved the experience could be amplified and sustained. But Takaga hadn't done so yet. He was the Syndicate's leading assassin and frankly was too busy getting off on his multitude of assignments.
Takaga carefully smelled the bloody rag and then the unchanged bed sheets. He knew Darcy's scent and had got wind of Blasic's scent once. Although she'd stymied the bleeding, the scent would hang on her. So Takaga set out but was spotted by two more constables coming to investigate their comrades' lack of communication. He used throwing discs to slice their throats. Rather than confuse his senses with the smell of their blood, he left the bloodied discs embedded in their throats and set forth on Blasic's trail.
Both humans had exited the habitat section of the station and headed for the Promenade at the core. He lost 0021's scent in the Promenade but Blasic's was stronger and led back to the Syndicate front that doubled as a retailer. Her presence there complicated Takaga's mission. Wells would take as an affront if he killed Blasic, who was now assigned as one of Wells' security agents, in plain view.
The Nelori's senses prickled and he looked around to find the SID team surrounding him with weapons trained on him, "Can I help you?"
"You were recorded killing two deputies," Macen told him, "That was very sloppy for someone of your reputation."
Truth be told, the Bajoran station's layouts didn't mark that section of the corridor as having visual surveillance. Someone outside the Militia or Constabulary had installed their own equipment. Darcy's plaything was the obvious candidate now that he knew for certain that she'd overpowered Blasic.
"And if I surrender quietly?" Takaga began angling his body to present less of a profile.
"Take him," Macen ordered. Takaga was already on the move when Lee, Forte, and Shade opened fire. They missed but Burrows and Daggit connected. The Bajoran rifles' stun setting slowed Takaga but didn't stop him. But Rockford's reaction time was augmented by her conditioning so she scored a direct hit in his chest with her phaser on the "kill" setting. Which only served to stun the Nelori.
"Sorry boys. You can't use a stun setting on a Nelori," Rockford kept her weapon trained on the downed assassin, "Rab, reset your rifle and cover me while I strip him of his weapons."
Burrows slung his rifle and drew his katana from its scabbard across his back, "Just to be sure."
Rockford expertly searched the assassin's clothing and compiled an impressive array of weaponry out of his reach, "We'd best take him in. The local constables won't be able to contain him even disarmed and in binders."
"He's not on the Cardassian warrant request," Lee reviewed his padd.
"But he killed at least two deputies," Macen reminded him, "He's accountable to Bajoran justice for that. We can hold him until they've prepared for him."
Haji approached them as Rockford attached an isolinear tag to the fallen assassin's body, "We have a new problem."
"Named?" Macen wondered.
"Baroness Estella Grimes," Haji answered the question.
"The Iotians released her?" Shade sounded disappointed yet not surprised.
"From what I've pulled from Starfleet Security, the Federation ransomed Grimes," Haji told them, "She's employed Solarian Security Systems to reclaim her impounded yacht."
"So she pays the fine and gets it back from Militia custody," Burrows shrugged.
"It's not that simple. A Solarian task force has surrounded the station and the Militia starships and is demanding the immediate release of the yacht to their custody. They even brought a prize crew to man it," Haji explained.
"Why would Solarian risk being involved in another Grimes' venture?" Lee had to ask.
"Apparently she owns sixty percent of the company. As Chairperson of the Board she simply demanded the CEO send along a prize crew for her yacht with their task force headed to somewhere called Axios to reclaim their own ships held by the Axians," Haji filled them in, "The station has its shields up so Solarian can't transport their crew aboard the yacht. Meanwhile, the crew of the War Profits is requesting asylum from the station commander."
"He can't seriously be considering it, can he?" Forte was bewildered by the politicking underway.
"Colonel Wyn of the Fist of the Prophets is here and is consulting with General Anara," Haji told them the final piece of the puzzle.
"Have Telrik beam the Nelori to the brig and alert Kovic to standby to receive a prisoner," Macen told Daggit, "We have a consulting mission with Wells and her Syndicate operation aboard the station to complete. Then we'll assist in the standoff."
"Copy that," Daggit tapped his comm badge and began advising Telrik and Kovic to prep for the transport. As Takaga vanished in a halo of energy, Macen and Rockford dismissed the rest of the team to return to the Obsidian. They proceeded into the market that was the Syndicate's front.
"Do you think we'll have difficulty holding the Nelori?" Rockford asked, "I know him. He's capable of escaping from a standard brig module."
"We'll have Rab and Tony assist Jelena and Abby's efforts to contain him," Macen told her, "My biggest worry is getting the Constabulary on Bajor prepped and ready to hold him."
"Whatever brings you to my humble establishment here on Waypoint Station?" Wells was behind the counter, "It's so far from Serenity Station."
"The transfer of control over the Orion Syndicate's Gamma Quadrant expansion efforts to your hands is well known to the Constabulary on the station. Just as your rigid compliance with station regulations and Bajoran law within their established territories. But they're watching you closely. Far more closely than anyone monitored you on Serenity," Macen bluntly told her, "I'm assuming you're already scheming to fill the power vacuum left by the arrests of Treir and Thomas Darcy so I'll congratulate your Melbonian lieutenants on their advancement to fill your supposed role here in the Gamma Quadrant while you consolidate power in the Alpha and Beta Quadrants."
"You two are very well informed," Wells admitted, "Mind sharing your sources?"
"Nope," Rockford was equally candid, "But the sealed warrants for Treir and Darcy came from the Cardassian Ministry of Justice which the Bajorans were happy to fulfill. So Gomer can try and bribe the court on Cardassia Prime. But we all know the verdict was in before the warrants were issued."
"I'd assumed as much," Wells smirked, "The Cardassians can keep them for now. Both had grown too ambitious for Gomer's tastes."
"And you won't try and take the throne?" Rockford snorted.
"I have no legal standing in Orion eyes. I simply do the bidding of my mistress," Wells revealed.
"You're a slave," Macen deduced from that.
"Very good," Wells chuckled, "All this time and you never looked into my background. The colony I came from was conquered by the Gorn. They used the adults for reproduction and fodder afterwards. The teenagers they used for the hunts to feed the young as they established dominance. But the youngest children they sell to the Orions to be slaves. The Romulans have a lucrative market in human slaves. But Gomer's family took me on to be her pet. She trained her pet well."
"So Darcy and Treir are to be sacrificed?" Rockford wondered.
"They may be rescued or ransomed in time. But first they need lessons in humility. Particularly Darcy," Wells shared, "But by supporting the Bajorans in this, you chose a side. A side against the Orion Syndicate. Gomer will be crushed."
"Gomer will live," Macen said brusquely.
"Careful, Macen," Wells advised him, "You and yours aren't as safe from retribution as you'd like to think."
"So that's what you were doing on Serenity," Rockford surmised at last, "You were scouting it for Gomer."
"That was my ultimate purpose. Toying with Quark was just a hobby," Wells laughed, "I understand he sold the franchise to Annabeth Frinks. Good for her. She was a much better manager than I could ever be."
"And yet Gomer trusts you to manage three quadrants?" Macen asked, "That seems incongruous."
"I think macro," Wells told them, "I know how to spot talent to delegate micro. And it's four quadrants actually. This venture was just my test to prove to the families on Orion that Gomer's trust in me was deserved."
"And having Treir and Darcy here together was your idea," Rockford stated confidently, "To bait a potential trap for them."
"And the Bajorans and Cardassians bit," Wells chuckled again, "So predictable. I didn't see your direct involvement though. I thought you'd still be too busy to interfere. That and Gomer hoped you'd maintain the fragile peace between you two. Oh well."
"I think we've learned everything we needed to know here," Macen told Rockford.
"I agree," she concluded.
"Oh, and good luck with Solarian. I doubt you'll be of much help to the Militia given the fact Solarian rightfully sees you as their downfall from the lofty heights they once enjoyed. That, and Baroness Grimes has a personal stake in spiting you," Wells said mirthfully.
Macen and Rockford returned to the station' transporter room to beam back aboard the Obsidian. There they found Jones waiting for them, "Forger asked me to personally update you on our current status. The ship's shields are up and weapons are hot but we haven't committed to helping Colonel Wyn out yet."
"What did Solarian bring with them?" Macen asked as they headed for the turbolift.
"A dozen Pincer-class cruisers and a new battlecruiser type Grimes Armaments must've just started rolling out of their shipyards. Starfleet doesn't even have it in the registered Jane's Starships yet," Jones told them as the turbolift doors closed. The lift rose one deck and Macen and Rockford exited.
"Tell Shannon to remain vigilant but neutral for now," Macen told the XO.
"Has Colonel Wyn even asked for our help yet?" Rockford wondered.
"No, but Kerber and Smith's signals intercepts have Wyn delaying the Solarian group by forcing Grimes to directly deal with the Bajoran Militia Command and the Republic ministry," Jones explained as she held the lift.
"She's buying time," Macen told Jones, "Tell Shannon to hold position until we see what Wyn has in store for Solarian."
"I like it. She won't but the rest of us will," Jones predicted.
Macen returned to his office and keyed up his comp/comm to review Kerber and Smith's intelligence. Rockford made her way into his office moments later, "Rab and Tony are stationed in the brig like you thought they would be."
"Jelena and Abby know when they're outmatched," Macen said distractedly. Jelena Kovic was the Chief of Security while Abby Collins was her Deputy Chief.
"Anything interesting yet?" Rockford asked him as she swiped the data from his computer to her padd.
"Anara ordered Wyn to simply hold and the station commander to keep its shields up and deny the yacht crew their asylum request," he reported to her, "The War Profits itself received a tight beam message from the new ship class and promptly shut down."
"Grimes' access codes in play, no doubt," Rockford mused.
"I don't understand the Federation's rationale for ransoming Grimes," Macen frowned as he read the data coming from Starfleet and Bajoran Intelligence, "The appointed regulator is still in place over Stefi Grimes in her role as Chief Executive of Grimes Armaments."
"Wait! Estella Grimes has a sister?" Rockford hadn't heard of her.
"Baroness Stefi Grimes has always lived the life of a pampered socialite with no connections to the family business," Macen explained, "The regulator actually controls the arms manufacturer while Stefi Grimes is a figurehead now that Estella has been removed as CEO. But Estella Grimes' personal investment in Solarian saved it from financial ruin, gave it low markup access to the Grimes Armaments inventory, and gave Estella her controlling share in the corporation. Marko Vilnius was appointed CEO at the Federation's behest but he's responsible to the shareholders. Grimes just happens to own the controlling share of the company."
"But she was rightfully charged with numerous violations of the Prime Directive," Rockford was dismayed by the realpolitik underway.
"Charges she plea bargained out of as part of her ransom deal," Macen pointed out the pertinent section of the reports, "Stefi gets control of the arms company, but she'll really be a puppet to Estella's ambitions, and Grimes herself retains her liberty and her majority stake in Solarian."
"What happened to Boromov?" Rockford dreaded knowing.
"He also returned to Solarian but in a lower posting," Macen was dismayed, "It seems Grimes made Stefi's ascendancy contingent on Boromov's release and rehire."
"You think they're a thing?" Rockford asked.
"Grimes rarely has sexual encounters with humans. Her tastes are more exotic and numerically superior," Macen told her, "Boromov is a useful ally to subvert Vilnius' corporate leadership."
"Define 'numerically superior'," Rockford hung on that point.
"Grimes' tastes run to having five or more sexual partners at a single time," Macen sighed.
"Good to know. At least we know where she gets her exercise," Rockford smirked.
"The Bajorans petitioned for Boromov's extradition in association with the Plantation colony massacres but the Federation Council has the motion bogged down in procedures. Effectively the petition was dead on arrival. The Council sub-committee overseeing the Federation Security Service and licensing security contractors shelved the motion as soon as it was received. It was never brought up for discussion," Macen told he.
"Grimes must've cut one helluva deal," Rockford had to surmise.
"Actually, the deal benefits Grimes Armaments more than anyone," Macen had read, "Regulators dropped their objections to Grimes selling arms and ships to dozens of previously prohibited star systems and interstellar nations."
"So what does the Federation get out of it?" Rockford asked, "First rule of investigation is follow the latinum. And despite internal economic conditions, the Federation rides off of its latinum reserves."
"Starfleet is being pulled out of several of these systems and nations in exchange for independent arms deals at favorable pricing going through," Macen highlighted that portion remotely on her padd, "The Federation is finally reacting to the Iotians' arms and starship sales efforts by essentially subsidizing Grimes Armaments expanding market share. The cost cutting comes in the form of reducing or eliminating Starfleet's presence in those same systems and sectors."
"Only adding them to domestic patrols," Rockford skimmed through the document, "With a slight bump in exploration effort numbers."
"Who now primarily tasked with searching out potential military allies rather than sheer cultural exchanges," Macen prompted her to read further.
"I thought Akaar was ending this nonsense," Rockford scowled.
"The orders come from the Federation Council and the Secretary for Starfleet. It seems the Federation's libertarian Vulcan president has decided that the bureaucracy Auri put in place before her impeachment and subsequent arrest on terrorism charges made logical sense. So he's letting the bureaucratic state run itself while he focuses on securing or at least shoring up civil liberties," Macen told her, "That means he's largely delegated his role as Commander-in-Chief of Starfleet in lieu of the sitting Secretary. That same Secretary is continuing Auri's policies in form and function if not in name."
"So Starfleet is continuing its isolationist policies while providing token exploration programs and defensive assistance to protectorates and colonies," Rockford realized.
"In a nutshell," Macen agreed with that summation, "And there's nothing Akaar can do about it. He can run a numbers game for a while yet but it'll be discovered sooner than later by officialdom."
"What do you mean?" Rockford asked.
"Starfleet deployments are run by Starfleet Operations. Which in turn relies upon Starfleet Logistics to support those operations. Now, the number crunchers look at the logistical support as evidence of Starfleet';s current whereabouts and commitments. This is the information oversight committees in the Federation Council receive. Akaar and Starfleet Operations can deploy ships without logistical support and they'll be 'phantom' deployments that don't exist in oversight reports. The limiting factor is that these starships need to eventually report to a starbase or deep space station for maintenance and replenishment. Those repairs and replenishment support are reported. Eventually someone will connect that such and such starship is exacting a toll in resources without a specified deployment order with Starfleet Logistics. Starfleet uses the numbers game all the time to support Special Operations Command without implicating commanders and personnel in operations that exceed Starfleet's usual mandate or to cover up operation they don't want in official reports to the Federation Council where they become public record," Macen explained the standard practice, "I was part of two different phantom operations. The first was my deployment with the Maquis and the second was during the Dominion War. Technically the latter mission was run by the Bajoran Militia in order to avoid the telling paperwork."
"So take a Commander Sam Lavelle, he could be ordered to penetrate Cardassian borders with support ships to affect a 'rescue' of prisoners that Starfleet itself placed in Cardassian custody and because Starfleet Logistics was never informed, the operation never officially existed in the Federation Council's eyes," Rockford understood better now.
"Which would've been the case if Chavy Sok hadn't wanted to make political capital out of the 'rescue' and launch two interconnected yet entirely unrelated wars over the incident," Macen was glad she understood, "Most telling of all was that those same liberated prisoners were the very civilians we captured and turned over to Starfleet Security where they subsequently disappeared from all records until their 'liberation' and they again subsequently disappeared into the Iotian Federation, taken to Turkanis IV."
"You have proof?" Rockford was spellnbound.
"I have Agent Delain's own reports of the matter to the Cardassian Information Bureau and reports from Fleet Boss Kracko from the Iotian Starfleet that they all willingly gave me to justify their individual governments' roles in the affair. Starfleet Security arranged for the prisoners to be transferred from their custody to the Cardassians' in exchange for SOC to help quell some insurgencies on Cardassian Subject Worlds. Starfleet subsequently betrayed the Detepa Council's agreement with Fleet Admiral Clancy and Commodore Oh. The Iotians were brought in to provide a haven for those prisoners who couldn't be allowed to walk free in the Federation again and Startfleet Security could no longer keep hiding them from scrutiny," Macen explained further, "But it's all after the fact. None of it would be accepted by the Federation Council or Starfleet JAG because of the sourcing of the data. Ziva Delain and Kracko were very careful not to come forward with the information while Clancy was Fleet Admiral. Now, with political temperatures being what they are, any evidence presented from the CIB or the Iotian Starfleet would currently viewed as a smear campaign against an already exonerated Commodore Oh and a previously disciplined Vice Admiral Kirsten Clancy. Nechayev and Forger took the internal reports to Admiral T'Lara and she dismissed the accusatory nature of the reports on procedural grounds."
"Which is what saved them both the first time," Rockford was still bitter, "How does that help our current dilemma?"
"It actually exacerbates it," Macen sighed, "Grimes will have the Federation's support in her claims and the Militia Constabulary will press for her to follow procedures and pay the fines required to repossess her property. Nothing can stop that end result now. But Grimes' reaction to being forced to follow procedure will be telling."
"She brought enough warships," Rockford reminded him.
"The Solarian captain leading the War Profits' prize crew mentioned that the Pincer-class cruisers were en route to Axios to reclaim their ships the Axians impounded there when Commodore Saavik's task force arrested Ardra and the rogue Solarians," Macen reminded her.
"But Grimes' is forcing a military confrontation she can't afford to engage in," Rockford felt exasperated herself, "She starts a fight here and she'll have to fight her way through the Bajor Sector to return to Federation space."
"Grimes is an overrated debutante with a military force at her beck and call," Macen replied, "She thinks in terms of personal acquisitions and vendettas. The Militia is going to force her to follow protocol. Grimes is going to resist because 'no' is a word she doesn't hear often enough. As long as she holds the tactical advantage now, she won't ever consider the strategic implications of what she's starting. And she'll blame all the consequences on the Bajorans."
"So you're not considering pitching in on the fight?" Rockford found that contradictory.
"If Grimes is stupid enough to open fire, we'll engage the Solarian ships and advise Colonel Wyn on their standard tactics and strategies," Macen assured her, "Otherwise, we sit it out and hold our prisoner for the Constabulary. You said you knew him. I'm guessing Annika Ryst knew him."
"You'd be correct. Annika served beside him on several assassination efforts. Most of which were successful but even the failures maimed the targets," Rockford said sadly, "His name is Takaga and he's an elite amongst a species known for their assassins."
"Commander, we're intercepting a coded transmission from Starfleet aimed at Colonel Wyn," Kerber informed him over his comm badge, "It appears Starfleet is rerouting to this system on their way to the Wormhole after all."
"And now we know why Anara told Wyn to wait it out," Macen grinned.
"Commander, a half dozen Starfleet ships just dropped out of warp right on top of the situation," Captain Forger was next on his comm badge.
"Stay the course, Shannon," he instructed.
"Did you know this was going to happen?" she asked.
"I had no clue," Macen admitted, "Aren't surprises a nice thing?"
"Not when they involve you," Forger retorted as she cut the transmission.
"The love is in the air," Rockford snickered, "Care to join Bailey and Angelique as they eavesdrop on everyone?"
"I'd love to," Macen admitted. The Data Team allowed them access precisely because they'd expected at least Macen tp pay them a visit during the end of the standoff.
"This is no challenge," Kerber huffed in disappointment, "Commodore Saavik is transmitting in the clear."
"Put everyone on your screens please," Macen requested.
Saavik appeared on one screen. Solarian Captain Kulikova on another. Wyn appeared as well. A put out Grimes filled a screen as did Brigadier Jolan Kig, the Director of the Militia Constabulary. Saavik was the only one not displaying obvious mounting tension and frustration.
"Attention Solarian vessels, you are unlawfully engaged in a search and seizure of a legally impounded vessel. I recommend you return to your prior recovery mission until the legalities of returning Baroness Estella Grimes her property is worked out according to local statute," Saavik said without preamble.
"Is it unlawful to want what's mine back?" Grimes pouted.
"There are protocols to fulfill and fines to be paid," Jolan stated for what seemed to be the thousandth time, "Once all of that is done, then you can resume control of your vessel. Until then, she remains in Constabulary custody as does her crew."
"I don't see why I have to pay fines," Grimes snapped back at him, "My crew mutineed and turned me over to the Iotians. What they've done with my ship since that time wasn't under my control."
"But the vessel was part of an illegal operation in Bajoran sovereign space," Wyn cut in, "That's why it's impounded. You get first dibs at it because you're the registered owner. You pay the fine and you get the ship. Otherwise the Militia auctions it off."
"Fine! I'll pay your cruddy fines and fees. But I want the crew," Grimes counter-offered.
"I'm afraid the crew is under arrest by the Constabulary force aboard Waypoint Station," Jolan told her, "They're our prisoners now. You can apply to the Federation for an extradition order for them to be tried in a criminal case but in civil actions you plan on taking aren't our concern."
"If they're your prisoners, what are they doing aboard the yacht?" Kulikova asked a sticky point.
"That's where my crews come in and our boarding parties will detain the crew and ferry the yacht back to Bajor," Wyn told them all. Jolan already knew the plan but everyone else needed to be apprised of it.
"Unless of course, you agree to our terms and abide by civil codes and then we'll clear the crew off of the yacht and surrender to your prize crew," Jolan offered again.
"Baroness, a condition of your probation was that you do not violate the Prime Directive again. You are attempting to use agents under your employ to interfere in an internal Bajoran matter. If you proceed to continue to do so, I will be forced to recommend to Starfleet Security and Federation Security to detain you so that you can face your original criminal charges in addition to those you would be mounting here," Saavik intervened.
"You can't do that," Grimes protested.
Saavik gave her a dead eye stare and Grimes more weakly protested again, "But all I want is my yacht back."
"Then pay your fines and the impound fee that's accruing even as we speak," Jolan offered for one last time.
"I don't know where the Iotians held her but she's scared to death of being imprisoned again," Kerber noted.
"And she seems clearheaded," Smith added.
"She had time to clean up while being detained by the Iotian Starfleet," Rockford knew, "But once an addict, usually always an addict. Especially since she'll be free to indulge again."
Macen was reviewing a padd and highlighted a segment of legal documentation before he handed to her, "But the terms of her probation also include stipulations against illicit drug usage."
"She's rich enough to afford a discreet supplier," Kerber shrugged.
"Arguably she could defend her inability to meet that term by invoking her reinforced civil liberties as construed by the recent spate of laws and the Federation President's discretionary interpretation and implementation of them. Enforcement of that clause would come under his authority," Smith opined.
Even Rockford tended to forget that under Smith's real identity she was the rightful heir to ruling Stratos and through it, all of Ardana IV. Politics had been bred into her as she grew up. But in Stratosian societal eyes she'd radicalized into adopting Troglyte politics and attempting to force reform through terrorist tactics when words and logic had failed to reform the system. Under her uncle's reign, after he'd killed her parents and issued an execution warrant for her, the apartheid system was retained and the xenite flowed off of Ardana Iv because of the blood, sweat, and lives of the Troglytes.
Kerber and Smith had become what they were in the mines and Troglyte warrens trying to achieve equality for Troglytes and Stratosians alike. Their assumed names came after the Troglyte Underground managed to smuggle them off of Ardana to avoid the execution writs issued on them. Macen had found them purposeless and defeated. But he'd given them new purpose and most importantly, new hope.
The Ardanans relied upon protective treaties with the Federation and other powers to secure their borders. Neutrality allowed them to avoid slavery at the price of second-class citizenship of the Troglytes, who were enslaved in every way but lacking the brutality of slavery. Instead, fear and oppression dominated Troglyte culture. The few that rose up against the system were branded terrorists and hunted down and publicly executed in the most horrific fashions.
Not that Troglyte clan justice was any kinder. In order to survive chattel labor conditions, the Troglytes had been forced to reproduce at far higher rates than the Stratosians could support in their own enclaves. Homophobia dominated Troglyte cultural norms. Which is why Troglytes like Hal Dracas had managed to smuggle themselves off-world. On the surface of Ardana IV, Dracas would be put to death for his sexual orientation and for no other reason despite his being a gifted engineer.
Macen had seen this aspect of Troglyte clan justice up close and personally. He'd also bore witness to the bare sustenance lives of the Troglytes handed them by the Stratosians. Macen promised Kerber and Smith a weapon with which to break Stratos' hold on the Troglytes. That weapon would be Outbound Ventures itself.
If and when Maarta chose to reclaim her lost throne and Anara would return to stand by her, the two would have a fleet behind them. Macen would commit every resource he had at liberating the Troglytes and emplacing Smith on Stratos' throne. Kerber would unite the Troglyte clans and together they would form a coalition government. One that held the promise of one day even being led by a Troglyte.
Macen knew Smith was waiting for her uncle to die before returning. She didn't want her mission to her people seeming to be a mission of revenge. But her cousins wouldn't simply lay down the First Citizen's title. It would have to be taken from them. Smith's plan was to utilize Outbound Venture's force into guaranteeing the first equal and open elections the planet had ever undergone. It would be a referendum on whether or not Smith would even be accepted as First Citizen with the Troglytes voting for the first time.
Stratos would have a representative in a proposed Parliament as would every Stratosian enclave on the planet. But every Troglyte clan would also send a representative. And those representatives would outnumber the Stratosians. From there, the coalition government would elect a Prime Minister instead of a First Citizen. Each Ministry appointee would have to be confirmed by vote of the parliament. It combined the strongest and weakest forms of democratic government that Smith and Kerber had encountered in their travels. But it was a hope for now, not the present reality. Their present reality was the Data Womb.
It had taken time, but Smith and Kerber finally took Macen at his word that he wouldn't do it for latinum. It was a simple matter of social justice for him. In another time place, he'd witnessed Hal Dracas sacrifice himself to a barbaric execution to save his friends at the hands of the Troglyte clans who in turn were ground under by the denizens of Stratos and its colonies on Ardana IV's surface. Because of treaty stipulations, Ardanan's sitting First Citizen could call in Starfleet to defend itself. Which could provoke an irreparable rift between the company and its primary employer.
Witch Nechayev looking at retirement, that would leave Amanda Forger alone in Starfleet Command to defend Macen's actions. If she even chose to. The politics of that day could dictate that she wouldn't or couldn't do so. But General Kira of the Militia and Agent Delain of the CIB were offering Outbound Ventures the opportunities to act on their governments' behalf in interstellar space since the Federation would take a dim view of the Militia or Cardassian Guard leaving their own internal borders to deal with external threats.
Neela and her band of merry men sought to preserve Bajoran security on the interstellar plane but they were absorbed by dealing with Cult of the Pah-wraith for now. That left a galaxy-wide door open for Republican and Union security concerns outside of either's territories. And Neela and the Militia crew of the Razor's Edge were a single team with a single, outdated even if upgraded, starship dating back to the United Earth Starfleet. Kira had seen the wisdom in Macen's offer of operating on Bajor's behalf beyond her sectors. Delain's carrying the offer to the CIB reached the Detepa Council where Garan persuaded her fellow Councilors to accept the proposal.
Nechayev and Forger had learned, of course, that non-SID vetted starship crews were conducting operations on behalf of the Bajorans and Cardassians. On the Bajoran side, even SID vetted crew were called into action. This was excused by Forger since the Federation and the Bajoran Republic were still ostensibly allies. But the Republic's treaties with the Cardassian Union and the Iotian Federation continued to strain those ties. Another great strain was Starfleet Security's working paper on how to militarily occupy Bajor and secure the Wormhole terminuses on the Alpha and Gamma Quadrant ends. That revelation had, as intended by Ro, tightened the Militia's defense of their home planet.
On the screens in the Data Womb, many conflicted interests were playing out. Joran and Wyn represented the rule of law. Saavik represented Grimes' legal restrictions. Kulikova awaited Grimes' decision before proceeding to act. Grimes, obviously furious, reached a decision after some consideration.
"Fine, I'll pay your damn fines and fees. Just give me my yacht back," she decided at long last.
"The yacht will be released to your prize crew's custody once your representatives have paid the owed fines and fees in full," Joran told her, "I recommend legal representation since there are forms to be filled out on your behalf."
"Whatever," Grimes snapped back at him, "This is extortion."
"No, this is called obeying the law. Something I understand you're not very familiar with yet," Wyn retorted.
"Baroness, I recommend restraint," Saavik saw Grimes' infuriated expression and impulse to order an attack even after agreeing to the Militia's terms.
"Baroness, I concur. For the company's sake," Kulikova put in quickly.
Grimes wasn't used to thinking in terms of the corporation's best interests. Grimes Armaments had managers that handled the day to day affairs while Grimes herself impulsively went from capital adventure to capital adventure. Such as her personal involvement in the operation in the Algona Sector that had landed her and Boromov in legal difficulty to begin with. Boromov had merely cascaded his troubles into a legal tsunami by defending the rogue Vedek Order that massacred the Plantation worlds' colonies and poisoned the bread basket planets.
The Federation wanted Grimes to sign off legal control of Grimes Armaments to her sister and ransoming her and re-installing Boromov as a corporate officer within Solarian had been the price. As Chief of Operations, Boromov was in a perfectly poised position to enforce Grimes' whims for the company and undermine Marko Vilnius' control over it. Given Grimes and Boromov's criminal inclinations in the past, it seemed Solarian's future would stay as turbulent as its own recent past. But consolidating control over all of its starships and employees was a positive step in Starfleet's collective opinion. The Axian operation had curtailed the last rogue Solarian efforts. Going forth, Solarian would be operating under whatever doctrine Grimes allowed the contractors to pursue.
"Very well, Captain. You'll hold position to reclaim my yacht and bring it to me as soon as the legal loose ends are tied up," Grimes grated, "Give the crew over to the Militia. I'll take it up through the courts and have the Constabulary's collective ass over this outrage."
"I understand," Kulikova signed off from the transmission streams. The Pincer-class cruisers moved off and exited the system moments later. That left the Striker-class battlecruiser in far orbit around the nearby planet, Greyson. Wyn signed off as well. The Militia starships began redeploying. The Fist and the three Constitution-class starships exited the system to head for the Gamma Quadrant terminus. The two Asia-class starships maneuvered into a crossfire on the War Profits. The crew signaled their surrender to the Militia commanders. Waypoint Station lowered its shields and the two Militia starships also vectored for the terminus. The Obsidian was the last to go for the Wormhole.
In the Alpha Quadrant, the Militia starships delivered all of their prisoners to the Constabulary on Bajor. Three Galor-class cruisers were in orbit to receive Darcy, Treir, and their selected minions. Saavik's forces came through the Wormhole and went straight to Starbase 375, transferred their prisoners, and then returned to the Gamma Quadrant to resume their exploration missions.
The Obsidian bridge crew was quick to note that the Fist resumed its patrol of the Alpha Quadrant colonies while the other five starships returned to the Gamma Quadrant. Kulikova had been given her opening to attempt to retake the yacht but she wisely let the bureaucratic wheels turn as Grimes settled her debt. Still, the Temple of the Prophets, the Faith in the Prophets and the Security in the Prophets stayed in orbit around Waypoint after their return to the Gamma Quadrant while the Triumph of the Prophets and the Tales of the Prophets returned to their colonial patrol routes.
Rockford advised Jolan on the security measures that would have to be undertaken to secure Takaga. While the Constabulary made preparations to secure the master assassin, General Kira requested Macen and Rockford's presence at Militia headquarters on Bajor. They were pleasantly surprised to find Vaughn and Colonel Cenn in attendance as well. Holographic projectors provided the imagery of other notable starbase and starship commanders as well. The outliers from that grouping were Ro, Rear Admiral Forger, and Admiral Nechayev. Perhaps the most surprising attendee was Ziva Delain.
"I've connected all of us because we share a common enemy now," Chakotay, captain of the Lamarr-class science vessel, the USS Voyager-A, told them, "Commander Macen, you're familiar with the Iridians?"
"They're a people group I was hoping we could avoid facing again," Macen confessed.
"The Iridians halted their advances into the Alpha and Inner Beta Quadrants a few years back, but they're entrenched in the Delta Quadrant and poised to invade the Greater Beta Quadrant," Kirk warned them from the Pulse, "That puts all of our border deep space stations at risk."
Captain Erika Benteen, commander of Deep Space Four, spoke first, "Then why isn't Vice Admiral Rager represented for Deep Space Five? She's closer to the Iridian territories than any of us."
"Especially my command," Alfonso Reyes, commander of Deep Space Three, stated.
"Nor is Deep Space Nine in immediate threat," Vaughn argued.
"Admiral Rager declined my invitation to this meeting," Kira told everyone concerned.
"I'm in attendance at Admiral Nechayev's request," Captain Merry Limerick, the Elven commander of the USS Hood, told them, "Like Captain Kirk, I have immediate experience facing the threat the Iridians once again pose. This time, they've bartered a non-aggression pact with the Romulan Star Empire. The Romulans can expand into negotiated territories that will be divided after the Iridians weaken their defenses."
"That's a serious allegation," Ro admitted, "But that doesn't explain my presence either."
"Because the Iridians and Romulans have made a pact with the Cult of the Pah-wraith and the remaining fragments of Cell 51," Kira told her, "Captain Limerick provided the intelligence and our specialist in the field was able to confirm it."
"Which is a polite way of stating that Neela got the information from a cultist before terminating the entire faction," Ro snorted.
"Her methods notwithstanding, Neela was able to confirm Limerick's data," Kira stiffened.
"Has Captain Chakotay encountered the Iridians in his explorations?" Forger asked.
"The Voyager-A is taking a different route into the Delta Quadrant than Pulse," Kirk informed her, "He hasn't reported their presence yet."
"So why contact us as individuals and collectively?" Delain wondered from her posting at Serenity Station.
"Because the Iridians are going to cut into your territories to hobble the forces they most feel threatened by," Limerick continued his report, "The Iridians know that as long as they don't provoke the Federation, Starfleet won't respond. The Klingons are engaged with the Tholians in the Taurus Reach. The colonies they intend to absorb are largely defended by SID assets belonging to Commander Macen and Detective Rockford. The Iridians follow a doctrine similar to the Iotian Starfleet. They view, thanks to Romulan influence, the Iotians as a threat to their ambitions. Which would bring the Bajoran Republic into conflict with the Iridian invaders and thereby sweep the Cardassian Guard into the fray as well."
"So this time they'll be far more selective in the targeting," Macen understood now.
"But we're specifically Starfleet assets," Benteen argued, "That would exclude us from hostilities under your premise."
"But they would travel through territories under our supervision," Commander Robin Lefler, the commanding officer of Deep Space Ten, noted, "We could close those territories from them and force them into choke points."
"And Rager's station is at the edge of Romulan imperial space in the Deeper Beta Quadrant, so they'll by-pass her completely," Chakotay reminded them all.
"I've alerted Admiral Akaar and he and Starfleet Operations are working with the Alpha and Beta Quadrant Theater commanders to develop contingency plans for possible engagements. But in reality, Starfleet and the Federation are largely hoping to simply sit this out," Nechayev had spoken with the highest levels of Starfleet Command and the Federation Council upon receiving Captain Limerick's report.
"That premise should protect the Ferengi Alliance since they're candidate members of the Federation," Forger noted, "But that leaves the First Federation vulnerable."
"Has anyone thought to warn the Tzenkethi and the Breen?" Delain asked.
"The Federation Diplomatic Corps sent advisories to them," Nechayev replied, "They're responses aren't suited for repeating."
"Which still begs the question, why am I invited when this matter should be presented to Ambassador Garak?" Delain wondered still.
"Garak is being briefed," Nechayev promised her, "But I felt the CIB should verify the intelligence gathered. Since we have a mutual contact in Commander Macen, I chose you to be the voice of your intelligence community."
"So nothing like a little pressure then?" Delain smirked even as she asked.
"Who has been elected to warn Oxmyx and Kracko of the threat to their Federation?" Macen asked.
"That would be me," Kira told him, "They took the news under advisement."
"In other words, they don't feel threatened," Rockford sighed, "We've dealt with Iridians directly. They aren't to be underestimated."
"The last foray into the Alpha Quadrant was a direct response to the death of Bertram Sindis. Despite his being an exile, the Iridians saw his death at the hands of Commander Macen as a personal dishonor," Forger reminded everyone, "Since he and a portion of his team and crew survived their direct assault, they'll be more circumspect in how they approach attacking him and his company. Particularly since the worlds they wish to conquer are under Outbound Ventures' protection in lieu of Starfleet's. I'm afraid the current administration is just as isolationist as its predecessors. Starfleet sees funding an Outbound Ventures presence to be more expedient than deploying actual Starfleet assets to defend those planets and cultures."
"Which also means that like the Iotians, my people are directly in the line of fire," Macen concurred.
"The Enforcers will avoid a direct confrontation for as long as possible. They intend to throw opposing forces against their perceived adversaries for as long as possible to winnow the defenders' strength down," Limerick warned, "Hence allying themselves with extremists like the Cult of the Pah-wraiths."
"But if that leads us to Elena Kita and the Cultists then two of our lingering problems are negated," Ro sounded strangely optimistic.
"The Iridian Enforcers have drained their territories dry of resources. That's why the expansionist drive is alive and well again," Kirk told them, "My contacts with them indicate they're pouring most of their efforts into blocking us from expanding into the Delta Quadrant by claiming loose star systems and sectors for their own purposes."
"Which explains why they'll employ localized assets first because their forces will be stretched thin," Macen realized.
"Any resources in particular that they're looking for?" Rockford asked, "Knowing that will narrow down their initial target list."
"My informants told us that while the Iridians have highly developed weapons and defensive systems, they're warp drives are highly inefficient and fracture dilithium crystals in short order. They're starved for fresh sources of dilithium," Limerick explained.
"And the Iotians are sitting on a glut of dilithium to be extracted in the Corban system," Macen acknowledged, "The fact that it fell into the Iotians' predetermined area of expansion before they even had spaceflight assigned by the Federation just happened to favor them."
"Making them twice the target," Kirk agreed.
"I sent some help Oxmyx and Kracko's way that might make difference," Macen didn't reveal the nature of that help.
"The Iotian Starfleet, despite its recent advances, will still be poorly equipped to defend against modern Enforcer ships," Nechayev warned, "And the planetary systems and stellar nations they have sold outdated starships to will be vulnerable."
"All Enforcer warships are built at a single Iridian yard," Limerick revealed, "Two other yards provide civilian model transports for public consumption. The people that originally hired the Enforcers to protect them are now under the oppressive weight of occupation forces. It wouldn't take much to spark a rebellion."
"Except for the Prime Directive," Forger scowled, "Unless the Iridians attack a Federation outpost or world, Starfleet is paralyzed."
"Which isn't true of us," Kira made mention, "In fact, we're obligated to intervene if the Iotian Federation comes under attack."
"And of that results in an attack on the Bajoran Republic, the Cardassian Union will honor the mutual defense pact we have with Bajor," Delain promised.
"But I honestly doubt the Federation will join in on your behalf," Forger said sadly, "Not with diplomatic tensions riding as high as they are. The Federation Council is liable to determine you got yourselves into a war with the Enforcers and you'd be obligated to find your own path to victory."
"Would Starfleet defend the Wormhole?" Kira bluntly asked.
"The security of the Wormhole is why Starfleet maintains a presence in the Bajor Sector," Vaughn said grimly, "But the fractious relationship between Starfleet and the Militia doesn't lend itself to rapid reinforcement of our position at Deep Space Nine."
"Too many heads feel stung by Bajor's refusal to rejoin the Federation," Nechayev said grimly, "Its expulsion from the Federation was unprecedented as was the Republic's refusal to reconcile and re-enter the body politic."
"A decision the First Minister and the Ministry made after careful consultation with the Emissary," Kira rehashed that argument.
"Captain Sisko's role in the affair is considered tantamount to treason among certain circles within Starfleet," Forger warned her.
"Starfleet invading the sector in four consecutive waves seems treasonous to us," Kira retorted.
"Fortunately, Julieta Perez may have been a Cell 51 collaborator but she saw the wisdom in reconciling with Bajor after Chavy Sok's disastrous invasion attempts that split Starfleet's loyalties in half," Vaughn reminded Kira.
"Let's not forget that my people were also unjustly invaded for actions that we were blamed for but undertook on Starfleet's own behalf," Delain growled, "Whatever trust the Federation had earned through the Reconstruction period was destroyed by your blatant betrayal."
"No one attending this meeting would dispute those facts," Nechayev promised Delain, "But we can't undo the past. But we can work together towards a better future."
"But we've simply agreed that we can't act unless we're attacked first," Lefler protested, "How is that coming to Bajor and Cardassia's aid in the event of an Iridian invasion?"
"And if the Romulans allow free passage through their territory, my command stands poised to be near the heart of the Enforcer's attack on the Iotian Federation," Reyes reminded them, "Yet, it's been predetermined that I can't react to that event."
"Nor am I allowed to deny the Iridians access through my jurisdiction," Benteen was equally grim.
"It's been explained that the Iridians will use local forces to try and weaken our positions. So our first step is to repel or even cripple those forces," Ro determined, "My teams are already looking for Elena Kita and the remnants of Cell 51 as well as the Cultists. Those are known quantities. Who else should we be looking at?"
"The Orion Syndicate," Macen said suddenly, "Gomer will take the Bajoran and Cardassians' role in Thomas Darcy and Treir's arrests personally. We're implicated in those events as well."
"The Orions also view the Iotians as a real threat to their business model now as well," Forger concurred.
"So how do we support the Iotians without giving them official support?" Lefler asked, "Because the Federation Council is beginning to view them as a threat."
"Starfleet Command has my station staff running scenario planning given an outbreak of Iotian overt hostilities," Reyes confided with them.
"Admiral Akaar has asked me to step up surveillance and penetration of the Iotian Federation," Nechayev revealed.
"The CIB has also stepped up its interest in the Iotian Federation," Delain admitted, "Castellan Garan is both impressed and vexed by how well they equipped the Bajoran Militia."
"Can't anyone just be grateful we helped save Cardassia Prime from Maret?" Kira sighed.
"Starfleet's hands are officially tied by Council policy decisions," Benteen reminded everyone, "It was the Dederation Council, at Starfleet's recommendation, that we began blocking access to the Federation Data Nets from the Iotians."
"They hacked the Starfleet Corps of Engineers' archives for older ship designs," Ro chuckled, "That was an embarrassment for Edward Noyce during his time as Director of Starfleet Security."
"The Iotians technically progressed faster than anyone imagined they could," Kirk stated.
"They cheated to do it," Reyes reminded him.
"They aren't an ignorant people. But it took them time and developing expertise with our design models to develop their own starship models," Kirk had listened to Captain Montgomery Scott's lecture on the topic. Scotty was both impressed and terrified by the Iotians' quick grasp of and leap forward to mid-24th Century design technology when they'd been relegated to Chicago's 1920's during Kirk's visit in command of the NCC-1701 USS Enterprise. The Iotians had even adopted English as the primary language by then. Scotty's whole Academy course and command of the Enterprise-M was wrapped around the Iotians flooding the traffic lanes between planets with older starship models sold to whoever could afford them.
"While we can't be passive, we also can't move forward beyond general planning without further intelligence," Nechayev warned them all, "I have the Hood, the Monitor, and the Merrimack assigned to skirting about the Enforcer Territories' borders digging up information on their movements but we need more resources committed to the task. Normally I'd recommend the SID sending a ship or two into the Territories posing as traders but Starfleet Command has expressly forbidden such a tactic."
"Bajor isn't restricted but we can't finance such adventurism while we rebuild the Plantation colonies," Kira sadly admitted.
"The Detepa Council and my own Cardassian Information Bureau will also deny any such recommendation," Delain warned them.
"So we're playing defensively rather than proactively," Ro snorted.
"Until further notice it seems," Kira sounded stressed, "But we have to prepare for attacks coming from localized threats sooner rather than later."
"Then I suggest we adjourn this meeting until a need for another arises," Nechayev stated before signing. Kirk was the last to still appear holographically.
"I'll continue to gather what intelligence I can to support the targets before they get attacked," he offered.
"Thank you, Captain," Kira terminated the link, "Elias, Cenn, we need to be able to work together if the worst should happen."
"My personnel are always ready to their part," Colonel Cenn promised.
"My officers and crew are prepared to defend the Wormhole and this sector. But I still can't promise Starfleet's strategic support," Vaughn hated to admit.
"It's all right, Captain," Kira enjoyed calling him by his new rank still.
"The Rio Grande should still be where we left it," Vaughn told Cenn, "We need to brief everyone on Deep Space Nine so they'll know what we might be up against."
"Do you think you could persuade Oxmyx and Kracko to be reasonable enough to listen to this?" Kira asked Macen and Rockford.
"I doubt it if they're not heeding your word," Macen glumly admitted.
"Then, can you inform Neela of the increased Cultist threat?" Kira asked.
"We'll be happy to," Rockford pledged.
"Thank you for all your support yet again," Kira said thankfully.
Two days later, life was returning to a level of normalcy aboard Serenity. While the rest of the SID crews worked, Macen's team and the Obsidian crew enjoyed a brief respite. Which also enabled Rockford and Macen to gather Neela into the Coffee Spot. There, Roberta Rolands quickly diagnosed their needs and prescribed doses of coffee and cakes. Rockford smiled at Rolands, "You're truly a wonder, Roberta."
"It's my definite pleasure," Rolands said before returning to assist Nick Claus at the counter and espresso machine.
"I understand Quark's is hosting a familiar singer from your Maquis days," Neela said after they'd discussed the uptick in the Cultists' overt activities.
"Didn't you once regale me with tales of Azerenka's unrequited love for Gerin?" Rockford asked.
"It'll be interesting to see where things are between them now," Macen smirked.
"Annabeth Frinks was quite happy to book them for a tour stop on the station," Neela told them, "I understand the first performance will be tonight."
"You never caught a Nikki Miler concert before?" Macen wondered.
"I was in prison when her career began to flourish and began touring beyond the DMZ," Neela reminded him.
"She, her mother, and Azerenka became one of the most vital irregular intelligence assets that we had. Nikki would play dive bars as well concert arenas and Gerin and Azerenka listened in on the crowds to learn where and when the Cardassians were mobilizing to and from," Macen explained, "They accurately predicted several troop surges Maret sent to Ronara Prime."
"I understand she's become quite the singer-songwriter," Rockford noted, "She even has fans across Angosia."
"Nikki has fans far beyond Federation borders," Macen informed them, "And she's the first artist to hold all one hundred positions on the Billboard Top 100 chart at the same time."
"That's a lot of songs," Rockford mentioned.
"Nikki's prolific and she re-issues home studio versions of her recordings after the official studio version sales have slumped. That re-ignites interest in both versions," Macen explained, "She's taken to quite an at adept understanding the music market."
"Macen?" a familiar voice asked and he turned to find the very objects of their discussion standing nearby holding coffee drinks they'd ordered. Gerin had been the one to recognize him. Just as Nikki Miller had aged into a young woman, so Gerin had evolved into someone who dressed more provocatively. Azerenka still dressed conservatively but the edge of longing she'd exuded in Gerin's presence before seemed to have gone away.
"It's weird seeing you sitting here without Ro or T'Kir," Gerin said next.
"Have a seat and I'll introduce you all," Macen made the round of introductions and Azerenka was the one to express surprise over Macen's marriage to Rockford, "I always thought you'd end up with the Vulcan."
"And Danan's marriage to Riker is a total surprise," Miller confessed.
""Actually, Brin did marry T'Kir. But she was killed in action. A while later, well after we'd merged our companies, we married," Rockford explained, "We found ourselves to be perfect partners in every way."
"I'm glad for you both," Gerin said, "Not all of us have been so lucky at love with our business partners."
Azerenka blushed but pressed forward, "But what about Danan and Riker? How did they even meet?"
"We met Tom Riker and helped plan the mission to steal the USS Defiant from Deep Space Nine," Macen explained, "After the Dominion War, Both Tom and Lees fell into my orbit again and romance sparked from there. When I asked Tom to assume command of this station, he just naturally asked Lees to stay with him aboard it. She serves as his Executive Officer and the company's Sciences Division Director."
"I see you brought a musical instrument with you," Neela noted Miller's guitar, "How long have you played?"
"I actually didn't learn how to until after the war began," Miller confessed, "My earnings and career afforded us an easier life than most DMZ refugees but I still had always wanted to learn to play my own instruments. So I took time between studio sessions to do that."
"I never had the opportunity to learn to play any instruments during the Resistance. Afterwards, it seemed self serving, so I still haven't indulged," Neela confessed.
"You seem too young to have been in the Resistance," Gerin was quick to note.
"Looks are deceiving," Neela didn't want to dive into the particulars.
"Music isn't self serving," Miller was quick to argue, "It's an expression of the soul that can be shared with others. It helps them through pain and loss and it can bring joy to others. That seems selfless to me. It just has the side effect of helping me feel better too by expressing my thoughts and emotions. My songs are my diary sung out loud."
"I'll...consider that," Neela slowly conceded.
"Is this a bad time?" Major Wyn Mesa asked as she approached.
"Make an order and take a seat," Rockford was quick to say.
"We'll see you at the concert?" Miller asked as Gerin rose, signaling their exit.
"I'll be sure to discuss admission with Annabeth," Macen promised.
Wyn sat down as the musical group left, "I didn't mean to scare everyone off."
"They're still setting up at Quark's," Rockford had deduced from Miller's guitar.
"Neela, Bajoran scouts have indication of Cultist presence in the Gamma Quadrant," Wyn informed her.
"How did this happen?" Neela asked.
"Two independent archaeologists found Cultist relics on separate worlds that our scouts had briefly surveyed. The artifacts recovered are as old as the Bajoran relics on Sinherra," Wyn explained. Sinherra was the home world of the Ascendant and capital planet of the growing Ascendancy. Their Emissary of the Prophets, Iliana Ghemor, had never mentioned Cult activity in the quadrant before.
"Does Ghemor know, I wonder?" Neela asked, "And where are these archaeologists now?"
"Sisko contacted Ghemor when the news broke and she is unaware of any past or present Cult activities in the Gamma Quadrant. But then, she admitted she'd been unaware of Varic's criminal enterprises expanding to assisting the Cult of the Pah-wraiths and Guls Maret and Macet," Wyn answered, "The planet Raas also includes a human population, the Ascendant have learned."
"How were they identified?" Macen askd.
"Through the Starfleet database captured when the Ascendant boarded the lost Starfleet vessel they later reverse engineered," Wyn told him, "It contained a listing of all Federation races circa mid-23rd century."
"And the crew included humans," Rockford deduced.
"According to the Ascendant," Wyn added.
"Does the Ascendancy know how humans arrived upon Raas?" Macen asked.
"No, and they don't have scientific expertise in discovering how they arrived. But apparently, the human sub-culture has been present on Raas for centuries, as best as the Ascendant can determine from the locals. The natives used them as a labor class for most of their time there," Wyn shared.
"Meaning they were enslaved," Rockford clarified.
"Most likely," Wyn admitted, "But the humans won their independence before the Ascendant made contact with the Raasians and Varic was put in power."
"I'd still like to speak with these archaeologists," Neela told Wyn, "You haven't answered where they're presently located."
"Aboard this station," Wyn chuckled at the apparent irony, "In this very shop."
Macen had noted the presence of Doctors Schneider and Chopra before. Like many of his non-SID Maquis operatives, they stood out from the crowd, "I'd like to call in two specialists that happen to be in port before you approach them."
"Do they include Cairo Jones?" Neela asked brightly.
"Doctor Jones is one of the two. Her mentor, Doctor Idaho Smith is also currently aboard. They're finishing up a consulting project. They'd be intrigued to hear what Doctors Schneider and Chopra have to say on the subject," Macen told her.
"I would appreciate their input," Neela admitted. Wyn knew Jones was a personal friend of Neela's. She'd assisted the Razor's Edge crew with a prior archaeological mission to hunt down Cult of the Pah-wraiths vessels containing trapped Pah-wraiths themselves. Jones' help had insured they could safely destroy the vessels thereby killing the entities within and thwarting Gul Macet's plans for them.
"So that would mean the Prophets opened the Celestial Temple for passage for a race from the Gamma Quadrant thousands of years ago. That race traveled throughout the Alpha Quadrant and reached Earth. There, they took captives and enslaved them. That's the theory?" Neela felt insulted on the Prophets' behalf.
"Some of the planets Doctors Schneider and Chopra recently surveyed showed occupation by Vulcans and Andorians as well as skeletal remains of Tellarites and other Federation races," Macen told her, "You know from experience that until recently, the Prophets were solely concerned with the Bajora. It wasn't until Bajora heretics reached Sinherra that the Prophets included their assimilated descendants into their plans and sent them Ghemor as their Emissary," Macen reminded her of her own faith's tenets, "Past Emissaries showed that the Prophets weren't concerned with other races. The Prophets were of Bajor and Bajor was their sole concern. Even now, other worlds are their concern only so much as they affect Bajoran interests and security."
Macen knew Neela had to acknowledge that more than any other being alive. It was why the Prophets had sent her off of Bajor so she could be a free agent representing their interests in Bajoran security on an interstellar platform. She'd only recently taken on the Razor's Edge crew. Although the crew was Bajoran Militia serving TDY with her under her reserve commission, Neela still operated independently of Militia Command or the General Staff. She answered to the Prophets alone. However, Major Wyn answered to General Kira.
Rockford approached, "Before we settle in at the briefing we've asked Doctors Schneider and Chopra to give Doctors Smith and Jones, I need to talk to you in my office."
"The briefing will be conducted in the ward room. You know how to find it," Macen told Neela and she led Wyn to it. Macen followed Rockford to the station's own Rockford Detective Agency's local office. There, she had her own private office while Lee, Shade, and Forte had a communal office. Other detectives and her administrative staff of Adai Kushin and Eddie Wong made their base of operations. The two permanent detectives ranged sector wide and beyond depending on the case they were hired to investigate. Kushin and Wong handled her Agency's extended operations and personnel matters. She was looking to promote two more managers to assist them.
Rockford got Macen into her office and reactivated a wall monitor. In it was displayed a human woman. A rainbow haired Japanese woman named Mariko Yashada. She was one of Rockford's detectives still based on Earth. She'd been given the assignment to investigate the Grimes sisters activities since Estella's release and Stefi's promotion.
"The two are nearly inseparable. Fortunately I fit in with their usual social club when they party," Mariko explained, "Estella Grimes is keeping Boromov on a short leash for now. His attendance in her promotional events is clearly forced. I barely make the dress code for those even all spiffied up."
"I know evening gowns aren't your thing," Rockford smiled, "So I appreciate your sacrifice."
"Well, Stefi took an interest in me because I was so obviously out of place. I sold her the story that I'm shopping for weapons and security contractors for the Wayland colony. My credentials held up. Thank your forgers for me for that. The credit line I was given to use also swayed Stefi to introducing me to Estella socially. That got me invited to more private gatherings," Yashada explained.
"I have your detailed report here and have reviewed it. Please review the salient portions for Commander Macen," Rockford requested.
"The Grimes are staying below Federation Security and Starfleet's sensors for now. All of their dealings are legitimate with one outlier. They hired on a raider force in the Gamma Quadrant that they previously supplied Pincer-class cruisers to. I believe you encountered them recently," Yashada recalled.
"Varic's raider group," Macen told her, "We did meet them over a month ago. Varic died in the skirmish."
"Actually he didn't," Yashada corrected his assumption, "He's the leader of the raider group. The Grimes and Solarian have plans for Varic's raiders."
"Do you have any details on how Varic survived?" Macen was stunned. Varic's death had seemed certain.
"The Grimes mentioned he obliterated one of his cruisers chasing down some religious relic for the Orion Syndicate to sell the Cardassian rebels," Yashada told him, "The bridge sealed as the ship was being crushed by the star's gravity well but a second cruiser wa sable to transport the survivors out after your and the Militia's forces vacated the area."
"That's the business end of it. Now detail the nasty personal segment," Rockford's voice dripped with disgust.
"The Grimes sisters are more than...close. They share nearly everything, including that night's sexual conquest...and each other's bodies," Yashada shuddered, "I was invited to their shared bedroom. When I refused to go down with the both of them, they took care of business between themselves as I got the hell out of there. I'm a social pariah to them now. So I won't be gathering any non-business related intelligence on them. Do you still want me to go through with hiring Solarian to defend the Wayland colonists?"
"No, we're already handling that security aspect," Macen was shaken as well by the revelation of the Grimes' sisters incestuous relationship, "Break off all contact and close all the legend and financial accounts."
"And you've definitely earned a huge bonus for what you went through to get this information," Rockford told her, "I could also arrange a transfer to a different agency office if you want to really make a break of it."
"Who'd fill in if I left?" Yashada wondered.
"I have a list of interested parties wanting to be reassigned to Sector 01. That part isn't an issue. But I have openings in other sectors. You'd have your pick," Rockford offered.
"Send me the list. I definitely don't want to share a planet with the Grimes sisters now that their secret is known by me and I refused to participate," Yashada admitted, "With Solarian under Estella's thumb, I don't think residence in this sector is safe for me anymore."
"I'll book you on a commercial shuttle to here and you can make your decision from safety," Rockford told her, "Your reservation will be confirmed in a few minutes. We can send for your things after you decide on where to settle in at."
"Thank you. I knew this would be dicey going in but I never expected...expected what I found out," Yashada was still badly shaken by the discovery. The screen went dark.
"Now you know. She's a threat to the Grimes' social standing and even legal bearing in Sector 001," Rockford told him, "That's why I'm pulling her out for her own safety."
"Heterosexual incest is an obvious crime against nature. But homosexual incest is a legal gray area. The social sting would be worse for the Grimes than the legal one, if one were even coming," Macen was still reeling though.
"Do we even know who Grimes is descended from?" Rockford asked, "Her birth certificate and geneology are sealed by court order. That's highly unusual."
"Stella Grimes gave birth to two sons and three daughters. One son was named after his father. The second son was illegitimate and named after his mother's family," Macen told her.
"How do you know?" Rockford asked, "There's no marriage license on file for Stella Grimes."
"She was married to one Harcourt Fenton Mudd. After her infatuation ended and Mudd continued to be a traveling wastrel, she divorced him and gave up Harcourt Fenton Mudd the Second to Mudd himself. Who promptly dumped him off at a brothel he frequented and assisted with their Venus drug supply," Macen detailed the family history, "Stella Grimes never remarried but had the rest of her children. Mudd II followed in his father's legacy, as we're more than well aware of. Stella's daughters married off to elite Federation sons and daughters. Stella's other son took over the family business when Baron Grimes passed away. Estella and Stefi are his grandchildren."
"Is Harri aware she's distantly related?" Rockford wondered.
"Tracy told me Harri discussed it with her when Estella was captured by the Iotians. There's no love lost there," Macen told her.
"So was Estella and Stefi Grimes aware of their familial connection to Mudd Kenra?" Rockford asked a singular question.
"That's unknown. The truce between Estella and Mudd Kenra is a variable no one could have anticipated since the families revile one another. Having Mudd III and Mudd IV working for her must've satisfied some longing within Estella Grimes to put her estranged relatives into their place in her world," Macen theorized, "Harry and Mudd IV certainly didn't receive any favoritism from her. Okona got better treatment than they did. Mudd Kenra reported at her trial that she'd resisted Grimes' sexual advances. Now we see why Estella doesn't seem to worry about familial connections when choosing a sexual partner."
"Mariko reported weeks worth of Grimes' after parties activities. The Grimes sisters frequently disappeared with selected individuals and groups regardless of gender it seems," Rockford told him, "Race and species seems to negotiable as well."
"It may be morally deplorable but unless we plan on kidnapping and threatening one sister, I don't see how it helps us," Macen admitted.
"The Court forbade Estella from directing Grimes Armaments affairs. She sleeps with her sister every night. You think there isn't any collusion?" Rockford asked dryly.
"Proving it would require a major violation of their privacy. The court wouldn't accept any evidence gathered that way," Macen reminded her, "This is the Federation not the Bajoran Republic. The sitting president enshrines personal liberties to the point of threatening individual and collective safety. Very illogical for a Vulcan."
"So Varic is from Raas. Think a human presence there is coincidence?" Rockford asked.
"The Raasians enjoyed a retrograde technology base even compared to the Ascendant. I'd bet they were a slave race at one point themselves," Macen offered, "The pattern fits the Iconians and the Preservers. We need to know more about Raasian history and that of the worlds the evidence chain is building on."
"You suspect an Elder Race was involved," Rockford deduced.
"One that wouldn't require the Wormhole to transit races across seventy thousand light years," Macen told her, "It could be someone who left evidence behind in the Alpha or Beta Quadrants as well as the Delta Quadrant as well. What little we know about the Iridians suggest that they were genetically adapted to their present form and function."
"Like the Omicron," Rockford shuddered despite her lack of involvement in that struggle. She'd faced their creators. That was enough encounters with an Elder Race for her.
"Fortunately for everyone involved, the Omicron threat never awoke in this universe," Macen reminded her, "So their masters won't be summoned back from the void beyond the Galactic Barrier."
"We should get to the briefing. They'll be holding it for us," Rockford told him.
"I specifically instructed Doctors Smith and Jones to start without us if they had to. Schneider and Chopra are participating as a courtesy," Macen told her, "They're anxious to resupply and return to their dig sites."
They did arrive late and the conference was underway. Both Commodore Idaho Smith and Doctor Cairo Jones were in uniform. Schneider and Chopra wore their usual brand of outre statement clothing. The rogue physician for hire, Doctor Ranai Desai and her pilot, Priyanka Chondra, had been invited by Smith as well. Since Outbound Ventures Starfleet mandate was only to investigate the origins of the human populations in the Gamma Quadrant, it seemed Smith had decided Desai's services could prove useful.
Schneider and Chopra had presented a multimedia presentation they'd collaborated on to demonstrate the solid evidence of Federation races occupying deserted worlds. Smith and Jones seemed captivated.
"Was there any evidence of other unknown races?" Smith asked as the demonstration concluded.
"Several. But since such wide swathes of the Alpha Quadrant and smaller portions of the Deeper Beta Quadrant remain unexplored, we couldn't tell if they were native to the Gamma Quadrant or not," Chopra was quick to point out.
"A commonality appeared to be the ruins you investigated," Jones noted, "They all built ziggurat type structures. That's a commonality through most Federation racial pasts. Has the evidence supported that these structure designs were imported by the Federation races?"
"It's too early and too inconclusive to draw such a conclusion," Schneider told her. She may have styled herself as a punk rebel but she was a pure scientific professional in her field.
"All of these worlds contain the remains of Federation races," Desai pointed out, "I deal with the living. So why am I here?"
"I'll let Commander Macen address that point," Smith grinned.
Macen hadn't been briefed on Desai and Chondra's inclusion. So Smith was yanking his chain to get him to approve the expenditure of putting Desai on the official payroll for this assignment, "Doctor Desai, Captain Chondra, what seems to have gone unaddressed is that the Bajorans have discovered humans living on a world under Ascendant sway. They and other races seem to have been imported thousands of years ago as a labor class. Raas itself was a lush and fertile word before its sun expanded and burned brighter. The ecological side effects reduced it to a desert planet. The labor classes seemingly were abandoned to fend for themselves. We've been to Raas. It seems the racial groups have divided up amongst themselves so we didn't encounter humans during our brief excursion there."
"So you want me to assess the health needs of these humans?" Desai wondered.
"And treat them if needed," Macen guessed that was Smith's original plan, "It could prove to be a long term assignment. The Ascendant have pledged material support for the races on Raas as well as military security forces to patrol the system since its exiled ruler is a known criminal that conspired with the Orion Syndicate during the Waypoint incident. They and the Militia Colonial Defense Forces will protect supplies as they're shipped to you."
"The Ascendant are willing to commit starships to orbit?" Desai asked.
"They're already there on a relief mission," Macen told her, "But they're out of their depth with alien biologies."
"But they studied human and other Federation racial anatomies when they captured a starship, didn't they?" Desai asked.
"They explored more efficient ways of killing the prisoners they experimented on," Neela broke her silence, "The Ascendancy's past actions are filled with dark deeds. Even Iliana Ghemor misled them at first before she became a convert and truly believed in the Prophets and her role as their Emissary to the Ascendant."
"You're one of them," Chopra groaned.
"And what precisely am I?" Neela wondered.
"A true believer ready to do anything in the name of the cause," Chopra said sarcastically.
Wyn wondered how Neela would respond to this accurate, yet distorted, truth. She didn't have long to wait. Neela simply smiled generously, "That much is true. So be glad the Prophets are friends to many and fear the fact they are enemies of Bajor's antagonists."
"What did I tell you?" Chopra sidebarred with Desai.
"How exactly do I address you and what will your role in this investigation be?" Desai asked Neela.
"I'm simply Neela these days," she told her, "And my team and I will be investigating whether or not the Prophets opened the Celestial Temple to transport these slaves to new worlds in the Gamma Quadrant and if so, why."
"But we could be looking at an extinct power to rival the Iconians," Schneider put forth.
"Or merely dormant," Chopra was quick to add, "So we have to be cautious."
The door opened to admit Captain Nikki Watts and Captain Lena Davis. Watts spoke for them, "What have we missed?"
"You'll both be briefed en route," Smith told them.
"So, we are deploying?" Davis inquired.
"As soon as we can get everyone back aboard," Smith decided.
"We're still resupplying," Schneider pointed out.
"We have the stores," Jones told her and Chopra, "We can supply you when you arrive back at your sites."
"Thank you for showing us your findings. It was very...illuminating," Smith offered, "I'll pass on my recommendations to the Archaeology Guild that they fully fund and support your expeditions. You're doing incredible work."
"Why not include Daystrom?" Jones asked.
"Daystrom is far more rigid in their chains of provenance. The Archaeology Guild applies less scrutiny on how artifacts are obtained and by whom," Smith explained, "Doctors Schneider and Chopra were Guild members in good standing. They're less well received at Daystrom."
"He means we're banned," Schneider cut through the diplomatic phrasing.
"Sell a few trinkets to collectors on the side and Daystrom gets riled," Chopra shrugged.
"Federation Security feels the same way about which clients I service," Desai added, "To me, a patient is simply a patient. I could care less about borders and politics."
"You all have transportation," Macen intervened, "We'll meet you at your specified drop points."
"The Neverwhere and Tigerlilja stand ready to depart," Watts informed the wayward Doctors Jones and Smith.
"We've been standing by for thirty minutes," Davis rubbed it in on Smith.
"You can't rush science," Smith wagged a finger at her.
"I can when someone is trying to shoot at us," Davis reminded him of several recent incidents while supporting Guild projects on far-flung planets.
"Doctor Jones suffers from the same malaise," Watts consoled Davis.
"She's not a commodore. We only have two. Captain Riker would never forgive me if I lost one of them," Davis lamented.
"You'd better see to it you don't," Smith warned her good naturedly in a grumpy voice, "But I can get by on my own on a planet if I need to."
"That's what you said about the Gorn raiders," Davis replied.
"You have to out think them," Smith lectured her, "Gorn are alpha driven and territorial like no one outside a Tholian. Keep the Alpha confused and it makes him look weak and challengers for dominance crop up."
"So you keep saying. Let's let the crew know you're still coming," Davis recommended.
"Are you coming with us, or should scrub the mission?" Watts ribbed Jones.
"Coming, Captain," Jones broke off from her hushed conversation with Schneider and Chopra. Normally competitors, the importance and grand scale of their individual finds combined with the Militia reports coming back from Raas had the two archaeologists collaborating at long last. They were still discussing coordination of their individual efforts as they made their way to the Docking Ring to board a shuttle to the Docking Yard. It was just their good fortune that Smith and Jones were on the shuttle as well.
Desai noted the lack of Chondra's usual enthusiasm for a job, "You're bothered that we're going corporate."
"Not so much. The money will be good. I just hate getting tied to a single location for too long," Chondra voiced her regret.
"We don't know the situation on Raas yet. Ascendant Sickbays may be retrograde in comparison to what we carry aboard but they'll be adequate to treat most ailments and genetic disorders," Desai told her, "I think we'll largely just be overseeing teaching the Ascendant how to treat and care for their human patients."
"Just remember, they studied us to learn how to more efficiently kill us," Chondra leaned in hard on Neela's disclosure.
"But we'll have Bajorans vouching for us," Desai reminded her, "And they practically revere Neela. So we'll have that going for us as well."
"Who is she anyway?" Chondra asked.
"I don't know. I tried looking her up in the Bajoran census data. She was a Militia officer when she convicted of murdering a Starfleet ensign. Her sentence was commuted and she went to work for the Vedek Assembly. Then she simply disappears from the records," Desai revealed.
"What use is a murderer to a religious body?" Chondra asked.
"I can think of many uses. All of them chilling," Desai warned her, "I'd keep an eye on her. No matter how benign she tries to appear. That one's a fanatic. We've seen the breed in our travels"
"Noted," Chondra promised her.
The Neverwhere, Tigerlilja and the civilian craft all departed while the Obsidian and Razor's Edge awaited command crew. Captain Forger and her crew were aboard and so was the SID team. Except, Macen and Rockford were still MIA. They were talking last minute arrangements with Wyn and Neela. Wyn's crew was already aboard the NV-class United Earth Starfleet starship replica built by the Iotian Starfleet.
Neela, like Macen, was the ship's Mission Commander. She determined the missions and some of how they were prosecuted. Wyn commanded the crew and ran starship operations as well as assisted with some of the ground operations. Both she and her XO, Lieutenant Griff Goring, were both Militia Special Forces. They'd been cross trained in starship operations to bolster their ground forces specialties. Three Militia Constables were also part of the crew to assist Neela when she left the ship.
"While I appreciate your participation in the mission to Raas, I don't quite understand your rationale for joining," Macen admitted.
"I second that," Rockford added.
"I'm a little unclear myself," Wyn confessed.
"Emissary Ghemor informed me of a Cult of the Pah-wraiths' presence on Raas. She and the Ascendant have been unable to root them out. But their symbols are spreading across the planet even as Ascendancy missionaries work to bring the populace into faith in the Prophets," Neela said worriedly, "She's deferred to our greater experience in dealing with the Cult."
"You said she's already allowing a Militia presence?" Rockford asked.
"Yes, Ghemor has allowed General Kira to send a single starship to Raas to support the Ascendancy's exploration of the planet. The Militia Scouts have an Archer-class starship landed on the planet," Neela shared, "The crew has flown across the planet and discovered many tribal groups of separate races not of Raasian origin. They've also scouted out nearby star systems and discovered pre-industrial natives of M-class planets. Raas is the most advanced planet in the surrounding inhabited systems. They don't have evidence that the other planets were colonized."
"Has the Militia contacted these other cultures?" Macen would regret if they had.
"No, the Bajoran Republic may not have a Prime Directive such as the Federation's but we believe in non-interferene in undeveloped worlds. However, the scouts have detected modern technology being used on some of these planets," Neela said sadly, "They all seem to have military applications. The scouts couldn't determine the origin of the weaponry other than it was similar to4 standard Federation weapon types based on scans of weapons fire."
"I'm guessing that Varic and his newfound allegiance to the Orion Syndicate began here," Macen conjectured, "It would make sense that Varic would begin expanding his criminal enterprises from Raas to local systems. He had access to Grimes Armaments technology and starships. The next logical step is arming local warlords and making them dependent upon his criminal organization for continued support."
"Seems a reasonable guess," Rockford concurred, "We know from experience that Varic would sell his own mother to make a profit. He also had the interstellar contacts to reach out with."
"Wasn't Mudd Kenra involved with Varic's operations?" Neela asked.
"She was when we first met her," Macen told her.
"I'm wondering if Brigadier Joran can arrange for amenities for Mudd Kenra in prison in exchange for her intimate knowledge of Varic's operations," Neela suggested.
"I can pass that up to him," Wyn thought it was a good plan.
The half-Bajoran Mudd Kenra was currently serving a twenty-five year prison sentence. Neela was intimately familiar with Bajoran prisons, having been a convict herself. She also knew there were degrees of comfort that could be allowed or afforded to individuals as rewards. The smuggler was confined in the darkest hole on Bajor for her part in bringing the Cult of the Pah-wraiths and Guls Macet and Maret together. Loosening of the strictures or even a transfer to a more comfortable confinement would be enticing to Mudd Kenra given her current situation.
"The more we know how Varic impacted these worlds, the better we can help them," Neela said sadly.
"Wouldn't that fall on the Ascendancy?" Wyn made a point, "It is within their sphere of influence."
"The Ascendant also have their own history of cultural interference from when the Bajora arrived on Sinherra," Macen agreed, "So they're sensitive to these matters."
"The other ships and the civilian support staff are already departing the system. Shouldn't we be with them already?" Wyn wondered.
"Doctors Smith and Jones will be exploring worlds near Doctors Schneider and Chopra's dig sites," Macen explained, "They'll be joining us later. The Ascendant are more than qualified to direct Doctor Desai to the areas of greatest need. I was an Archaeology and Anthropology Officer in the El-Aurian Survey Corps for three hundred years. It's the role I first had in Starfleet under Doctor Smith. I can manage the investigation on Raas well enough."
"If we know about these transplanted peoples, Varic knows. Which means the Orion Syndicate will know as well," Neela cautioned them, "I can't imagine they'll simply ignore a potential means to transport goods and people across vast spaces."
"Especially not Miranda Wells and her two trustees in the Gamma Quadrant," Rockford frowned at that realization, "It would secure their positions within the Syndicate."
"The question also becomes whether or not they would sell that information to the Iridian Enforcers to employ as a first strike weapon," Macen hadn't considered that either.
"So finding the how and why just went from natural curiosity to an imperative in a heartbeat," Rockford remarked.
"We'd still best stay together for the voyage and arrival," Macen told them, "Ghemor reservedly trusts me but she has complete faith in Neela vouching for our activities."
"I regret having others blindly follow me out of a sense of devotion," Neela sighed, "They should reserve that for the Prophets."
"And that attitude is why they follow you," Wyn told her.
"We'd best hurry now," Macen said, "It will still take time for Station Ops to clear us a traffic lane even after we detach from the stations."
Neela smiled with amusement, "I believe you have an 'in' with Captain Riker and the Ops staff. They'll clear a lane as soon as we coordinate our departure."
Roberta Rolands suddenly rushed out of the Coffee Spot with a tray with four disposable cups of coffee, "For the road. I just heard you were leaving."
"You're a child of the Prophets, I swear," Neela gratefully accepted Rolands' offering.
"It's on the house for my best regular customers. I'll see you all when you get back," Rolands smiled and started to walk away.
"That's a promise," Rockford called after her.
That got another jaunty wave in reply before Rolands ducked back into the shop to assist Nick Claus once again. Rockford relished her first sip, "Those two should be on the payroll."
"They actually are," Macen told the others as they headed for the Docking Ring, "The company they work for pulled out months ago. I bought their franchise and quietly kept things running without Nick or Roberta noticing any difference. I made certain Kathy gave them both hefty raises."
"I think they noticed," Rockford lifted her cup in front of him.
"I'd say so too," Wyn chuckled. The stopped at the Habitat Ring where the Bajorans would head off to a landing pad to take the next scheduled shuttle to the Docking Station, "Until later then."
Macen and Rockford continued on where they went to Upper Pylon Three where the Obsidian was docked. There, 2nd Officer Areyn Black gleefully sing-songed for them at the airlock, "We're waiting."
"Shouldn't you be off duty?" Macen mock grumped.
"Actually, we're in the middle of my watch. Joelle decided she wanted the fun of taking us out," Black told them, "I volunteered to come down and heckle you. She happily consented."
In the Maquis, Joelle Jones and Macen had been ideological foes. Now they were working partners. Jones had been astonished to learn from Forger that the Captain's final decision to select Jones as her XO had been largely based on Macen's recommendation. Jones had softened her attitude towards Macen since then.
"So, we're going back to the Gamma Quadrant after just leaving it?" Black found this annoying.
"And we may still be pitted against the Orion Syndicate," Rockford told her.
"This is why I can never plan a weekend off," Black only half jested.
Macen's team status as the premier go-to for the most difficult assignments the Starfleet Special Investigations Division had to offer made for adventures but also a lot of unscheduled trips. The crew never knew when they'd been called upon to leave and where they'd end up going next. Still, even after an abortive mutiny the remaining crew was supportive of their role in things. But it could still prove inconvenient to a social calendar.
Most of the crew had loved ones aboard Serenity or other places. The constant coming and going could strain even the most stable of relationships. So Macen made certain that when the crews' leaves were scheduled, they were long and uninterrupted. The team got hit the hardest by the constant demands for their time. But some of them had paired off with one another or crewmen.
Neela had made it a prerequisite for her volunteers to be single. Their constant undertakings weren't conducive to marriages or commitments outside the crew. But, she'd duly noted the crew seemed to be slowly drawing into couples. While Neela appeared to be committed to an ascetic life, Macen knew differently. But the Prophets' monopoly on Neela's time didn't allow for easy relationship building. The fact that Doctor Jones had become a friend so easily spoke volumes regarding Cairo Jones' character. She ranked with General Anara as a friend closer than a sibling yet non-romantically inclined.
No one even knew what direction Neela's sexual orientation blew. If Anara knew, she must've been sworn to secrecy. Neela appreciated a few people's clumsy and overt attempts to make introductions to potential suitors of all genders and orientations, but she also quietly demurred. In that, she rivaled Ebert, Kerber, and Smith. Yet, Kerber's Troglyte clan tattoo had been revealed to be the merger of two separate clan symbols, indicating she was married back on Ardana IV. Kerber never spoke of it and Smith respected her former handmaiden's privacy.
Ebert blew every direction. But she had a fixation on sexual violence and unfaithful, domineering partners she was trying to break. At this point, she didn't trust herself to choose wisely and was still afraid to allow others to help guide her towards a healthier outcome. Macen was giving her space but he'd done so since she was fifteen. He felt it was time to step in now. Ebert finally seemed willing to listen to some guidance.
Despite the tragedy that occurred at the Bajoran Plantation colonies, the time infiltrating the star system had proved a boon of self examination and revelation for Ebert, Mudd, and Burrows. Macen and Daggit had just been along for the emotional ride. Parva and Tessa had later complained about being left out. But they'd been alone aboard the Blackbird-class Solstice scoutship instead of having a crew complement aboard the Nova-class Obsidian surveyor.
On this mission, the ship would finally be put to use along the lines of its original design rather as an intelligence gathering platform. Galen 3 and his Sciences Division team excelled at forensics but they were woefully inadequate for Macen's needs on Raas. Galen 3 came the closest to being a general Sciences Officer, which is why he headed the minuscule department. Galen 3 and Tessa would be serving Macen's forensic Anthropology needs. The ship lacked a historian so Macen would have to suffice with the investigative talents of his wife and her detectives. He'd have to supply context.
Smith's talent as a linguist would prove invaluable in this endeavor so she and Kerber would go dirtside as rare as that was. Daggit and Burrows would provide protection. Parva would supply any solutions to engineering problems. Macen planned on running his investigation from the Danube-class runabout named the Corsair rather than constantly beaming up to the ship. Ebert and Mudd would supply the transportation as well ingratiating themselves with the local criminal element. Raas had a strong fractured underworld since Varic departed according to the Ascendant. That would play into Mudd's capable hands.
The Militia had supplied the Ascendancy with comm buoys and arrays. So the team and ship would be in contact through the Wormhole terminus transceiver with Deep Space Nine and through it, the Federation Data Net. Macen wanted Forger and the crew to depart from Raas and investigate what the Bajoran Scouts had already cataloged but been unable to explore. Since Starfleet was the principle client in this matter, the Prime Directive was in effect until cultural contamination could be confirmed. If it was, then the Ascendant had jurisdiction in the region. How they would address matters was completely unknown.
Ben Sisko was in consultation with Iliana Ghemor over matters pertaining to societal interference. But the Ascendancy had been built on the injection of Bajora conquerors of the Sinherran people. Now they accepted a Cardassian as their Emissary from the Prophets. Ghemor was keenly interested in Macen's exploration of Rassian history, the survey by the Obsidian, and the findings of Doctors Smith, Jones, Schneider, and Chopra. General Kira relayed Rockford's concerns regarding Orion Syndicate interference led by Varic. Kira herself expressed grave concerns over the Syndicate's ongoing presence on Waypoint Station and its proximity to Ascendant space.
Waypoint's commanding colonel had reported Miranda Wells' departure on a commercial shuttle bound for Deep Space Nine. Vaughn confirmed Wells' arrival Blackmer confirmed that she'd booked passage back to Orion. But she'd missed her flight. Her guest quarters she'd rented for an overnight wait for the transport were empty. But there was no record of her departing. The Waypoint colonel also reported in that Melania and Oliana hadn't left their offices since Wells' departure. But Wells hadn't returned to Waypoint. But commercial traffic had begun entering Ascendant space.
Ascendant authorities weren't as organized as the Federation or the Republic. They had no space stations and individual worlds had an Ascendancy religious presence but rarely a coordinated military presence. Wells could have easily arrived at one such planet and awaited a transfer to another ship. The Ascendant held some sway over several dozen worlds but only limited spiritual and political control of four other worlds. Raas was one of them. None of the worlds the Ascendant dominated were technologically superior to the Ascendancy.
The other worlds were. They'd long avoided Sinherra and the Ascendancy based on the media broadcasts the planet transmitted. Their value to these trading partners was their connection to the Bajoran Republic, and then through the Bajorans, the Federation and the Cardassian Union. Now the Iotians were joining in as well. Bajoran traders had been asked to make discreet inquiries into these worlds' histories.
Half the worlds had folklore of long ago domination by a superior power. The traders passed the stories on to the Bajoran Science Center and the Center informed the Militia. The Militia Scouts got their remaining Kremlin-class scoutships out of mothballs and put crews back on them and deployed them to those areas to make more formal inquiries. Added to the efforts was the fact that the Militia, like Outbound Ventures, had just received Wanderer-class starships from the Iotian Starfleet Shipyards. These were based upon the Federation Starfleet's abandoned Charleston-class prototype design the ASDB was using as a test platform for developing technologies in upgrading older starship vessels still in service.
The Joint Chiefs had decided to allocate the new vessel types to the Colonial Defense Forces. General Anara determined that placing these starships in temporarily detached duty with the Militia Scouts could further the Scouts' goals in exploring the origins of the folk tales and the mysteries the Federation was pursuing on worlds where civilizations had gone extinct but showed signs of relocation of races from the Alpha and Beta Quadrants to the Gamma Quadrant. Raas alone, of all the contacted worlds, still possessed a remnant human population.
The non-human races brought to Raas in its past had been exterminated after the withdrawal of the great power that had dominated that world. The various races had divided into racially based tribal groups and conflict had broken out between them. It wasn't even proven that the dominant racial group on Raas, from which Varic and his followers came from, was indigenous to the planet. Even the humans had divided against one another during portions of the planet's post-occupation history. But Bajoran traders and Ascendant inquiries had learned that the humans had united into a single faction though still separated into other cultural tribal groups.
The Colonial Defense Forces, rather than place new, unproven crews into the more advanced Wanderer-class vessels, promoted crews from older vessel types to the new ships and trained the new recruits on the familiar starship types. Anara had promised Macen support from one of the new ships attached to the Militia Scouts. The Obsidian and the Scouts present Archer-class scoutship, would receive direct support and added reach from the arriving Militia crew. The Prophets' Hope was due to arrive alongside the Obsidian and Razor's Edge, departing from Free Haven Port. The J-class starbase served as as the Colonial Militia's headquarters and Anara's field command center.
The Prophets' Hope would rendezvous with the Obsidian and Razor's Edge as they left the Iotian Federation member Kalendra Sector for the Bajor Sector and entered the Free Haven system. From there, they would traverse the sector to reach the Wormhole and transit to the Gamma Quadrant to then travel to Raas. The ship's commander and crew were mysteries to the SID team despite having served with them in the Plantation conflict. But the association hadn't been direct or personal. Even Neela was uncertain as to who Major Kris Hobi was and how she would handle the stress of commanding a joint mission.
Kris had seen action during the war with the Federation and against Gul Maret's rebel attack on Cardassia Prime. So she was veteran commander. But that was all Anara would share with Macen and Rockford. Neela presumably received greater access to Kris' personnel jacket and fitness reports. But it seemed Anara had asked for silence on the topic of Kris from Neela and Major Wyn. The silence from officialdom worried them more than any revelations the records could have shared.
The official exchanges between Forger and Kris were stilted and extremely formal. The Major seemed to acknowledge Outbound Ventures assistance in both the war and in the Plantation rescue effort, but she extremely guarded. Kris refused direct communications with Macen or Rockford. Wyn and Neela didn't share the extent of their own communications with Kris. Neela suggested that they be patient as the mission unfolded as it was destined to.
The SID team's role had little to do with the commander or crew of the Prophets' Hope. So the team leaders decided upon taking Neela's advice. Forger at least had Kris talking to her to coordinate their survey efforts in the five nearby systems. Neela offered sparse reassurance that Kris' personal mission included assisting the Obsidian should the ship and crew come under attack. With the Orions certain to arrive, they could only estimate that they'd be badly outnumbered and outgunned when the Syndicate made itself known.
Major Kris and Captain Hoj Mari of the Kremlin-class scoutship, Prophets' Journey, were unknown variables. At least Captain Gil Cane of the Archer-class Prophets' Scout was a known variable. Macen had loosely worked with Gil during the Plantation mission and Gil had led the Militia's push that eventually reached Axios. Anara had taken on responsibility for the Militia Scouts in addition to the Colonial Defense Forces. It was she that had redirected Gil to the sector contain Raas.
Hoj was arriving at Raas ahead of the Obsidian and her escorts. Gil would be regrouping with the others at Raas to brief them on his crew's preliminary findings. Ascendancy War Vedeks would be in attendance as well. Anara had at least granted Macen and Rockford access to Hoj's records. She was former Starfleet, detained during the war simply for being Bajoran, and resigned when her commission was restored after the armistice. She'd been a junior office with the rank of lieutenant. Since captain in the Militia equaled a full Starfleet lieutenant in rank, her transfer was a lateral one rather than a vertical promotion. But, she had been given her own independent command. That wouldn't have happened at her station in Starfleet.
Gil was her senior in grade so Hoj would defer to Gil's command decisions just as Gil would answer to Kris. Kris reported directly to Free Haven Port. Neela and Wyn maintained their silence regarding Kris throughout the week long voyage to reach Raas. Kris would be hosting the joint briefing, so every commander and team leader from Outbound Ventures, the Militia, and the Ascendancy beamed aboard the Prophets' Hope. Forger, Jones, Macen, and Rockford were familiar with the Wanderer-class' layout thanks to the ASDB lending Tom Riker the Charleston-class prototype.
Riker was firmly established in command of the Ambassador-class Indomitable. He'd declined transferring his outrigger command flag to a newly acquired Wanderer-class. After his rescue, Riker served aboard the Ambassador-class USS Gandhi before going AWOL to join the Maquis. He'd been the OPS Officer aboard the Gandhi. It was while serving aboard her that he first encountered Chakotay, himself an AWOL Starfleet lt. commander having joined the Maquis and secured his own command.
It was Chakotay's suggestion that Riker abandon Starfleet and serve alongside the Maquis that got Riker politicized. Eventually he did just that. His subsequent theft of the USS Defiant and imprisonment, first on Lazon II and then Kodosh II, that further differentiated Tom Riker from his twin, Will.
After Riker's escape from Kodosh II, with Sela's unwitting assistance and outright objection to, that Macen located Riker and set him up with the Bonaventure-class starship Riker registered as the SS Iron Boots and his own courier service that Riker finally felt he'd found peace within himself. Once Sito Jaxa's rescue was completed, Riker found he could go anywhere and do anything he wished. He was finally free of his twin's shadow.
Riker made the fateful choice to join Outbound Ventures while the agency was still in its infancy. Riker had been both Macen's XO and his ship's captain before transferring to an independent command. He was the first and only commanding officer of Serenity Station. Macen had gifted naming the station to Riker upon his accepting command of it. Riker himself revived the name of Ro Laren's Maquis raider. The first Indomitable to be assigned to Serenity was an Emden-class escort vessel. The Charleston-class followed and the Emden-class ship was rechristend and registered. Riker had decided to stay with the Ambassador-class starship as his station outrigger for a multitude of official reasons but Danan had shared with Macen and Rockford privately that Riker's sentimentality had made the decision for him.
The class of starship seemed to have that effect. Commodore Saavik had been the only captain the Ambassador-class USS Endeavor had ever had. It had taken Starfleet years to get Saavik to return her to port to be decommissioned. Saavik had been given the new Vesta-class USS Endeavor-A as a replacement along with her overdue promotion. Still, Saavik missed her old ship though she would admit to such an emotional response.
Captain Mackenzie Calhoun had the Ambassador-class USS Excalibur destroyed around him as he'd returned Starfleet regular services from the Intelligence branch and assumed command. A command Commander Elizabeth Shelby had felt was her due owing to her being its XO when her captain retired. Calhoun was presumed dead afterwards and Shelby received command of the Galaxy-class USS Excalibur-A for approximately fifteen minutes before Calhoun returned from being marooned on a lower tech world.
Captain Shelby was given command of the Galaxy-class USS Trident instead. Her XO, Katerina Mueller, assumed command of the Trident as Shelby was promoted to Commodore and placed in command of the Deep Space station built in Thallonian space. Shelby had been Calhoun's first Exec. Now she was his immediate superior officer. No one in Starfleet Command being foolish enough to consider promoting Calhoun to flag rank. Promoting Shelby had been a strategic move by the Admiralty since she'd obey them and she was the one of the few voices that could sway Calhoun's decisions.
The starship class had enjoyed a storied history beginning with the sacrifice made by Captain Rachel Garret and the USS Enterprise-C defending Klingon colony worlds from a Romulan attack. That decision had sealed the alliance between the United Federation of Planets and the Klingon Empire. Since then, most of the ships in the class had gone on to fame. While the bulk of the accolades were due to the proficiency and professionalism of the crews, the ships themselves lent their capabilities to be used by said crews.
Riker's nostalgia for the Indomitable's vessel type included a healthy dose of respect for her design and what a capable crew could so with her. So while the Wanderer-class vessels were slightly more advanced, and even though Riker was familiar with the vessels, he'd preferred to remain with the ship of the name he already had. Something that couldn't be said of the first two, a Ju'day-class raider and the Emden-class escort.
Macen didn't need to be a Listener or Rockford a detective to see Major Kris stiffen upon seeing them with Forger and Jones. Even her friendly banter with Gil and Hoj died as they entered the briefing room. The subsequent arrival of the War Vedeks did little to dispel the dour mood that had come upon Kris. Only Neela and Wyn, arriving fashionably late, sparked any kindness in her eyes.
"As you already know, our Ascendant brethren in the faith discovered tribes of humans living upon Raas, the planet we now orbit. The Ascendant missionaries were told fanciful tales of a past race that dominated not only Raas but potentially dozens of star systems within the surrounding sectors. Opportunistic human archaeologists took advantage of information gathered by the Militia Scouts to ascertain that Federation and political entity races had indeed lived on worlds whose civilizations seemed to have gone extinct," Kris said even more stiffly, "Militia Command shared this data alongside the humans' reported findings and so we have our 'esteemed' experts here to determine how these humans arrived on Raas. Your assignment dossiers have already been transmitted to your individual commands. Do any of you have any pertinent questions?"
"How old were you when you joined the Circle?" Macen asked.
"I said 'pertinent' questions," Kris snarled.
"My ship will be relying upon you for defensive support. I need to take your measure to know whether or not you'll provide it if called upon," Macen dug the knife in deeper.
"I gathered from your vaunted reputations that you wouldn't require my assistance," Kris said evenly.
"So that's a 'no'," Jones groaned.
"They're not breaking orbit to assist in your surveys," Macen decided.
"We're not?" Forger asked.
"Thank you. There is a god," Jones whooped.
"This is why Bajor shouldn't consort with aliens," Kris grated.
"Even our 'brethren in the faith', as you so nobly put it?" Neela asked.
"Their Emissary is a Cardassian. You fought them. How how can you accept one purporting to be chosen by the Prophets?" Kris asked.
"Because she is," Neela replied as the War Vedeks all bristled, "But you're denying the Sinherrans natural role as other children of the Prophets."
"The Prophets are of Bajor. They clearly taught us that," Kris argued.
"The Prophets also teach love and humility. Two aspects of their teachings sadly lacking in you," Neela replied very calmly.
"What can you know about me?" Kris demanded to know, "Who appointed you the almighty 'Hand of the Prophets'?"
"The Prophets themselves chose me as their vessel. The Vedek Assembly slapped that silly title upon me," Neela sighed, "But this goes much deeper than any of that. General Anara is looking at you to overcome your past prejudices. That's why she selected you out of all the available candidates for this role. Don't disappoint her. It isn't a wise decision to make."
"I know how the General has made these her pet aliens," Kris scoffed.
"Now wait just a damn minute!" Jones was out of her chair. Forger pulled her back down into it, "I'm not anyone's pet anything."
"Aren't you?" Kris smirked, "You're certainly acting like you require a leash."
Jones started to rise but was forced down again by Forger. Wyn intervened, "Major Kris, General Anara assigned you to lead the Militia Scouts on this survey. Perhaps it's best for all involved not to join forces."
"Why are you out of uniform, Major?" Kris sneered.
"We're a special, detached unit," Lieutenant Griff Goring, Wyn's XO and fellow Special Forces officer, explained.
"I don't collaborate with spies or infiltrators," Kris continued her rant.
"We're independent of your mission," Wyn grated.
"Good," Kris sniffed, "I would hate to sully myself to working with alien lovers."
The War Vedeks each asked for an immediate transport off of the Prophets' Hope. Kris looked triumphant, "I suppose I offended them."
"You were a member of Anara's squadron that fired upon the Ascendant ships," Macen deduced.
"Proudly," Kris boasted.
"We rarely get a chance to redeem ourselves and you're squandering yours," Neela said sadly.
"I'm not the one who needs redemption. You've betrayed the Prophets. The Vedek Assembly demanded you turn over the Orb of the Kosst Amojan and you failed to," Kris hissed, "You destroyed it instead."
"Just as I destroyed all known vessels entombing Pah-wraiths rather than surrender them to the Vedek Assembly," Neela told her quite placidly, "We've already had one Kai Winn. We certainly don't need another."
"Heretic!" Kris' hand flexed towards a phaser that wasn't on her hip.
"General Neela asked me to observe you," Neela informed her, "Captain Gil, detain Major Kris. Her XO will be managing the ship until a suitable permanent commanding officer can be dispatched from Free Haven Port. You're in command of the mission until such time. Captain Gilead, do you feel capable of commanding this starship under Captain Gil's seniority?"
"Yes, ma'am," Gilead said promptly.
"We'll be taking charge of Major Kris for the duration and her return to face charges at Free Haven Port," Griff informed Gil, "Captain Gilead, alert the Razor's Edge that Constables Odon, Maru, and Varic are needed aboard."
"Immediately," Gilead signaled the transporter room. Deputies Odon Feric, Maru Gel, and Varic Cinway were standing by aboard the Razor's Edge. The NV-class starship had two cells in its brig. The deputies would find something to further occupy their time by guarding Kris.
"Just as you predicted," Wyn said grimly.
"The Prophets predicted. They chose to warn me," Neela was saddened by the entire affair, "I was in prison when the Circle seduced Bajor. But its lies even reached ears within its prison walls."
"But the Circle was discredited and disbanded sixteen years ago," Wyn mentioned, "How could she still be a believer?"
"Lost causes are often the most romantic," Macen warned the Major, "Michael Eddington became the leader of the Maquis portraying himself as the noble victim of Federation and Starfleet abuse. As the Klingons distracted the Cardassian Guard, the Maquis took over many colonies, ousting the Cardassian appointed governments. But Eddington didn't want to stop there. He wanted ever Cardassian settler removed from the Demilitarized Zone. So he went to genocidal extremes. Most of the Maquis followed along, swept away by his vision of grand romantic achievement."
"I was one of them," Jones confessed.
Captain Hoj and Gil approached now. Gil spoke up, "Your rank may be in the Reserves but you're still the ranking officer in this mission, Colonel."
"For this mission, I'm simply Neela. My place is on Raas, serving the Prophets there. You will lead Captains Hoj and Gilead alongside Captain Forger here," she informed him.
"I defer to Captain Forger then," Gil stated.
"Me?" Forger squeaked.
"You can do it, Shannon," Rockford assured her, "We have complete faith in you. Why else would we travel aboard your command?"
"I asked you take over command of the Obsidian for a reason," Macen reminded her, "Captain Riker wanted to command Serenity and you'd earned this command after he departed."
"I command a starship. Not a small squadron," Forger argued.
"Time to stretch yourself then," Rockford grinned.
"Captain, you are destined to lead this survey mission," Neela told her, "It was decided before you ever arrived here."
Forger caught Neela's double meaning even if the Bajorans didn't, "Fine. I'll defer to the Wormhole aliens on this one."
"It was always going to be so," Neela promised her.
"I still have free will," Forger argued.
"But your choice was foreseen and accounted for before the Prophets understood linear time," Neela explained, "They saw this moment when time began. And they saw the moment when time ends at the same time for them. They are beyond space and time. They exist at all points at the same time."
"They sound as confusing as the Nexus Ribbon," Forger scowled.
"Just because we can't understand the nature of beings or anomalies doesn't mean they don't exist," Macen warned Forger.
"You almost sound like a convert," Jones noted.
"I respect the Prophets' insights and power," Macen clarified, "My people fought the Q to a standstill. So we respect power."
"The Q?" Neela sounded intrigued, "As in the Q Continuum?"
"The very same," Macen told her, "The Q derided yet feared the so-called 'upstart' Organians, Prophets, Metrons, and Shedai."
"So, you knew about all of these races when you visited the Alpha Quadrant back in the 22nd Century?" Forger sounded upset, "You could've spared the Federation a lot of mystery and grief concerning all of them."
"I was on Earth as it sought the Xindi and then fought the Romulan War. I witnessed the birth of the Coalition of Planets and the signing of the Federation Charter," Macen told her, "The Survey Corps had its own variant of the Prime Directive. Guinan had been on Earth since the 1890s and had hope for humanity despite having lived through World War III and Colonel Green. My team was sent to find out why. Humanity needed the collective wisdom coming from being in the Federation to respect these beings for what they were and the wisdom to leave them alone."
"And the Borg threat?" Jones was angry, "Your people could have warned us."
"Except for the intervention of Q, humans wouldn't have drawn the Borg Queen's attention by escaping a cube for another century or more. The Borg saw humans and Federation races as indistinct biologically and technologically. We'd drawn the Borg's attention. The Federation hadn't stood out enough to do so yet," Macen explained, "Peace with the Klingons was in its infancy. The Romulans hadn't grown insular yet. And the Gorn and Tholians actively crossed their borders with the Federation. War with the Tzenkethi was about to begin and the Cardassians were next to be discovered. The Borg were too far away to persuade Starfleet to take the threat seriously. So we didn't try to raise any alarms."
"Even if you had, there is no way to prepare for the Borg," Rockford decided.
"The Federation would've laughed of boogeymen from the Delta Quadrant," Jones agreed.
"How can you think that?" Forger was defensive.
"We're talking about the same Federation that thought a DMZ under Cardassian administration populated by Federation colonists would bring peace and love to the galaxy," Jones sniped.
"The Federation prides itself on its inclusiveness and adaptability," Macen concluded, "But there are some races you can't prepare for."
"You think we're dealing with a race like that now," Forger realized.
"It wouldn't surprise me," Macen told her, "There were vast empires of elder races before humans walked erect. Even sentient life as you know it came about through the manipulations of the eldest race."
"You know something?" Jones asked.
"The Federation classified the information as a Red Directive. It isn't to be discussed or disseminated. But my people knew about it before the clues seeded throughout the Alpha and Beta Quadrants led the Federation, Klingons, Romulans, and Cardassians to discovering the truth of the origins of humanoid life as you know it," Macen stated, "If you learn what I know and share it with anyone, Starfleet will place you on a penal colony for the rest of your life."
"They want to do that anyway," Jones snorted.
"By yourself," Macen warned her.
"I thought Red Directives were a fairy tale," Forger confessed, "Like Omega Protocols."
"Both are real," Macen advised her, "And you don't want to be involved in either."
"None of which has any bearing here," Rockford refocused the group, "The Razor's Edge will provide our starship support while you're away. We'll have the Corsair for immediate purposes. But if the Orions or Varic send in a starship here, it'll be up to the Ascendant and the Razor's Edge to drive them out of the system."
"They will come," Neela warned them, "Miranda Wells will want this information to acquire and sell whatever technology is recovered."
"She's not the only one," Macen grimly said, "Companies like Grimes Armaments will also want a piece of the action."
"Should we worry about the Iotians?" Rockford asked.
"Probably," Macen sighed.
"I worry about the station," Neela frowned, "I haven't received a direct warning about an imminent attack but the Prophets sent me extra warnings of dangers at home. I thought they meant Bajor but now I wonder."
"What did they specifically say to you?" Macen asked directly.
"A Prophet in the guise of you told me to guard my home," Neela told them, "I now call Serenity home. Could the Prophet's warning mean the station instead of Bajor?"
"It'd be a first time the Prophets warned you about the station or its security?" Rockford asked.
"Yes," Neela answered, "But truthfully, the Prophets consider you their agents. So Bajoran security could reasonably extend to you as well."
"I'm so lost," Wyn complained.
"We need to return to our ships so I can contact Captain Riker. Neela, you need to pass this warning on as I do so," Macen told her, "And your suspicions behind it."
They quickly departed for their own ships leaving Captain Gilead in command of the Prophets' Hope until a new commanding officer would be arriving from Waypoint Station where a number of Kremlin-class scoutships were departing to join the search of the nearby systems.
Riker and Danan's joy at receiving a joint communique from Macen and Rockford from the field soon evaporated as Neela joined in the discourse. She and Macen shared their concerns. Riker tried not to scoff.
"Whoever came now would be idiots. We have several ships in port between assignments and the Iotians just delivered our order of Wanderer-class starships. One of which Caity Floss already had a command staff and crew recruited to man. They're incredibly young but they excelled in the Academy and were fast tracked junior officers when Starfleet forced them out over their protesting the recent wars. They'd all been at a crossroads when Floss went on a recruiting drive to fill the new hulls. Floss is presenting the rest of the command candidates to Lees and I in a few days and they'll select their command staff while Floss draws in crews from Starfleet enlisted personnel leaving the service," Riker seemed dour now despite his protestations.
"But Miranda Wells has a long memory and an abiding rage against you and your station's personnel," Neela continued to warn him, "Now that she's been elevated, she'll choose a moment when you have weary crewman on leave rather than fresh forces to resist a sudden strike with."
"The Orion Syndicate is already a galactic pariah for violating Barrinor's neutrality," Macen reminded them, "They'd already moved their financial assets so the banking cartels' usual practice of seizing accounts didn't do any good the last time. The actual flaunting of interstellar law made the Syndicate heroes to those customers and powers that resist the imposition of a civilized, external legal code being imposed upon them and being held accountable to it when dealing with foreigners."
"Brin makes a compelling point," Danan advised her husband.
"We already know the Syndicate sent enormous resources through the Wormhole and that Varic still has the bulk of his Grimes Armaments built fleet," Rockford told them, "Gomer has been recalling ships from protective details for weeks now. They've amassed a force with no clear objective."
"Why haven't I heard about this?" Riker was growing more concerned now.
"Priyanka Amoor has submitted three separate briefs on this," Danan scolded him, "You've just been avoiding Ops during her actual briefings."
Amoor was the station's new Staff Intelligence Officer. She worked the most closely with Korepanova but Riker received the same reports that she did. Only Korepanova took them seriously. Riker ruefully recalled that Amoor had been a Starfleet Intelligence analyst on the rise until she predicted that the invasions of the Cardassian Union and Bajoran Republic would ultimately fail. That assessment had been passed upward to the Secretary for Starfleet who gave it to then-President Chavy Sok. Fleet Admiral Clancy had pressured Amoor into resigning over political considerations rather than being dismissed from the service.
Caity Floss had been quick to dangle employment with Outbound Ventures in front Amoor. She'd have her choice of working for the SID department or the general contracts division. Amoor, of course, was intrigued by the offer pertaining to the SID. Especially knowing that the department within Outbound Ventures had been founded by the legendary nigh infamous, Brin Macen. Amoor could recruit her staff and would have nearly unlimited access to Starfleet Intelligence files with a clearance above her former grade.
Amoor leaped at the opportunity and had carefully built her analysts unit. Korepanova quickly adapted to having her aboard and sent her mission specific research requests. Riker, however, viewed her as an unnecessary outsider come late to the party. It seemed he was paying for his prejudice now.
"All right, I confess that I've been an ass," Riker sighed.
"Mark this day in the history books," Danan teased him, "Thomas Riker has admitted to being wrong."
"Ha ha," Riker grumped.
"I vetted Amoor myself. She has a solid general background as well as specialties in Romulan and Orion affairs," Macen told him.
"Which only compounds my mistake of ignoring her," Riker realized.
"Amoor has a strong background in Federation licensed security contractors," Rockford added, "She worked in the investigative department that vetted employees for operating licenses and Letters of Marque."
"I can't say I'm impressed by that," Riker told her.
"She was a cog in a wheel right out of the Academy. She didn't make any actual decisions. But she raised several red flags that were proven out after her superiors cleared select individuals," Rockford continued to share.
"Making her a good judge of character," Riker gathered, "Which means she's good at reading people from even scraps of information."
"He can be taught!" Danan cheered.
"Captain Riker, I haven't raised my concerns lightly," Neela warned him, "The Prophets sent their warning while Commander Macen and Detective Rockford were still dealing with Thomas Darcy and Treir. The mistake was in my interpretation not in the warning."
"I'll cancel all leaves and deploy all available ships to sentry duty on the far side of Odin. That'll make us appear vulnerable when we're not," Riker decided.
"That's a good plan," Macen said, "The weaker your defenses appear the more eagerly the Syndicate will strike. They're not a conventional military so they'll be relying on the element of surprise."
"Which they won't have thanks to Neela," Riker grinned.
"Before she can protest, you might to reconsider that wording and thank the Wormhole aliens for warning Neela in the first place," Danan advised him.
"Duly noted," Riker conceded.
"Thank you," Neela said gratefully.
"I need to check in with Captain Davis of the Neverwhere and Captain Watts of the Tigerlilja to how their surveys are going with the civilian specialists," Macen told Riker.
"Their last status reports were green," Riker frowned, "Do you know something I don't?"
"It's more a matter of what I'm afraid of," Macen told him, "Their investigations, as well as ours, could unlock a technology beyond our current understanding."
"And with the Orions and their proxies involved, that technology could easily be stolen or the planet it's found upon seized," Rockford added.
"If it's found on more than one planet and the Syndicate takes of one, then it becomes a literal arms race," Danan glowered.
"But, what kind of archaeologist would work for the Orions?" Riker wondered.
"I think we all know the answer to that question," Rockford accused, shooting Macen a venomous glare.
"Taryn Argus did work for the Cardassians and Cell 51 on many occasions already," Danan sighed in exasperation.
"Why hasn't Starfleet dealt with her?" Riker asked, "Or even Federation Security?"
"Starfleet arrested her in 2372," Macen said grimly, "She was sentenced to life on a penal colony. Her prison transport was hijacked. None of the prisoners or the crew were ever seen again. Section 31's archives revealed they liberated Argus and terminated everyone else aboard."
"Which is why she worked for Cell 51 and then Gul Maret again," Rockford derided any consideration of sparing Argus, "Which is why we should kill her when we get the chance."
"Now you're talking like an Angosian Augment Infiltrator," Danan warned her, "You're currently acting on Starfleet's behalf. They'll pursue legal action against you if you simply kill Argus for any reason than defense."
"I'm defending the galaxy from her dishing out grief," Rockford snorted.
"Grief is what got Taryn Argus to her current head space in the first place. She was like Soran, so obsessed with her losses when the Borg assimilated our worlds and our people, she went insane from it," Macen interrupted the discussion, "There are now only thirty-eight surviving El-Aurians in the Federation. I'm not to kill one of the last of my people known to survive assimilation."
"Fine. I'll do it. I've offered before," Rockford said, "She knows you won't kill her. She counts on it and plays games with your head because of it. I'm immune to her tricks and lies. If she gets close to discovering how to harvest this mystery tech we're looking for the Syndicate, I will put her down for the public good and my own peace of mind."
"The Federation quarantined worlds with Iconian gateways," Danan brought up a fine point, "They'd request that the Bajorans and Ascendant do the same with this theoretical technology."
"And if they refuse?" Riker asked.
"First Minister Astris would be receptive to such a request," Neela predicted.
"And Ghemor?"Riker inquired.
"I really don't know," Neela confessed, "It would depend on how the Prophets led her."
"I hate theocracies," Rockford groaned.
Neela's image visibly stiffened. Danan quickly interceded, "Celeste is opposed to theocracies based made up deities. While we disagree with the position that the Prophets are gods and not just a higher life form, we respect the surety the Prophets bring to the Bajoran people even if their interventions seem spotty to us."
"And to too many of my own people," Neela conceded, "But the Prophets are faithful. Remember, despite my appearance, I fought the Cardassian Occupation of Bajor. I saw first hand and lived through what Bajorans consider our darkest time. Yet, it was actually a rallying cry to unify our people and our faith where the D'jarras and vying religious orders had divided us before. That unity was shaken recently by the actions of apostate, ambitious vedeks. Their crimes included the mass murder of three million fellow Bajorans in the name of their ambition. The Prophets showed us who they were and how to reveal them."
"None of which anyone is contesting," Macen assured her.
"Those vedeks used your religion against you," Rockford pointed out, "What's to stop Ghemor from the same again when she has before?"
"Because now Ghemor has seen and embraced the Prophets' role for her where it was a useful fiction before. She's seen the Prophets first hand. Just as you have, Detective Rockford," Neela reminded her. Rockford was stung by Neela's formality. They'd been growing closer and far more informal until now.
"I don't mean to question your faith. It's your personal choice. But I don't believe the your Prophets are gods," Rockford tried to be apologetic.
"Detective, I'm well aware of your views of the Prophets of Bajor. But, they have a place for every friend of Bajor. They included you as one of those friends. Ghemor has been chosen. She will be a friend to Bajor and a faithful servant of the Prophets. They wouldn't have chosen and placed her as Emissary to the Ascendancy otherwise. Even if, like the Emissary to Bajor, she took some time to accept her role and believe in the Prophets with a pure faith. You accept Benjamin Sisko as a faithful servant of the Prophets despite his early lack of faith and even rejection of the Prophets," Neela pointed out.
Neela's obvious displeasure at Rockford's criticizing Ghemor's loyalty to the Prophets had stilted the conversation. Macen intervened, "We all know what we to do next. So let's get it done."
He signed off and the split screen display merged back into a corporate emblem. He sighed, "That certainly antagonized Neela."
"I wasn't trying to," Rockford was also disturbed by what had happened, "She's never been this prickly before."
"Neela's had a rocky road when it comes to faith issues. You have to remember, at her baseline, she's a religious zealot willing to kill for her gods. Tolerance for opposing views was a lesson directly taught to her by the Prophets. It isn't natural to her belief structure," Macen counseled Rockford.
"So you're saying she's reverting to type?" Rockford considered that.
"I'm saying that under pressure, Neela will fall back into familiar habits. So the question is: why is she under so much pressure?" Macen stated.
"She isn't saying," Rockford pointed out.
"Which raises the question of why she isn't sharing," Macne continued.
"It's always motive," Rockford fell back on her habits as an investigator, "Generally motive is self-interest. Neela portrays her interests as being selfless but that feeds a selfish desire for redemption. If she feels that redemption is out of reach, she'll back into old behaviors to each her ends by any means necessary."
Rockford ran the logic down, "For most sentients, latinum or other forms of currency is seen as the solution to the self-interest dilemma. But Neela seeks a religious euphoria that's even more elusive."
"But it's addictive," Macen said, "Look at the effect the Nexus had upon my people. In this space-time continuum, we were only within the Nexus Ribbon for seconds. But subjectively that euphoria felt like an eternity that was stolen from us by Captain Scott. Soran certainly pushed all boundaries to recapture that euphoric bliss. Where the rest of us gradually accepted the fact it was permanently denied to us now."
"But you've described how you and T'Kir wound up in the Nexus when you were killed. She talked you out of staying and you wound up back aboard the Solstice where your bodies had been recovered," Rockford recalled, "Kort couldn't fully determine if your bodies were healed or exchanged in that split second transference."
"You've studied his reports," Macen noted, "Why the interest?"
"It's the way you've always talked about the Nexus," Rockford shared, "There's a longing there. As though you regret choosing to leave while you were forced to the first time you were there in it. Like you regret leaving it to enter this space-time."
"I wasn't certain I was back in at first," Macen conceded the point, "But I would have shared an eternity there with her if we'd chose to."
"I think it was Admiral Picard's log record that mused that 'it's our mortality that defines us'. Maybe we aren't destined for eternity," Rockford mused, "Maybe we should just embrace the moment while we have it."
"Or maybe we should embrace both," Macen added, "One that ascends to the other."
"Are we talking transmigration of the soul?" Rockford scoffed.
"My people know with certainty there's existence beyond this life," Macen told her, "We see the gateway when we usher loved ones into that new life beyond. Our own experiences with Q Continuum showed us that there's existence beyond the material world. For El-Aurians that were touched by the Nexus Ribbon, our destination is linked to the Nexus itself."
"But you told T'Kir that connection was broken," Rockford reminded him.
"But was it?" Macen asked, "Or was that destiny altered again by the reconnecting through the Nexus to the here and now?"
"You feel it again, don't you?" Rockford realized, "You feel that abstract link to an echo of yourself in the Nexus."
"Don't you?" Macen asked, "I've seen the signs in all of us that came through by the Prophets' doing."
"You think we've been touched by eternity?" Rockford's skepticism returned, "All of us that came through?"
"I don't know," Macen confessed, "But I've seen glimmers in people's eyes and my native sensory perceptions of time-space around people and events is warped in a familiar way around us all now."
"Were you planning on sharing any time soon?" Rockford was disgruntled, "I thought we'd agreed on full disclosure between us."
"How do you describe that feeling?" Macen asked.
"I think you just did a fair job," Rockford put forth.
"But, it's nearly identical to what I get off of Neela. Her experience in the Prophets' Celestial Temple was entirely different than our migration through the Nexus, yet my senses say the journey was the same," Macen told her.
"You think the Prophets are linked to the Nexus Ribbon?" Rockford asked.
"I think they tap into the same continuum," Macen told her.
"That's a big leap," Rockford told him, "Even by your usual standards. You think the Wormhole aliens created the Nexus?"
"The Wormhole is an artificial construct made as a byproduct of the Prophets creating their Celestial Temple. What if the Nexus Ribbon is a byproduct of an earlier attempt to create it? Or even an aftereffect of the war between the Prophets and Pah-wraiths?" Macen conjectured,
"This is definitely Lees' arena," Rockford groaned, "I'm terrible with astrophysics and metaphysics. Especially when they're combined."
"She thinks it's plausible if not even likely," Macen told her.
"You've discussed with her but not me?" Rockford looked pained.
"It's admittedly outside your wheelhouse," Macen said, "I thought I'd spare you the headache."
"It is that," Rockford stated, "But it's also on your mind. Quite a bit here lately from what I'm gathering here and now."
"It seems the effort to spare you the headache backfired," Macen said ruefully.
"We share concerns. That's what intimacy is," Rockford reminded him, "You were spoiled the first times you married because you shared empathic or telepathic bonds with your wives. You're great at listening. It's in your nature and cultural heritage. But you are sometimes very terrible at sharing your thoughts on anything besides the professional."
"I tell you about how I feel about you," Macen replied.
"You're a romantic soul, I'll give you that," Rockford chuckled, "But have you ever thought maybe I'd want to listen to your innermost thoughts about anything and everything?"
"I am sorry," Macen confessed, "I've spent a lifetime building walls. T'Kir found our bonding attractive because I could block her hypersensitive telepathic ability. My career in Starfleet revolved around keeping secrets. My time since then has been more of the same. It's a hard habit to break."
"Then I suggest you start small and build your resume," Rockford smiled, "Because I want to hear you. Every bit you have to say and share. I think it's time you got to share what you feel is important on a personal level."
"I know you do and I trust you to," Macen confided, "I've just made secrecy a lifestyle. I've been tortured by the Cardassians on two separate occasions and didn't break in the limited time they held me. So, I'm deeply invested in keeping secrets."
"I was too, remember? But I've learned to open up. You can too," Rockford promised him, "I have that faith in you."
"It's strange to think that we met because you were trying to kill me. You even kept trying to over our next few encounters," Macen chuckled in remembrance, "I won't mention your prison break."
"It wasn't until after I left the Orion Syndicate and Annika Ryst behind me that we met again at that convention on Earth for investigators and security contractors," Rockford recalled fondly, "You surprised me by asking me to join your SID team."
"I surprised quite a few people when I did that," Macen also had pleasant memories of that event.
"Our Hannah Grace once shared that T'Kir protested the loudest," Rockford told him, "Yet you defended me and your decision. That was life altering."
"To be fair, you were trying to kill T'Kir as well when we met," Macen replied, "But I knew I was right about you. That you could be trusted."
"That's what I don't get," Rockford admitted, "You trust me with your life and your heart, yet you keep your mind walled up."
"That's not entirely true," Macen protested.
"You keep your innermost thoughts private," Rockford complained, "Those are the ones that matter most in a relationship."
"I do share the broad strokes. I just keep the details to myself," Macen clarified.
"But, as any investigator or analyst will tell you, the details are the meat," Rockford forcibly reminded him.
"I guess I just got used to keeping them private," Macen admitted, "Arinae and I certainly never shared them. I had to keep them sealed away from T'Kir. Lees and I fell apart because of my inner thoughts, which she knew better than I did. I've shared more with you than anyone."
"I need everything if this is going to work," Rockford warned him.
"El-Aurian history recorded the Iconians, the Shedai, and other ancient interstellar empires that ranged across the Alpha and Beta Quadrants and ventured into our portion of the Delta Quadrant that bordered the Beta Quadrant," Macen told her, "What I suspect we're uncovering now was another empire based further out in the Gamma Quadrant known as the Skaarian Empire."
"Skaarians?" Rockford repeated, "Why hasn't anyone heard of them?"
"They stole Iconian gateway technology and terrorized populations across every quadrant," Macen explained, "A coalition of advanced races opposed them. My people and the Metron Confederacy would be the best known to you."
"So, where are they?" Rockford asked.
"We never discovered the location of their home planet. They destroyed their own gateways and the coalition hunted them down for their crimes. They favored stealing slaves from undeveloped worlds. We repatriated as many as we found. But with the gateways network destroyed, we had to assume countless planets had remnant Skaarian and slave populations," Macen told her.
"You make it sound as though you were involved," Rockford noted.
"I'm not that old," Macen chuckled, "The coalition was founded after my people fought the Q Collective and the Iconian Empire was destroyed from within by the Skaarians."
"Now that you made sound personal," Rockford additionally noted.
"It was believed the Skaarians were a slave race to the Iconians. Which would easily explain them following in those particular footsteps," Macen told her, "The Iconians weren't known for overt slavery. They were primarily raiders. But they would take hold of certain worlds of value which how they formed an empire. No one ever knew how far their foothold really went since they could ostensibly reach every corner of every quadrant."
"Which leads us to Raas," Rockford said, "Do you think any of the planet's inhabitants are native to the world?"
"That's for the Ascendant and the Bajorans to discover," Macen shrugged, "Starfleet wasn't granted jurisdiction by the Ascendant to undertake a study of the human populations. So, we were hired to do so."
"We're woefully ill equipped to do so effectively," Rockford pointed out.
"It's an investigation. We have a team of investigators. Even if the humans lack written languages, they'll have oral histories. We just need to engage them to learn what they are," Macen shared with, "Dr. Smith and Dr. Jones will basically be doing the same with any inhabitants they find following up on Dr. Schneider and Dr. Chopra's work."
"And the Orion Syndicate?" Rockford asked, "Are we just going to pretend they aren't on their way?"
"The Iridians will have hired them to recover a working gateway or enough of one to reverse engineer one," Macen said gravely, "If we do manage to recover even a partial gateway intact, we have to destroy it."
"I'm surprised the Iridians would work with proxies like the Orions. They exiled Bertram Sindis after all," Rockford confessed.
"I think we had Sindis all wrong. He was too good a strategist and tactician to simply be let loose. I think he was the advance scout and mastermind behind the effort now underway," Macen told her.
"Why the change of heart?" Rockford asked.
"You worked directly for him for period. His ambitions were just a little short of an invasion plan. The Iridian Enforcers could have provided the actual military forces when he was ready to deploy them," Macen explained himself, "The Iridians launched their invasion attempt after Sindis died in a stated retribution for that death. The deaths of criminal and political exiles is usually celebrated or ignored, not avenged."
"So Sindis' takeover of the Orion Syndicate was meant to further the invasion plan, working as a form of Fifth Column," Rockford began to appreciate the immensity of the lie Sindis may have been spinning all those years ago.
"Which would explain why the death of Sindis' clone didn't spark an official reaction but his actual death spawned an invasion," Macen concluded his argument.
"So, now they're just running the old playbook again without a Sindis at the head of Syndicate," Rockford appreciated the irony, "But Gomer is head of the largest Orion house. She effectively runs the Syndicate as a whole while the other major houses pay the Syndicate tribute and she gets a piece of that plus the loot from her own raiders."
"The organized Syndicate is always a front for the strongest house. Which is why leadership remains fluid," Macen explained facts that weren't known until recently about the Orions, "And why houses rise and fall with their fortunes of their criminal enterprises."
"How do the Blue Orions, excuse me, 'Or-ree-ons', stay afloat? They're idiots," Rockford asked.
"Maybe they're the closest thing to a protected minority Orions have?" Macen asked in reply, "The Andorians tolerated the Aenar for thousands of years before they earned equal rights under the Federation Charter."
"And the Tellarites have tuskers and non-tuskers," Rockford sighed, "And they're both pretty intolerant societies within their home spheres."
"Maybe they keep them as pets?" Macen chortled, "They seem capable of feeding themselves."
"That's terrible," Rockford scolded him despite her own smirk, "Probably apropos but terrible."
Rockford collected herself, "Was that your way of sharing an innermost thought?"
"Basically. It occurred to me when we got the reports on Iridian movements," Macen told her, "But one roller coaster revelation after another seemed to take precedence."
"It's a work in progress," Rockford told him, "But you get marks for sharing what was at the top of your mind. Next, you're going to have figure out of you've been holding any secrets back because you thought I wouldn't understand them."
"I've shared all those that my culture will allow me talk about. El-Aurian history isn't for the faint of heart. But that's included with the next level of the philosophical teachings of the Seekers of Truth," Macen told her.
"What about personal secrets?" Rockford asked.
"I've shared those. Except I don't kiss and tell on past lovers," Macen informed her.
"Dammit! That's the juicy stuff!" Rockford fumed, "What about Mariska? She doesn't remember anything to keep private."
"Same rules apply," Macen told her before reminding her, "I never ask you to share sex stories."
"What about everything leading up to sex? Like the things that motivated you to get that close?" Rockford clarified.
"Now those so-called 'secrets' I can discuss," Macen sighed, "The loophole has always been, you never showed any interest."
"I'm certainly not the jealous type. But I've questions about your judgment in certain cases," Rockford told him, "Judgment that may, or may not, reflect poorly on me."
"Our relationship is unlike any I've had before," Macen promised her, "So there's no basis for comparison."
"But that could be argued for every relationship," Rockford complained.
"You're going to find out, it can't be," Macen assured her.
"Then let's start with biggest frinxing bomb. What ever made you hook up with Taryn Argus?" Rockford struggled to understand.
"The Taryn you know isn't the Argus I grew close to. Even before our people were assimilated, we went on divergent paths in association with our ethics concerning being A&A Officers for the Survey Corp," Macen told her, "She wanted to make it about currency and creature comforts that it could afford her. I stayed with the Survey Corp out of a sense of adding to my people's well of knowledge."
"How long ago was this?" Rockford wondered.
"Before I ever left the Delta Quadrant," Macen explained, "Just two years after I was assigned my first independent berth as an A&A Officer."
"So, we're talking four hundred years?" Rockford wrapped her mind around that, "Did you ever make contact again?"
"Not until she boarded the Lakul," Macen named the freighter that had brought El-Aurian survivors to the Alpha Quadrant and been trapped at the edge of the Nexus Ribbon, "I refused her passage."
"You could do that?" Rockford was surprised.
"I was made Acting Second Officer to help pay my passage and that of a few others," Macen explained, "I found out after our fateful first meeting in the Alpha Quadrant that she'd made passage into the Beta Quadrant and eventually reached the Federation's expanding borders there in the mid-24th Century."
"You left her to fend for herself at Deep Space Five but you won't kill her," Rockford summarized her personal dilemma, "Even though it was likely she could end up dead somewhere outside of your sphere of influence."
"I could've ended up staying in the Nexus," Macen shrugged, "Fate plays games with us all."
"I worry about the way you describe fate like a person," Rockford admitted, "That's a secret I've held onto."
"Once we go though El-Aurian history, you'll find out why," Macen told her, "Right now we don't have time, it's dangerous to summarize, and you'd be getting ahead of the others."
"And if perchance you die on this mission?" Rockford drolly asked.
"You're a crack investigator. Get it out of Guinan," Macen smirked, "With my blessing, of course."
Rockford seriously considered smothering him with a pillow until he passed out. His headache afterwards would be with her personal blessing.
"This a vulgar version of Iconian," Doctor Idaho Smith tipped his fedora back and stood from his squat to relieve his arthritic joints, "It's almost a profane version of High Iconian."
"I never studied an Iconian artifact," Doctor Schneider admitted, "That was always reserved for Starfleet."
"With good reason. The existing Iconian Gateways that have been found had to be dismantled or utterly destroyed for security reasons. You're certain there's no sign of a gateway here?"
"There's a base that could've mounted one," Schneider told him, "I inspected a five hundred kilometer survey radius around these ruins."
"Your scout is well equipped but the Neverwhere has far more advanced sensors," Smith told her, "Captain Davis knows the drill and Science Officer Shepherd is a gifted researcher. But don't tell them I said so. I have to play the gruff old man."
Schneider had briefly met Lena Davis and Drew Shepherd. She'd been impressed by both women and their ability not to gawk at her multi-hued mohawk. She noted Smith seemed distracted by some aspect of her, "What is it?"
He noted her irritation, "How can you wear leather pants in a jungle?"
"How can you wear a leather jacket?" Schneider shot back at him.
"I'm old. My circulation isn't what it used to be," Smith replied, "You have to be chafing in those things."
Smith's comm badge chirped and swatted it, "What?"
"Is now a bad time?" Davis snickered.
"We're in the middle of a vital discussion," Smith ttold her, "Do you have something to report?"
"There are remains of smaller settlements scattered throughout the jungle in the periphery of the temple site and city," Davis told him, "We can send down teams to assist you."
"You'd probably better. I want the investigators and forensics teams assigned to this. None of the Security goons," Smith ordered.
"You're the ranking officer," Davis sighed.
"I see you command respect," Schneider scoffed.
"I'm not big on formality. They brought me in as a Commodore as a sign of respect. I'm literally outranked in the tables by a Captain who won't accept promotion," Smith said gruffly, "So, it's all one big farce."
"Settlements indicate that there were survivors from whatever happened to scatter the population," Schneider pointed out.
"You mapped this location with surprising thoroughness but you barely mentioned the language differences between what could been districts. I marked three separate human proto-alphabets as well as other ancient glyphs from other planets stretching from across the Alpha and Beta Quadrants. There's also a number of them I don't recognize. But every district is marked by the same language. Probably designators for the species that gathered the slaves," Smith informed her.
"Who said anything about slaves?" Schneider asked.
"You were so busy trying to cash in this discovery you never took the time to notice the simple fact that even the human languages represented pre-date oceanic voyages. These were next to neolithic cultures. They were still locked in as hunters and gatherers. How could they manage interstellar flight? And what use would primitives be to an advanced species other than to form a menial class?" Smith lectured her, "And the Iconians themselves were beaten by outside coalition of forces after being undermined by a slave race of their own. That race was apparently called the Skaarians. Legends across the galaxy speak of brutal raiders that were even worse than the Iotians because they didn't steal resources or build bases, they simply stole people."
"So why aren't these legendary figures known in history?" Schneider still doubted.
"Because," Smith wore a lopsided grin, "the coalition that defeated the Iconians came together one last time to end the Skaarian threat. But that ended the threat. No legends ever reported the return of the missing peoples. That also ended the coalition. No interstellar coalition formed again until the Coalition of Planets was signed into being and it evolved into the United Federation of Planets. You should broaden your mind once in while, Dr. Schneider. The look says a lot about your willing renegade status. But you've got the heart and mind of a decent archaeologist. Trying flexing those muscles instead."
Schneider didn't know whether to feel insulted or flattered. She settled on a little of both. The Neverwhere's teams began beaming down at that point and their discussion ended as Smith's padd was updated with the starship's orbital scans and he began assigning teams and location.
"C'mon, kid. You're with me," Smith told her. Now Schneider did feel insulted as she was relegated to sidekick status. At her discovery site and world.
"I never thought I'd see a Starfleet officer dressed so...informally," Chopra admitted to Cairo Jones. Jones emulated her mentor and wore an Australian wide brimmed fedora along with a white shirt and khaki pants. She kept a surveyor's bag strapped across her chest hanging at her hip.
"I'm not Starfleet anymore," Jones grinned, "So I can wear whatever the hell I want in the field."
"For a bunch of privateers, your crew seems pretty Starfleet to me. Even the retro uniforms give off the vibe," Chondra took Jones to main antechamber in the ziggurat she'd explored on the uncharted world, "Here's the unknown language. I identified most of the city's dwelling gateways as proto-alphabets to races across the Alpha and Beta Quadrants with a few other unknowns. But each marker also had lettering matching this graven proclamation."
"This could be our Rosetta Stone," Jones told her, "Look around the room. There's copies of this, presumably, written in the other glyphs."
"I'd noticed that as well. But since being cut from the Archaeologist Guild I've lost my access to the linguistics library," Chopra explained.
"Fortunately, I'm a member in good standing so I keep updated copies in my personal database aboard the Tigerlilja," Jones chuckled. She called up the data on the portable computer linked with the orbiting starship. Using her tricorder, she scanned in every representation of the sprawling document. Then she set the computer to work cross-referencing alphabets.
"This could take a while," Jones warned Chopra, "This is all Starfleet surplus. So the computers aren't as fast as modern equipment."
Her comm badge chirped and she tapped it, "Dr. Jones here."
It was Captain Watts, "We surveyed the planet like you asked. We've detected dozens of smaller encampment ruins in a five hundred klick perimeter around the main site. What do you want to do?"
"I'll send up a wish list of things to look for and you can deploy our investigative and forensics teams to the sites," Jones replied.
"Copy that. I'll start deploying the teams," Watts replied.
"Must be nice having your own personal starship captain at your beck and call," Chopra smirked.
"Aboard ship, I answer to Captain Watts. But in the field, I'm the Mission Commander," Jones grinned.
The tribal human encampment on Raas was alarmed by the SID team landing the Corsair in their midst. They appeared to be of Mesopotamian stock. The "natives" were armed with lower grade particle weapons. Since they didn't appear to have a manufacturing base, they'd stolen the weapons from the more advanced Raasians. But it wasn't certain yet, the so-called native race was native to the world. They simply had taken the best settlement area and occupied it.
Macen held his hands up to indicate he wouldn't draw the phaser from its holster. In his hand, he held a tricorder tied into a padd in his other hand. The assembly gave several orders with they gathered a man and woman dressed in ornate, classical Egyptian garb.
Macen studied the display on the padd, "They're speaking dialects that haven't been on Earth for nearly five thousand years."
"Is the Universal Translator ever going to catch up?" Rockford grated.
"What is a 'universal translator'?" the obvious leader asked.
"A device we each wear to allow us to communicate with anyone we meet," Macen explained, "We're not here to harm you. We're here to learn your history."
"Our history?" the seeming Pharaoh asked.
"You're from another world. One that's distant from here. You, and the people groups like you, were brought here thousands of years ago. Your ancestors were stolen from their homes," Macen tried to explain, "We want to know who did that and what became of them."
"There are legends of a world with a single sun and single sun god," Pharaoh told them.
"But we have two suns and therefore we both embody the sun gods," his sister asserted.
"My sister is correct," Pharaoh admitted, "As she always is."
"This device will tell us a lot about where you came from," Macen leveled the tricorder at the pair, "This won't harm you."
He studied the readings and Rockford could tell they disturbed him but his poker face held for the others, "You're brother and sister."
"As I stated," Pharaoh grew impatient.
"She's carrying your twins," Macen said.
"As is royal custom," the female Pharaoh interjected.
"Madness or dullness infect royal houses after generations and you have to replace them with new lineage. How do you choose?" Macen asked.
"Through a divine lottery," Pharaoh proudly answered, "Twins are rare. So, a family with twins is selected to raise the next Pharaohs."
Shade looked indifferent. Forte fretted while Lee bore a distasteful expression. Daggit and Burrows were better schooled in keeping their reactions private. Mudd, in particular, was building up to an over-reaction. Rockford quickly intercepted her before she could blurt something blasphemous to the "living gods".
"Cool it, Harri. Your own ancestors on Earth practiced similar customs," Rockford whispered to her.
"And there's a reason they all died out as freaks," Mudd hissed back.
"You don't practice a written language, do you?" Macen asked, "But you keep oral histories."
"The priests maintain the histories," the female Pharaoh scoffed, "Even outside tribes practice the same. Where are you from?"
"From beyond the suns. We can travel between stars and worlds. Most of us come from different worlds but work together for a common cause," Macen gave the abridged version, "The world your ancestors came from has learned of you. They wish to learn about you and have you learn what happened to your great civilizations after they were taken."
"Why?" the male Pharaoh bluntly asked.
"They travel the stars to meet new peoples. Just as there are many people groups on Raas besides humans like yourselves, there are vast numbers of people groups on different worlds. The people you come from now live on hundreds of worlds. Some are even like this one," Macen told them, "If you wish to simply be left in peace, they'll respect your wishes. But if you extend a hand of friendship, they can give the means to produce limitless water and food."
"They would offer this to other tribes as well?" the female Pharaoh already sounded jealous.
"To every tribe that would accept the offer," Macen told her.
"Prove you can conjure water and food," she demanded.
Macen called Parva aboard the Obsidian and requested both a dedicated food replicator and one for water. Each came with their own power sources. She beamed down with the replicators.
The Pharaohs were agog along with the people. The male managed to find his voice first, "You can appear out of thin air as the legends say."
"Except we're not Skaarians," Macen promised him.
"You know the cursed name!" the female Pharaoh hissed again.
"My people helped defeat them. Which why I believe they abandoned this world and left your ancestors behind and alone on it with the other tribes," Macen told the Pharaohs, "We're investigating other worlds as well that may have been occupied by them at one time."
"What are these cubes?" the male Pharaoh's curiosity grew.
"Let me program your language into them and I'll show you," Macen offered.
"The green skinned woman, she's part of your tribe?" the female Pharaoh asked.
"She married into the tribe after we adopted her," Macen fudged the details.
"I'll get you for that," Parva whispered to him as he led the Pharaohs passed her.
He used his padd to program the language database, "Now, we took the liberty of programming known meals on Raas. Ask for a common one."
The male did so and it was replicated. Macen grinned, "You can place food items into it and tell it to scan them and it will be able to recreate them afterwards. Now ask the other one for a glass of water," Macen instructed.
The disbelieving female Pharaoh did so and it appeared. Macen urged her, "Drink it."
She tried to hide her fear and she drank and she laughed, "It is fresh water free of sand."
"Feel free to test it out," Macen stepped aside to talk with Tessa, who'd used her mobile emitter to join the landing party. The Ardanans, Smith and Kerber, had brought portable computers. Macen took Tessa aside, "Did I read the scan right?"
"Both twins have congenital birth defects. They aren't likely to survive long enough to birth," Tessa confirmed it, "The ruling siblings have them too. They each have heart defects. The sister isn't likely to survive an actual childbirth."
"She seems quicker witted than her brother," Macen said.
"Another defect from the incest that bred them," Tessa confirmed it, "He has degraded frontal lobes."
"Boss Man, we have a problem," Parva told him as she approached the quartet, "You promised to hand out replicators like they're candy. But the Obsidian left orbit after beaming me down with the replicators."
"They'll be back in three days," Macen reminded her, "They're just running a basic survey of the surrounding solar systems assisted by the Bajorans. It'll take that long for the heralds I'm about to ask for to reach all the human tribes."
"Awfully speciest of you," Kerber snorted.
"No other Federation races have been detected by the Militia," Macen told her, "But there are Cardassians and Talarian life signs. The Bajoran government reported the findings to both governments. They chose not to send investigators."
"But you recognized some of the bio scans," Smith observed.
"Yes, they're Deeper Beta Quadrant and some Delta Quadrant races none of our employers or allies have made contact with yet," Macen told her, "The interesting fact is that the Ba'ku have representatives here. They must have been abducted before they abandoned their native world."
"The Ba'ku developed technology at a similar pace as the Bajorans," Smith recalled, "Faster even."
"True. They're probably the most advanced unwitting colonists on the planet. But remember, the Ba'ku chose to abandon advanced technology because they destroyed their planet with it. And the children that went off to become the S'ona were conquerors," Macen reminded them.
"Then why aren't they the dominant species?" Parva wondered.
"They built the only other city on Raas," Macen told her, "Presumably to fashion an industrial and agricultural base. But they trekked to other side of the planet to settle down on."
"It doesn't explain why the identified Raasians produced starships before the Ba'ku," Parva frowned.
"That may not necessarily be true," Macen replied, "Varic bought his advanced starships from Grimes Armaments. The Ascendancy was considered advanced by comparison of native spaceflight standards. Varic's ships and those of his competitors had warp capability. But their fastest ships had just reached Warp Two capacity. Varic made his fortune plundering Raas and trading with alien traders."
"Wouldn't the Ascendancy detect Ba'ku space capabilities?" Kerber asked.
"Maybe not," Macen told her, "If they were brought here at the same time as the other races, they were already an advanced warp capable culture. Given their hostile environment and the collective trauma of every tribal group, they may have developed forms of cloaking technology."
"Which implies either defensive or offensive intentions," Smith noted.
"Can't it be both?" Kerber argued with her lifelong friend.
"They haven't taken over the planet," Smith shrugged, "Yet."
"The Ba'ku maintain their privacy which means Starfleet's quarantining the Briar Patch also means we don't exchange a lot of information," Macen admitted, "The S'ona left Ba'ku with enough technology to invade other worlds. It may have been a remnant cultural imperative."
"The all important locals wish to speak to you again," Rockford interrupted the conjecture, "They've agreed to summon their holy men to tell you stories."
"Tell us stories," Macen corrected her, "That's why your team is here. To interview priests."
"Why do you need a team?" Rockford wondered.
"Their oral history is too long to be memorized by one person. So they'll have divided up epochs among the priests. We need to interview all of them to get the entirety of the history," Macen explained.
"And Angelique and Bailey are here to store what we record and place it into a single narrative," Rockford understood now.
"So, an A&A Officer is essentially an investigator focused on the past," Macen grinned, "Your people will be naturals. And people like talking to Arianna. Shade can coax the information out of them. Lee needs a lesson in not interrogating the nice oral historians."
"And what pray tell will Daggit, Parva, Mudd, and Burrows be doing?" she wondered.
"Delivering the message to the other tribal groups to send envoys of their oral historians to this location. I'll roll out the sales pitch for each one and see if I can grease Starfleet's way here," Macen still grinned, "Simplicity itself."
"Wipe that smug smirk of your face," Rockford warned him, "It'll rile the locals."
"It's offending you," Macen poked the bear.
"Damn straight. And remember, your plans always get clusterfrinxed," Rockford told him.
"Maybe we'll finally have that first time it doesn't," Macen hoped.
"You don't believe that either," Rockford could tell.
"The Ba'ku's cousins worry me. They've stayed hidden from the Ascendant while occupying the largest permanent dwelling on the planet," Macen revealed, "Just how much like the S'ona are they?"
"I guess we'll find out sooner than we want to," Rockford sighed.
"Red Alert! Shields up! Arm phasers and photons," Jones ordered as Forger emerged from her Ready Room.
"What the ever-loving hell?" the transgender captain asked.
"Orion pirate raider in sensor range. They detected us and altered course to intercept," Jones explained.
"Big raider or little raider?" Forger took her seat.
"Call it medium sized," Jones guessed, "It's lighter than a heavy cruiser but it can outgun and can outrun us easily enough."
"Maybe they want to negotiate?" Forger hoped, "Make a trade?"
"Orions don't send raiders in to negotiate," Jones from experience, "They send them to take things."
"Let's see the thing," Forger sighed, "Zimbalist, put her on screen."
Forger had been a Tactical Officer in Starfleet so she studied the design, "It's a hybrid between a Romulan Scout and Klingon Bird-of-Prey."
"They probably stole the specs on each and hybridized them," Jones explained, "The Orions haven't been very original since the 23rd Century."
"How many do expect are out here?" Forger wondered.
"Each major House in the Syndicate will send a ship to every location they're scouting," Jones told her, "There's too much rivalry between them to allow for a single ship."
"Gomer erased our death marks but she didn't offer any protection from the Syndicate and we just dealt them a major blow," Forger complained.
"They've dropped to impulse," Miller reported from the Tactical Station, "Their shields are up and they're weapons hot."
"They're also transmitting signals in every direction," Zimbalist noted, "It's all encrypted."
"And our encryption gurus are on Raas," Jones griped.
"Why do I have a bad feeling about this?" Zimbalist asked.
"Because you have one about everything fun," Aglaia snorted from the helm.
Some of her crewmates had doubts about her ideas of fun. Aglaia's thrill seeking was now potentially endangering their lives. But she was the finest pilot they'd had outside of Hannah Grace and Tracy Ebert. Ebert focused on the Danube-class runabout currently on Raas while Grace had rejoined Starfleet following her marriage to Ian Delaney and Robert Tavar Johnson had used his Flag Officer status to get her assigned to the USS Intrepid to be with her husband. With Ebert and the Corsair missing, they had no support craft.
Phaser fire struck the Orion raider's shields and they flared to visibility. Over their ventral plane, a Kremlin-class surveyor streaked by, firing aft torpedoes as she did so.
"And Major Kris just started the fight I was going to try and avoid," Forger grated as the shields took several strikes. Aglaia managed to evade the torpedoes launched at them with a boost in impulse speed and firing every RCS thruster on the starboard side.
"Given your last communication with her, I'm surprised she stepped in at all," Jones confessed.
"Jaycee, hit the Orions with everything we've got. Maybe we can get them to retreat," Forger ordered Miller.
"Bajor and Orion are still technically at war with each other," Zimbalist reminded everybody, "So, I don't think this is really on our behalf."
"But she can't take the raider by herself so she sucked us into it," Jones understood now, "I hate to admit it but it's a devilishly good plan."
"I think I hate her," Forger grouched.
"You're just pissy because you haven't gotten laid enough since your Sexual Reassignment Surgery," Jones chuckled.
"Can we discuss my sex life when we're not getting shot at?" Forger sniped.
"You're just proving my point," Jones said.
"Four centuries! Count them! Four! And they still haven't engineered a means for me to internally self-lubricate my vagina!" Forger got it off her chest, "It's a pain in the ass to have to lube someone's dick in the heat of the moment."
"You seemed to get by with it when you were being frinxed in the ass alone," Jones reminded.
"But people expected it! I'm kind of missing a penis now! No one expects utter and complete vaginal dryness when they're about to get inside me," Forger ranted.
"Um...Captain? Can I report the arrival of an Archer-class Militia scout now?" Miller interrupted.
"I'm done venting," Forger promised, "Is it the Prophets Scout?"
"Captain Gil hailed. He apologized for Major Kris' preemptive strike," Zimbalist told her
"It isn't his call to do so," Forger grated, "That's on Major Kris. How she resumed command is beyond me."
"The raider is changing course and making for an exit vector," Miller told them, "Her warp engines are energizing."
The Prophets Journey corkscrewed a pinwheel, firing torpedoes at the raider's starboard warp engine. The shields flickered out of life under the barrage and the torpedo strikes destroyed the in-built nacelle.
"The Orions are surrendering," Zimbalist told Forger, "To us. Not the Militia."
"Call Kris off," Forger ordered, "Jaycee, target the Prophets Journey and send them a message that the Orions have surrendered to us."
"You won't want to hear her reply. The Universal Translator edited it out," Miller winced, "But they're standing down."
"Hail the Orions," Forger instructed. To her surprise, the Orion captain wasn't Orion, or even out of her teens from the looks of it.
"I get that expression lot," the teen said, "I'm Captain Miranda Kale and you're Shannon Forger."
"Should I have heard of you?" Forger wondered.
"Arianna Forte hasn't mentioned me?" Kale seemed hurt, "Exes, am I right?"
"I take it you're from Miri," Forger ignored the jab at Forte.
"One labeled as one of the less 'civilized' refugees," Kale shrugged, "Everyone has to make a living. So here I am."
"This isn't a social call. You've surrendered. Want to hear my terms?" Forger asked.
"No, this is me warning you every other Orion House has been alerted to your presence. They'll be sending ships to here any time now," Kale chuckled, "Even with three of you, you won't repeat that nutty stunt to cripple my warp nacelle on the others."
"Why give me a warning and not waste my time until they get here?" Forger asked.
"You're Ari's friend, or at the least the captain of the ship she travels on. Call it a gesture of good will," Kale offered her explanation, "I advise you all to return to Raas. With the Ascendant there in force, the Houses might negotiate. Then again, they might not. I call it even gambling odds."
"One minute you're prepping to fire on us and now you're extending 'mercy'?" Forger was still skeptical.
"I was going to cripple your warp nacelles and have a reunion with Ari as my terms of surrender," Kale laughed, "But I can tell by your reaction to her name that she isn't aboard. So, I'll make repairs and have my reunion on Raas."
"Why a personal agenda?" Jones asked, "You were ordered to secure a potential Iconian gateway."
"Because the Raasians would've exploited one a long time ago if they had one," Kale had deduced, "The Syndicate has an advantage in numbers in the region. We aren't historians or hardly scientists but we have some hired experts that assured us the surrounding populated planets are inhabited by natives that originated on each world. There's no signs of Iconian tech or even remains of it. So that means we're all headed for Raas. Gomer ordered us to cooperate so the competition between Houses will be less intense."
"I'll convince our Bajoran benefactors to call off the war in this region while we all conclude Raas is free of Iconian technology," Forger offered, "Best I can do."
"I'll hold to that. 'Cause if the Bajorans press their declaration of war here, no one can save you. Ari's friends or not," Kale warned her, "Tell her I'm coming and the past is the past. All's forgiven."
"With Bajor and the Orions at war, how the hell did you slip into the Wormhole?" Jones asked.
"We were already in the quadrant when the declaration of war went out," Kale snickered, "It was too late to go hunting for us. We've been here for months. Oh, and Miranda Wells says 'Hi'."
Kale could tell Forger was less than receptive, "Or, maybe not today."
"If you're committed to reaching Raas, you know that the planet will be defended," Forger warned Kale.
"We're just about the least of what's headed towards you. Duly warned," Kale smiled brightly and cut the transmission.
"Edwin, tell our Bajoran friends to pull back to Raas," Forger instructed.
He did so and turned his seat to face her, "Major Kris is resisting the order."
"Remind her that General Kira put me in command. She follows the chain of command or my next transmission will be to the General Staff on Bajor," Forger grimly replied.
"She's complying but she's using terms the translator won't render while referring to you," Zimbalist winced.
"I can guess the English equivalents," Forger said, "Aglaia, set course for Raas at Warp 5. Zimbalist, raise the Ascendant War Vedek in command at Raas and find out how soon we can be reinforced."
"Aye, Ma'am," Zimbalist turned back to his OPS board.
"I hope Macen is having an easier time of it," Jones admitted.
"I doubt it. He and Celeste attract trouble. And Neela is on the planet," Forger sighed.
"There only two permanent settlements on the planet," Ghemor was explaining to Neela as they took a tour of the one claimed the Raasians. Militia scouts were determining whether or not the so-called "native" Raasians were actually from this world. Ghemor continued, "The other has rebuffed all attempts to contact it. Our envoys haven't even had a face to face contact with those city dwellers. But their agricultural practices attest to their technological superiority to any other planet dweller. Yet they remain isolated as the only dwellers on the other side of the world."
"This city is old," Neela said as she took in everything, "There's script and glyphs of dozens of races at every district and on the walls of buildings. I think these were separated quarters for different races brought here before they escaped into the deserts."
"The Bajoran Scouts have been unable to identify most of the alphabets being used on the walls," Ghemor admitted.
"They're used to modern scripts. If Commander Macen is right, these settlers were brought here before most of the cultures developed actual widespread alphabets. These are proto-languages. Likely exclusive dialects of the tribal groups kidnapped and brought here," Neela explained.
"When did you suddenly become an expert?' Ghemor laughed.
"My friend, Dr. Cairo Jones, has been mentoring me in archaeology," Neela confessed, "It's a fascinating discipline."
"Are you certain Dr. Jones isn't your fascination?" Ghemor inquired.
"We're just friends, and so it'll remain," Neela told her.
"Because she isn't interested in more," Ghemor said.
"Dr. Jones isn't as sexually liberal as I am," Neela told her, "But even if she were open to a relationship, I'm not certain it could last for long given our different priorities."
"Meaning her Federation-bred conscience wouldn't tolerate a lover terminating Cultist wherever they're found," Ghemor finally understood, "We've permanently dealt with Cultist missionaries in our regions of influence. But we're finding them imbedded on worlds we're just reaching. They've used our policy of free passage for Bajoran flagged vessels to penetrate our territory and go beyond it. I suppose it was easier doings when the Cult of the Pah-wraiths only accepted Bajoran believers into the fold."
"The Emissary to the Bajorans bound them and Dukat but their believers remained on Empok Nor. Though the Militia and the Federation has blockaded the station, humanitarian aid still gets through and messages are smuggled out in the name of Dukat's half-Bajoran son though the boy is still too young to take his father's place as an Emissary from the Pah-wraiths," Neela stated, "The title would be symbolic since the Kosst Amojan have selected Dukat alone and he shares their imprisonment in the Fire Caves."
"But he's being raised to believe he's a messianic figure for the Cult of the Pah-wraiths," Ghemor was almost despondent, "No one should be forced to live that life."
Odon, Maru, and Varis caught up with them and Odon reported in, "Major Wyn and Lieutenant Griff have made a suspicious contact."
'How suspicious?" Ghemor found the assessment vague.
"Cultist missionaries are handing padds with the fragments of the Cult's holy texts that have been recovered and compiled, "Varis explained to her. And handed her a representative padd, "They didn't recognize it as being Bajoran."
"Then how did the Cult arrive here?" Ghemor demanded to know.
"Other races have embraced the Cult, including a number of Cardassians," Neela warned her, "Because of you, Cardassians are held with high esteem or extreme hostility on Raas."
"What race were they?" Ghemor wanted to know.
"They appeared to be human," Maru said hesitantly.
"You doubt that?" Neela asked.
"We were briefed that the humans on Raas lacked advanced technology that wasn't stolen by raiding parties. These used transporters to leave the city," Maru explained her doubts.
"There aren't any human starships in orbit," Odon pointed out, "Not even the Obsidian with a mixed race crew."
"There are no unregistered starships at all," Ghemor concluded.
"That you're aware of," Neela countered, "You said the city on the opposite of the planet has resisted all of your attempts to scan it. What if they developed starships that also resist standard scanning protocols?"
"Every attempt to contact those settlers has ended in failure. We've never even seen an inhabitant," Ghemor shared.
"Or maybe they blend in with the humans," Neela conjectured.
"Which could mean they have spies that have watched the Ascendancy since we arrived," Ghemor felt a chill, "But we came in peace."
"You came to baptize by the sword, as the humans would say," Neela refuted her, "Peace just ended up delivering more converts once Varic's influence was removed."
"We had some initial setbacks and misunderstandings," Ghmer said stiffly.
"That was the old Ghemor," Neela said, "The Prophets have shown you a cleaner path. You've embraced it. But your past may end up haunting you on worlds like these where you tried to force the faith upon people. You've been watched and judged. The Cultists obviously chose a different path to converts that met approval."
Neela turned to Odon, "Have Major Wyn and Lieutenant Griff return to the Razor's Edge to assist Katts and Javi track down our elusive inhabitants."
"Why not contact them directly?" Odon asked.
"I feel we're still being observed. I don't want our reaction to seem alarmist. I want them lulled into a sense of security," Neela told him, "Leave Varis and Maru with us if it makes you feel safer."
"My children have been watched since our arrival," Ghemor shuddered to think of it in terms a Cardassian would understand, Covert observations led to disappearances and deaths in Cardassian society.
"The fact they have superior means over every inhabitant and chose to live in obscurity speaks either highly of them or borders on paranoia," Neela opined.
"And when one slips into the other?" Ghemor asked.
"Then, I'd say we'd need to find a method for detecting potentially cloaked ships," Neela said grimly.
"There's a whole planet of nothing out here," Mudd complained from the runabout's OPS station. Ebert pointed at the OPS display.
"Keep detecting human life signs," Ebert scolded her, "I don't want to be out after the suns set."
"Aren't we being a tad racist?" Mudd inquired.
"The Federation doesn't have these other life signs on file. Not even from the Voyager or Deep Space Nine logs. So, it's a safe bet they haven't made first contact with the Federation yet," Ebert pointed out.
"But they still presumably got ditched here too," Mudd argued the point.
"But we don't know who to contact even if they wanted communication with their home planets," Ebert argued back.
"What d'you mean 'if'?" Mudd scoffed, "This hole is a worthless desert world."
"And it's all they've ever known," Ebert reminded her, "For thousands of years, they've bred descendants that this was all they've ever known. If they have any kind of oral history like the Captain supposes, their home planets will be mythical."
"He's not the frinxing captain," Mudd sighed. It was an ongoing debate with Ebert.
"No, he tells Captain Forger where to go and what to do," Ebert retorted, "So, what would that make him?"
"It makes him exactly what he claims to be: the Mission Commander. I've known lt. commanders telling admirals what to do," Burrows chuckled from the AUX station behind OPS. Daggit manned Tactical from behind Ebert. Parva had stayed with Macen's team to show the tribe how to program the food replicator and Tessa used a field kit to treat basic health problems.
"Ranks are formalities in Outbound Ventures," Daggit stated, "They assign starship command and station chains of command but you have Captain Riker in charge over two commodores. Riker is Serenity's captain and essentially our fleet admiral. But, he also answers to Macen."
"I think it's sweet that Captain Riker won't assume a higher rank than his twin holds while Will Riker is in the Starfleet Active Reserves raising his daughter with Commander Troi," Ebert confessed, "I've known Tom Riker for years. It's just characteristic of him."
"You're way too sentimental," Mudd accused, "It gives you blind spots."
"At least I don't suffer from trust issues," Ebert snorted.
"What's that supposed to mean?" Mudd was irked.
"Look it up in a Psych 101 manual. Or better yet, visit the new Counseling Department on Serenity," Ebert advised her friend.
"No way am I letting any counselor near my thoughts," Mudd was indignant.
"I hear the Chief Counselor is male to female transgender and every staff member is as well," Burrows chuckled, "I'd say there's a little gender bias going on in-house."
"So?" Mudd snorted, "More than half of Locarno's Transportation Services pilots are female to male trans. Starfleet says it's gender-blind but it chased out a lot of trans and third gender officers and enlisted."
"One of the new counselors is a sexual and relational dysfunction expert. I've been seeing her in-between missions since she arrived at the station," Ebert confessed, "There's a family dynamics expert as well. Maybe you should see her for an assessment to see if you'd like to talk about your family issues."
"I don't have 'issues'," Mudd sneered, "I just want my family dead."
"That's a major issue," Burrows came to Ebert's side of things.
"Et tu?" Mudd huffed, "You're supposed to be on my side."
"I am. That's why I'm agreeing with Tracy's suggestion," Burrows told her, "You seriously need to talk this out with someone."
"What did I say to earn this abuse?" Mudd asked.
"You just said you wanted your family dead," Ebert said drolly, "Take it from someone who lost their entire family to violence, it isn't the panacea you think it is."
"Probably not," Mudd was forced to admit, "But it would make my life simpler."
"Simple isn't always better," Ebert promised her, "Take it from someone that knows."
"You're forging your own destiny now. Not trying to compete with your great-grandfather, or your father, or your idiot brother, or even your newly discovered half-sister. You're making a new kind of Mudd legacy," Burrows assured her, "Why not get some closure from your past?"
"I guess part of me is still rolled up into fulfilling that old legacy," Mudd sighed, "Sometimes I feel like a traitor to my family. Other days, I'm grateful I helped put them on penal colonies."
"And everyone is grateful you did that and testified against your family members," Burrows told her, "Even though you told yourself at the time that was for revenge, you did because you knew it was the right thing to do."
"Like when you escaped from the terrorists and went back to get Celeste Rockford," Ebert pointed.
"A day that will live on in infamy," Mudd groaned, "Why did I have to suddenly grow a conscience?"
"You didn't," Burrows told her, "Like your father, it was always there. He just has less of one."
"Mudd Kenra certainly doesn't," Mudd grated, "And my brother doesn't have an inkling of what one is but he's too incompetent to be really evil."
The OPS panels sensor warning came to life, "Now what? Oh...we've got...humans?"
Ebert noted Mudd's questioning that, "What's up?"
"I'm not sure. The readings are mixed. I'd say our 'human' tribe interbred with an alien race. The life signs are completely co-mingled. That or they're like Ardanans. Near human enough," Mudd ventured, "I'm really not an expert with bio signs. I just use sensors to see who's in my way for a heist."
"She's dead on," Burrows double checked the readings from his station mirroring the sensors, "The computer recognizes human mixed something different."
"They're locking a weapon onto us," Daggit said grimly, "I'm raising shields."
"Standing by for evasive," Ebert replied, "Any idea of what they're using out here?"
"Targeting sensors are having a hard time identifying the weapons," Daggit cursed the equipment, "It isn't like known tech. They're firing!"
"I see it!" Ebert dove and then brought the Corsair out of the dive as two green elongated streaks flew by overhead, "Assuming phaser control."
"You concentrate on flying. I'll disable the weapons. We need surgical strikes to avoid really making enemies," Daggit switched control back to his station.
"Yeah, we're 'ambassadors'," Mudd snorted.
Daggit met resistance from his precision phaser fire, "They have limited shielding. It'll take a few direct bursts to disable the batteries."
"Sooner is always better than later," Mudd watched the horizon spin and dip as Ebert barrel rolled her way to the deck.
"I agree with Harri on that one," Ebert growled, "Fortunately their tracking systems don't seem anticipatory."
Green energy bursts fire to either side of the runabout and Ebert scowled, "But they are trying to box us in."
Daggit's shots escalated in power to deplete the regenerative shielding and destroy the batteries, "We're five by five,"
"Braking, hold on to something. The inertial damper is gonna hiccup," Ebert warned. Everyone lurched as she brought the runabout to a halt over the tribal encampment, "Now can we get a reading on how many armed people are surrounding us?"
"Um...I'd say everybody," Mudd gulped.
"Those bodysuits of theirs seem intended to trap moisture excreting from the body to recycle into water and protect them from sandstorms," Daggit told them, "Their hand weapons are also an unfamiliar design on a smaller scale than the cannons."
"I'm landing," Ebert shrugged, "Keep the shields up."
The tribal group volleyed a few experimental shots. The Corsair set down in their midst. Ebert prompted Mudd, "Have the universal translator absorb what they're saying among themselves so we can have a translation before we get shot stepping outside."
"Has anyone else noted the unusually crystal blue quality of everyone's eyes?" Burrows was running visuals sweeps of the crowd, "There's no color variation. They almost glow."
"That has to be a result of the intermixing," Daggit replied, "The Federation hasn't encountered a race with those type of eyes."
"Yet, they read as partially human," Burrows was fascinated.
"The language is a mess," Mudd frowned, "There's traces of half a dozen human languages and something else the translator is still chewing on."
"That's the alien influence," Daggit deduced.
"We're getting somewhere now," Mudd switched the speakers on as a voice clearly stated, "You can come out. We won't harm you."
"The boss man speaketh," Mudd said.
"Let's stay cautious," Daggit advised, "I'm lowering the shields."
They waited but there's no hostile reaction from the crowd. Instead the same commanding voice spoke, "We know you could have obliterated us. Yet you spared lives to disable our weapons. That earned you the right to petition."
"Hot damn. That's an open invitation. What should we ask for?" Mudd grinned.
"The same thing we asked for from the last seven tribes we contacted," Ebert let her down easy, "Don't mistake an invitation to speak as a ticket to rob them."
"Sometimes you people take the joy outta life," Mudd grumped.
"Grab your gear," Daggit was in command of the contact mission, "We know the drill by now."
"Can I stay in the runabout this time?" Mudd whined.
"No!" came a trio of voices answering.
"So, both our tribes were dying individually but we found strength in intermarrying," the tribal leader explained, "That caused us to record our histories at first as separate narratives and then a unified one."
"So, you inherited an alphabet?" Ebert enthused.
"Our ancestors recorded much of their experiences on machines. But as the machines began to fail, we transcribed the information to velum, made from the hides of native animals that we hunt," a woman, apparently their chief warrior, explained further.
"If the machines failed, how did you manage to maintain the defenses and hand weapons?" Burrows asked.
"We traded for them," the elder explained, "There is a great city beyond the furthest dunes that we trade melons we harvest from beneath the sands. We'd sent hunters out that far and they were captured. But the city dwellers partook of their melons and begged for more. We established trade caravans since they prize the fruit as a luxury item and it won't grow in their 'farms', as they call them. The fruit only grows wild in this region. The weapons were purchased to fend off raiders and rival hunters seeking to rob our caravans."
"We've contacted several tribal groups," Mudd was delegated to pitching the envoy idea, "We're assembling historians to compile how all of your tribes arrived on this world. You know you're not native to it. It has to be in your history."
"How can we trust our rivals to maintain any peace between us?" the warrior asked.
"We're guaranteeing the peace," Daggit said firmly, "And we're offering a benefit in exchange for cooperating in assembling the history of the tribes."
"And what could we want?" the elder inquired.
"Machines that make any kind of food you ask them to and one for making drinking water," Mudd pitched the promise, "And you won't have to worry about maintenance if you agree to receive envoys from the world half your heritage came from. You'll have complete material support and maintenance. You can even leave this world if you want."
"You come from one of the Paradise Planets?" the elder asked.
"Some of us do. Humans, that's me and most of us, have spread across the stars. You could be relocated to any kind of world you want to live on," Mudd told them, "Just like your ancestors' ancient kidnappers took them from their home worlds, we have the means of bringing back to your own kind. Except for the part with the eyes. We don't know where those people came from."
"How many tribes have agreed to this?" the elder asked.
"Seven so far," Mudd grinned, "No one has turned us down."
"How can machine make food and water out nothing?" the warrior chieftain wanted to know.
"Follow me," Ebert stood up. She led them back to the runabout where Burrows stood vigil at the hatch. She let them inside. This was part of the ritual too. She asked the replicator for a glass of water and handed it off, "Take a drink."
They were both skeptical so Ebert took a deep drink from the glass. This was another ritual by now, "Here. It's even cold."
The elder and warrior each took a deep drink and marveled at how clean the water was and how cool it was as well. Revert requested two more glasses and gave them each one so they wouldn't have to share. Next she asked for a steak, medium rare, with baked potatoes. It seemed Raas had herds of grazing animals and tubers that were found and harvested like the melons this tribe traded in. She asked for two plate fulls and forsook cutlery. It seemed the tribal groups valued metal too dearly to bother with eating utensils. The two cautiously picked at the food before tearing into it.
"Is this some kind of magic?" the warrior asked.
"Nope. Just technology like your weapons and this ship. This is actually a support ship. We dock inside a larger vessel capable of crossing the stars going world to world. We actually live on a habitat built in space to support us in our work," Ebert explained.
"What is this 'work' that you do?" the warrior asked, "Are you warriors?"
"Hardly," Mudd snorted as she boarded the runabout to see what the delay was, "Mostly we get into trouble."
"Our team is made up of investigators. We were hired to determine when your people were taken and by whom," Ebert put more diplomatically.
"They left this world a thousand generations ago and they never been seen since. They took their 'technology' with them and left us to die," the elder said derisively, "They didn't count on us persevering."
"Or that the city dwellers would rebuild the technologies their ancestors had wielded. The Raas are not the only tribe that returned to the stars," the warrior told them.
Mudd and Ebert exchanged looks. Ebert excused herself while Mudd took outside again to continue her sales pitch. As a career con artist, she was used to convincing people to act in her best interest. Only this time, it was also in the tribe's best interest. Ebert returned to CONN and used the comms to signal Macen.
"Macen here. What's up, Tracy?" Macen's comm badge had identified who the signal was from as he answered the page.
"We have problems," Ebert told him.
"They're rejecting the idea?" Macen was alrmed.
"No, Harri's the perfect salesman. Everybody we've contacted has agreed. We'll be doing site to site transports once we contact two more groups," Ebert explained, "We haven't warned them about that yet."
"Then I don't see the problem," Macen admitted.
"We have another spacefaring race on Raas besides the Raasians," Ebert told him the cause for her alarm.
"They live on the other side of the planet," Macen sighed, "Neela checked in and told about them. They have superior tech to the Raasians and have successfully avoided any detection of their capabilities by the Ascendant."
"They have starships from the sound of things. We're down with a group that trades with our mystery city," Ebert condensed the history, "They traded the group some pretty impressive firepower and survival suits in exchange for a fruit that's native to the local area."
"Ghemor reported that the Raasians are unaware of their rivals full capabilities either," Macen told her, "Except for your contacts, they've avoided interacting with everyone else on the planet. The Raasians sent raiders by airship to the city. None of them ever returned. Varic and previous leaders opted to avoid them rather than irritate them further."
"Now Varic's gone," Ebert noted.
"And the Raasians are undergoing a massive, but quiet power struggle. Assassinations have become a weapon of choice. Ghemor and the Ascendant are trying to sway the outcome without endorsing any candidate because that endorsement would get the prospective leader killed," Macen told her bluntly, "It's either let them sort out with the last person still standing or throw in and start a civil war."
"She definitely isn't responding like a Cardassian," Ebert whistled softly, "Their universal playbook is to sweep in and assume power and appoint a puppet government."
"Unlike typical Cardassians, Ghemor is influenced by the Bajoran Prophets. Meeting them set her on a new path. Their updated connection with her turns her when she goes astray. The old playbook has long been thrown out. But throwing it out also means at times when she lacks clear guidance, she's hesitant to act on her own accord," Macen explained.
"Now that is completely Cardassian," Ebert sighed, "We used that against them all the time."
"The Prophets have no stake in Raas. So they aren't showing Ghemor what to do about its politics. She's too paralyzed by self-doubt to effectively resolve the problem. The Raasians are effectively cutting themselves to pieces, making them less of a deterrent for potential aggression from our mystery civilization," Macen sounded frustrated.
"Should we step in?" Ebert wondered.
"This is the Ascendancy's sphere of influence whether they like it or not," Macen replied resolutely, "Our mandate here is simply to investigate the history of how these people arrived, who took them in the first place, and why did the kidnapping race depart?"
"What about reconnecting them with the Federation?" Ebert had to ask.
"We ask. They decide. We're not pressuring them in any way. They've been here longer than any continuous civilization has existed on Earth. They might not want to alter the fabric of their existences," Macen told her.
"Harri's really pushing the reconciliation factor as a selling point," Ebert warned him.
"And most of these groups are opportunistic enough to want to gain some material advantage from it," Macen told her, "They'll all agree to it in order not to be left be behind as the others are seemingly elevated in status. Those left behind again will die fighting rather than be left to wither on the vine again."
"And you think this mystery race has other plans for Raas?" Ebert had to wonder.
"I think they intend to leave as soon as they scout a habitable world within easy reach," Macen offered his theory, "The question is: what will they do with the rest of the planet's inhabitants while they're exiting?"
"You think you know where they came from," Ebert realized.
"There are clues on this planet pointing towards the Ba'ku. But we know the Ba'ku left their world and took a new name when they arrived at their new home in the Briar Patch," Macen told her carefully, "Just as the S'ona either adopted a new guise or reverted back to their original cultural name when they departed Ba'ku. The S'ona conquered two other races in short order. The Ba'ku are pacifists yet they retained starfaring technology replete with weaponry for the S'ona dissidents to leave with."
"What clues?" Ebert asked.
"The Ascendancy gave us their holograms of the pictographs and glyph symbols on the walls of the main city we know as belonging to the Raas," Macen told her, "Bailey quickly linked one of the languages back to the Ba'ku and S'ona. Yet no appropriate life sign have been detected. So that leaves one settlement where no one has gotten a reading out of."
"The mysterious city on the other side of the planet," Ebert said, "The one that values its privacy. The group we're working with right now wears advanced survival suits that trap almost all the moisture a body exudes in this kind of heat. They bought the suits in barter for their produce and they've said that the city dwellers are never seen without them. But the area and the eyes and the eyes themselves are always visible and they appear to be human."
"Adding weight to the mounting evidence they're the race that became the Ba'ku and the S'ona," Macen said gravely, "The Ba'ku said they destroyed their world with technology. They also abandoned all forms of violence. Even self-defense is prohibited. But the S'ona may be an expression of their original culture model."
Ebert knew he couldn't see her shudder through his comm badge link, "That's a frightening thought. The S'ona supplied the Dominion with ketracel white when their production factories were destroyed."
"We destroyed a fair number of them ourselves," Macen chuckled at the memory.
"But why arm this tribe if they plan on a scorched earth policy?" Ebert asked.
"That might not be their plan at all. And arming the tribe insures they receive their desired goods at little cost to them. They would hand out old surplus arms. Not their state of the art variants," Macen reminded her of basic military strategy and arms dealers.
"So, this group is like the Maquis. They're using outdated weapons and tech to serve a Federation's hidden goals," Ebert concluded.
"Blunt but accurate," Macen sighed.
"So will they hunt down the tribe before they exit or leave them with superior firepower in the face of surrounding enemies?" Ebert asked.
"I have no clue," Macen sadly admitted.
"We have a winner and her name is Harri Mudd!" she announced as she entered the cockpit and plopped down at the OPS station, "Still the undefeated reigning champion."
"Harri, I'm talking to the Captain," Ebert scolded her.
"Oh, for frinx sake! Tell her you're not the Captain," Mudd rolled her eyes.
"She's right. I'm not," Macen chuckled once again at the levity of the moment.
"You'll always be the Captain to me. Just like Commander Ro will always be the Skipper," Ebert said resolutely.
"It's amazing you ever blew people up with all this sentimentality," Mudd groaned.
"Who are we blowing up?" Burrows sat at the AUX station behind her.
"Cardassians and the Jem'Hadar," Ebert filled in the blank, "Or at least, once upon a time."
"Good days," Daggit said after sealing the hatch and manning Tactical.
"So they agreed?" Macen requested a clarification.
"Hot damn did they agree!" Mudd was happy to praise herself, "And they inherited an alphabet and have written histories down. Even some of it on some outdated, broken down tricorder-like thingies."
"Humans?" Macen sounded skeptical.
"Mixed bloods," Daggit defined it more concretely, "Two racial tribes were dying out so they co-mingled. There were more humans than aliens so they won the genetic dominance lottery."
"Damn skippy!" Mudd was still in love with herself, "That's eight out of ten groups. Two more and I have a perfect record."
"I like these people," Ebert told Macen, "The others are all pretty sketchy."
"And no one is telling them about the transporter yet?" Macen sounded amused.
"Hey, the replicator is already like manna from heaven," Mudd retorted, "Let's not confuse the good peoples."
"They left Earth before the Biblical narrative describes the birth of nation states," Macen said dryly, "Though there's probably overlap with Nimrod's conquests of the nine cities of Mesopotamia."
"Whatever, I never read the book. Ancient religions are so passe," Mudd said glibly.
"You'd be surprised about how many religious ethical and moral codes are still retained in your civilization. If linguistic quips like 'manna from heaven' are still in the vernacular," Macen had observed.
"Now you sound like Smith," Mudd groaned.
"I'll relieve your boredom then, get the last two tribes to agree to our terms and get their oral historians assembled. And before you remind me that this grouping has actual histories, we just need historians with a firm grasp on the dual narratives before and after they united," Macen told them, "I'm certain Parva and Angelique would love a crack at the 'tricorder-liek thingies'."
"You're mocking me, aren't you?" Mudd glared.
"Only just a little," they could hear Macen's smirk, "Alert me when you're ready too begin transporting the different groups to this location. Telrik will be able to assist at that point."
"Wait, Captain Forger brought the Obsidian back early?" Ebert pounced on that.
"Oh, now she's a captain," Mudd snickered.
"We'll still need the Corsair as a mobile lab," Macen told her, "But the Obsidian and the Bajoran Scouts met up with Orions and every Syndicate House had ships in the Gamma Quadrant back before the Republic declared war on the Syndicate. So, half of Miranda Wells' job was coordinating their efforts, it seems. It seems Raas has become a collaborative effort."
"So, they don't know about the Neverwhere and the Tigerlilja yet?" Daggit inquired.
"Not yet. Riker is sending in escort ships to assist us and them," Macen told them, "But, it'll still take time for them to arrive."
"What good will Syndicate pirates be here?" Burrows had to ask.
"Orions do have science ships. Not many. They're few and far between but some of the older scout ships are exactly that," Macen explained.
"Those things date back to 2245," Mudd snorted.
"They don't need to be heavily armed or exceptionally fast. They just need computer and sensor upgrades on occasion. They're not the Syndicate's largest priority. They're typically used to survey planets like this one to plunder remnant technology left behind by advanced races," Macen explained further.
"Any word on the Iotian Starfleet's intentions yet?" Burrows asked.
"Shannon passed on word that Oxmyx and Kracko are requesting a consultation," Macen admitted, "The Syndicate must've tipped them off. They're on good terms with the Bajorans and the Ascendant so I'd expect their arrival even if I decline their offer of help."
"Which you won't do, right?" Mudd hoped.
"Admiral Brisen and Captain Mirita have been promoted to the General Staff," Macen warned them, "So, we have few allies left in the Iotian Starfleet commanding actual starships."
"Most of the Captains we knew weren't very friendly," Ebert groused.
"And Brisen's entire squadron were promoted to flag rank," Macen told them all, "That means that every Iotian starship commander we deal with from now on will be complete strangers."
"Not if they send the Scalphunter," Burrows said dismally, "Or even the Capo, Dillinger, and Barrows."
"Word is Ishtashra Yar cut a deal with her cousin, Sela, to retain command for herself and her allies," Macen warned them, "But my last contact with Mirita before her promotion to Chief of Operations was that Yar and her confederates were sent to the Deeper Beta Quadrant to approach races the Romulan Star Empire has made contact with but not either Federation."
"That doesn't exclude our trigger happy Terrans," Daggit gravely warned them all.
"And it could be considered a great opportunity to prove their loyalty," Macen conceded.
"Our Maquis operatives go in and out of Iotian space all the time. They've all reported the Iotians opening the upper echelons of command to non-Iotians to fill their staffing needs. They've even got Romulan refugees in their Starfleet," Ebert relayed what she'd been told by former Maquis working for Outbound Ventures as single operatives and as teams, "I've heard that the fleet is advancing with new ships designs. Just like they replaced their home built Enterprise-class with a different ship altogether with the same name."
"Which they basically stole the design from Cell 51's shipyards. How the Starfleet Corps of Engineers and the ASDB's security was breached is still anyone's guess," Macen told them.
"Sounds like an inside job," Mudd blurted.
"Commodore Oh is handling the internal investigation," Macen replied, "Heads are rolling at the Corps of Engineers and within the ASDB."
"Well, they blatantly stole and reproduced the Wanderer-class," Burros said, "Hell, even we bought some of them."
"The Iotian Starfleet is fielding starships comparable to modern Federation starships in small numbers but they're also using the advances to upgrade their existing hulls," Macen warned them.
"And you sent a crew of Terrans into that mess to take over from Oxmyx and Kracko?" Mudd was skeptical.
"Yar isn't as disruptive a force anymore. The Iotians needed shaking up to slow their progress. The Terrans are a perfect distraction," Macen explained.
"The Iotian Federation isn't a consolidated whole like the bulk of the Federation of Planets," Daggit replied, "Choke off their access between client planets and that will deprive the bulk of their deployed forces from resupply and logistics trains."
"And start a war we don't need," Macen sighed.
"I agree. The Iridians are the major threat right now. The Orions are working as their proxies. Gomer was one of Sindis' top lieutenants. She's probably delighted to be working with them," Burrows scowled.
"And we have no idea of how many Orion privateers are in the Gamma Quadrant at this time," Macen reminded them, "So, I'm negotiate getting some help."
"The Bajorans and the Ascendancy would both eat up Iotian help," Mudd predicted, "They're already de facto client states. They just haven't joined the Kalendra Sector in signing off on joining the Iotian Federation."
"But they have signed mutual assistance treaties," Macen told them, "Something the Federation Council hasn't forgiven the Bajoran for yet. The only thing keeping Starfleet and the Militia aligned is the need to access the Wormhole. Without the mutual defense pact Astris forced the Federation into signing off on is the only reason Starfleet still has unlimited access to Deep Space Nine and Waypoint Station. Anara sealed off Free Haven Port from Starfleet. Prophets Landing's starbase has restricted access to theirs. So all is not right between the Federation and the Bajoran Republic. Tensions are remaining high after the war and Starfleet slapping the wrists of the rogue captain that took the First Minister hostage and killed half the personnel on Waypoint Station."
"I can't believe Starfleet acted like Cardassians," Ebert was incensed.
"The Cardassians have turned to closer friends and allies than the Federation lately," Burrows grimaced, "It's no wonder Deep Space Nine is now almost entirely staffed by Militia troops."
"If Vaughn dies or transfers, DS9 will remove the last Starfleet officers from the administration and it'll be a wholly Militia command afterwards," Macen prepared them for the inevitable.
"Who'd assume command?" Ebert fretted.
"Kira would probably transfer her flag to the station and oversee the Joint Chiefs from there," Daggit mused, "First Minister Astris made it a direct order for Kira to accept promotion as Chairperson of the Joint Chiefs of the General Staff. They practically had to drag her off of the station."
"For sector defense, it would be a critical move," Burrows agreed, "Most of the General Staff is now career military rather than made up of ex-Resistance fighters."
"Hey! I was a resistance fighter!" Ebert snapped at him, "Don't demean civilians that take up arms for a cause. If they have uniforms, they're called an army."
"I'm going to safely exit the conversation and use the comm array to speak with Oxmyx and Kracko and strike a deal," Macen signed off.
"Coward. Runs away just when you pissed Tracy off," Mudd scolded Ebert's idol.
"You want a piece of this too?" Ebert shot her friend a death glare.
"Let's call it a 'strategic withdrawal' to work on our greater good," Mudd offered.
"You really were a con artist," Daggit chuckled.
"Let's just recruit the last of the human tribes before the Obsidian arrives in orbit," Ebert glowered at them all, "I, for one, want to leave the runabout and get some distance and quiet time."
"Fine with me," Mudd sighed and settled in for the uncomfortable silence that would loom until their next contact,
Macen and Rockford stood before the pickup receiver and Kracko's image came in from her military styled office aboard Fleet Base 1 and Oxmyx's came in from an opulently appointed office aboard the same station where she ran the affairs of Sigma Iotia II and the Iotian Federation from. Kracko had adopted the new alternative Starfleet uniform that resembled the UFP Starfleet's Class-A uniforms from 2365-2373. But the Iotian version retained gold as the Command color and red as the Operations and Security color. Even Oxmyx wore a gray and black variant with a heavy gauge gold chain around her neck.
"Those recruits you sent us have already proven to useful," Kracko admitted, "They single-handedly suppressed planetary riots in the religious colonies that signed on to our Federation after their aborted attempt to 'baptize by the sword' as their warrior missionaries and priests fanned out across nearby star system."
"Utilizing starships you sold them," Macen duly pointed out.
"They joined our Federation and are therefore immune from war crimes prosecutions in your Federation," Oxmyx gloated.
"I didn't reach out to review political moves that you're making. The Bajorans and the Ascendancy need your help," Macen informed them.
"We're treaty bound to assist," Kracko admitted, "How can we help?"
"A small force of Bajoran Militia and Ascendancy Navy ships and ground personnel are under threat from every House in the Orion Syndicate," Rockford interjected.
"That's problematic," Oxmyx frowned.
"The Federation of Planets has no jurisdiction and your forces in the Kalendra Sector are closer anyways," Macen explained, "And there's the protection clauses in your mutual defense pacts."
"I can spare six ships," Kracko offered, "The Breen and Tzenkethi are moving about on Kalendra borders. I've reinforced the sector twice. The Tzenkethi seem to be backing down but the Breen are getting ambitious about testing us."
"Any help would be appreciated," Macen graciously told them, "Captain Riker is freeing up some support but there's no telling who's getting off of contracts and where they'll be located when they're free of prior obligations."
"What about the Bajorans and the Ascendant?" Oxmyx was less gracious, "What level of support are they offering?"
"General Anara is rerouting ships to Raas but with an unknown number of Orion pirates already in the Gamma Quadrant and Alpha Quadrant and Gamma Quadrant colonies potentially at risk, she can't divert many ships. Ghemor has called up for a massive reinforcement effort. But you sold them most of their ships. You know their actual chances in combat against modern Orion raiders," Macen explained the details, "Gomer invested a lot of latinum in lost Syndicate revenues while she pushed the Houses to upgrade their vessel capabilities. Even the Blood Queen left those incentives intact. So the Syndicate Houses field better raiders and Q-ships than for a century now. And you've provided most of the technical support for their refits. Even after the Bajorans declared war on the Syndicate. That's a treaty violation."
Oxmyx wore a cold, understanding smile, "And these facts will never see the light of day if we cooperate?"
"I'll send you the data cores the intelligence was gathered onto," Macen pledged, "The transcript logs will show no data transfers will have been made from the original computers."
"Gomer was right about you, Commander. You're still a Maquis," Kracko grinned.
"I live in a practical galaxy. I understand that sometimes relationships get purely transactional," Macen told them, "We're business allies but sometimes our interests conflict. When they do, we each pursue our interests over the sake of the mutual relationship."
"I knew we understood one another," Oxmyx's smile was genuine this time.
"We all help each other out when it suits our purposes. But this time, your contracts with the Bajorans and the Ascendancy have been violated. You don't want prospective clients knowing your military engineering contractors are outfitting the very pirates you ostensibly protect them from," Macen summed it up, "So, I'm happy to use whatever leverage I have to pursue Bajoran security concerns."
"I noticed you haven't made any demands we stop assisting the Syndicate," Kracko pointedly noted.
"Your contracted work with them already ended," Macen replied, "Why beat a carcass?"
"You're very well informed," Oxmyx said, fishing for answers.
"Knowledge is power. Or have you forgotten I freelanced as an Information Broker while with the Maquis and during the Dominion War prior to my leaving Starfleet?" Macen wondered.
"And our intelligence has you offering safe haven and work for Maquis that are still disaffected by the Federation," Kracko stated, "Maquis with extant criminal ties."
"The Federation labeled them as 'undesirables'. The same label they apply to your culture," Macen wanted them angry so they wouldn't delve any deeper into his undercover operatives. The Maquis hired to undertake these missions were still wanted criminals in Federation. Outbound Ventures, both the SID eligible and regular operations crews, weren't equipped or designed for infiltration work. But his Maquis connections were experts at slipping in and out of the Federation and criminal environments. Most did it by blatantly advertising their presence by adopting the "Punk" subculture. Others were more restrained and worked behind the scenes to keep the Intelligence Branch of Outbound Ventures he'd created with Tom Riker informed of activities that would affect corporate contracts and alter mission parameters.
"Most of your starship crews left Starfleet on bad terms," Kracko pointed out, "Your recruiters got to them before we could. But, many so-called 'undesirables' leaving Starfleet on bad terms are coming to us now as well. Some of our recent client planets have proven to be excellent resources for officers and command staff now that we've expanded opportunities for advancement."
"You've been scooping up ex-Starfleet officers and enlisted that were discharged with 'less than honorable' on their records or outright criminal sentences having been served," Macen clarified what Kracko had left unspoken, "So our recruiters overlooked them or rejected their applications."
"For a former terrorist that employs former terrorists, you seem awfully judgmental," Oxmyx wore a sly smile.
"Terror was a weapon some Maquis cells doled out with little regard for the consequences. On Ronara Prime, we avoided civilian casualties, on both sides," Macen reminded them, "Yet, even Michael Eddington was forced to concede we doled out more damage to the Cardassians than any other cell in the Demilitarized Zone theater of war."
"Yet you strongly opposed Eddington's rise and use of unlimited warfare," Kracko needled Macen.
"He was a terrorist and a disgrace to the Starfleet uniform he'd thrown away," Macen told her, "Starfleet was the part of the opposition but until biogenic weapons were used, Starfleet never attacked civilians. Sisko changed the rules of the war."
"I've already sent deployment orders to six ships in the Kalendra Sector. They should be arriving at Raas in less than forty-eight hours. Can you hold for that long?" Kracko asked.
"We don't have any other choice," Macen grimly assessed.
"When will Captain Riker send your own reinforcements?" Oxmyx was more demanding.
"He's already sent the redeployment orders," Macen answered coolly, "But the ships are coming scattered assignments from across the Alpha and Beta Quadrants. Their ETAs are harder to pin down. General Anara's spare forces and Ghemor's War Vedeks will also be deployed to Raas. The idea is to repel the Syndicate without engaging them."
"What value does Raas hold anyway?" Kracko wondered, "Our own scouts explored Ascendant sphere of influence. It's a worthless lump of sand."
"Varic and his people joined the Syndicate from here," Macen reminded Kracko, "They had warp technology and were local raiders before Varic invested in Grimes Armaments starships and joined the Syndicate."
"Will Varic be involved in the Syndicate's local efforts?" Oxmyx asked.
"That's very likely," Rockford told them, "Varic has been supporting Syndicate goals in the Gamma Quadrant for some time now. He won't miss out on an opportunity to flex his muscles over Raas again."
"Grimes Armaments starships are inferior to ours but they're easily mass produced," Kracko scowled, "They've disrupted many of our pending sales contracts."
Oxmyx looked indecisive before she plunged ahead, "Our Corps of Engineers discovered that the Orions have been purchasing Romulan starship technology to upgrade their raiders. That's influenced the designs and appearances of their newer ships. The Romulans won't sell them cloaking devices but the Syndicate is negotiating with the Duras family to acquire Romulan or Klingon cloaking tech."
"You gave that up for free. I'm surprised," Rockford admitted.
"Grimes had been reverse engineering older Klingon model cloaking devices," Kracko warned them, "Their client list is secret because the sales are illegal and Federation Security is monitoring Grimes' activities. But there are sales divisions within sales division that don't report to Marko Vilnius or his corporate officers. They report directly to Baroness Estella Grimes. Her sister, Stefi, has begun overseeing the illegal sales divisions while the older Baroness is reshaping Solarian Security Services into her intended image. That threatens all of us."
"First, we stop the Syndicate. It might end the looming war between Bajor and Orion. Miranda Wells catapulted into being both the Alpha and Beta Quadrant Coordinator," Macen advised them, "She had debts to settle with all of us. Once the Syndicate finishes its search here, they can position themselves for a rearguard strike against Bajor while the Syndicate throws their Beta Quadrant forces at the Alpha Quadrant. The Federation won't stop their passage despite the obvious intent to wage a war."
"And these Iridian Enforcers? You truly believe they'll target us first rather then the United Federation of Planets?" Oxmyx asked directly.
"The Syndicate has been hired as proxies. You just helped upgrade their fighting forces," Macen told them grimly, "Bertram Sindis wasn't acting as a rogue agent. His takeover of the Orion Syndicate was carefully staged."
"And their response to his death supposedly killed you and your crew," Kracko reminded him, "Gomer held up her part of your bargain with her and lifted all of your death marks. But it doesn't mean she won't order the Syndicate to kill you and your corporation."
"We're well aware," Rockford told her.
"Our ships are on their way. What kind of help can we expect in return against the Iridians?" Oxmyx bluntly asked.
"Starfleet won't assist you. The Federation sees you as a mounting rival. But, my company can be hired to help defend you. Admiral Forger will go that far with the discretionary funding at her disposal," Macen told them both, "And key members of Starfleet are poised to mount a resistance to any Iridian incursion into the Alpha and Beta Quadrants."
"And then there's the Militia. They'll stand by you," Rockford knew with certainty, "The Ascendancy can secure the Gamma Quadrant colonies while the Colonial Forces mix with the System Defense Forces and send a fleet to reinforce your Federation. That's why the Syndicate's Gamma Quadrant presence can't be tolerated. The declared state of war between Bajor and Orion has to be called off."
"I'll negotiate terms with First Minister Astris immediately," Oxmyx signed off.
"I've deployed the fastest ships that were in the Kalendra Sector," Kracko told them, "They'll reach you as fast as they're able to. Don't get killed before they arrive."
Kracko signed off then as well. Rockford groaned, "I hate relying on the Iotians. They'll expect a lot in return for this."
"We already set the terms of the deal. They'll abide by it to spare themselves having to explain to Astris and Kira why they were arming Bajor's enemies," Macen told her.
"You hope," Rockford grumped.
"Their curiosity over Raas' newfound importance would've prompted a response from them anyway. They'll want a piece of the action," Macen chuckled, "Just below the surface, the Iotians are still gangsters at heart. They smell a prize and want to get to it before the Syndicate can claim it."
"Only, there's no prize left here," Rockford reminded him, "Neela's search of the Raasian settlement proved it was barracks for the slave races but the ancient power that assembled them took every trace of their technology with them."
"Did they?" Macen asked, "How did the Raasians and the mysterious settlers on the other side of the planet manage to advance to warp capability on a planet devoid of most of the necessary resources. Varic and his minions became raiders to support their space faring ways as well as enrich themselves. We have no idea of what we're dealing with from our mystery culture."
Macen's comm badge chirped again and he tapped it with a sigh, "Macen here."
"We're back," Forger informed him.
"Tell Telrik to get ready to relay site to site transports when the Corsair sends him him coordinates and target locks. I want them beamed here to my location," Macen told her.
"And the imminent arrival of our guests?" Forger asked.
"Avoid a shooting match while everyone's reinforcements are en route to arrive within the next forty-eight hours," Macen instructed, "We have to keep them from looking too closely at the systems where the Neverwhere and Tigerlilja are located."
"Find anything worth noting?" Forger asked.
"We're compiling a collective history from the human tribal groups. Most of them are nomadic and never developed written languages. So, we interviewing their oral historians to gather what evidence traces back to their ancestors' kidnappings," Macen told her, "Doctors Smith and Jones are unlocking the dead language left behind in markings on the walls of the abandoned sites on their target worlds. No survivors have been detected or found yet."
"We met up with Forte's ex," Forger told him, "She's a captain of Orion House raider. She's seems to bear Forte a grudge over the breakup."
"Arianna has been very tight lipped about what transpired between her leaving Miri and establishing herself as an investigative consultant," Rockford shared on the open circuit, "The fact that a native of Miri would become a criminal makes a lot of sense. They were bands of near savages on their home planet waiting to grow old enough to mutate and die. That would breed a very nihilistic outlook. The Federation isn't very tolerant of nihilists."
"Despite its veneer of paradise, the Federation has a thriving criminal underground," Forger stated, "Counter culture types of every persuasion thrive by feeding the vices of the supposed saints."
"The Maquis and Cell 51 were hardly the only terrorist groups to come out of the Federation," Macen replied, "They were just the most inconvenient so they received public trolling and official attention."
"I've had friends get caught up in drug and sex trafficking. They thought they'd get rich. They just got used and ended up dead," Forger said bitterly, "I just wish the Federation's citizens would stop living in denial and admit we're hardly a paradise. People get chewed up by exploiters all the time. Then they're thrown away like garbage. And it's paid for by those same 'virtuous' citizens that claim crime and poverty don't exist any more."
"The planet that breeds the most extremists per capita is Vulcan," Rockford shared a little known fact, "It seems violence and crime are quite logical."
"Just ask Sakonna about the logical applications of violence," Macen reminded everyone of their mutual associate, "She wasn't the only practicing Vulcan logician in the Maquis."
"So, what are we doing about the Orions?" Forger got back to business.
"We're not starting a shooting match," Macen replied, "Beyond that, the Ascendant are gearing up to provide local support on the ground as well as bringing more ships in. Riker is scrambling ships towards us. I just made a deal with the Iotians for more ships. Anara is rerouting Colonial Defense Forces ships our way as well. The Ascendant and Bajoran forces will be here at any time. The Iotians are deploying six ships out of the Kalendra Sector. I have no ETA on our own assets."
"That bad, huh?" Forger grunted.
"All regular assignment forces are contracted out and Riker's pool of available starship capable of taking on upgraded Orion ships and Varic's Pincer-class fleet is entirely dependent on availability," Macen explained, "They're working on it."
"How hard and how fast?" Forger asked. There wasn't a good answer.
"That's it," Kristiana Liu said, "Nine ships. That's everything close enough that available to respond in enough time to make an impact."
"Most of them are commanders on their first SID missions," Svetlana Korepanova told Captain Thomas Riker.
"I could take the Solstice crew out," Christina Noble offered.
"Too little, too late," Lisea Danan let her down easy.
Noble had come up through Ro's Maquis cell on Ronara Prime. First she'd been promoted to being a squad leader. Afterwards, Ro promoted her to 2nd Officer of the Ju'day-class Maquis raider, SS Indomitable, the ship Riker's flag command was named after. It had been Macen's call to make her Acting Captain of the Blackbird-class Solstice. Noble's primary role was as the Gamma Watch Operations Duty Officer aboard Serenity Station. But since Macen used the Solstice for special operations, she and a team of handpicked ex-Maquis crewed the Solstice for other missions.
Korepanova and Liu wanted Noble's input on the massive redeployment effort. It had been her idea to swap out certain ships and commanders with freed up operatives with starships of lesser capability. Korepanova was also tasked with overseeing the Neverwhere and Tigerlilja's safety and progress. Doctors Smith and Jones had received valuable input from the sties' original surveyors, Doctors Schneider and Chopra. Captains Davis and Watts had reported a linguistic breakthrough on the archaeologists' side of things and were calculating the next stops on their journeys.
Schneider and Chopra would receive full credit for their finds but Smith and Jones would pursue determining how far and wide the influence of the racial kidnappers extended. Smith, in particular, hoped to trace the group done to their home planet and identify who they were in the grander scheme of things.
While Rockford and her investigators queried the Mesopotamian and Egyptian descendants' oral historians, The Corsair retraced its travels. Mudd was inconsolable over the fact the last two tribal groups, reduced below population viability levels, had turned completely savage from in-breeding. Daggit and Burrows had engaged each tribal group with live fire to keep them from swarming the runabout to initiate a clean launch with no loss of life.
Each successfully contacted group was a study in surprise as Mudd and Burrows beamed down to hand off communicators to the gathered priestly class of historians. Telrik then used the Obsidian's transporters to move them across the planet to Macen's work site. The discombobulated priests and priestesses were relieved when the Corsair, now a friendly sight, came in for a landing. The tribal elders had turned the request into a new bargaining chip. The oral historians sent were experts on their ancestral arrival on Raas. Further histories would have to be rewarded with further gifts.
Macen had expected as much. The hybrid group, the Valk, were mixed Germanic peoples and an unknown race. Their historian brought carefully tabulated scrolls containing the history and the ancient recording devices they'd originally been stored upon. Kerber and Smith took over working with that particular expert while Parva helped Kerber unlock the devices' secrets. Smith scanned in the scrolls and began a translation matrix based on ancient Germanic runes.
Hathator-Set was ambitious but still damningly unaware of technology's capabilities to monitor her every meeting. Her courtesans included priests whose primary role was to serve as envoys to other clans. While Smith and Anariko worked at the table with a portable computer in the aft section of the runabout, having transferred from a tent that had been set up before the runabout's departure. Within it Lee, Shade, Forte and Rockford basically recorded the histories as the priests had memorized them.
Many details in the oral histories were considered allegorical by the interviewers but they recorded the histories as spoken to them. In almost all the tribal clans, the aliens that took them from Earth had been incorporated into their religious beliefs and deified.
Macen had been using a portable computer to tabulate the incoming transmissions from the tricorders doing the recordings. He'd since moved to the AUX station aboard the runabout. From there he also monitored Hathator-Set's initiative get launched. Ebert and Mudd relaxed at the CONN and OPS stations while Macen used an old Starfleet surplus ear piece to listen in on the envoys through the sensor feeds from the units planted throughout the encampment by himself and Rockford. Daggit secured the tent in which Parva and Kerber also worked on repairing the ancient recording devices. Burrows guarded the Corsair's main hatch.
The Obsidian launched one comm buoy in orbit of the planet. The tribal envoys were promised they could keep the comm badges in order to maintain contact with one another even over a distance. The universal translator matrix loaded into the badges and buoy would also ensure that the tribal clans could easily understand one another. Gilan assembled and beamed down the replicator units to the clans' locations with engineering ratings to explain their function to the groups. Padds with speakers were given to each group with recommended meal options and drink selections, since the drinks replicator could also generate coffee, tea, fruit juices and synthahol. Each group was given samples from each selection as part of the demonstration. A variety of meals from the audio menu were also handed out before the engineers returned to the surveyor in orbit.
Macen allowed Hathator-Set make her pitches to the oral historians before having them transported back to their own peoples. Each envoy had brought word that the elders and chieftains had agreed to meet with Starfleet contact teams. Amon-Set childishly delighted himself in handing out dishes and drinks from the replicators to his people, portraying each offering as an act of divine intervention. The most receptive envoys had been from other desert tribes, most of whom were of Arabian, Canaanite, or Persian origins. Two Scandinavian/Germanic descendants was also very open to Hathator-Set's proposals. Hathator-Set secured pledges from the priests and priestesses' clan leaders through the comm badges before Amomodat, Aton-Kesh, Freyr, Gudra, Kamal, Miriam, and Teth-Hath all left with mutual security pacts with the Pharaoh. Macen ordered the transports back to their home encampments after Hathator-Set made her bargains. She was rejected by a sole envoy.
The Valk were still ignored by Hathator-Set. Anariko's obvious alien genetics "tainting" her human heritage was enough to dispel any overtures of friendship or self-serving alliance from the Pharaoh. Parva modified the Valk's recording device to accept Federation-made power cells and the device re-activated. Kerber uploaded its information into her computer and transmitted it to Macen through Smith's translation matrix. Smith and Anariko deciphered the scrolls together and uploaded scans of them. Smith went further and compared them to the ancient partition designators and warnings engraved in the Raasian city walls as a Rosetta stone moment and locked down the original human runic language as well as the Valk's other heritage. Using them as templates, she did as Doctors Smith and Jones had done as well, and translated the host species' language.
Before Anariko left, Macen and Rockford carefully interviewed her regarding her people's contacts with the mystery race out in the great city beyond the mountains and dunes that led to the other side of the planet. That was how they learned of the great "sand dragons" that swiftly burrowed through the shifting sands to eat animals on the surface. The convoys the Valk sent to the city always took bait animal herds with them to satisfy the dragons' hungers. The mysterious traders from the city had also given them ultrasonic repellent devices to set up around their encampments at night as they rested the caravans.
Neela and her entourage of former constables beamed down before Anariko left. The Valk was delighted to meet a Bajoran. Their traders that went to the Raasian city had heard tales of the Bajorans from the Ascendant missionaries. The missionaries had also traveled the planet's dunes and rocks to meet with tribal groups from races Macen and the Bajoran Scouts hadn't identified yet. The Ascendant managed to classify two of them from their travels across stretches of the Gamma Quadrant.
"The Emissary has set up a command center within the walls of the Raasian city," Neela told him, "She won't send anymore missionaries to their deaths at the other great city."
"But we'll still have to make contact before the Orions do," Macen replied, "We'll relocate to her position in the city. Any word on when reinforcements will arrive?"
"The Ascendant have reinforced the system with eleven additional starships. That brings their total to a dozen. Our tactical systems can't identify the ship classes of five of the vessels. They appear to be more of the Iotians' domestically designed ship types," Neela told him, "Otherwise, they've brought in two additional Constitution-class starships, and one of each of the following: a Detroit-class, a Mercury-class, an Asia-class, and a Miranda-class. None of their domestically produced dreadnoughts or Constellation-class starships are here. Between Ghemor's domestic security concerns and reinforcing Bajoran colonial posting to free up some of Anara's forces, this is what they could spare."
"Any word from Anara on what she's bringing in?" Macen asked Neela.
"Besides the obvious Prophets Scout and Prophets Journey, she's mustered up the Prophets Hope, the Shield of the Prophets, the Security of the Prophets, the Temple of the Prophets, the Triumph of the Prophets, and the new Fist of the Prophets," Neela told him, they're arriving now."
"Which gives us two refit Asia-class ships, two refitted Constitution-class ships, a Wanderer-class starship, and Anara's Enterprise-class flagship," Macen recalled.
"Except that Anara's duties at Free Haven Port overshadow her ability to deploy herself. Colonel Wyn is commanding the Fist," Neela told him.
"And they're all Militia commanders we've worked with before," Macen was pleased to learn, "What has Sergeant Ferris learned about the unknown Ascendant ships?"
"Three are modeled after the Kremlin-class but appear to have atmospheric landing capabilities," Neela explained, "The other two are variants based off of the original Asia-class and the Mercury-class. So nothing more heavy than a light cruiser. The modifications you provided for the Razor's Edge still gives us technical superiority over anything shy of a Constitution-class that the Ascendancy is fielding despite our ship's design predating the Federation."
"I've made arrangements with the Iotian Starfleet. Six ships were redeployed from the Kalendra Sector. They should be here within twenty-four hours. Captain Riker freed up nine starships to send our way but I don't have an ETA on them yet," Macen explained to her.
"If there's room aboard, I'd like to ride along with you to the Raasian fortress," Neela told him, "Of course, Odon, Maru, and Varis would be be accompanying me. They do fret about my safety."
"Of course we'll have room. Rab and Tony are taking our Starfleet surplus tent down and stowing it while Bailey and Angelique are busy transferring the tricorder data from Lee, Shade, Arianna, and Celeste up to the Obsidian. Tracy and Harri are prepping the Corsair for launch," Macen told her, "I believe the less genetically impaired Pharaoh would love to have us leave ASAP."
"Then let's grant their wish," Neela smiled brightly.
Before the runabout transferred to the city, Smith, Kerber, and Parva were returned to the Obsidian. The Investigative Team had a mixed reaction. They saw no further use their skills on the planet yet they had no shipboard responsibilities, especially if the surveyor were to face combat. Macen and Rockford put them to quick use. Using Smith's ciphers, they went about examining partition and warning scrolls engraved in the walls. They'd been translated, but they were running comparative analysis to determine if any of the languages related to the known Ba'ku alphabet. Shortly after beginning, they had a hit.
"What were Ba'ku doing here?" Lee asked Macen.
"They aren't native to Ba'ku. At least not the oldest ones that made the journey from their original home planet to Ba'ku. The S'ona are native to Ba'ku, being born there before leaving," Macen told the investigative team, "Is there any mention of what they were called when they were still native to their world of origin?"
"We found a mention of the 'S'aku'," Forte told him, "It seemed to be indicative of the people group using the Ba'ku script."
"Giving us both the root name to the Ba'ku and S'ona," Lee had surmised on his own.
"Commander Macen, you're wanted by the Emissary and the Hand of the Prophets," a War Vedek approached and informed him.
"Tell them I'll be there momentarily," Macen replied. To the detectives, he had other orders to issue, "Tell all of this to Celeste and then have her, Rab, and Tony plot us an approach to the S'aku. I want Tracy literally plotting an aerial approach. Have Celeste contact Captain Forger and begin transmitting hailing frequencies in the Ba'ku language aimed at the city on the other side of the planet. Tell her to adjust her orbital track to synchronize with them."
"Or you could tell me yourself," Rockford smirked as she emerged from around the corner in the building Ghemor had repurposed as a command center. The local Raasian factions had united long enough to assist the Ascendancy in repelling the Orion Syndicate and a potential return of Varic. Most of the monitors and computers being used the command center were from Ascendant ships. Some were manufactured on Sinherra while others were Iotian products. Each of the four walls had a starship viewing screen tied into satellites and probes the Ascendancy had littered the solar system with. Individual work stations specifically monitored each of the individual dedicated satellite and probe feeds. Tactical display showed the solar system and the positioning of the patrolling Ascendant ships. As Macen arrived inside the center, he saw the arriving Militia Colonial Defense Forces starships navigating the solar system and Ascendant patrols.
"I see Colonel Wyn has arrived," he remarked.
"Our outer probes are being scanned," Amera reported, "Unknown sensor configuration."
"Alert the fleet that contact has been made," Ghemor commanded. The War Vedek complied. Colonel Wyn was the senior ranking officer on both sides. The Ascendancy Emissary broke orbit to join her sister ships. It was the Constitution-class starship specifically tasked with ferrying Ghemor about. Fortunately, Ghemor, though a trained Obsidian Order agent, knew her limitations and wasn't trying to direct the actual combat roles.
The Prophets Journey broke orbit without orders to do so. Captain Gil and the Prophets Scout followed Major Kris as they had been ordered to do. Colonel Wyn didn't want Major Kris provoking another incident. They still had no idea of what Syndicate ships and what classes and in numbers they were operating in the Gamma Quadrant. Waypoint Station kept a record of ships utilizing its services but no Orion ships that hadn't been involved with the embassy ship were logged. So the pirate captains had stayed clear of the station.
Waypoint was meant as a respite and resupply depot for Militia ships and traders traveling to the Bajoran colonies in the Gamma Quadrant. The station wasn't within sensor range of the Wormhole terminus. But the Militia outpost also served to give Commodore Saavik's command a rest stop without having to return to the Alpha Quadrant. Starfleet maintained a stockpile of ordnance and medical supplies on the station to outfit Saavik's exploration force's needs.
"They're converging on the system now," Amera told them as the screens began to display various starships of Orion manufacture, "I count nine battlecruisers, ten presumable raiders, and five scoutship type vessels."
"Deep Space Nine has no record of these ships transiting Bajoran space to enter the Gamma Quadrant?" Neela found that hard to believe.
"No existing records," Macen confirmed it, "But that doesn't rule out potential collaboration. The records may have been erased."
"So, it appears Deep Space Nine has a Michael Eddington scale mole aboard and among the Ops officers," Neela pointed out.
"The Bajoran Militia had no contact reports with any of these vessels until Major Kris initiated hostilities," Amera told them, adding weight to the paid collaborator theory.
"We both trust the Starfleet Command Staff left aboard the station running Ops and overseeing Starfleet Security," Macen reminded Neela, "That leaves someone under Colonel Cenn's command."
"Before the declaration of war with Orion, a Bajoran officer involved in this would've been charged with corruption and dereliction of duty. But to keep it hidden after the declaration amounts to high treason. The Syndicate will leverage that over their mole to continue providing Militia secrets and planetary security secrets," Neela said direly.
"This all took place months before the declaration of war," Macen reminded her, "By now, the culprit could've transferred to any command in the Militia."
"Your spy may be interesting to you now but we have a potential conflict to manage," Amera scolded them both.
"They're a brazen lot," Ghemor sounded impressed, "We have near parity in starships yet they're continuing to advance."
"Commander, why did your starship adjust its orbit to the other side of the planet?" Amera inquired. She obviously disapproved.
"We've a random factor on the side of the planet. Evidence points to the fact that inhabitants of the only other permanent city on Raas is warp capable and has their own ships nearby," Macen told her.
"Why would you conclude that?" the War Vedek asked.
"Because this planet and solar system are at the heart of a potential flash point. The city's inhabitants would request protection until they can evacuate," Macen described the scenario.
"You believe they're abandoning Raas?" Amera scoffed.
"The trade between the mystery race and the people group called the Valk has been dwindling even while the mystery race has been more generous with its advanced technology. More advanced than anything the Raas have produced on their own. I have to believe the mysterious city dwellers are only funneling surplus arms and munitions to the Valk, preparing them for a major role in Raasian affairs by equipping them with modern arms and defenses," Macen instructed her, "My people got a good look at the Valk. They're the largest single people group outside of city walls. They're being groomed for a position of strength on a divided planet. My personal guess is that the Valk are about to inherit the city itself."
"My people have found no evidence of advanced technology in that site," Amera continued to scoff.
"Yet you don't detect life signs either and I have eyewitness accounts of humanoid inhabitants of that same city," Macen was tiring of the disbelief a so-called religious leader could have. She was so blinded by her faith in the Prophets and the single reality she could detect with her own senses that she'd lost sight of possibilities outside her experience. That would fare badly against the Orions if they proved hostile, "Scan the Syndicate ships. I think you'll find they're more advanced than anything outside of the Fist of the Prophets and the Obsidian."
Amera finally looked humbled, "Their offensive and defensive capabilities exceed our own."
"The Militia reports that they shared with us point to the Syndicate's ships being outdated," Ghemor complained, "More on par with our own."
"They've been engaged in upgrading their House Fleets. My belief is that these were among the first ships upgraded to modern standards. Gomer finally saw the need to invest in infrastructure. Which for the Syndicate means ships. The Blood Queen's brief tenure continued the policy. The Houses are actually being incentivized into updating their raiders and battlecruisers. The evidence before us points to the fact they've invested in entirely new classes of scoutships."
"I can't believe Captain Vaughn didn't report these type of ships transiting the Wormhole," Neela was baffled.
"Vaughn would have still been a Commander and XO of the station," Macen reminded her, "Commander Sam Lavelle would've been station commander at the time. Lavelle was taking orders outside of the chain of command. Orders that led to the Federation ejecting Bajor and declaring war on your world."
"So it may not have been one Cenn's personnel that erased the records?" Neela hoped it was true.
"The Operations staff are entirely Militia. Lavelle would've had access to the Starfleet officers reports and simply deleted them rather then send them up the chain of command," Macen said sadly, "No one will ever know the true scope of Lavelle's involvement in this outside command structure but we do know it wasn't Cell 51. It's within Starfleet Command itself with enough authority to force Vice Admiral Bill Ross to comply with their orders."
"Which implies that even if Starfleet reported the starship movements, the knowledge could have been suppressed by the Admiralty," Neela realized, "How long have you known about this?"
"Since Lavelle invaded Cardassian space. Vaughn, Ro, and I have been collaborating on tracking down who pulled Lavelle's strings and had him murdered," Macen told her, "It's an off the books investigation being assisted by members of the Rockford Detective Agency. Not even Nechayev, Forger, or Johnson know about it."
"Major Wyn will keep us posted on developments near Raas' orbit," Neela told him, "But, I'm free to assist you in contacting these mysterious city dwellers."
Macen looked surprised and she laughed, "Javi already detected the broad spectrum hailing frequencies the Obsidian is transmitting in every direction in a very specific language."
"We might need your constables if we don't receive a warm welcome," Macen warned her.
"This assignment has been fairly boring for them. I'm certain they'd prefer a little action over endless searching for Cultists that are dispersed among the tribal clans across the planet. The Ascendant's missionaries will be confronting the Cultists nestled in those groups. The one place we haven't investigated is this mystery city," Neela explained her motives, "Should we gain access, I can determine whether or not they've been corrupted by the faith in the Pah-wraiths."
"My missionaries never returned from their own outreach there," Ghemor warned her.
"Then, perhaps it's time for a new approach," Neela smiled.
The Razor's Edge moved alongside the Obsidian's starboard bow in orbit over the mysterious S'aku city. Meanwhile. Ebert piloted the Corsair there, "We getting a weapon's lock."
"Transmit the same hailing message that Zimbalist is transmitting," Macen instructed from the console Daggit had configured its LCARS display to a tactical station. Macen had it repurposed as a mission commander's station. Neela occupied the AUX station behind Mudd.
"I'll be damned," Mudd muttered before speaking clearly, "They're responding with a simple reply. They want us to land at some very specific coordinates."
"Tracy?" Macen prompted her.
"I have the coordinates locked in and am slowing for an approach and a landing," Ebert replied.
As they rotated around the city and came to a halt, Mudd yelped, "Now they have three target locks on us!"
"Setting her down," Ebert initiated the landing cycle.
"I guess this is how they treat their guests," Neela shrugged.
"The ground surrounding the city is filled with the downed fuselages of Raasian aircraft," Macen had scanned as they circled the city, "I don't think they're used to friendly exchanges."
"They opened a hatchway and they're coming out," Ebert noted.
"Wearing the same survival suits as the Valk," Macen observed, "Making identifying them near impossible."
"I think it's best if you and I approach them alone," Neela suggested.
"Tracy, keep the runabout prepped for immediate dust off," Macen instructed.
He opened the hatch and he and Neela disembarked. The gang of mystery men and women formed a semi-circle. They were all armed. One spoke, "Leave your weapons."
"That seems disadvantageous, all things considered," Macen replied.
"You're the intruders," the group leader spoke again.
"And you're the ones waiting for an extraction that won't come as long as the system is filled with opposing starships," Macen shrugged, "We could wait it out standing here."
Even though the eyebrows and eyes of the inhabitants could bee seen, they all scowled. The leader spoke again, "How did you know that?"
"I've met with survivors from your world," Macen told them, "We've studied your language. Members of my team intercepted coded transmissions between this city and a cloaked starship in orbit. One that my ship nearly collided with."
Neela hadn't been told that. She sensed that Macen was bluffing since no word had come from the Obsidian during their flight. Macen continued, "You're also the only ones left behind."
"Our targeting systems are locked and on automatic standby. We nearly need to signal them and your craft is destroyed," the leader threatened.
"Or, I could get you out of the solar system unscathed," Macen offered, "You do intend to hand the city over the Valk, don't you?"
That completely unnerved them, "You've spoken with the Valk?"
"I have. They didn't mention inheriting the city or your imminent departure plans but it was easy to read between the lines of what they did share," Macen told them.
"You aren't from this world," the leader now understood, "You aren't a member of any of the tribal groups."
"I'm happy to confirm that," Macen chuckled, "Like you, I can pass as one of the groups of humans but I'm hardly one of them."
"She's obviously not," another S'aku mentioned.
"And you're the S'aku. Stranded here thousands of years ago before your people fled your world as it died," Macen informed them, "A group of survivors found safe haven and renamed themselves the Ba'ku."
"We've found our own world that we're settling," the S'aku spokesman told them, "It's light years from this wretched sand heap."
"I'm guessing you built an outpost to funnel raw resources to and from this city and world to your colony," Macen said next.
"How do you know our secrets?" they all their weapons at them.
"My people are refugees as well," Macen calmly kept his hand away from his phaser pistol. He motioned with his other hand very discreetly for Rockford to keep the would-be rescue party at bay.
"Are their more of your people aboard that craft?" the spokesman demanded to know.
"They're of different races than mine but they're my people," Macen explained, "Some bonds are deeper than genetics."
"Few groups on Raas cooperate with one another," the S'aku lowered their weapons, "The Valk impressed us by entreating with us rather than attacking our envoys."
"And these others?" Macen nodded towards the intact shuttles.
"Outsiders and offworlders. Both religious groups," the S'aku leader explained, "The first came to teach up about the 'Prophets'. The second about their gods' enemies, the 'Pah-wraiths'."
"And you killed them?" Neela asked.
"They killed each other," the S'aku said grimly, "Proving once again that religion is the death of societies."
"There are exceptions," Neela said firmly, "My home planet has been strengthened for thousands of years through our faith in the Prophets."
"Yet, you'd wage the same war against the Cultists," the S'aku leader predicted, "I see it in you. Why does a majority of believers always have to violently suppress a minority faith?
"Before we delve into that history, let me make perfectly clear that the Prophets are real. There are just division regarding whether or not they're deities," Macen stated, "I've met them."
"And how did they seem to you?" the S'aku leader asked.
"Enigmatic," Macen said diplomatically.
"You said you could get us out of the system safely," a S'aku returned to that point, "How?"
"By riding along with you," Macen told them, "We dock our support craft inside your decloaked ship and travel with you out of the system and then make our own way back. No one will fire on you while we remain aboard."
"You gave the Valk replicators," the S'aku spokesman revealed their knowledge, "Why?"
"To entice them to allow us to record their history," Macen explained, "And to offer them a chance to reconcile with their people on the human side of the ancestral tree. We have no idea of what race the other half represents or where they're located. Or else we'd make that offer as well."
"You're negotiators?" a S'aku asked.
"Investigators. Once the human population and a few other recognized racial group were identified on this world, their ancestral home worlds wanted to know how they arrived here and why they were stranded. Offering them a chance to reconcile and potentially leave Raas is also a goal," Macen told them.
"You haven't offered us that opportunity with the Ba'ku," it was pointed out, "You said they came from S'aku."
"They abandoned all advanced technology. What remnant they had of it was exploited by the first generation born on their new world to venture out and become a conquering race known as the S'ona," Macen summarized what had happened, "Eventually the S'ona returned to displace the parents. Thanks to a timely intervention by a third party, they reconciled instead."
"Their name means 'predator'," the S'aku pointed out, "They returned to live on a non-technological world?"
"They stayed long enough for the rift to heal and then they went back to their new home. They visit Ba'ku on a regular basis to maintain ties," Macen thought it best not to mention the special properties of the planet's rings.
"Our technology kept us alive to prosper and eventually escape this world. Even the avarice of the Raas never overcame us," the S'aku leader told them, "They've sent waves of aircraft against us. They even bombarded us from orbit but our shields held back the destructive force of their weapons. Eventually, after we destroyed several orbiting ships, they learned to leave us alone."
"Yet you could spy on them because they thought you were humans," Neela said, "They assumed you were primitives rather than more advanced than they are."
"Even the offworlders that came to us are inferior technologically," the S'aku leader stated rather than boasted.
"But our scans indicate your starship in orbit over us, though defensively inferior, and your support craft are compatible with our own levels. Yet, you lack cloaking technology," a S'aku noted.
"We have a treaty obligation not to mount cloaking tech," Macen told them, "My group may exist outside of the United Federation of Planets but we primarily work for them or with them and are compelled to abide by that treaty," Macen finally mentioned the Federation.
"A Federation of Planets?" the S'aku seemed surprised, "Not an empire?"
"A united body of different planets and races that have agreed to sign on and obey a drafted charter that governs through an elected Council," Macen told them as well, "It was this Federation that adopted the Ba'ku and their territory as a Protectorate. The Federation has a Prime Directive not to interfere in the affairs of non-member worlds and to not initiate first contact with non-warp capable cultures."
"Yet you met the primitives on Raas," the S'aku spokesman nearly sneered at the seeming hypocrisy.
"Their social evolution was already tampered with," Macen said, "Their ancestral worlds are warp capable and members of the Federation of Planets. That's why they're in contact with the Ascendancy and the Bajorans."
"Who are these 'Bajorans'?" a S'aku asked.
"I am," Neela answered, "We share a common faith in the Prophets with the Ascendancy despite our different racial heritages."
"And is your world part of this 'Federation'?" a S'aku asked.
"No longer. But we were asked to rejoin. We chose to remain independent," Neela stated.
"I detect a note of deep distrust in your Federation from her," the S'aku spokesman said bluntly.
"The Federation has recently found its cores value and dedication to democracy tested," Macen admitted, "I hope they emerged stronger for it."
"They?" a S'aku asked.
"I lived in and served the Federation for decades," Macen confessed, "I found a parting of ways to be conducive to creating my own enterprise."
"These ships in the solar system, are the more advanced models yours?" he was asked.
"Only the surveyor in geosynchronous orbit over your city belongs to my company," Macen admitted.
"Those more advanced ships are Bajoran. We're here to defend Raas from the pirates that are entering the system as we speak," Neela told the collective.
"Yet, those ships are the most advanced of them all," a S'aku had obviously read the reports coming in from the starship or starships near Raas.
"They, and one of your Bajoran ships, actually pose a threat to our forces in the system and our city," the S'aku spokesman wearily related to them, "I will contact our group commander and arrange for our immediate extraction and the immediate relocation of the Valk. I will relay your offer to them. Please await our reply in your craft."
Two of the S'aku stayed by the hatch as the others obviously stood by inside of it as it closed. Macen and Neela returned to inside the runabout. The cockpit was crowded to overflowing.
"Move back to ear shot if you're not cockpit staff or a team leader," Macen instructed. Rockford investigators grumbled as they retreated down the narrow hall between mission modules. The Bajoran constables also unhappily complied. Daggit and Burrows assumed a position by the hatch in case the S'aku should attempt a boarding. Ebert and Mudd stayed at their posts while Rockford discussed matters with Macen and Neela.
"You seemed to have lightened the mood," she'd observed.
"The idea behind a United Federation of Planets seemed to baffle them," Macen had noted their wide eyed reactions, "No one has thought to join the varying factions of this planet together. Instead they're all rivals for its meager resources."
"What happened to the Ascendant missionaries?" Rockford had seen the older model shuttle, of course. As well as the newer Bajoran scout craft.
"The Ascendant missionaries were present when the Cult of the Pah-wraithe envoys arrived. It didn't end well for either side," Neela told her, "They claim the two sides killed one another but they're lying. They simply tired of the endless debating between sides and killed them both."
"You're certain?" Rockford asked.
"It was evident in the way they spoke about both sides," Macen had used his own special cultural skills to confirm what Neela suggested.
"So, they're obviously coming back. What did you offer them?" Rockford asked.
"A clean way out of the system," Macen told her.
"And precisely how can you guarantee that?" Rockford had to wonder.
"He volunteered us to ride along in one of their starships until they reach safety and then we disembark in this runabout and return to Raas and see the outcome of the inevitable strife that will ensue once the S'aku reveal their forces within the system and exit it," Neela sighed, "Not the best choice but the only workable one in short order."
"I'm so glad to have been consulted," Rockford said dryly.
"We need them out of the way before they strike a bargain with the Orions," Macen defended his choice.
"Fine, let's say they allow us to ride with them, what prevents the Orions from simply trying to disable and board their ships?" Rockford asked knowing where this was headed and already not liking it.
"The Militia and the Ascendant will be aware of our presence aboard thanks to Shannon alerting every command. As honored VIPs, they can't allow us to get attacked by pirates, now can they?" Macen told her exactly what she expected to hear.
"You're getting predictable. I saw that coming as soon as you said we'd go aboard," Rockford said ruefully.
"Ghemor would insure her forces defended us and Colonel Wyn has a personal stake in seeing to my personal safety and yours," Neela promised.
"Because you're practically an Emissary of the Prophets to both people groups and Anara would court martial Wyn if you were harmed and she could have prevented it," Rockford groaned her understanding.
"It helps to know important people," Neela grinned.
"I wonder what kind of clusterfrinxes are going on in the worlds beyond this one?" Rockford said in dismay.
It watch change aboard Serenity so Chris Noble was accompanied by Chris Lacey and Joel Osmont as they prepared to relieve Riker, Danan, Korepanova, and Liu as the duty officer command staff. But things had gone awry already, "I thought that office was soundproof."
"So did I," Korepanova admitted to Noble. Riker's shouting could be quietly heard through the prefect's office built into the Nor-class station's design.
"Who's the unlucky bastard to be on the receiving end of that?" Lacey asked.
"Ziva Delain marched Merik Cardan into Ops and demanded to speak with Tom," Danan filled in the blanks, "She brought what I think was a Romulan with her."
"You think?" Osmont was bewildered that clarifier.
"She did and did not look Romulan," Korepanova stated.
"How did she look Romulan?" Lacey asked.
"She was wearing an insufferable smirk," Liu answered.
"She's Romulan," Noble groaned.
"What casts doubt on it then?" Osmont wanted to know.
"I've only met one other bleached blonde Romulan," Danan grimaced at the memory, "And it wasn't a good thing. She mutinied against Talera P'ris for helping us shut down a Section 31 gulag in Romulan space."
"P'ris died on Romulus when the Hobus star exploded, didn't she?" Korepanova asked.
"Yes, but her daughter is a privateer," Danan pointed out, "Outbound Ventures crews have faced off with Talena P'ris."
"What does a Cardassian Information Bureau agent have to do with Cardan?" Noble asked.
"God only knows," Korepanova said grimly.
"You can't march into this office and tell me I'm changing my Chief of Operations from Cardan to...who the hell are you?" Riker was standing behind his desk, leaned into it, too agitated to sit.
"Zerinda," the Romulan, who already wore a provisional Outbound Ventures uniform and comm badge, smirked at him. Which only irritated him further.
"Director Tyrol approved the transfer before we arrived to inform of the handover of duties," Delain said.
"Tyrol can kiss my ass if she thinks I'm letting her dictate a change in my command," Riker was incensed that Kathy Tyrol had signed off on this without consulting him. She may have been the Outbound Ventures CEO selected by Macen to run the corporation but Riker ran the station as well fleet operations. Tyrol and civilian corporate staffers required the station be properly maintained if they expected to continue working and living on it, "You are a Romulan, aren't you? Despite the bleach job?"
"Definitely," the scenario was amusing her greatly.
"Then why the hell should I hand a Cardassian space station over to you? If you're even an engineer," Riker demanded to know.
"The Imperial Fleet posted me as a Reconstruction officer after the Dominion War. When the Fleet withdrew its support, I stayed on as a civilian consultant," Zerinda explained herself in a rather smug tone, "Over the past decade I've worked civilian construction, maintenance and repairs on stations like this and the more advanced models, as well orbital shipyards. I'm more than qualified to bring the station up to modern standards."
"Whose standards are those?" Riker asked.
"My own," Zerinda confidently stated, "I've already identified over two dozen necessary improvements and modifications needed to bring this station up to modern Cardassian military code. I also confirmed the modifications you've made the defensive systems that bring Agent Delain to you today."
"You'd better explain that," Riker warned Delain.
"Captain Riker, you are Macen's choice of command officer for this station. That means you are bound by the agreements Macen contracted with Cardassia Prime when the station was built. I've double checked the modification orders you've signed and Director Tyrol has authorized in Macen's absence to upgrade the defenses to the same degree that Terok Nor was modified by Starfleet. That violates the contract agreement made with the Cardassian Guard," Delain said severely, "This station was intended to stay at the same standard specs she was built for."
"So you could take it by force if you had to?" Riker sarcastically quipped.
"That was the bargain struck by Commander Macen and T'Kir," Delain said coldly, "Merik Cardan betrayed his oath to his Cardassian superiors that he swore to abide by when he stayed on after supervising the station's construction. How he thought he could undertake such massive renovations with me aboard and go unnoticed frankly astounds me. Macen himself took notice of the constant modification work being undertaken and informed me and authorized me to investigate with his blessing. What I found was that you grossly violated the contract terms and Cardan willfully withheld that information from us."
"Brin ratted us out?" Riker was flabbergasted.
"He spared you facing down a fleet of Galor-class cruisers with an order to repossess the station. Surely you recognize the simple fact that on stellar charts, this station is labeled as Antok Nor?" Delain wasn't certain Riker recognized that simple fact, "We may not own the station but we have vested interest in it. Which explains my being here."
"So, instead of forcing us all out, you're taking my Chief of Operations," Riker understand the premise now, "What will happen to him?"
"He'll stand trial for violations of Cardassian security," Delain said indifferently.
"Which means his verdict and sentence have already been determined," Riker grated. He's undergone the process himself.
"Thanks to Macen's cooperation, Cardan will not be executed for treason or sent to a labor camp," Delain promised Riker, "But he will be stripped of his credentials and be forbidden to leave Cardassia Prime. There, he will live out his remaining days as a simple repair technician that services Cardassian homes."
"I can't believe Macen went along with," Riker was outraged on Cardan's behalf.
"Captain, I knew the risks. I purposefully violated my sacred trust to the Cardassian Guard by upgrading your shields and weapons systems. I willfully disobeyed orders and was caught doing so. I'm getting off lightly," Cardan assured him.
"And before you direct your misguided righteous anger at Commander Macen, he saved Cardan's life. My original standing orders were to execute him in the most painful way available," Delain explained to him, "Macen's negotiations with the Supreme Legate Ocett bore fruit and the Ministry of Justice reconsidered their original sentence."
"How long has this transfer been in the works?" Riker did feel righteous anger about being left out of the loop.
"Macen is unaware that we've changed his original agreement with the Ministry of Justice," Delain told him, "Macen requested that Cardan be exiled to this station and be unable to leave it. The Justices thought otherwise. Zerinda was at loose ends, so the Cardassian Guard made this posting her only option or be expelled from Cardassian territory to join her people in one of the many refugee camps scattered throughout the Alpha and Beta Quadrants."
"Why not return to Romulan space?" Riker asked her directly.
"I disobeyed Imperial Fleet orders to stay on and assist the Cardassians in their reconstruction efforts. My home colony world was obliterated by the shock wave from the Hobus supernova. There's literally nothing left in the Star Empire for me to return to. I would face a literal death sentence," Zerinda explained, "So, you're my best choice."
"Zerinda has become an expert at repairing my people's technology. She was a chief engineer aboard a Warbird before being transferred to Cardassia Prime. She'll adapt to your station's needs quickly enough," Delain vouched for Zerinda, "This, in fact, insures Cardan will live to an advanced age. You are seemingly blind to the dangers Cardassians face on this station."
"What dangers?" Riker wondered.
"Macen has recruited every ex-Maquis he could locate as covert operations staff, command officers, and the security force. Security itself is led by two ex-Resistance fighters and a former Bajoran officer of your acquaintance that was held in Cardassian prison camps for espionage," Delain explained bluntly, "Every day, Cardan and I receive new death threats. He wasn't inclined to tell you and even the stupidest Resistance or Maquis fighter knows there would be reprisals for killing me. Cardan is the vulnerable one. Security is posted in the Habitat Ring around his quarters to keep him safe from the escalating threats. Personally, I believe Security is as much a threat as a rogue Maquis."
"Gerrit Gren never mentioned any of this," Riker scowled.
"Your Chief of Security ostensibly protects Cardan but doesn't spare him from abusive encounters at the course of his work or to and from his quarters. Haven't you ever noticed you never see your Chief of Operations outside of work related matters? That's because he's bunkered down in his quarters waiting to be assassinated."
'Is this true?" Riker implored Cardan to tell the truth at last.
"It was being managed," Cardan sadly confessed, "But the incidents were becoming increasingly hostile."
"What he means to say is that he's been subjected to your Klingon doctor's care on several occasions," Delain said coldly.
"Gerrit never said a word or made an official report and neither did Kort," Riker was profoundly disappointed in them both.
"Your Klingon shares a child with the Deputy Chief of Security, another ex-Resistance fighter. Undoubtedly, they conspired to keep the truth from you," Delain accused Kort and Radil as well as leveling the complaint against Gerrit.
"Cardan, why didn't you ever tell me about this?" Riker was defeated and he knew it.
"Because you were a Maquis at one time as well," Cardan heaved a sigh, "I wasn't certain which side you'd choose."
"There shouldn't be sides," Riker said solemnly, "That was one of the points of bringing this corporation together and letting you stay on when you requested it."
"And yet you asked me to compromise my oath to my own people. I complied in order to stay on the station rather than face a forced retirement back in Cardassian space. Now, I won't lack for work, tedious though it may be," Cardan shrugged.
"Did Macen and Rockford know about your situation?" Riker had to know.
"There's little that occurs within the company that they're unaware of. But I begged them not to intervene," Cardan told him, "They at least convinced Gerrit to supply a security detail. Though I took little comfort in it since Gerrit had been forced into supplying one to begin with. Surprisingly, the work on the defense systems did surprise them. My disguising it as simple maintenance work and their mutual disinterest in station affairs, led them to believe everything I did was routine. Though Commander Macen intervened on my behalf, he was quite cross that he had to."
"So, Macen and Rockford expect Cardan to here when they return?" Riker inquired for clarity's sake.
"You can explain to them that the Ministry of Justice rejected their offer and Zerinda is taking Cardan's place," Delain told him, "I'll be off the station delivering Cardan to the authorities back home. I expect they'll both want to discuss the defense projects with you and Tyrol upon their return."
"How can you sleep at night?" Riker wondered.
"I'm content in the knowledge that the CIB and the Cardassian Guard will avenge my death by any mean necessary," Delain said confidently, "The question is: how will you be sleeping knowing how Cardan has been treated for years without your ever caring enough to find out?"
Delain turned to Zerinda, "Captain Riker will now show you the station and its personnel and provide your quarters. Your personal effects are in Cargo Bay 5, I believe. Cardassia thanks you for extended service but is ended now. You are no longer welcome in our space."
Delain led Cardan out and they exited Ops, headed for Cardan's quarters to pack his essentials and recycle the rest in the replicator. A private shuttle had been contracted by the CIB to take them to Starbase G-4 where they would be transferring to a Cardassian Guard cruiser. Cardan decided he'd miss the work, but he wouldn't miss anyone on the station. After all, he'd never been allowed to meet them. Even his staff was mostly comprised of ex-Maquis that despised taking orders from him. Tom Eckles and Heidi Darcy had been the closest thing to friendly acquaintances that he'd had. Others, like Emjin Thool, would be grateful he was finally leaving. It was the cosmos' joke on them they were receiving Zerinda as his replacement.
"Welcome to our dirty laundry," Riker sighed after Delain took a defeated Cardan out of his office. He finally took his seat, "Tell me why you stayed on to help the Cardassians."
"Excuse me?" Zerinda was baffled by the question.
"You had a motive. I want to know what it was," Riker told her, "Romulans have a reputation for self-interest. Defying orders and abandoning what you know as your life for a race you'd just fought a war against take tremendous self-sacrifice and selflessness. Why did you do it?"
"I was convinced of two things," Zerinda decided to share with him, "The first was it was the right thing to do for a devastated people. Perhaps my actions would bring about a lasting peace between the Cardassian Union and the Romulan Star Empire. That last part was ambition and vanity. The second part was I was convinced my skills were so necessary to the Empire, they'd forgive my transgression and take me back. Again, vanity compelled me to stay."
"Would you do it again?" Riker sked, "If given that choice again?"
"No," Zerinda confessed, "My time with the Cardassians has proven to me how finite I really am in the scope of things. They've disposed of me. My hope now is to prove invaluable here so that I can stay on and avoid an internment camp."
"That's brutally honest," Riker admitted.
"Not everything a Romulan says is a fabrication," Zerinda advised him, "But even the fabrications contain a truth."
"So, how would I know you've been completely honest with me just now?" Riker asked.
"Ask yourself if it would be in my own self-interest," Zerinda chuckled, "Your insight into my people's basic drive is valuable. Never lose sight of that."
"I have to ask about the hair," Riker confessed, "The styling and the color suggest a rebellious streak against Romulan Orthodoxy."
"You have known Romulans," Zerinda was happy to receive the confirmation, "Orthodoxy is the driving force that keeps a self-interested race involved in cooperating with one another. Orthodoxy demands that I be held accountable for my leaving the Imperial Navy the way I did. Orthodoxy would also demand a personal sacrifice for my years spent assisting rather than sabotaging an enemy people. So, I've rejected Orthodoxy on several levels. I'm just bold enough to make it a visual statement as well as a personal choice."
"I think you'll fit in here," Riker had to confess, "Let's begin the tour and introductions. I've just learned Cardan was hated by everyone on the station, it seems. I can't guarantee you a warm reception."
"The Cardassians weren't very gracious at first, either," Zerinda told him, "But I won them over for a time."
"What changed?" Riker asked he stood to round his desk.
"The Star Empire demanded my return from the Cardassian Union," Zerinda also stood, "Castellan Garan resisted the demands but my place in Cardassian space provided the Empire with an excuse to act against them. It was Agent Delain that intervened on my behalf when Cardan's case came to her. We'd met previously and are on friendly terms. So, she struck the bargain for my assuming Cardan's role once the sentence from the Ministry of Justice was revised and included his departure from the station."
"I'd say those are very friendly terms," Riker told her.
"Agent Delain owed me her life," Zerinda shared, "Now, the debt has been paid."
"Romulans and Cardassians share a lot in common," Riker sighed, "You're both transactional peoples."
"That's why we despise one another so much," Zerinda agreed, "Because we look at the enemy and see ourselves. And we mutually detest that."
"We can discuss how you came aboard and received a uniform without my knowing about it while you inspect the station," Riker offered.
"I arrived in a commercial shuttle. I booked passage to Serenity Station from Starbase G-4," Zerinda chuckled, "There was nothing nefarious about it. My personal credentials are of Cardassian derivation for the trip so your Customs agents cleared me through. My belongings were apparently offloaded in your Cargo Bay 5."
"So, you were going to stay whether I agreed to take you on or not," Riker understood now.
"I'd make myself useful somehow," Zerinda shared, "A station like this always needs qualified engineering staff. I'm intimately familiar with the station's design and maintenance needs. Getting steady work would've been easy enough."
"I'll admit Cardan was the expert everyone looked to," Riker told her as his office door opened for them, "Most of our staff worked on starships or other space worthy craft. Maintaining a station like this one is out of their element."
"Then you admit you need me?" Zerinda wondered.
"I admit I'll give a chance in the top slot. But if you can't bring the department together, I'll ask Tyrol to recruit a replacement," Riker set his terms.
"And yet, your corporate manager already hired me on for the role," Zerinda smirked again, "So, I guess your recruitment strategy already worked."
"Kathy pays the bills. I decide the staffing of this station. It's my personal command and I want people to work together smoothly," Riker insisted.
"Like they did with Cardan?" Zerinda asked.
"That issue was a complete breakdown in the command structure specifically designed to keep me unaware of it," Riker complained.
"Yet, you should've known," Zerinda pointed outed out without any delicacy, "A good commander would find a way to find out."
"I have a feeling you won't be hiding any staffing or personal complaints," Riker was already certain of that fact.
"I'm hands on," Zerinda told him, "I deal with my problems head on. I won't tolerate threats against me. I will find out who made them and press the issue with them personally."
"And just how will you do that?" Riker halted at the foot of the steps up to his office.
"One threat deserves a better one with action backing it up," Zerinda said, "It's the Romulan way. Security can take the matter up after I've made my point."
"Promise me you won't kill anyone," Riker forced the issue straightaway.
"That depends on how threatened my life is. Surely self-defense is honored here?" Zerinda replied.
"Self-defense implies you're the victim of aggression and not the other way around. And goading someone into attacking you is still murder and will be prosecuted by the local magistrate we have aboard."
"I read up on Barrinoran legal codes on my way here. I think I'll be able to adjust to the legal standing of the station rather quickly," Zerinda smirked again.
"Right," Riker said dourly, "Let's begin the introductions since everyone is loitering about after the watch change to find out why Cardan left looking like a prisoner and why you're wearing uniform."
"When will I receive a Starfleet surplus comm badge?" Zerinda asked "This star shaped one designates me as an outsider."
"As I said, you're position is probationary," Riker grated, "You'll receive a corporate comm badge when you earn it."
"That shouldn't take long," Zerinda said confidently, "After all, most of your covert operations and maintenance staff are former Maquis. The standards can't be that hard to excel."
"You'd be surprised," Riker warned her as the approached the central Operations table. He began by introducing his wife, "This is Commander Lisea Danan. She's heads up the Sciences Department and serves as my Executive Officer."
"And is your wife. No worries there. Cronyism is rife on Romulan circles," Zerinda said , "Although, cross species breeding is discouraged amongst my people and the Cardassians. It's rare for a hybrid child to accepted into either society. Though I did witness several humans and Cardassians indulge themselves during the Reconstruction period. The Cardassians In question were sent away when the Federation withdrew its support personnel. Am I being too forward again?"
They could all hear the frustration on her voice. Riker ignored it, "This our Strategic Operations Officer, Svetlana Korepanova. Our Logistics Officer, Kristiana Liu. These are the Gamma Watch officers. Christian Noble is the duty officer. Christine Lacey is the Tactical Officer. And Joel Osmont is the OPS Officer."
"Noble and Lacey serve as captain and tactical officer aboard the scoutship registered as the Solstice. Osmont is your OPS Officer aboard your flagship, the Indomitable. The name stemming from Ro Laren's command raider during her role as Maquis cell leader on Ronara Prime. Agent Delain's briefing was quite comprehensive," Zerinda added to his introduction.
"And who the hell are you?" Lacey snapped back at her.
"You really were born a man," Zerinda chuckled.
"Cardan has been detained by the Cardassians," Riker explained, "It seems Macen and T'Kir brokered an arrangement where the station's defensive capabilities would remain at design specs. Cardan's cooperation in my request to upgrade our systems to compare with Deep Space Nine's broke that agreement. Cardan was sworn not only to deny the request but to report it to the CIB. Delain caught wind of the upgrades and reported Cardan's two failures regarding them. Commander Macen intervened to spare Cardan's life on charges of treason and he brokered an agreement to have Cardan exiled to Serenity. The Ministry of Justice changed that sentence. Cardan's life will still be spared but his exile will take place on Cardassia Prime living out a life of menial labor. Zerinda was chosen as our new Chief of Operations."
"By whom?" Danan's question was sharp and incisive.
"The Cardassian government," Riker told them, "Tyrol wrote off on it. Zerinda worked on the Cardassian Reconstruction and stayed behind when the Romulans withdrew their support. She's worked high profile maintenance projects for the Cardassians since she was considered AWOL by the Imperial Navy. One of those assignments was maintaining a Nor-class station,"
Zerinda had a better opinion of Riker now that he'd read between the multiple lined script he'd been handed. Liu asked the pertinent question on everyone's mind, "Why send her here then, if she's such an expert with Cardassian tech?"
"Praetor Tal'aura has made my presence in the Cardassian Union a thorn in Castellan Garan's side," Zerinda explained for herself, "The Cardassians felt they owed me enough not to hand me over but kindly demanded my exile to never darken their borders again. Agent Delain owed me a life debt. So she arranged for my coming here. She and I are now even once again and I'm a probationary fill-in while Captain Riker micromanages my operations and efforts to test me and determine whether I get the role I was already faithfully contracted for."
"You already signed a contract with corporate?" Liu caught that and wouldn't let it slip by.
"Yes, I have. You can demote me, relieve me of my duties, or even send me off the station but I'll still collect my latinum owed a Chief of Operations for this station," Zerinda gloated, "In order to be cost effective and avoid further conflict with Director Tyrol in this matter, I recommend you make my probation period short-lived."
Danan could see Riker grinding his teeth. Macen and Tyrol had an understanding regarding Serenity. He allowed her to run corporate affairs but Riker was sovereign when it came to station appointments and selecting personnel. Particularly Department Heads. Tyrol must have faced considerable pressure from Delain to force this upon Riker. The question on her mind was how much of it Macen already knew about. Riker had said Macen had negotiated Cardan's staying aboard in good faith but the Ministry of Justice went back on that agreement. So, was he completely unaware of Zerinda's arrival? And just what kind of pressure could Delain apply to persuade Tyrol to break the unspoken power structure arrangement?
"So, let's get this straight," Korepanova suggested, "Even if you're banned from the station, Outbound Ventures owes you a considerable stipend?"
"That's correct," Zerinda's trademark smirk returned.
"For how long?" Noble asked.
"For no less than twenty years," Zerinda gloated, "Which given my lifespan, would mean most of you would be retired by then while I would remain in my prime."
"It's bad enough we had a Cardassian on staff, but now a Romulan?" Osmont bemoaned.
"Excuse me, mister?" Riker was outraged.
"Cardan wasn't very...popular with the former Maquis personnel or most of the ex-Starfleet officers and enlisted," Korepanova warned him, "You just never noticed because he got the job done."
"What you really mean is I blinded myself to the danger station residents posed to my Chief of Operations," Riker grated at himself, "To the point that my Chief of Security and Chief Medical Officer colluded to deny me information regarding the escalating incidents that threatened Cardan's safety. Agent Delain was very surgical in her cutting away the cataracts from my eyes. While I'm withholding final approval of Zerinda's appointment until she proves herself, what dangers does she face here?"
"She's a Romulan," Osmont said as though that made it obvious.
"And the Romulans were our allies at one point," Riker reminded him, "There's room for cooperation."
"We have to spreasd word among the assorted station personnel and starship commands that they're obligated to give Zerinda the benefit of the doubt," Danan said bluntly, "Despite the Dominion War, before the Hobus disaster, the final word most Starfleet officers and enlisted hear about was the Imperial Navy's support for Shinzon."
"That was nearly ten years ago," Riker lamented, "It's time to move on."
"The Star Empire hasn't done itself any favors closing off the Border Zone and creating a buffer state made up of warlords while expanding towards the Deeper Quadrant and coming into conflict with the Federation despite avoiding all out warfare. Their privateer forces have expanded and been emboldened to actually fire on Federation flagged ships and the Federation's allies," Korepanova dissected the grievances.
"None of which I've been involved with," Zerinda pointed out, "I've been in the Cardassian Union since your year 2376."
"But you'll be the public face of every Romulan while you're aboard," Danan warned her, "Can you live with that?"
"The Cardassians initially felt they didn't need my services. I proved them wrong. I'll prove you all wrong as well," Zerinda confidently predicted.
"She definitely got a Romulan ego," Osmont opined.
"My office, mister," Riker ordered, "Now! Lees, show Zerinda around and introduce her to key maintenance operations people."
"We're going off duty anyway," Liu mentioned, "We can assist."
Danan knew she and Korepanova wanted to study Zerinda. The engineer knew it as well, it seemed. But she didn't complain or deflect the attention. Rather, she craved it. It seemed she had an innate understanding that the two represented direct access to Riker's approval.
"We should remain incident free until we reach the Infirmary," Danan told Zerinda as the quartet headed for the turbolift.
"The Klingon doctor," Zerinda immediately grasped the challenge ahead.
"The Maquis won't have an issue with you. Shial was a colony that ended up in Cardassian space before the Cardies slaughtered everyone," Korepanova told her.
"The famed followers of the path of Sybok that hosted a large number of Romulan defectors," Zerinda obviously knew about the colony and its fate, "I visited it to pay my respects. The Cardassians have made a mockery of it."
"Why did you visit?" Liu wondered.
"A growing minority of my people believe unification with the Vulcans is our true destiny. Shial was the first world to model that potential future. I wanted to see what they'd built," Zerinda told them, "But the Cardassians, as they're wont to do, erased every piece of history the colonists died for. They built monuments to the soldiers killed conquering the planet. The settlers took out an impressive number of them with limited weaponry and no advance warning of an attack. That was a testimony that Romulans and Vulcans united could accomplish great things even against impossible odds."
"So the death toll was what impressed you the most?" Liu worried.
"There wasn't anything else left to commemorate. The Cardassians made certain of that," Zerinda shrugged, "The Maquis attempted to avenge their deaths. The Imperial Fleet accomplished it. Macen is either wise or foolish to enlist so many former Maquis in his endeavor."
"I get the feeling you're speaking in broader terms than Outbound Ventures," Danan felt a shudder down her spine.
"His goal to reshape the Federation," Zerinda said blithely, "During his time in the Maquis and during the war, he realized the Federation responds better to external forces than internal movements. Why else he position himself as a key component of Federation, Bajoran, Iotian, and Cardassian security if not to bring about collusion and change by leveraging one stellar nation off of another?"
"Computer, halt turbolift," Danan ordered, "What the hell gives you that impression?"
"The things Agent Delain omits from her reports to the CIB that she shared with me to prepare for my new role here," Zerinda was unflappable it seemed, "Your Neela seems to have persuaded Delain to keep secrets of her own as well yours from her superiors, the very charges she brought against Cardan. She sacrificed him in order to further secure her position within the Bureau and allay growing suspicion that she knows far more than she reports on."
"She ruined Cardan's life for her career?" Korepanova had heard enough of that talk.
"She ruined Cardan's life because he honestly conspired against Cardassian security and she needed a mechanism to reassure her superiors that she wasn't doing the same," Zerinda spoke as if to a simpleton, "It's a fair exchange. Delain would be forced to surrender secrets you don't revealed if she were put under Cardassian interrogation methods. Castellan Garan, Supreme Legate Ocett, and Legate Mariska all feel indebted to Commander Macen and the company he's built but they wouldn't tolerate being pawns in his interstellar political ambitions."
"Then why did she arrange for you to replace Cardan?" Liu demanded to know.
"She owed me her life. The Cardassians were banishing me to vulnerability to the Tal Shiar's mercies. Or would you prefer the simple fact that it's in my best interests to assist Macen's goals?" Zerinda offered them choices, "You can choose one or more and you'll find yourself an answer."
"Tom says a Romulan always pursues their best interest," Danan said coldly.
"Then you have your particular answer," Zerinda said blandly.
"He also continually says a Romulan always keeps their motives secret," Danan followed up on her previous comment.
"I'll freely admit that assisting Macen's serves my ulterior motives. I won't admit to why. So, in the end am I still a true Romulan in your eyes despite my casting aside official Orthodoxy?" Zerinda inquired.
"I've known a Romulan who said the same things," Danan confessed, "I ended up trusting her with my life. Provisionally, I'm inclined to extend you some trust as well."
"Then you make a fine counselor to your husband in his role as commander of this station," Zerinda told her, "As I told Captain Riker, I'm hands on. If I'm threatened, I will diffuse the threat by acting upon creating a larger threat."
"I accept your warning," Danan replied.
"Good, because I think Captain Riker is struggling with accepting my terms. They're final and irrevocable," Zerinda cautioned her.
"Computer, resume turbolift," Danan said, "I'll let him know that."
"You'd better," Zerinda said without remorse, "Before the first incident occurs."
"I suppose congratulations are in order, Commodore," Ro joked to Reyes after she'd entered his office.
"I knew I'd have to pull my new rank to get you to report to my office," Reyes chuckled.
"What's so urgent it couldn't wait until after hours?" Ro asked she sat down in the proffered seat.
"Macen," Reyes told her, "One of your Intelligence staffers noted he sent a ship and crew to Oxmyx and Kracko to be recruited, "The ship ID'd as the ISS Scalphunter."
"I was told it's an unknown design," Ro had noted the report, "It resembled a pocket Intrepid-class."
"Nechayev's people identified its origins and alerted me," Reyes told her.
Ro scowled, "I'm the ranking Intelligence Officer in the surrounding sectors with a two quadrant brief. Why didn't she notify me directly?"
"Admiral Nechayev knows about us. She wanted me in the loop because of who these people are," Reyes told her.
"My staffer concluded it's another new original Iotian starship class," Ro recalled.
"That person is profoundly wrong," Reyes replied, "It's Terran."
"Terrans?" Ro's scowl deepened, "I thought the Federation signed a pact with the Terran Empire for both sides to stay in their own universes."
"There is a deal in place," Reyes said, "It's in the brief. But after the Klingon-Cardassian Alliance fell apart and their crews in our universe killed one another, Intendents Kira and Ro stayed in our universe. Ro was killed by a Starfleet Intelligence asset. Kira was spared in order for her to report on Cell 51. Instead she joined up with Ardra and waged a campaign with renegade Solarian starships and troops across the Gamma Quadrant."
"You're speaking in the past tense," Ro noted.
"The Empire wasn't done with Kira. So they sent a small crew across to Spacedock where they commandeered a shuttle to reach the Terra Nova Starship Depot. They're the ones that stole the USS Zuerich. A Bajoran Scout ship found her and Commodore Saavik recovered her. But Kira wasn't taken prisoner. The Terrans were simply gone. But Starfleet detected an ionic spatial rift had occurred by the Zuerich's position."
"You think they transferred an entire ship across the universal barrier?" Ro was incredulous.
"Nechayev passed along long buried secret files that a Starfleet vessel had done the same in the opposite direction in 2251 during the First Klingon War. Starfleet destroyed all evidence of the ship, its design and history, as well the biographies and records of the crew. But Section 31 kept copies for themselves," Reyes explained, "She asked Admiral Forger to dig up anything on universal crossovers. The pilfered S31 files at SID headquarters yielded these records. You and I are the only officers authorized to read thee records."
"Did they succeed?" Ro asked, "In killing Intendent Kira?"
"They returned from the Gamma Quadrant through the Wormhole with Macen and received a glowing recommendation from him to Oxmyx and Kracko. My bet is they succeeded and it was a one-way trip. So, rather than send them to Starfleet, Macen directed them to the Iotians. Nechayev and Forger want to know why."
"You were briefed because DS3 is the closest major outpost near the Iotian territorial borders. I was brought in because of my past with Macen," Ro didn't like it at all.
"Thanks to your connection to Macen, and your counterpart being allied with the Iotians, Starfleet Command believes you can get the information from Oxmyx or Kracko," Reyes told her.
"Why not simply ask Brin?" Ro glowered.
"His ties to the Iotians, the Bajorans, and the Cardassians have proven Starfleet and the Federation are no longer pnly his largest concern," Reyes spelled it out, "Outbound Ventures is still performing above and beyond expectation for the SID. Macen, on the other hand, has practically gone rogue. Captain Vaughn was approached to report on Macen's recent activities for the Bajorans. He's never submitted his findings. That leaves you as the person in Starfleet that knows him best. Vaughn would be reassigned to a starship command if it weren't for the fact the Bajoran Militia will only retain a Starfleet administrative presence if Vaughn remains station CO. He's under the microscope too."
"And Nechayev thought ordering me to betray my friends would land softer coming from you," Ro acerbically assessed.
"You're not being asked to spy on them," Reyes promised her, "Nechayev knows experience ordering you to choose a side prompts you to choose the other one. She's asking for an assessment of motive."
"Macen, Rockford, and their company stood by Bajor when only a handful of Starfleet officers and their commands would," Ro reminded him.
"Macen absorbed the costs of deploying his ships there. Why?" Reyes asked, "After the reparations began, Bajor was flush with latinum. He deferred payment to allow them to purchase more advanced starships from the Iotians. That doesn't make a good business model for a security contractor. Particularly when he chose to fight Starfleet in the process. We all know the war was unjust, but he should've stayed neutral. Instead, he paid his own crews to fight for the Bajorans. You'd think he'd at least request repayment of the costs that arose. Instead, he volunteers time and effort at cost for the Bajoran Republic."
"As I recall, Bajor is still a Federation ally. You're speaking as though they're potential enemies," Ro was indignant.
"They're completely independent," Reyes said, "They're not receiving Federation support and aid. And they managed to repel four pushes into their sector."
"I know. I commanded forces engaged in that defense. No one on the Bajoran side ever suggested making territorial gains out of it. We simply held what was ours," Ro grated.
"And I chose to back Bajor despite orders to the contrary," Reyes reminded her, "I support their decision to remain independent and opt not to rejoin the Federation. Their ties and treaties with the Iotians and Cardassians complicate interstellar politics, though. Both the Cardassian Union and Iotian Federation are actively working against Federation security concerns. Macen, who's entrusted with missions from the most sensitive brief in Starfleet, has sided with all of them. That warrants a look."
"I share most of the same concerns about the Federation that Macen does," Ro told straightaway, "Especially in light of recent history."
"Then you're the best suited for the inquiry," Reyes assured her, "If you're confident Macen has no conflict of interests with the Federation and Starfleet, you'd undertake this investigation without hesitation. Instead, you're arguing over the need for an assessment. Laren, the Iridians are coming. Starfleet Intelligence knows that Outbound Ventures and the Iotian Starfleet are scrambling starships into the Gamma Quadrant. Sources indicate that two archaeologists barely accepted by their own guild found evidence of a race with technology rivaling the Iconians. They seemed to specialize in kidnapping races from underdeveloped worlds, and some developed worlds, and utilize them as slave labor. The Ascendancy reported to the Militia that humans were found on a planet in their sphere of influence. The Archaeology Guild recommended Outbound Ventures specialists to investigate the claims. Starfleet proceeded to hire Macen and his specialists but we've lost contact with them. Their last scheduled report indicated the Orions had significant assets in the quadrant and they were moving to Macen's position to acquire or at least get a clue as to where the technology came from and currently exists."
"Probably at the request of the Iridians," Ro sighed, "Who'd be able to move fleets into attack positions and bypass system and sector security measures to strike planetary targets. If the technology resembles the Iconians."
"So, Starfleet's question is: if Macen or his specialists track down this tech, who will they give it to?" Reyes bluntly explained the heart of the matter.
"Macen and I discovered an El-Aurian planet killer the Cardassians crossed the border to examine and try to seize," Ro recalled grimly, "I gave the sole remaining control matrix to Picard. Since it was a border planet, the Cardassians and the Dominion seized it when they invaded. After Starfleet liberated it, Starfleet Command ordered Picard to surrender the matrix so they could activate the weapon."
"But it never happened," Reyes was relieved.
"Only because Picard returned the matrix to Macen and I and he knew how to destroy the crystalline control matrix. Rendering the weapon permanently inert. If Picard hadn't trusted us, Starfleet would've activated the weapon. What Picard didn't trust is that I'd abide by the terms of my surrender and return to Jaros II after the war concluded," Ro told him, "All that time together and he still viewed me as a traitor. Even though we risked our lives daily to operate behind enemy lines with decommissioned starships."
"You sound bitter," Reyes realized.
"All that time together, and he never knew me at all," Ro said angrily, "I rejoined Starfleet and he retired in a fit of protest. I defended the Federation from internal and external enemies and he sat it all out in his vineyard. Who's the morally superior one in that light?"
"It's not a contest. You each did what was right for you," Reyes consoled her, "I hate to have to ask, but will you accept the assignment as asked to?"
"I will," Ro was defiant again, "Just to prove Macen isn't a threat."
"Nechayev will expect you to be biased in that expectation. You'll have to assume he's guilty of something and work to prove it. Only coming up empty will clear him of suspicion from Command," Reyes advised her, "You'll have to reflect on every conversation you've ever shared with him. What's his bias and prejudice? Why is he colluding with potential enemies of the Federation?"
"I won't include Bajor in that list," Ro warned him.
"You're not being asked to. Yet," Reyes said gravely, "But sending Terrans to work for the Iotians is just the latest in a series of decisions that Nechayev has been forced to report to Fleet Admiral Akaar. Akaar is asking for the review. So it comes directly from the Starfleet Commander."
"Akaar didn't seem so concerned when Outbound Ventures located and returned the vice President to Earth," Ro said snippily.
"Cell 51 and dictatorship over the Federation was broken. He'd have graciously thanked anyone," Reyes said, "Akaar has been tolerant of the SID's use of irregular forces. But, he voted alongside Fleet Admiral Clancy to prohibit the practice. Akaar is a firm believer that Starfleet operations should be solely conducted by Starfleet. Once again, it's a sitting president that is saving Outbound Ventures from losing their contracts with Starfleet."
"I understand Akaar is retiring soon," Ro mentioned, "Any top contenders to take his place?"
"Jellico has already been given the promotion," Reyes told her, "It goes into effect the day Akaar officially retires. That's six months away."
"That'll end badly," Ro groaned.
"Actually, Forger's results have impressed Jellico as has Outbound Ventures' performance," Reyes sounded as surprised as she felt, "But he countersigned the review order. He wants to be certain Macen wil be behind the Federation should hostilities break against Cardassia or the Iotians. The Bajoran situation has him worried as well."
"Macen has a long history with the Militia dating back to the Border Wars," Ro confided in him.
"It was still Cardassian territory then," Reyes was surprised by the revelation.
"That didn't stop Nechayev from deploying Vaughn and Macen to Bajor from time to time to support the Resistance," Ro grinned.
"That's blatantly illegal," Reyes nearly choked.
"So was trying to influence my decisions by having Macen serve as my intelligence consultant," Ro continued to grin, "Why do you think the Militia was so eager to take me on after the Dominion purge of the DMZ? Or that they ran our covert operations team during the war? Elijah Waters efforts in the DMZ weren't officially sanctioned by Starfleet but Waters ran latinum, cover stories, and guns to the Maquis while serving as Macen's handler for Nechayev. He didn't just decide to form up a covert operations logistics company, he was persuaded to come out of retirement and do so."
"This has to be all highly classified," Reyes almost began to sweat.
"Nechayev shared one of Starfleet's dirtiest secrets with you today. I'm guessing that puts you in the 'trust' column. Besides, I'm tired of always dancing around my involvement with Maquis and Macen's involvement with my cell," Ro said flippantly, "But if you tell anyone, I'll castrate you and let Nechayev roast your testicles for lunch."
"I'll say this, you've never been boring, Laren,"" Reyes had to admit.
"But there's still so much alluring mystery, isn't there?" she said cockily.
"So, I can report back you're assuming Macen is actually guilty and doing your damndest to prove it?" Reyes asked.
"I'll play the game Nechayev's way," Ro shrugged, "But I'll tell her through you, Macen's secrets are still secrets even from me. He kept them from T'Kir and they were psychically linked. Who she needs to have a sit down with is Celeste Rockford. I imagine he's given up hiding things from her by now since she'll just figure them out anyway."
"JAG can't subpoena testimony until your review indicates criminal intent and fraudulent activity," Reyes told her, "So, despite certain ancient Earth customs, the Federation can't compel one spouse to testify against the other, but Rockford's a frinxing Angosian Augment. They won't be compelling her to do anything."
"I'm so glad we, and soon the admiral, have such a clear understanding," Ro took the padd sitting on the desk for her and exited without a further word. Or so he thought until she hesitated by the door, "Macen will live for another few hundred years. If he has a mastermind worthy plan, all he has to do is wait for all of us to die and continue on with it. Just a thought."
Reyes was almost relieved when Ro left. He signaled Nechayev, "She isn't happy but she'll do it."
"She's presuming guilt?" Nechayev had to ask.
"I think they've had conversations that sowed enough doubt she'll pursue it as ordered," Reyes explained. Then he expressed Ro's own doubts regarding her chances of success.
"Starfleet accepted Macen despite the holes in his background. There's was a general enthusiasm about bringing an El-Aurian into the service. I even had him set to receive his intelligence gathering command before the Demilitarized Zone Treaty went into effect. Then he was willing to throw his career away to join the Maquis. I made that impulse work for Starfleet and the Federation," Nechayev revealed to Reyes, "I even made his actual exit from Starfleet work for us."
"You steered Outbound Ventures growth," Reyes was surprised to learn.
"Let's just say I enabled it," Nechayev chuckled, "Meanwhile I groomed Forger to eventually assume command of what would become the Special Investigations Division. That effort just took the actual collapse of Section 31 to accomplish."
"What gaps are there?" Reyes asked.
"I'll clear you to read Macen's unredacted personnel file. You'll see why Starfleet accepted his resignation and tasked Starfleet Intelligence with keeping track of him. You'll find that Macen was a member of an elite El-Aurian secret society. One that common El-Aurian's feared. Since Macen is the sole surviving member, we don't know what it was all about. But Guinan and others have said some severe things about it. I think it lent itself to Macen's bent towards extremism," Nechayev mused.
"You label Macen an extremist yet hand him the Federation's most sensitive matters," Reyes was shocked to learn.
"He doesn't get the job done with half measures," Nechayev chuckled, "He and Mackenzie Calhoun shared that. That's why they were my best agents before Picard intervened and got Calhoun his own regular forces starship command. I spent years rehabilitating Ro so she could assume her post, her side trip through the Militia notwithstanding. She shares their traits. As I'm certain you've discovered for yourself."
"So, lacking a Macen and a Calhoun, you recruited Ro," Reyes understood a vital piece of Laren's puzzle now."
"Getting her out of the Militia was the hardest part," Nechayev grumbled, "Kira knew exactly which post to put her in. But Ro's heart was always in Starfleet. That's why she left the Resistance to apply to Starfleet Academy. Why she joined Picard's crew. Why she surrendered to Starfleet when she could safely remained part of the Militia after the war concluded,. And why even after her discharge from Jaros II, she accepted my deal even after the raw one Starfleet Command gave her over her time at Deep Space Nine."
"It was all one long game operation," Reyes concluded.
"One that pays off," Nechayev told him, "I won't be part of Starfleet for much longer. I need people in place to watch over Starfleet Intelligence in my absence. People that will get the job done despite fleet politics and lack of orders or countering orders notwithstanding,"
"What about Calhoun and Macen?" Reyes asked.
"Calhoun married Commodore Shelby and got involved in fleet politics. He may be the biggest rogue since Kirk but he toes the line in the end," Nechayev said dourly, "And Macen refuses to return to the fold. He feels better leveraged as an outsider applying pressure to Starfleet and the Federation to change from outside of it."
"If you already know that, why the review?' Reyes asked.
"Because we don't know what Macen intends to apply leverage into changing the Federation into," Nechayev complained.
"Because he's labeled an extremist," Reyes understood now.
"And he and Rockford will outlive us all," Nechayev grumbled, "And make no mistakes. She's part of his plans unlike T'Kir. Rockford is stable enough to see them through rather than him having to put them on hold until her death."
"You think she'd go along with them? She's very independent," Reyes had to comment.
"She's a former frinxing Angosian Augment Infiltrator. The most dangerous kind the Angosians ever mentally conditioned," Nechayev angrily retorted, "T'Kir was a former terrorist and an impulsive sociopath. Rockford is a meticulous former assassin. Who do you consider to be the more dangerous of the two?"
"I see your point," Reyes conceded, "Why the timing though? The Iridian threat both directly and through the Orion Syndicate is obviously growing."
"Because Starfleet Command wants to know who Macen will defend in those circumstances should the Iridians invade. We already know the Iotians are their first priority. Will he stand by them or will he wait in reserve should our Starfleet need assistance? Or, even more pressing, will he help defend the Bajorans and the Cardassians over the Federation's safety?" Nechayev made it plain, "His current loyalties seem to side more with the Bajorans than the Federation. I need context towards it in order to justify this shift."
Nechayev and Ro already knew the real answer for it even if they didn't feel the same way. But Ro needed a clinical report specifying that Macen would, in fact, support the Federation with every asset at his disposal. Despite the Starfleet retainer, Outbound Ventures was still an independent security contractor based out of a non-Federation solar system and sector. The company received Federation operating licenses and Starfleet Letters of Marque but they could turn down any assignment they so chose to do. So far, it had never been an issue since the retainer and SID clearance for certain starship captains and crews prioritized their assignments.
Reyes had noted, as Ro undoubtedly had, that the review was directed solely at Macen. Riker and the Outbound Ventures employees were immune to it. Rockford would be branded an accessory since she was his business partner and privy to his secrets. But the corporation itself was excluded. Which meant, unlike Solarian Security Systems, the corporation wouldn't fall under Federation Security's administrative oversight if Macen and Rockford were charged. The Rockford Detective Agencies were also left clear of the review's purview.
Federation Security itself had grown dependent on Rockford's detectives to help consult on difficult cases or tackle cold cases. Forte had began charting that course. The agency's detectives seemed particularly gifted at solving cases Federation Security seemed unable to. That had opened up an entirely new training branch for its investigators to be comparable as the Covert Operations agents. Local law enforcement departments across hundreds of worlds hired Rockford detectives as consultants on difficult cases. The Federation could hardly afford to shutter the agency.
Since both Macen and Rockford were barely involved in their mutual corporate interests' daily affairs, the businesses were considered above reproach. But, guilty findings on Macen's part would naturally implicate Rockford and expand the then criminal investigation into her knowledge of and assistance in Macen's illegal ambitions.
Then there was the matter of Macen's SID team and the Obsidian crew. Starfleet took Nechayev's word that Shannon Forger and her crew wouldn't have direct knowledge of any covert operation Macen was directing against Federation affairs. But the team, or select members of it, could. Reyes was dismayed that both Tessa's existence and Parva's genetic enhancement would come to light. They'd never be welcomed in Federation space again. Vaughn knew of both and Ro had entrusted Reyes with the knowledge. Both Deep Space station commanders could be questioned regarding their knowledge of the matters. Both COs would be forced to admit they'd tacitly disobeyed Federation law by not reporting on Macen's crew members.
Nechayev had interrogated Reyes regarding what Ro had confided in him regarding Macen's ulterior motives for his recent decisions. Apparently he'd passed muster since he'd been given access to the Section 31 files regarding the history and nature of the USS Discovery and CONTROL as well as the opportunity to present Ro's orders to her himself so it would be a gentler handling of matters. He felt he could persuade her to comply with them rather than just rebel against Nechayev's blunt directive. It'd paid off.
"Ro will deliver an unbiased report," Reyes assured the four bracketed pip admiral, "I can't guarantee she won't warn Macen to stay clear of Federation territory to avoid prosecution."
"Actually, I'm counting on her to do just that," Nechayev signed off after making that surprising statement. Reyes stared at the Federation emblem displayed on his screen. The more entrenched he got into Ro's inner circle, the more he found that it was like a cabal within Starfleet and beyond.
Reviewing Macen's file, he found the same contradiction's he'd noted in Ro's personnel and Starfleet Intelligence dossier. The Ro he'd romance in Starfleet Academy would've turned back to the Bajoran Militia after the command fiasco aboard DS9. But she wouldn't have abandoned that career to return too Starfleet one last time. She wouldn't have been able to forgive Starfleet enough to do so. Yet, Ro seemed to have changed enough since leaving Deep Space Nine to head the Colonial Defense Forces to do so even after fighting a war on Bajor's behalf against Starfleet. Again, the Ro he'd known before would never have forgiven Starfleet even after a change in leadership.
Macen was a complete contradiction. The man in the records had gone from fictional criminal to legitimate one. He'd left Starfleet to make h\is cover legend a reality. He'd been a mercenary spy for governments, law enforcement, and criminals alike. Especially the Orion Syndicate. The Macen Reyes knew would never condone such actions. Some might attribute that to the near-death experience the Obsidian officer corps and Macen's team had apparently endured when the surveyor was lost in action as the Iridian Enforcers sought revenge for Bertram Sindis' death.
Reyes called up the SID's file jackets on the team. They all disagreed with the people Reyes knew. Reyes knew them all as honorable and ethical. The files recorded the lives of completely different individuals. Yet, Vice Admiral Nechayev and Commodores Robert Tavar Johnson and Amanda Forger had plead the cases of the people Reyes knew not the reported case files that Starfleet recognized. Coincidentally or not, All three flag officers received promotions upon the establishment of Starfleet's Special Investigations Division to replace the finally shuttered Section 31. Johnson's leadership in retaking Sector 001 had earned him another promotion from rear admiral to vice admiral. Nechayev's career had included a promotion to admiral, a summary demotion by Fleet Admiral Clancy back to vice admiral, and a reversal of that demotion a return to full admiral.
The Bureau of Personnel had received personal recommendations for Reyes' own promotion to commodore from Nechayev, Forger, Johnson, and fellow captains Vaughn, McKinley, and Benteen. Reyes' own decision to remain commander of Deep Space Three indefinitely rather than accept a starship command had also influenced BuPers in light of DS3's strategic location between the Border Zoe and the nearby expanding Iotian Federation. As a captain and station commander, Reyes had overseen the security concerns of a sector. Now he oversaw the entire Border Zone up to Deep Space Four's jurisdiction. But the finally reinstated Captain Erika Benteen was a mere sector commander. A vital sector as the Border Zone turned towards the Deeper Beta Quadrant. But Vice Admiral Elizabeth "Betts": Rager at Deep Space Five oversaw the former Neutral Zone across its curve and ending in the Deeper Beta Quadrant. Rager also served as Captains Chakotay and Kirk's mission commander in the Delta Quadrant commanding the USS Voyager-A and the USS Pulse.
Reyes had been offered the choice between similar starships. He would've chosen the Protostar-class over the Lamarr-class commands he'd been offered to choose from. The science vessel was already built while the alternative was still being constructed and its protostar drive harnessed. He would've been placed in an administrative post in Starfleet Command and choosing his command staff while awaiting the smaller vessels completion. The Lamarr-class USS Segue already had a crew assigned. She just needed a Senior Staff and a commanding officer to be selected.
Reyes' choice would have been based upon the Segue's dual role as science vessel and as a midshipmen cruise vessel. Each Lamarr-class starship contained three classrooms to further cadets' education while they completed their six-month tour aboard a starship before graduation. Reyes dealt with enough wet behind the ears boot ensigns. He didn't need the typical high-jinks that accompanied midshipmen.
Enrollment in Starfleet Academy had doubled since the wars and electoral victories of autocratic populists. So many more midshipmen qualified for cruise semesters than the Academy had starships assigned to them for. So the Lamarr-class had been repurposed to fulfill that void while serving deep space missions and studying phenomena. Then there was Captain Scott's retrograde technology elective semester course aboard the USS Enterprise-M that drew hundreds of students per semester in addition to the midshipman cruise graduation requirement.
Reyes' relationship with his last paramour had ended because he'd inquired into transferring to a starship command. She'd been the commanding JAG Officer for the station. Her departure over the inquiry had opened the door for Senecka to assume the role. Now, he was staying because Ro's operations command center operated inside of DS3. She could've planted it at any starbase but she'd chosen Deep Space Three because of his presence. It felt treacherous to leave after that.
His promotion renewed the challenges of his role there. Overseeing the Federation's Border Zone territories added to the many challenges he'd faced and adapted to as a sector commander. Adding the Iotian Federation's borders to his overview also added an extra complexity he hadn't faced before.
The Iotian Starfleet had constructed, thanks to the Intendants, a small fleet of mid-24th Century starships. They'd taken the lessons learned from that technological boost and actually begun producing original competitive designs as well expanded their sales lines of starships with original ship classes. The move had been ingenious. The ever-imitative Iotians were freed from legal barriers placed upon them by the Federation for continually copying Starfleet vessels and opened new markets with their adaptive starship designs. Starfleet had relented on its protests that the Iotians were still mass producing decommissioned ship classes for sales purposes. But, the Federations had negotiated maximum yearly quotas for each recently copied decommissioned starship model.
That still gave the Iotian fleet yards permission to build an unlimited amount of 22nd Century Earth and early UFP Federation Starfleet vessels extending to vessels designed as late as 2293. The Econo line consisted of ships pre-dating duotronics. The Standard sales line were duotronically based starships. Isolinear technology ships that Starfleet had constructed from 2269-2293 were uncapped. But the Premium line was beyond most planet's ability to buy in bulk. Entities such as the Militia and outbound Ventures purchased the Premium sales line in large orders.
The Iotians had entered their own designs into the Standard and Premium sales lines, as well. Sales incentives were boosting early bulk sales of those ship classes. The Bajorans and Outbound Ventures were investing in the capped sales market. Pre-orders took up most of the available yearly quotas for the next five years. The Iotians weren't selling comparable domestic product vessels. They felt obliged to replace the early Interceptor- and Enterprise-class designs and replace them with entirely new starships of a different design. Both the Militia and Outbound Ventures had begun reporting series design flaws in the starships over longer term use.
The Iotians equivalent to an ASDB found the designs were inherently flawed and grateful that the Militia, which had used one of each type as their flagships, hadn't suffered complete systems failures. They'd replaced the vessels for free with proven designs. The Enterprise-class came from stolen Cell 51 design plans. The Interceptor-class remained a wholly Iotian design. Both the Fist of the Prophets and the Outbound Ventures' replaced Enterprise-class vessels had already had been tested under fire. Fleet Boss Kracko knew the Militia had deployed the Fist again to the Raas to assist the Ascendancy starships there.
The Ascendancy fleet had invested in Iotian designed Standard line starships. So their engineers were eagerly awaiting performance evaluations. Though largely based off of the existing Constitution-, Asia-, and Mercury-classes, their designs included some upgrades Starfleet had never installed. They'd refitted existing duotronic ships to isolinear based designs and all new yard releases were of isolinear lineage. But the intended upgrades for duotronic vessels were still stored in the Corps of Engineers' databases. The Iotians had paid handsomely for the ability to juice up their domestic design products.
The specs for upgrading Excelsior-, Miranda-, and Oberth-class vessels to insure their long term productivity were still tightly held by the Corps of Engineers. All three designs had seen a century's worth of service. The Iotian Starfleet wanted that knowledge in order to replicate it in their own ships. Since membership costs in the Iotian Federation included specified quotas of available and needed raw materials as well as universal conscription periods, the Iotian Starfleet was able to grow as its Federation took on new members.
The Ferengi Alliance was the last major power to join the United Federation of Planets. The new other new members were former Protectorates that had endured the candidate process and maintained the wish to join after Starfleet contracted after the panic induced by the Mars Massacre. Most of the other candidate worlds withdrew their applications following the Bajoran conflict. They largely joined the Iotians or contracted Outbound Ventures to secure them from advanced threats. Both had very specific requirements for protective services rendered. Societal changes weren't required.
The smaller security contracting firms hired out to smaller clients. Solarian was a shadow of itself when Vilnius became CEO. But the rot inside the corporation remained with Baroness Estella Grimes as the chief shareholder and Pytor Boromov still entrenched as the Chief Operating Officer. Even with Federation Security oversight, Grimes and Boromov were funneling mercenary contracts into the corporate portfolio. Estella Grimes was banned from leading Grimes Armaments so her sister, Baroness Stefi Grimes, took over the illegal arms sales division of the corporation directly.
Grimes Armaments Pincer- and Striker-class warships were meant to directly compete against the Iotians. Vilnius found his ability to curb Grimes and Boromov's influence waning as they brought in more profitable, if legally questionable, contracts. The Board of Directors listened to their proposals with glee. Having Grimes' connection with Grimes Armaments meant that they had a pipeline for reduced costs weapons, ordnance as starships without relying on navigating Starfleet's rules for purchasing decommissioned starships.
The Federation, and therefore Starfleet, had relaxed its rules for planetary militias to form and acquire decommissioned starships and training in how to operate them. Grimes was more than happy to include them in their client brackets for ordnance and phaser coils. Admiral Johnson had successfully negotiated the return of the Confederacy of Planets back into the Federation's sphere. The colonies were admitted as full members of the Federation.
Starfleet had already begun construction of a starbase in the Carolinius system. The former Confederates kept their Iotian purchased starships as a unified militia because of Starfleet's need to mobilize forces to the region to stem the Star Empire's expansion into region. The Klingons had been given full reign of the Taurus Reach so long as they protected the scant Federation colonies there. The Tholians were the only contesting this new wave of expansion by the Klingon Empire. The Klingon Defense Force was happily engaged in wholesale warfare with the Tholians.
Starfleet exploration programs had resumed under Akaar's tenure as Fleet Admiral but at a reduced scale. The Deeper Beta Quadrant only had a dozen exploration ships assigned to it. Commodore Saavik led seven ships in the Gamma Quadrant. Chakotay and Kirk were the only starship commanders currently assigned to the Delta Quadrant. Exploration into the Alpha Quadrant through the neutral corridor between the Cardassian Union and the Breen Imperium had effectively been blocked by the sporadic fighting between the former allies under the Dominion.
The First Federation had closed its borders so Starfleet couldn't use their territory to circumvent the Breen. The Tholians blockaded access around their Assembly and the Cardassians. So the Federation was denied exploration of the Greater Alpha Quadrant. Although intelligence reports indicated the Cardassians and Breen were vying for influence and expansion into its territories, even a temperate Federation president refused to negotiate terms of access through the Cardassian Union. Ambassador Garak had delivered Castellan Rekena Garan's terms and argued their merits but the Federation Council wouldn't meet them.
They demanded the release of the "political prisoners" held by Cardassia. Garak had quickly pointed out that Nhlakamipho Cindi, Chavy Sok and Juliete Perez were all wanted for capital crimes in the Federation as well. The Cardassian Ministry of Justice had kindly spared their lives in deference to Federation values but their release wasn't negotiable. They'd ordered the invasion of the Cardassian Union and cost the lives of thousands of Cardassian Guard officers and enlisted in the defense of the agreed upon border. Garak further reminded them that though the Cardassian Guard had routed five invasion attempts, they'd never once pushed for territorial expansion. That ended the negotiations.
Akaar had been aggrieved by the Council's still being held by a majority that has supported Sok, Cindi, and Perez. Garan's restraining her forces from taking Federation territories the losses had made vulnerable to capture has shown great political wisdom. It was an olive branch to normalize relations between the governments. All she'd asked for in return was the three politicians to try and jail. Before the populists gained a majority in the Federation Council, the trade off was deemed acceptable and war reparations were reduced, easing the burden of the depleted reserves of hard currency.
The Bajoran Republic hadn't been as forgiving. For the first time in its history, the Federation was in debt. The Ferengi Alliance was desperately needed as a member to meet the Federation's bond interest payments. The government, in an effort to quickly rebuild Starfleet, had issued bonds in an excess of the twenty percent of the Federation's GDP. They'd gambled they'd be allowed access to strip mine the remains of the Ekosian system, which was a storehouse of raw latinum. But the descendants of the survivors of the Romulans field testing their first trilithium weapon had opted to sell the mining rights to the Iotians.
The Federation Council nearly declared war on the Iotian Federation to reacquire access to the former Ekosian and Zeon system. Starfleet assessments of the Iotian Starfleet capabilities versus their own so soon after the disastrous results of the failed invasions of the Cardassian Union and the Bajoran Republic had paused their vote long enough for the opposition to publicize the intentions of the Council's majority to declare war for territorial gains. That stood against every line in the Federation Charter the Council members had sworn an oath to uphold. In the end, despite public outcry, it came down to the UFP President's declaration he would not order Starfleet to prosecute another illegal war that brought them to heel.
The political hawks and newly elected populists shared a vision of a proactive Starfleet that made incursions or invaded foreign territories for political and economic gains. The days of a reactive, defensive role for Starfleet reshaped by Cell 51 aligned ideologues. Warfare was a political tool in their tool chest. The growing rise of domestic insurrections and terrorism attested to the change of the public's mindset since the Mars Massacre. Even the Borg's invasions had never dealt such a fearmongering blow to Sector 001 and the Federation politicians that gathered on Earth.
The Dominion War had been the generational splitting of ideologies of what was and wasn't acceptable roles for Starfleet. Mars seemed to prove the traditionalists wrong. Kirsten Clancy simply went the same direction as her younger officers. Owing to the rapid promotions due to the losses inflicted during the Dominion War, more Starfleet captains and command staff shared her vision for Starfleet than ever before. The Federation Council had pressured the President to re-appoint Clancy as Starfleet Commander. Jellico had been the compromise pick.
Akaar was preparing Jellico for the role by informing him of realities within Starfleet previously unknown even to the Alpha Quadrant Theater Commander. Internal Affairs and Starfleet Security refused to further investigate alleged ties to Cell 51. Commodore Oh resolutely declared the investigations "resolved". Admiral T'Lara, the Starfleet JAG, couldn't prosecute without compelling evidence. Oh refused to bring charges against any further officers.
Jellico was inheriting a Starfleet Command where the Admiralty was divided between traditionlists and the new hard-liners who'd adopted Kirsten Clancy's stances and pushed for her return to being the Fleet Admiral. Vice Admiral Clancy had been relegated to commanding Starfleet Communications. But, her strong support within BuPers and a large number of fellow to senior ranking admirals had her collecting a fourth pip again when Akaar retired. Clancy's strong ties to Oh added weight to her base of loyalists. Oh had created a cult of personality with Starfleet Security. It had enabled Clancy and Oh to engineer many illegal operations for special interest groups in the Federation Council and Presidential administrations.
Clancy had helped engineer the circumstances Sok used to declare war on both Cardassia and Bajor. Commander Sam Lavelle, the controversial choice to command Deep Space Nine had been willing accomplice to their designs. Cell 51 had killed Lavelle to avoid Starfleet submitting either the Bajoran or Cardassian demands that Lavelle be remanded as a war criminal.
The promise Lavelle had shown from his days as an ensign aboard the USS Enterprise-D until he was lt. commander in the Dominion War, seemed to diminish after he was one of the few survivors of the destruction of the USS Scarab. BoPers had conflicted recommendations regarding his future despite his being promoted to commander. Vice Admiral Ross took a personal interest in Lavelle and sponsored his transfer to assume command of DS9 when Vaughn turned the role down yet again.
Lavelle had been Oh and Clancy's patsy to "uncover and liberate" Federation citizens incarcerated by the Cardassian Guard. When in fact, Garan had taken on the illegally held prisoners from Starfleet Security in exchange for Special Operations Command's assistance in putting down rebellions led by freedom fighters across dozens of the Cardassian Subject Worlds. That incident was Sok's justification for beating the war drums.
The peace between the Federation and the Cardassian Union was as fragile as it had ever been thanks to Starfleet's betrayal. The Iotian and Alliance's efforts to stage supposed attacks from a united Federation, Cardassian, and Klingon fleet across the Beta and Alpha Quadrants had traditional rivals like the Tholians, Gorn, and Talarians crying out for revenge. The Breen and Tzenkethi had inflicted heavy losses upon the Alliance forces even before the Terran Universe "allies' killed one another in a miasma of death.
Now, the Iridians threatened to exploit the fragile security that the Federation and its allies had rebuilt after enduring political upheavals at home. Admiral Johnson had assembled the small Starfleet squadron that Commodore Shelby led to liberate Sector 001 from Cell 51 but even the restoration of the elected officials to the presidential administration did little to change the Federation Council. Councilor Auri alone had been arrested and charged with treason. Despite the Speaker for the Council's bully pulpit, Sok, Cindi, and Perez were returned to Cardassian custody. The con artist become President, Ardra, was in Starfleet custody to face multiple trials on a decade's worth of charges.
Axian representatives had been sent to ensure their grievances were added to the charge. An envoy from the World also petitioned the courts to prosecute Ardra and the security contractors taken prisoner by Commodore Saavik on Axios. This time, Benton Crawford and his subordinates were retained in Starfleet custody so they wouldn't mysteriously "vanish" during a Federation Security prisoner transfer again. Solarian Security Systems was cooperating with Starfleet under Vilinius' watch but the defense legal teams had been assembled by Grimes Armaments, which lobbyied the Federation Council to obtain Presidential pardons for the contractors and pin everything on Ardra and the deceased Intendent Kira. The defense lawyers took the extraordinary defense ploy that Kira hadn't been from the Terran Universe but was actually General Kira of the Bajoran Militia. Which accounted for her disappearance from Axios.
Starfleet sensor logs from their entry into the solar system, indicated the presence of two Federation type starships. Saavik's crews had been unable to identify the Obsidian or the Scalphunter but the ships were clearly Federation analogues. The Iotians weren't known to be that far out. The only sign of the two starships' presence with the Axians had been Kira's abduction. Reyes assumed that one of the starships was the Terran vessel and the second was the Obsidian. Waypoint Station's service drones had collected the Intendant's corpse from space after the sensors logged an anomalous organic object near the station. It seemed the Terrans had doled out their form of justice.
It still disturbed Reyes, more than he'd let on to Ro, that Macen had been complicit with the Terrans murdering Kira. Nechayev, though stung by Kira once, had plans for her to collect intelligence from Bajor posing as her counterpart. Nechayev was angrier over that loss than the presence of the Terrans and Macen redirecting them to the Iotians. Given Section 31's ample supply of intelligence gathered on the former Terran Empire, the Terran Rebellion, and the renewed Terran Empire, Nechayev's opinion seemed to be that they'd ne more troublesome than their presumable worth in tolerating them. They'd undoubtedly work to destabilize and overthrow Oxmyx's regime.
Probes into the Beta III system had placed the Terran ship there. The probes indicated the Terrans hadn't stayed long but several large explosions in the city that housed the Landru AI had been registered. The severity and force of the explosions had analysts estimating a total loss of life in the city. Iotion Starfleet ships had swooped in thereafter. It was well known Betan refugees that abandoned the planet when Landru was rebuilt worked for the Iotian Starfleet and Federation. Given Landru's probable total destruction this time, the Iotians would've moved quickly to install a pliable government.
Most Starfleet officers found the existence of the Iotian Federation and their Starfleet to a mockery of the Federation they took an oath to defend. The feeling towards the Iotian Starfleet was one of utter contempt and loathing. At least, that was the new majority, Some of the traditional officer corps felt the same way. Actually meeting James T. Kirk, the man directly responsible for the birth of the Iotian Federation was illuminating. Kirk saw the possibility of open dialogue with the Iotians. Given the history with the United Earth Starfleet and the Federation Starfleet, they'd become a transactional society. They'd negotiate as long as there was an advantage to be had from it.
Ro's experiences with the Resistance and Maquis shaped her understanding of that paradigm. The current Oxmyx and Kracko believed in the art of the deal. And a deal was binding. So their contracts with Bajor, Outbound Ventures, and the Ascendancy meant they remained loyal to them. Although, contacts within the Orion Syndicate had informed on Iotian engineers aiding the Orions in the starship upgrades. But Grimes Armaments had also sent technical teams. Grimes Armaments lacked a mutual defense pact with the Bajorans. The Iotian Starfleet had one in place. So, leveraging that information could spur the Iotians into further talks.
Since Reyes' command portfolio now included the Iotian border, he had to keep broader options open. He'd extended an open invitation to Kracko to discuss deployments along the border and ending the data stream blockade. Once the Iotians regained access to the Federation Data Nets, they might stop skulking about Federation space. It might be the first opening in a diplomatic exchange to normalize relations between the two Federations. If so, he needed Macen's connections with the Iotian hierarchy to open the first doors. On a personal note, Reyes hoped Ro couldn't prove Macen guilty of anything. As the regional commander, he hoped it even more strongly.
"Commander, a report was filed at Deep Space Nine regarding an Iotian squadron transiting the Wormhole to the Gamma Quadrant," a staffer named Treblix reported to Ro as she returned to her unit in a foul mood.
"So? They're allied with the Bajorans. It was only a matter of time," Ro snorted her derision.
"Ma'am, one of the ships was flagged as 'Terran'," Treblix persisted, "I'm not sure what that means. The humans refer to the Sol system and Earth as 'Terra' in official astrocartographical maps. But there's no historical references to them calling themselves 'Terrans'."
"Not in this universe," Ro groaned, "Forward everything DS9 sent with the report and get me Captain Vaughn. I need his strategic assessment."
"Aye, Commander," Treblix returned to their post.
"Dammit," Ro muttered under her breath and she entered her private office.
"It was undoubtedly the same Terran vessel that accompanied the Obsidian out of the Wormhole days ago," Vaughn reported over Ro's screen, "Commander Douglas is working up a complete profile on the ship from our sensors could detect off of her. Her transponder was running and she IDs as the ISS Scalphunter."
"A great name for a predator," Ro grimaced.
"She wasn't operating alone," Vaughn advised Ro, "As you can see from the report she was accompanied by the ISS Bonnie & Clyde, the ISS Kelly, the ISS Jesse James, the ISS Bratva, the ISS Bertram Sindis, and the ISS Tindi. It seems the Iotians moved passed naming vessels for human Mafia figures to outlaws and outlaw organizations in general."
"Isn't the Kelly Captain Mirita's command?" Ro seemed to recall.
"She was also formerly a Splendor-class frigate. Now, she's an unknown Iotian original design. Double check your recent reports on the Iotian Starfleet. Mirita was promoted to a General Staff position," Vaughn had done some homework since noting the Kelly's change of nature, "They retained the registration name but the original vessel was replaced along with her commander."
"Which means it's likely her entire Senior Staff was replaced as well," Ro understood, "Any information you can provide on the other ships?"
"All new, unknown Iotian original designs. From what Douglas tells me, they're all quite capable," Vaughn worried, "Tom Riker signaled me Outbound Ventures would be sending in nine starships led by Captain Jennifer Gardner."
"Macen must've really kicked the hornet's nest this time," Ro sighed, "You already reported General Anara redeploying Colonial Defense Force assets and General Kira calling up and activating all System Defense Force crews."
"Our sensors buoys near the Gamma Quadrant Wormhole terminus detected nearly half a dozen ships accompanying the Fist of the Prophets towards Ascendant territory," Vaughn told her.
"Outbound Ventures was hired by the Archaeology Guild to investigate some wild claims made by the Ascendancy and two independent, mark 'rogue', archaeologists," Ro informed him.
"The comm buoy network we're sharing with the Militia has Orion coded frequencies being relayed back through the Wormhole and through the Federation to Orion," Vaughn explained, "Months ago, before recent events turned so turbulent, dozens of Orion ships transited the Wormhole. The Militia cut off access to the Syndicate and Orion traders. The 'embassy' ship was the last one allowed through. That disaster caused General Kira to close the border altogether. Having Orion blockade runners running supplies and people to and from Empok Nor hasn't settled any ruffled feathers."
"My investigations into Cult of the Pah-wraith sects in the Federation keep coming to abrupt ends thanks to the cultists' sudden demises," Ro said dryly, "Would you care to expend some influence and talk Neela down?"
"You actually have more sway over her than I do thanks to your mutual history during the Dominion War. You know as well as I that Neela won't heed a living soul. Just the demands of her gods," Vaughn chuckled mirthlessly.
"Kira assigned Neela an operations team and crew to tone her methods down but she seems to have persuaded the Militia officers and enlisted into following her brand of the faith," Ro said grimly, "Neela was ordered to leave the Cult's presence in the Federation to me and Starfleet Security. After Gul Macet torpedoed a planetary population to get at her, she's persona non grata in the Federation."
"Neela's ex-Resistance and skipped the last ten years. So both the Occupation and the Dominion War are fresh for her," Vaughn reminded Ro, "Being an outlaw still comes naturally to her."
"And she's already been released from a prison sentence," Ro grumbled, "A Federation penal colony, assuming the Bajoran government didn't demand her extradition and perform a 'catch and release', would be a holiday compared to a Bajoran prison. Most of them were built by the Cardassians."
"Why is Nechayev intent on having you arrest Neela?" Vaughn asked.
"Because local enforcement surrounding her victims on every planet are turning to Federation Security and Starfleet for assistance," Ro explained, "It's gotten so out of control that we have no choice but to arrest Neela, if we can catch her."
"I'll warn Kira to prepare an extradition order to submit when the time comes," Vaughn sighed.
"Commodore Oh selected a team to pursue the matter independently from Starfleet Intelligence. Neela and her Merry Men will be caught. It's just a matter of time now," Ro said worriedly.
"I'll pass that along to Kira as well," Vaughn promised, "Which I'd better get on. Her watch is about to end."
Vaughn signed off and Ro began making preparations to travel to Deep Space Nine. From there, she could transfer to Waypoint Station. Her guess was that Macen would lead the Iotians there since they'd never been to the Gamma Quadrant. Or at least, none of them except for the Terrans. Her credit with the Militia was still good. She could ask the station's Constable to hold Macen for questioning and Ro could then interview him.
Macen was a dual citizen of both the Federation and Barrinor. He could lean into Barrinoran legal protections. He could also choose to not cooperate and legally refuse to answer incriminating questions. Which, she would then have to assume guilt. It wouldn't be conclusive but it would prove damning in Akaar's eyes. Guinan had agreed, through a proxy, to answer Ro's questions regarding her knowledge of Macen's past. But Guinan would only speak with Ro. How Guinan knew she was back in Starfleet and serving in Starfleet Intelligence was anyone's guess. El-Aurians, as a race, tended to know too much.
Macen had joined Starfleet in 2303. Another El-Aurian, born in the Alpha Quadrant, joined in 2373, just as the Dominion War had caused the induction of the fourth-year cadets as full officers. She'd also been the only officer to ever voluntarily transfer to Starbase 80. Commander Kassia Nox was now its commanding officer and has pushed through a long series of upgrades and renovations so that it wasn't the most feared posting in Starfleet anymore.
Ro had never met a young El-Aurian but Nox was just thirty-three years-old. Not very many El-Aurians of reproductive age had been rescued by the USS Enterprise-B. So, Ro hadn't known about Nox until now. Apparently she had younger siblings as well. They'd diversified their career paths from hers. Ro considered Macen's case and Taryn Argus'. Both were in their prime. So, they could have many children before they aged out of childbearing years. Yet neither seemed inclined to produce children. In fact, neither seemed particularly inclined to follow Federation laws.
Through Argus, the Federation had learned that El-Aurian refugees had scattered across the Deeper Beta Quadrant as well. Many were rearing families. So the race stood a chance of avoiding extinction. Argus had to come to Federation space in the Deeper Beta Quadrant. Ro's own memories of Argus on Corvis and working to bring the planet killer online for the Cardassians would forever taint her opinion of the former A&A Officer.
Ro applauded the destruction of the control matrix crystal that operated Corvis. Now it remained a mere desert planet with a hollowed core with weapons systems built into the planet itself. Starfleet had attempted to reactivate the weapon without the matrix. But no known technology or computer would interface and adequately operate the world-wide weapons systems and quantum slipstream drive. The Dominion War-era sabotage Ro and Macen had coordinated on Corvis had also destroyed the irreplaceable command center Argus had unearthed and tried to operate without an undamaged operating matrix.
Ro requested to use one of the station's two Mission Scouts. They were heavily armed than a runabout and designed with atmospheric operations in mind. The other defining design feature was that it was standard to accommodate a single CONN/OPS officer. Reyes checked the scout out to her once she filed a flight plan and brief summary of her mission. The last was a courtesy since Starfleet Intelligence didn't have to answer to the the regional commander, even if he was a commodore. Ro's entire task force team answered directly to Starfleet Intelligence. She could've placed her operations center anywhere. But Reyes had assured her discretion in DS3's placement and support availability. The Romulan section of the station's intelligence task force had merged with the Iotian desk after the Neutral Zone was rebranded the Border Zone and the Star Empire allowed movement in the zone. Of course that meant civilian traffic from both sides of the border could congregate there. So Romulan and other racial warlords had taken over the sprawling Border Zone.
To Tal'aura it was strategic win. Starfleet would have to battle its way through the warlords to get to Imperial territory. The Imperial Fleet would have advance warning of an attack and be able to reinforce the entire Zone. But active intelligence gathering had all but halted within the Star Empire. Somehow Sela had acquired a source within Starfleet that betrayed every living asset and its technical assets as well. The Tal Shiar had conducted mass arrests and dismantled Starfleet's data collection capabilities.
Starfleet Security and Internal Affairs were scouring Starfleet Command and probing deeply into Starfleet Intelligence. The assets' handlers had been cleared of wrongdoing. Which left command personnel and flag officers as the suspected leaks. Reyes had been spared investigation by his assuming the regional commander role weeks after the Tal Shiar purged its and the Imperial Fleets' ranks. Few commodores had access to the asset list. The list of suspects grew at rear admiral, doubled in size at vice admiral, and nearly every admiral had seen or had accessed the list. Oddly enough, in Ro's not so humble opinion, Clancy had never had access to the list even as she collected the data remotely transmitted to Starfleet Intelligence's analysts.
But Clancy had employed Romulan security devices to secure her office. She'd refused to come forward with who had supplied them. Starfleet Security had removed them. Commodore Oh herself had signed off on the extraction. Clancy supplied the name of an officer who'd died during the sustained invasion attempts of the Cardassian border as the supplier. He'd previously led several duty tours of patrolling the Neutral Zone and had been known to personally travel into the Neutral Zone while on leave.
Starfleet Intelligence recruited and handled informants but Starfleet Security ran the background checks. It was a mix Ro found idiotic since it expanded the ranks of lower echelon officers and enlisted that had eyes on the list. Oh vouched for every member of the team that had accessed and helped vet the potential informants. Ro wondered who vouched for Oh herself.
Within half an hour, Ro was packed and leaving the station's hangar aboard the mission scout. She had a distinct feeling she needn't rush but she hurried all the same. Whatever trouble was brewing between the Orions and the Ascendant seemed to have drawn in the Militia, the Iotian Starfleet, and Outbound Ventures. That wouldn't be resolved peacefully anytime soon. Violently, it could be over in less than an hour.
"Colonel, we have incoming," Captain Horst Mendel reported to the Wyn Meru. He was her selected XO when she became flag commander of the Fist of the Prophets. Upon being promoted to General of the Colonial Defense Forces, Anara had promised Wyn her flagship would largely be an independent command as the Colonel led the Militia's field operations. She'd chosen Horst out of a wide candidate pool because of their natural rapport established during her interviews with the candidates.
Wyn had Tech Sergeant Triss Glivi monitoring the Ascendancy's outer system sensor buoys they'd laid in preparation for an enemy strike. Varic and his pirates were known to be out free in the quadrant and desiring to reconquer Raas. Varic was also a known confederate of the Orion Syndicate, "Let me guess, Pincer-class warships have dropped out of warp."
"Not only Pincer-class, but Orion type battlecruisers, scoutships, and raiders have surrounded the system," Horst said quietly, "We now count thirty-five Orion vessels and six Pincer-class warships in the Raas system."
"Meaning we're hopelessly outnumbered," Wyn grimaced.
"I doubt even the newest generation Ascendant ships stand much of a chance and the Militia forces under your command could punch a hole and escape if the Ascendant join us but we can't hold the planet," Horst warned her.
"Advise the ground forces we're negotiating an evacuation," Wyn said grimly, "Contact my sister and tell her to get Neela the hell off of that planet and to evacuate Ghemor. Then have Triss hail the Orions. We need to talk terms."
"Good luck with the rets of your project, Doctor Schneider," Smith said to her as the Neverwhere began transporting personnel back aboard, "The data we've collected here should please the Archaeology Guild and keep you in good standing. Hell, even Daystrom might be impressed enough to review your candidacy once again."
"But you're going after the source of the kidnappings," Schneider said ruefully.
"That was the arrangement," Smith reminded her, "We surveyed this planet for you in exchnage for tracking down the race that collected these former slaves."
"It's too bad there were no survivors," Schneider said sadly.
"Displaced groups, united by a slave revolt or not, quickly fall apart if they're as racially diverse as we've proven these species were. They simply pared each other down until there wasn't a single viable population group," Smith was equally saddened but had the experience of decades in the field examining fallen civilization, "Most of the ancient empires we've discovered came under the same fates after the primary empire builder was overthrown. The liberated races either eradicated each other vying for power or bombed each other back to a neolithic age."
"And your counterpart, Doctor Jones, she and Chopra found the same evidence we did?" Schneider asked.
"They found evidence one racial group dominated the others but died out because of a native plague wiping out what was left of the surviving former slaves," Smith told her, "But the clues they translated add to those inscribed here. We have our next destination plotted. So the Tigerlilja and the Neverwhere will survey the next link in the chain together."
"Do you think this mystery race left any traces of Iconian styled tech behind?" Schneider bluntly asked what was on her mind.
"No," Smith admitted, "I think their mop up operation included destroying any opportunity of reaching them at their home planet once the slaves turned against them."
"But we unearthed evidence that the slaves served their master race for over one hundred years. Why suddenly revolt? Both worlds at the same time?" Schneider had to wonder.
"I'd bet on external forces weighing down the masters so their presence on the subject worlds was weakened," Smith offered from experience, "So much so, the masters were in full retreat. These people groups across planets didn't seem to have access to the technology to coordinate a combined revolt. So, it was simply the fact they shared the same opportunities at the same time."
"You seem to think it's a pattern following the Iconians," Schneider pointed out.
"When I was much younger, the Federation came in contact with a group of refugees from a distant world in an uncharted quadrant," Smith explained, "Among them was a former A&A Officer that joined Starfleet. He maintained a historical journal that contained his travels and findings as well as broad elements of his people's history. Now, their version of a Prime Directive forbade him from sharing much, but he did have historical archives on the Iconians."
"What could that record have added?" Schneider asked.
"We knew the Iconians were brought down by their own subject worlds. What we hadn't known was that a particular slave race built an empire on the Iconians' backs using their own technology against them. But their empire crumbled after less than two centuries. The empire builders' homeworld was never located but their empire across the galaxy collapsed under the weight of a new alliance of developed worlds. Advanced races that he wouldn't share any knowledge of. But I have my guesses on a few members of who made up the alliance based on records I and others have discovered over the last sixty decades."
"Whatever happened to this mystery A&A Officer?" Schneider inquired.
"I work for him and you live on his space station," Smith chuckled before tapping his comm badge, "I'm ready for transport."
He disappeared in a halo of energy before Schneider could ask another question. Brin Macen was the mysterious A&A Officer with vast knowledge he wouldn't share with the Federation? She'd known he was ex-Starfleet. But he was also ex-Maquis. Most of his service jacket was classified. But she dimly recalled that when he first went through the "90 day wonder" Officer's Candidate School, he'd been assigned as an A&A Officer. He quickly transferred departments though and disappeared in Starfleet's bureaucracy. He was an El-Aurian. Smith was right that the El-Aurians largely kept to a code of silence regarding their history and travels.
The only El-Aurians Schneider had gotten to know personally were Captain Nox at Starbase 80 and Doctor Argus. Nox didn't know most of her heritage's history and Argus was a distinct rival in the field of mercenary archaeology. Nox had parlayed her encounter with the USS Cerritos into Starfleet essentially building a new Starbase 80 on the skeleton of the old station. Now it was a plumb assignment.
Taryn Argus, on the other hand, was dangerous. Argus was even more disreputable than Vash had ever been. And that had taken some doing. But Argus had betrayed the Federation to the Cardassians and more recently to Cell 51. Having the Borg assimilate her home planet and most of her people had broken whatever ethical and moral codes Argus had previously lived by. But even she hadn't shared her people's full history...yet. Probably because the right amount of latinum hadn't been offered. But her work on the planet Corvis was legendary among archaeologists as a cautionary tale. Even the Maquis had seen fit to turn Argus over to Starfleet.
Rumor had it she'd worked for the Cardassians again just recently. Directly for Guls Macet and Maret. The two renegade officers who wished to take the Cardassian Union back to its military junta days. Both Maret and Macet had been captured by Supreme Legate Ocett with assistance from the Bajoran Militia and unnamed outsiders at Starbase G-4. After Macet bombarded the planet G-4 orbited in an effort to kill an unspecified Bajoran, Starfleet had chased Macet back into Cardassian territory and to Ocett's awaiting forces. The Ministry of Justice hadn't spared them the second time they were tried for treason.
The Cardassian Guard still suffered from an older, disaffected officer corps but Ocett had carefully banished them to the Cardassian Farside borders. There, their imperialistic urges were kept satisfied with exploring new worlds and taking them by force. It was an imperfect solution within Castellan Garan's budding democracy but it added Subject Worlds to an economy that desperately required their infusion of resources.
The Cardassian Guard's intermittent conflicts with the Breen also kept certain urges at bay. Garan hadn't even approached the Breen diplomatically. The drain on military resources was seen as a necessary expenditure. Despite the very public tribunal's sentencing of Macet and Maret to death, loyalists maintained a potential fiction they still survived somehow actually sentenced to a remote prison known as Kodosh II. That had been the heart of where the Cardassian Guard had sent its most non-compliant labor camp prisoners before. It was the hole they disappeared into.
Kodosh II was where Tom Riker had escaped from with the assistance of Sela and the privateer commander, Tekana. He'd managed to obtain Kodosh's coordinates and returned there to liberate Sito Jaxa. That much was public history. Kodosh had also been the heart pf where Starfleet, Resistance, and political prisoners had been held following the liberation of Li Nalis from the Cardassia 4 labor camp. An unspecified Starfleet and Militia team had liberated the prisoners en masse assisting Riker.
Schneider was beginning to suspect Macen was at the heart of many of these adventures. His name swirled about Argus' failures. Ro Laren and Macen had certainly made a personal enemy out of Gul Maret when he'd been Prefect of the Dorvan Sector and the DMZ after Gul Evek's loss in the Badlands. Even after his public "demotion", Maret remained the driving force behind Cardassian forces in the Dorvan Sector and efforts within the DMZ. Ampok Nor and the Dorvan Sector had remained Maret's seat of power through and following the Dominion War. Even after his sentencing to a labor camp and subsequent voluntary release to lead the brief civil war, Maret's throne had always been planted on Ampok Nor. It was little wonder why his loyalists continued to make pilgrimages there.
Schneider had learned about as much as she was going to on this planet. She used her scouter gig to return to Serenity. She wanted to exchange notes with Chopra and find out exactly what Doctor Jones had helped her uncover at her survey site. The two archaeologists were natural competitors in the same class of specialists but they had mutually vested interest in uncovering what Smith and Jones had withheld from them. That, and they had a trove of data to transfer to the guild. From there, the Archaeology Guild would forward their findings to the Daystrom Institute. Vash had eventually redeemed herself in the eyes of Daystrom's administrators. She herself sat on the A&A Board of Regents.
"What do you mean 'evacuate'?" Doctor Desai argued with Chopra. The pilot had monitored the Ascendant's emergency channels while the doctor had been delivering medical aid to varying groups of human clans after the SID team's recruitment tour.
"The Bajorans and Ascendant are pulling out," Chondra told her boss. The pilot was adamant, "These aren't military forces moving in. They're Orion Syndicate. We both have prices on our head they'd love to collect on."
"Is anyone at all staying behind?" Desai wearily asked.
"Some crazy Bajoran crew along with Ghemor and her flagship. The Outbound Ventures ship seems to be staying on as well," Chondra told her, "That's hardly what I'd call a protective detail."
"Pack it up then," Desai sighed, "Coordinate with the evacuation leaders and get us away from here."
"What do you mean you're staying?" Colonel Wyn argued with her sister, Major Wyn Mesa aboard the Razor's Edge.
"Neela and our constables haven't returned," Major Wyn explained to her younger sister. The Colonel was Militia Colonial Defense Forces and had a straightforward path to promotion. Major Wyn was Special Forces. Promotions were slow and are among the specialist corps. Mesa knew her sister was tempted to pull rank but Mesa answered to an independent chain of command outside of the Meru's provenance, "Until I receive further orders or proof that they're dead, I'm staying put."
Colonel Wyn knew her sister's obstinate streak was a selling feature in the Special Forces. Right now, it was a tremendous pain in Meru's ass, "Stay safe. These are pirates. And in force. They'll run ramshod over the population. Especially since Varic's with them."
"We've dealt with Varic before. He's a bully. Any form of resistance and he breaks and runs," Major Wyn assured the Colonel, "We'll be fine."
"Just be certain and don't get killed. I'll...what the hell?" Colonel Wyn broke communication, "Horst, where the hell did those starships come from?"
"They seem too have decloaked surrounding Raas. One's in orbit beside the Obsidian. They seem to be comparable to modern Starfleet specs," Horst answered.
"They're certainly an unknown design," Sergeant Bol Ferin said from the Navigation/Weapons console seated before and to Wyn's left beside Lieutenant Crispus Alva, the ship's primary helmsman.
"A Federation runabout seems to be docking inside the ship in orbit," Bol reported, "Now it's breaking orbit and the four unknown starships are exiting the system. The Orions aren't stopping them. They seem to be as surprised as we are."
"An Orion commander is finally signaling us," Triss informed Wyn, "The signal is coming from the largest battlecruiser ahead of us."
"Must be the de facto leader," Wyn said, "Monitor those starships and patch me through to whichever Orion is talking."
"Well now, we're truly frinxed," Mudd complained for the Corsair's OPS station.
"They certainly reflect the S'ona's values when it comes to applying force," Macen observed as the S'aku starship's security teams surrounded the runabout, "Remember, we were ordered to stay inside the ship until we're given clearance to depart."
"It wasn't much of a negotiation," Neela commented, "They accepted your offer and dictated terms. We were only allowed to contact our ships to prevent them from firing on the S'aku. They barely warned us there would be three ships inside the system."
"But we were aware they'd have more ships," Macen reminded her, "Even the S'ona never dispatched ships singly."
Rockford stood by the aft console Daggit was manning as a Tactical station, "This is as risky as staying to face the Orions. Which, you asked Shannon to do on her own."
"We beamed your investigative team back aboard the Obsidian," Macen reminded her, "As well as Tessa. Shannon mentioned Arianna's ex being a scoutship commander. Maybe they can negotiate a settlement between them."
"Arianna never mentioned an ex being in the Orion Syndicate much less as having an ex," Rockford complained.
"Forte's an exception to the Miri rule," Burrows stated as he came forward from the aft compartment, "Most of the survivors live on the fringes of Federation society. FYI, your constables are pissed off at what they consider to be your stupidest move ever."
Neela sighed heavily, "I'll go speak with them."
Rockford took the emptied seat, "So you think this is a brilliant move?"
"I think this eliminates a potential alliance between the S'aku and the Orions," Macen shrugged, "I wonder how it looks from the outside perspective."
The four starships each exited the solar system unopposed by the shocked and uncoordinated Orions. The ship bearing the Corsair exited first. Each escort vessel followed at a leisurely pace, flaunting their unexpected presence before the Orions. They refused hails from the various captains as they abandoned Raas forever. As each of the S'aku warships exited the system, they activated quantum slipstream drives. The Orions, lacking such technology, were further alarmed by the S'aku's technical capabilities and unknown intentions. The Orion captains argued among themselves of how to prepare for any further unexpected revelations.
"First off, I'm Colonel Wyn Meru of the Militia Colonial Defense forces. Second of all, we have no idea of who those people were or how long they've been in the system or why they were here. We were just as surprised by their sudden appearance as you obviously were."
"Raas is hardly a Bajoran colony, Colonel," Dwyne retorted.
"But it is within the Ascendancy's sphere of influence and they asked us to participate in a joint investigation regarding a mystery they uncovered regarding the population," Wyn explained, "And you are?"
"I'm Captain Dwyne. I'm the closest thing you'll find to an allied commander here. Varic told us about the humans and other races populating Raas. He said his people were dominant. It seems he misled us," Dwyne snorted.
"Even the Raasians turned out to be transplants to the planet," Wyn told Dwyne, "They just happened to develop technology faster than any known group. Reports coming from the survey team indicated there was a mystery settlement on the other side of the planet inhabited by a race isolated from the others."
"And who was aboard the Federation runabout that boarded one of the our mysterious entrants into this affair," Dwyne demanded to know.
"That would've been the survey team," Wyn said bleakly, "There are civilians still on Raas as well."
"Do these 'civilians' have any knowledge of the not-so mysterious settlers?" Dwyne asked.
"I have no idea," Wyn admitted, "Most of them are Ascendant. There is a human medical team on the planet requesting to depart with us."
"You're leaving without a fight?" Dwyne was actually surprised to learn, "What happened to Bajoran obstinacy?"
"The Ascendant asked us to resolve your arrival without bloodshed," Wyn told her, "And, we're hopelessly outnumbered. Any practical tactician would withdraw."
"I don't see the Federation ships readying to depart," Dwyne noted from a console display beside her, "Though the design age of one ship suggests that its Iotian built."
"They're staying on to help insure the humans and other races get fair treatment," Wyn told them.
"And the Ascendant ship staying orbit?" Dwyne asked.
"The flagship of their spiritual leader. She's remaining on the planet as well to guarantee her people get decent treatment from your Houses," Wyn explained.
"Your tactical withdrawal will save your lives but you just gave us strategic hostages," Dwyne laughed, "I'm surprised they ever promoted you, 'Colonel'."
Dwyne signed off and Wyn turned to Triss, "Get the medic off of the planet. Then inform all commands to follow us out as we exit the system. We'll rendezvous one light year from the system and await our reinforcements."
The Fist of the Prophets left its proximity to Raas and the Militia and Ascendant ships began to follow her exit vector. Ghemor had forced the Ascendant to leave her behind. But her flagship crew refused to break orbit. War Vedek Amera stayed on as well.
"I hope this isn't a disastrous mistake," Horst confessed.
"Me too," Wyn concurred with the sentiment.
"We're receiving a hail from the approaching raider," Zimbalist announced, "It's specifically for Arianna Forte."
"Alert her she that she has a message. Ask her if we can observe it. I want to know why a pirate captain wants to talk to one of Rockford's detectives," Forger told him.
Zimbalist relayed the messages and swiveled back to face the Captain's Chair, "She's agreed."
"Patch them through," Forger instructed.
Miranda Kale's image appeared one half of the main viewer while an uncomfortable looking Forte filled the other half. Forger had seen Forte nervous in the heat of battle but otherwise she was relatively highly composed in every other situation. Rockford had explained the violent traumas the children on Miri had endured so much violence, and her own tendencies in response to it, frightened Forte.
Kale smiled brightly, "Ari!"
"How did you mange to get command of an Orion Syndicate House's raider?" Forte was restrained in her response.
"Well, that certainly hasn't changed," Kale pouted, "You were stubbornly condemning my choice to join the Syndicate. And now we're reunited in orbit of a worthless lump of sand."
"I see you think your choice paid off," Forte replied.
"Tell me Ari, what grand successes have you had working for Detective Rockford?" Kale managed not to sneer, "I'm a captain. My crew is loyal because I bring them profit. You just get in people's way when they try to improve their fortunes."
"I can't talk about my work any more than you can without incriminating yourself," Forte replied, her nerves settling down now.
"Tell me one thing, were you on the planet's surface?" Kale asked.
"Yes," Forte answered truthfully.
"What did you find?' Kale eagerly asked the next logical question.
"I found people. Stranded her for over five thousand years. We compiled an oral history of the peoples to present to the Federation and got most of the tribal groups to agree to meeting representatives from Earth," Forte told her truthfully.
"That sounds dull," Kale groaned, "What about the cities? What technology was left behind in them?"
"Ask Varic. He ruled one of the cities. No one has been inside the other one," Forte bent the truth there.
"Your tell is showing. Someone has been inside the city. Who was it?" Kale asked.
"Missionaries. From both the Ascendancy and the Cult of the Pah-wraiths. They got violent towards each other and the city dwellers executed them for public disorder," Forte described what happened, "No one from our survey team ever went inside its walls."
"Yet your runabout boarded one of the mystery ships that slipstreamed away from the system," Kale sing-songed, "Who was aboard that runabout?"
"My friends," Forte replied coolly, "That's all I'll say."
"Why did they go aboard and why did the crew let them?" Kale pressed the issue.
"Ask Varic," was all Forte would say.
"You're as stubborn as ever. Varic told us every Raasian attempt to get to the city was shot down in the desert," Kale was growing impatient, "I'm the easy way out of this, Ari. The other captains want to board your ship and kill everyone aboard and then strip the memory banks. I talked them into letting me talk you down."
"They only thing they'll find is the uploaded oral histories. We have nothing else to report from the planet. We just talked to people whose ancestors were stranded there from Earth," Forte finally got impatient herself.
"There's the fire I remember," Kale grinned, "I believe you. I'll tell the others you're worthless except as a bargaining chip. I'm sure Commander Macen, who's on that runabout with your boss, will negotiate terms for the release of your ship from our custody. Consider yourselves prisoners of war."
"Except, we're not at war," Forte argued.
"No, but the pesky Bajorans declared war on the Syndicate. You're friends with a lot of Bajoran ranking officers. You happen to be orbiting a planet is system the Bajorans were defending. Now, all of us have to ask ourselves why. What isn't Varic telling us about this planet? I believe you that you don't know anything relevant. But Macen will return and he knows a lot more than he shared with you," Kale laid out the Syndicate's strategy, "In the meantime, we'll send down parties to find out why an unmarked starship and an Ascendant flagship remained behind as well. What's the secret worth dying for?"
"Miranda, no one is native to this planet. Everyone's ancestors were deposited here to work as slaves for a master race. Those masters took everything of worth with them when they left the planet behind. The Raasians and whoever was in the other city just adapted better because they came from more advanced worlds than the neolithic tribes from Earth and the various unidentified races sprawled across the deserts," Forte warned her, "These people will fight you for no gain on your part whatsoever."
"Varic left all of that out of his narrative," Kale frowned.
"He doesn't know. The Raasians adapted to the idea they were native to the planet and the dominated everyone but the other city dwellers, who just wanted to be left alone," Forte warned her, "Their city has automatic defenses the Raasians never broke. That's why Varic brought you in. He wants to finally step foot in his rivals' domain and claim he conquered all. He's using all of you and using our presence as the bait to lure you in and hand him the victory he could never acquire on his own."
"So, this master race left everyone behind?" Kale asked.
"Yes," Forte sighed, "With barely a trace they existed."
"But they did leave traces," Kale grinned again, "Which means they can be tracked."
"They left behind rules and regulations and berthing assignments by dividing up districts by racial groupings," Forte said grimly, "Not much in the way of clues."
"You really don't know anything," Kale realized, "Having a puzzle lay in front of you without unlocking it is eating you up. Help me solve it. It'll spare lives if that's your thing. Otherwise my fellow captains are going to squeeze the locals for every shred of evidence they can pry out of them. It'll be bloody and costly. But, what the hell? We're pirates."
"Give me five minutes to discuss it with my fellow investigators," Forte counter offered, "I'll need their help."
"Since when?" Kale snorted.
"I do have my limits," Forte replied, "At least I've learned mine."
"Wow, insulting me without actually insulting me. It's like old times, Ari," Kale chuckled, "I'll send you transporter coordinates. I need confirmation you'll be using them before the five minute deadline is up or the pillaging and torturing begins."
"It is like old times," Forte said sadly, "You never socially evolved."
"I understand your veneer but underneath it you're still a savage waiting to cut loose. Don't forget, I know you intimately," Kale cut the transmission.
"Think she'll agree to it?" Jones asked Forger.
"She will. The question really is: will Lee and Shade?" Forger replied.
"This is emotional blackmail and you know it," Shade grumbled as she entered the Transporter Room with Forte and Lee.
"I do know it. Miranda has always resorted to familiar tools with me. She thinks she has the upper hand. She doesn't realize Bailey created a translation key for the unknown languages," Forte told them, "Kale is also playing House politics. She wants the House she works for to reap the glory of the discovery. She knows I can crack the language given time using the known languages as ciphers. Encryptions were the first thing I mastered after leaving home for the education camps the Federation put us through."
"And you hooked up with her?" Shade found it unlikely.
"They separated us by gender in the dorms and locked us down at night. Most of us were entering puberty. So, while we were spared the metamorphosis we would have endured before Doctor McCoy's cure, we were still raging hormone monsters for a century. Locking the girls with the girls just invited sexual exploration with same sex unions. After we were released, everyone sorted out their sexual preferences through raw experience. Miranda and I split up for several reasons. One was her moral ambiguity admittedly drawing her towards the Orion Syndicate. The other was, as the humans put it, I just wasn't into her anymore. Her ego won't allow her to admit that last part. This is emotional blackmail on two levels. She wants to pit the inhabitants as leverage to force actions out of us, especially me. She also is playing a seduction card because even after all these years, she can't accept that I rejected her for more than her criminal streak."
"How many years are we talking about?" Lee asked. It was easy to forget the Mirian teenager was over four hundred years old.
"Over twenty. We were released from the education center in 2366. The same year the Enterprise-D launched. The launch represented something of an anniversary for us all. I arranged a meeting with Doctor McCoy to thank him for developing his cure for us all," Forte explained, "I also made a note of how useless the amoral instructions we'd received really were. The history and technical make up courses were valuable. But we were taught manners and legal codes with no emphasis to employ either."
"How many teens were released from the education centers?" Shade had never pried before.
"Over a thousand," Forte finally shared, "Most of us drifted towards criminal careers. Quite a few received life sentences on penal colonies. Only a handful adapted to life in the Federation and went on to have stable civilian careers."
"You've kept track of them?" Lee asked as Telrik stood by to implement the coordinates he'd received.
"A few. I gave Ro a list of Mirians that joined terrorist organizations. I also provided Neela with a handful of names of those that had been drawn into the Cult of the Pah-wraiths. They've all disappeared from my usual brand of monitoring," Forte explained, "Miranda's obvious success within the Orion Syndicate would be an outlier, I suppose."
"No potential criminal masterminds lurking out there?" Lee inquired.
"I'm quite unique even among my peer group," Forte sighed, "Federation scientists and psychologists studied me for a century. They have no explanation for us."
"Us?" Shade caught that word.
"I have a counterpart," Forte told them, "A male Mirian with some of my deductive capacity and all of Kale's criminal impulses. He quickly took over a criminal organization and renamed himself 'James Moriarty' after the classic literature character. "I'm his 'Holmes'. I've linked interstellar crimes and political manipulations to him without ever locating him. He erased all records of his actual name and past. So, he travels the criminal world as Moriarty and the civilian world under another name which has no criminal record attached to it. It's a bland, rewritten clean slate."
"You know who he was though," Shade pointed out.
"Aden Kale is Miranda's brother," Forte sighed, "And an even greater criminal mastermind, as Lee put it. I've identified the Moriarty alias but have been unable to trace the civilian alias he travels under."
"That must be frustrating for you," Shade realized as they stepped onto the transporter pads.
"You have no idea," Forte grated.
"I take it you're great Iliana Ghemor," Captain Yera, commanding an Orion battlecruiser, asked Ghemor, "I take it you found religion?"
Ghemor studied the red velvet hair coloring lacing Yera's long, dark locks and knew a pretender when she saw one. After all, she'd been one for her entire Obsidian Order career and beyond, "I met the Prophets of Bajor. They brought me to be the Emissary to the Ascendant."
"It's all a bit a pompous, don't you think?" Yera flashed a blade into her hand and threw it at Ghemor. The Emissary caught it between her clapped hands.
"No more pretentious than that," she said simply. Yera's guards had their disruptors drawn and aimed at the phaser toting War Vedek. Ghemor held the throwing knife in one hand and signaled Amera to stand down.
"The weight and balance are off," Ghemor tried to balance the knife atop a single finger. It always tilted to one side, "You should execute your smith and buy Cardassian knives. At least ours are perfect."
Yera snorted, "Romulans say the same thing."
"Romulan Honor Knives are perfectly balanced as are the assassination tools of the Tal Shiar. Surplus Imperial Fleet wares are surplus because they're flawed," Ghemor shrugged as she handed the knife back to its owner.
"I heard your people had rediscovered religion," Yera rolled her eyes, "I never expected it to be Bajoran religion."
"I never expected to go to sleep on Cardassia Prime and awaken in the Gamma Quadrant three years before the existence of the Wormhole had even been discovered," Ghemor said simply, "Life is strange."
"You left your flagship in orbit and stayed on the ground despite knowing we'd occupy the city and sweep up the desert nomads," Yera said with some intrigue in her voice, "Why?"
"To advocate for the very people you'll threaten," Ghemor thought it was self-explanatory.
"You should've withdrawn with your forces," Yera snorted derisively again, "Now we have you as a hostage."
"A hostage is one held against their will by force. I can leave anytime I wish," Ghemor corrected her.
"I'd like to see you try," Yera gloated.
"It will come to that," Ghemor predicted.
Captain Dreon looked awfully smug. Wyn wondered if she knew a Bajoran colony was named after an identically named star. Dreon VII had largely been ignored during the Cardassian Occupation. The Bajoran colonies, except for the Valo colonies, had all had token understaffed garrisons.
"Lower your shields or I'll batter them down," Dreon finally broke her silence.
"No, you won't. You could do it. You have the firepower. But you're curious as to why we stayed while the Militia pulled out. We're a private vessel and the owner is away," Wyn explained to her.
"The Bajorans list you as a rogue vessel. Yet you sit in the middle of an occupied system without a worry. How and why?" Dreon forced the issue.
"We're flagged and licensed out of Barrinor. Even the Bajoran Militia isn't stupid enough to violate neutrality treaties on the scale of Barrinor's," Wyn shrugged, "They were going to exact a toll for our being here. So, you saved us some latinum."
"And if we exact a toll?" Dreon asked.
"Price of doing business, I guess," Wyn told her, "We'll pay. If you can hold the system. The Bajoran Militia and the Ascendancy will be back. And I want the safe return of my employer and her three bodyguards."
"That might cost extra," Dreon said greedily.
"We can work out an arrangement, I'm sure," Wyn said confidently.
"I'll be in touch. Lower your shields. We won't board a 'business partner'. Your Militia files says you're pirates. You might want to convince your employer to work for us. Just saying," Dreon signed off.
"Well, now we know they don't have Neela or our constables," Wyn leaned back in her captain's chair.
"Because otherwise they'd be dictating terms already," Lieutenant Griff Goring, the other Special Forces officer assigned to Neela's mission and the ship's XO, stated with equal certainty, "Pirates are predictable."
"Which is why we've been so successful at playing criminals," Wyn swiveled towards the Communications station, "Any other word from Neela?"
"Just the 'we'll be back' message before those ships decloaked," Tech Corporal Javi Tem replied.
"Sensors clearly detected the Corsair boarding the ship in orbit before they all departed the system," Sergeant Ferris Grev said from Tactical.
"Main sensors were obscured by a damping field given off by the larger ship," Tech Corporal Katts Killian reported from the Sensors station, "I've had no way to confirm our people were aboard the runabout."
"The mere fact the Orions haven't boasted about having them is proof enough," Corporal Wes Culin said from his CONN station, "Like the Major and Lieutenant said, these pirates are predictable. They'd want to rub our noses in it for a while before demanding an outrageous fee for their return."
"Now, we just have to hope the Corsair doesn't return to a battle zone," Wyn said dourly, "Even Ebert would have trouble navigating a war zone."
"We know your sister is waiting for reinforcements before invading the system," Griff reminded her, "It's going to be a literal war zone soon enough."
"Colonel, we have incoming Federation style starships. Two groups. One IDs as Iotian Starfleet and the other as Outbound Ventures," Horst informed Colonel Wyn.
"Any familiar ships?" Wyn asked.
"Triss is in contact with Captain Gardner aboard the Guinevere," Horst told her, "She's leading the Outbound Ventures squadron."
"Put her on screen," Wyn ordered Triss.
Jennifer Gardner's familiar features appeared on the main viewer and she smiled, "Nice to see the promotion, Colonel. General Anara chose well."
"Any word on who's leading the Iotians?" Wyn wondered.
"A Captain Lebeauf of the ISS Scalphunter. Like all the Iotian ships, she's an unknown class type. But, she's too advanced to be an Iotian design. Lebeauf is also way too aggressive for an Iotian," Gardner warned Wyn.
"You think he's a recruit," Wyn surmised.
"I think he came from somewhere other than Sigma Iotia II or anywhere inside the Iotian Federation except maybe 492 IV. But official word is the Nova Romans are principally used as shock troops and garrison keepers," Gardner replied, "I have no idea of where their starship came from."
"Are your ships ready to deploy?" Wyn asked.
"We received word of two more corporate starships rendezvousing with us. They'll be along in another two hours. We just grouped up in the Bajor Sector ourselves after being pulled from various assignments," Gardner confessed, "We don't even know the local situation."
"I'll hail every ship once your stragglers arrive. In the meantime, I'll have a word with Captain Lebeauf," Wyn offered.
"You won't enjoy it," Gardner warned her.
"They did what?" Riker was stunned at the news Danan had just delivered, "And Locarno joined them?"
"Chris Noble assembled the Solstice crew and left Osmont in command of Station Ops. Nick Locarno took the new Coyote-class scout assigned to Transportation Services and led a small crew of volunteers to follow the Solstice to the Gamma Quadrant," Korepanova dismally confirmed the news.
"How the hell did Noble get passed the drydock watch officer? I didn't authorize deployment orders," Riker was getting angry.
"The Solstice just finished major refits," Liu reminded him, "She just finished her trials. Noble convinced the watch officer she just wanted to test run the ship the ship on a long distance run to Bajor. Locarno spun the same story about the Nova."
But Noble would've had to pull watch officers off of their station duties to pull this off," Riker was still angry.
"Gerrit personally signed off of on Sito Jaxa and Aric Tulley joining the deployment. Our new Chief of Operations also signed off on Tom Eckles, Heidi Darcy, and Emjin Thool leaving their assigned watches. Noble, of course, authorized, Lacey's watch change herself," Danan read the station's logs.
"Zerinda already made trouble?" Riker growled.
"Tom, she had Noble maxing out the bullshit meter," Danan advised him, "Zerinda could only confirm the orders with the Ops duty officer, which was Noble."
"And they're both refusing orders to return to the station," Korepanova told him, "But bear in mind, every person involved except for Sito is ex-Maquis. And even she developed an anti-authority complex after you liberated her from Kodosh II."
"She was still a damn fine First Officer for the Bonaventure," Riker sighed, "But most of what we did in those days was of questionable legality."
"Translation: it was all illegal," Liu pointed out, "You forget, Sveta and I planned Ro and Macen's behind the lines operations. Your assistance earned you a pardon from Starfleet on charges of going AWOL and joining the Maquis but it was a good thing you operated out of the Kalendra Sector to avoid further legal woes."
"Sito joined Outbound Ventures with me. But she went planet-side after the Eclipse was destroyed," Riker reminisced, "She had a pretty close call there. She stayed on as corporate security but Nick Locarno disappeared until his idiotic 'Nova Squadron' fiasco we had to rescue him from."
"She accepted the posting of Deputy Chief of Security for the Gamma Watch without reservation," Korepanova recalled, "But there was hesitation before she relieved Neela as CONN Officer for the Solstice."
"She hadn't flown since Nova Squadron was disbanded by Starfleet Academy. I guess she felt inadequate at first," Riker pondered it.
"Well, she's definitely at the CONN now," Danan said ruefully, "With the refit done, the Solstice can reach a maximum warp speed of Warp 9.5. The same as the Coyote-class Nova."
"I reached out to Colonel Cenn at Deep Space Nine, they made the transit into the Gamma Quadrant before watch change and our discovering Noble's little plot," Danan mentioned.
"Why is this particular mission so important to her and why drag Locarno into it?" Riker had to wonder.
"Sito dragged Nick into it," Korepanova clarified, "Security footage has them leaving their quarters and arriving for the drydock shuttle express together."
"So Gerrit coughed that much up," Riker was still irked.
"Zerinda filled the staffing gap in her department personally," Danan pointed out, "She's taking her new role seriously."
"That still leaves the question of the motive unanswered," Korepanova reminded them.
"Brin found Chris living on Izar," Danan pointed out.
"But that was ten years after the Dominion War end and eight years after her penal sentence was served. And she happily packed just her belongings to travel with. It's all she had with her. Not a long term investment in settling in," Riker recalled, "So where did she spend the last eight years?"
"I can run a records search," Danan volunteered.
Liu and Korepanova exchanged wary looks before the Russian stopped Danan from leaving the ops table, "Chris was working for the Orion Syndicate before she moved to Izar."
"You both knew about this?" Riker was stunned they'd never shared with him.
"We located Noble on Izar and ran a discreet background check through the Rockford Detective Agencies. Her criminal history was flagged by Starfleet Intelligence and Federation Security," Korepanova explained, "That's how we led Macen to her."
"Most of the Maquis now employed by Outbound Ventures as assets or station positions were working within criminal cartels at one point or another," Liu sighed, "It was the common link we used to locate them."
"It makes sense to Macen and Rockford," Korepanova also sighed, "They never adjusted to civilian life in the Federation and we exploit their criminal ties."
"Have any of them joined terrorist groups since the Maquis?" Danan asked.
"I'm not liberty to disclose that information," Korepanova replied stiffly.
"Which means, 'yes'," Riker now understood why so many of the Maquis were on corporate payroll but not as station personnel. They were paid in latinum like everyone else but there were no corporate or station records of the payment. They were blanked out "discretionary" expenditures from a slush fund Macen and Rockford kept available. Riker had tried too persuade Tyrol to shift some of the black funding to the station or corporate fleet and she'd flatly refused. She'd even seemed scared that he'd known about the fund to begin with.
"Let's just suffice it to say, we have a covert operations division and its assets are still well practiced in its arts," Korepanova tried to smooth things over.
"How involved are you two?" Riker wanted to know.
"We just located the potential recruits," Liu told the couple, "We were specifically left in the dark about what happened to those that refused the offer."
"Who runs the unit?" Danan asked.
"I actually don't know. My services are spent planning fleet operations. I don't do the covert side anymore," Korepanova told them.
"I handle fleet logistics. Covert Ops runs their own," Liu promised them.
"Tom, it's an easy puzzle to solve," Danan groaned, "Who were the first two recruits? And why do they rarely involve themselves personally in off station operations?"
"I have no idea," Riker confessed, "We've been so busy building the fleet and staffing it I've never paid attention to who the first Maquis recruits were. I just noticed them on the station in growing numbers. They tend to stick out."
"Not these two," Danan told him, "Sakonna and Hakatay were the first recruits. After Macen and Rockford started building the department, they rarely went on field ops afterwards."
"You knew?" Riker asked his Strategic Operations Officer and Logistics Officer.
"It's an easy guess," Korepanova shrugged, "If you weren't so wrapped up in fleet and station affairs, you'd have noticed."
"Just like I missed all the warning signs around Cardan," Riker said guiltily, "I've been blind about what happens on my own command post."
"Joel Osmont is stewing in your office," Korepanova told him, "He covered for Noble rather than report her absence to you."
"I think they have a thing for each other," Liu offered.
"You could see that parsec away," Danan smirked, "I wonder she finally made her move and that's what convinced him to stay silent."
"Let's find out," Riker headed his office and Danan picked up on the invitation to join him. Osmont fidgeted in the chair he was seated in across from the captain's desk. Riker had never seen him that nervous during combat operations on the various ships that had borne the name Indomitable. But Osmont was ex-Starfleet. Breaking regulations was foreign to him. Noble held something over his head and once he rounded the desk, he knew Liu's assessment was the correct one. Osmont had done it because Noble had asked him to and for no other reason.
"I'm not going to ask why you did it. You obviously care about Chris Noble. So, you were persuaded to help her disobey a direct order from me banning her from taking her ship out," Riker said solemnly, "We all do some idiotic things when we're in love. You and Noble have been slowly simmering for a year now. I'm guessing she offered to go out with you in exchange for your silence."
"No, we started dating a few weeks ago. Very discreetly," Osmont found his nerve, "She explained to me why she needs to be at Raas."
"And the reason is?" Riker looked pained that he to ask.
"She asked me not to tell you," Osmont told him, "So, I won't."
"You realize you'll end up in a holding cell?" Danan asked.
"If Captain Riker asked you to keep a confidence from Commander Macen, would you do it?" Osmont turned it around on her.
"I guess I would," Danan reluctantly admitted.
"Then you see my point. You can hold me in a cell for as long as you like, but it's Chris' secret to share. It isn't mine," Osmont stated boldly, "I gave her my word on that."
"I appreciate your loyalty. I really do," Riker sighed, "It's one of the traits I've always respected you for. You're hereby confined to the detention cells until I review your case further. Commander Danan, please advise Chief Gerrit he has a prisoner to collect."
"I'll turn myself in," Osmont rose from his seat, "You have my word on that too."
He breezed by the standing Danan and immediately exited Ops. Riker grunted, "You're dismissed. Lees, make certain Gerrit knows to expect him and be prepared to hold him for two days. Then I want Chiefs Gerrit and Zerinda to report directly to me."
"Zerinda? Really? It's her second day on the job," Danan protested.
"She aided and abetted an apparent mutiny and the theft of two starships," Riker couldn't believe she was defending the Romulan.
"This is because she's blonde," Danan decided, "She reminds you of Sela and how she tried to force you operate for her against Will and Deanna."
"You're confusing your hosts. You're not the counselor. Just tell Gerrit to expect a prisoner," Riker grumped, "And get him here before me. And pull Zerinda off of whatever job she's on and get her here ASAP."
"You're playing into her martyr complex," Danan huffed and left to reach Security and Operations. Riker considered her parting shot. Even angry, Danan made a lot of sense.
"The Bajorans are still requesting communications," Wei told Lebeauf.
"As a great man once said, 'let them eat static'," Lebeauf chuckled, "I don't want to join any alliance."
"We seem to have won over Oxmyx and Kracko," Perez noted, "They gave us command of this squadron."
"They also filled our ship up with conscripted spies," Gomez complained.
"At least you actually have something to secure now," Carrera laughed from Tactical.
"When do we attack already?" Torres demanded to know from her position at the CONN.
"The corporate fleet just added two new ships to their squadron," Gozen told Lebeauf, "That might account for the delay."
"The computer has no record of those ship types," Carrera scowled, "Even the Iotian database is empty on them."
"What is this universe's Starfleet ship class registry?" Perez rounded the Tactical station, "Or a public database?"
"This squeamish 'United Federation of Planets' maintains a periodical called Jane's Starships," Gomez told them, "The Iotians supplied a subscription. Search their database."
"Still nothing," Carrera scowled, "One ship somewhat resembles a decommissioned starship class called the Blackbird-class. It was a scoutship. Most of the existing ships have been sold to private security contractor."
"It's been completely refitted and modified if it began as the ship type," Perez studied the sensor data.
"I have hit on the other vessel," Carrera happily announced, "It's a Starfleet design but built for privateers and Federation Security. They call it the Coyote-class."
"They're small but deceptively powerful," Perez read the data further.
"Enough to challenge us?" Lebeauf inquired sharply, "Because it may come to that."
"The Iotian lockout program won't work on any Federation-built starships. They'll still be able to actively engage us," Carrera warned him, "It'll disable the entire Bajoran and Ascendant fleets and most of the Outbound Ventures starships but there are a small handful that will still be able to engage our forces."
"We have our orders," Lebeauf reminded the crew, "Ones I'm actually happy to comply with."
"We also have orders not harm any of supposed allies," Perez grated, "Fleet Boss Kracko made that specific demand part of the chain of command arrangement. It's a further test."
"And I made it quite clear we fire if fired upon," Lebeauf gloated, "Hopefully this Macen will fire open us first."
"Captain Gardner is hailing us," Elfi Hendryks reported to Noble from OPS, "Apparently Captain Riker managed to push a signal through the Bajoran comm relays the Ascendancy has been laying out."
"You think she'll turn us away?" Sito asked from beside her at CONN.
"No one is turning us back," Noble promised, "I'm the best chance at reclaiming this system without firing a shot."
"Captain, as much as I'm grateful to you for getting me reconnected with Macen, this is a nutball plan," Aric Tulley warned her from the AUX station.
"You could have sat it out," Lacey needled him from Tactical.
"That's not my style," Tulley replied.
"No, you're style is more 'kill them all and let God sort it out'," Lacey snarked.
"That was a long time ago," Tulley grated at the reminder of his past a betrayal of Ro and her Maquis cell. Tulley had led off of a cadre of recent recruits to the cell to join with Michael Eddington and his genocidal campaign. Ro had turned Tulley over to Starfleet in her negotiated surrender after the Dominion Wart concluded.
Ro's stint as a Lieutenant in the Militia had granted her amnesty under Bajoran law. But to secure pardons for her cell members, Ro negotiated a surrender to Starfleet to face charges of going AWOL dereliction of duty, and terrorism. Noble, Hendryks, Thool and many other Maquis were released or never arrested by Starfleet under the terms of her arrangement. Hendryks and Thool had joined her aboard the Newton-class SS Asimov during the war. The others had been held by the Federation. Others, unfortunately for them, had been held by the Cardassians.
Those held by the Cardassians largely hadn't survived the brutalities inflicted upon them in Cardassian labor camps. Those that survived disappeared after their releases at the war's end. Lacey, Eckles, Ebert, and Darcy had received immunity from prosecution by their participation in Macen's war efforts. But they'd been banned from the Federation. It had taken the creation of the SID for Macen to leverage his position with Starfleet to obtain their access back into the Federation.
"I'll take Gardner in the Briefing Room," Noble headed for the room accessed through the rear of the bridge, "Tulley, try not to shoot anyone in the meantime."
"Osmont surrendered himself as promised," Gerrit reported to Riker as she stood beside Zerinda. Neither had been invited to sit and Riker stood before them in front of his desk with Danan standing at the door behind them. Danan had made one last appeal on their behaves before allowing them into the office.
"Gerrit, you worked with Macen while he still a captain and I was his XO. He convinced me to promote you to my Chief of Station Security," Riker said coldly, "Yet, when Chris Noble asked you to accommodate her taking Sito Jaxa, you rolled over. I know you're ex-Resistance and had ties to the Ronaran Maquis cell, but I expect more out of my Security Chief."
"Noble told me you denied her request to intervene. She also told me she was the best hope for a bloodless end to the standoff at Raas. That would save Bajoran lives, the lives of corporate fleet crewmen, and Ascendant lives. I deemed it a calculated risk to allow Sito to go with her," Gerrit told him.
"Duly noted," Riker to Zerinda, "You had to know something unusual was up."
"I could feign ignorance but having the Duty Officer suddenly asking me to relieve three engineers from the next watch rotation was obviously unusual. I had no dockyard requests for maintenance personnel to prep either the Solstice or the Nova for launch. Yet, here they were, undergoing emergency preparations for an immediate departure without countersigned orders for you," Zerinda said.
"Yet you went with it without contacting me," Riker said angrily.
"You would have denied them permission to depart. I would've been forced to comply or disregard your order. I took the lesser evil and simply followed Captain Noble's orders and awaited your wrath when you came on watch," Zerinda told him.
"Why?" Riker wanted her motive.
"Captain Noble seemed certain that she was imperative to the solution to the impasse the Bajorans and Ascendant found themselves in with Orions," Zerinda told him, "Agent Delain kindly reached out to Militia Intelligence and briefed me on Colonel Wyn's latest situation reports to General Anara. If Captain Noble can provide an alternative to an open conflict, than maybe the Bajoran Republic and Orion Syndicate can come closer to reaching terms."
"So, you're blatant disregard for reporting to me was a mercy mission mentality?" Riker asked, "You're seriously running with that?"
"Captain, it's obvious you resent my presence for being here simply because I'm Romulan. Director Sela wronged you personally. I wasn't involved. I won't be blamed for her machinations," Zerinda stated bluntly, "And before you ask how I know about that, Agent Delain and Cardassian Information Bureau has thoroughly investigated your time after you joined the Maquis and escaped from Kodosh II. Your subsequent return to liberate the Federation and Bajoran prisoners was admirable. Your other activities during the war were shared with the Tal Shiar by Starfleet Intelligence during the war's prosecution. The Militia ran Macen and Ro's operations. They shared the details of them with the CIB. You featured prominently in several missions."
"Delain happened to just hand these files over to you?" Riker was affronted.
"She wanted me well briefed on you and your command staff," Zerinda told him, "As I said, she owed me her life. Several times over, I might add. Her debt to me is fully paid now. My continued fate is now in your hands."
"You knew she was profiling everyone?" Riker asked Gerrit.
"She's Cardassian. Whatever they call themselves now, they're still the Obsidian Order. Macen ordered me to allow her to stay on the station. His authority overrides yours in corporate matters. But I have assigned Security to monitor her interests and report them to Macen and Rockford directly," Gerrit warned him, "This station is your command but it's also a civilian station, not a military command. You may be the fleet commander but Tyrol is the one runs the company who owns this station. In the end, Macen uses her to get his way."
"Next time, and there will be a next time, report to me and I'll listen to whichever captain has a wild hair up their ass to go off on a private vendetta. If they're persuasive or have a good reason, I can be persuaded. Failure to do so will cost you your jobs. Dismissed," Riker told them.
Danan gave them each an encouraging smile as they left before the door sealed and she alone with Riker, "That was nicely played."
"I shut Noble down rather than listen to her explain her case for wanting to go. Whatever it is, it swayed two heads of department to run with her plan," Riker rounded his desk and retook his seat, "It seems I've limited my performance as both station commander and fleet commander through willful ignorance."
"Tom, this is why you and Brin fought so much. You're both 'big picture' macrocosm leaders. This is also why Celeste works so well with Brin and I work so well you because we're 'smaller detail' microcosm people. We balance you two out," Danan held up her hand, "And if you're about to ask why that made you fight it's because you have different views of the big picture when faced with the same set of circumstances."
"But he entrusted me with the SID operations," Riker said curiously, "Why?"
"Because after working so closely with you, he trusted your paradigm. You put the lives of the crews above their missions and he's the opposite. So, he'll take greater risks. That's why he stood down and let Shannon Forger assume command of the Obsidian," Danan thought he'd figured it out. Apparently she was wrong, "The SID team he leads accepts the risks he puts them in."
"Accept for Mudd," Riker grunted.
"Harri loudly complains but she could walk away at any time. She still has her own ship and permission to depart at any given moment. But she stays anyway," Danan shrugged, "She gets off on it."
"Do you think Gerrit and Zerinda got the message?" Riker asked about the situation at hand.
"They got yours," Danan concluded, "Did you get theirs?"
"They were sending a message besides insubordination?" Riker asked.
"The insubordination was the message. They were announcing they're still individualists first and foremost. Zerinda's messaging was especially loud. One doesn't break from Romulan Orthodoxy without being a willful individual. Don't make her see you as an enemy. Nothing motivates Romulans like revenge," Danan advised him, "She's especially insistent that you should've listened to Noble's intentions. She's sees you as being unreasonable. Which will only drive her towards unilateral action."
"Okay, so I've been unreasonable," Riker conceded, "Gerrit and I've had an understanding. He broke it when he failed to report the harassment and threats Cardan was facing. We've discussed that and come to terms. How do you suggest I approach Zerinda?"
"Delain wouldn't have convinced Tyrol to bring her on without consulting you without providing impeccable credentials. Assume Zerinda knows as much or more than Cardan about this station. She said she's served aboard Nor-class stations in the past. Her tone implied they were better off for it," Danan had noted, "Zerinda may suffer from a Romulan's typical hubris but I think she actually backs it up. She mastered Cardassian technology to the point they sheltered her from the Imperial Fleet for ten years. I think if you treat with respect she'll be an even bigger asset than Cardan because Zerinda thinks like a Romulan engineer who specializes in a sideline of Cardassian technology. That means she'll be more innovative than Cardan. And unlike Cardan, the CIB won't drag her back too Cardassia Prime for modifying the station beyond its original specs."
"Cardan couldn't turn to Starfleet for the upgrades we wanted," Riker mulled it over, "So he dealt with arms dealers across two quadrants. That included Grimes Armaments. He checked the mods out for cutouts and cutoffs and declared them clean."
"Have Zerinda double check them," Danan suggested, "Cardan's experience with weaponry included standard Cardassian station armaments. Zerinda's experience is more exotic. I'd be curious to see her opinion of Cardan's work."
"I already saw her assigned duty rosters," Riker lifted a padd, "She submitted this as soon as she pulled the files on her staff. She has engineers running maintenance on every system station-wide. She's even pulled in drydock workers between assignments."
"She implied Cardan had gotten sloppy while he was hiding the weapons upgrades," Danan shrugged, "Let her handle the emplacement inspections herself. Make it a personal request and be nice about it. Let her know you want her honest assessment of the work done and it isn't a test."
"Is it a test?" Riker wondered.
Danan rolled her eyes in exasperation, "No. You were the only one that treated Cardan kindly. He was willing to defy his own government to comply with your wishes. But he also scrabbled together weapons systems from various sources. He probably cut corners to stay on schedule installing them."
"Meaning our untested defense grid might not even work," Riker understood now.
"Zerinda subscribes to a milder form of what the Romulans refer to as Absolute Candor. She'll bluntly but truthfully tell you what she finds," Danan explained.
"How do you know about her philosophical choices?" Riker asked.
"I asked Kathy Tyrol for the personnel jacket Delain gave her to file," Danan explained, "You should read it. I think it'll calm your doubts down."
Riker keyed in his request to the LCARS interface on his desk and his monitor quickly accessed the corporate personnel jacket Tyrol had already had Caity Floss assemble. As he read the CIB's unredacted assessment of Zerinda he began to chuckle, "She certainly isn't a deep cover agent. She's about as Unorthodox a Romulan you can be. Even P'ris was a model Orthodox citizen compared to our new Chief of Operations."
"You'll note she's extremely outspoken," Danan grinned.
"So, I've already noted from my exchanges with her," Riker said ruefully, "Hold the fort here in Ops. I think I need to personally make amends with Zerinda."
Danan exited the office to speak to gather fleet updates from Korepanova and Liu. She was also extremely interested in any reports coming from Forger or Captain Gardner. Gardner initial assessment of the situation wasn't a favorable one. The Iotians' leadership wasn't in contact with anyone else. The Militia and Ascendant forces were primed to retake the system and liberate Ghemor and Neela. But the Razor's Edge, Obsidian, and Ascendant Emissary were still in orbit around Raas. Most of the Syndicate ships were posed to respond to any incursion. Varic's forces were busy retaking control of Raas.
The Orions hadn't disabled the comm buoys or sensor probes scattered across the system and surrounding sector. Colonel Wyn had given Gardner and Outbound Ventures commanders access to their transmissions and automated reports. Wyn had briefed her forces and the Ascendant captains on her schedule to retake the system. She's summoned Major Kris and Captain Gil to give them special assignments.
It was Triss that reported a strange transmission stemming from the Raas system. It was going across the entire comm network yet was encoded with an encryption Javi and Militia computers were unfamiliar with, "Colonel, I thought it was background noise at first. But it was a consistently repeated pattern."
"I don't see anything on subspace," Horst said from his stance behind Triss at her station. Wyn had to agree.
"It's a whisker laser pulsing off of a comm buoy orbiting Raas," Triss explained, "Extremely low tech and easily overlooked. It's an old Resistance method to transmit over Cardassian comm arrays without being detected."
"But it's not a known Bajoran cipher?" Wyn was confused.
"The computer is recommending we refer the signal to the Maquis," Javi told her, "Specifically, the Ronara Prime cell of the Maquis."
"Contact Captain Gardner on the Guinevere. See if she has anyone one that can decode this," Wyn ordered.
"Incoming signal from Colonel Wyn aboard the Fist of the Prophets," Hendryks told Noble, "Gardner sent advance word to comply with any request Wyn makes."
Wyn looked harried and deeply disturbed, "Captain Noble, I understand you and most of your crew are former Maquis."
"That's true," Noble wondered where the conversation was headed.
"Specifically, you were a member of the Ronara Prime cell," Wyn specified.
"Also true," Noble was extremely curious now.
"We're receiving a Bajoran Resistance styled message from the Raas system but the encryption is unknown to us. The computer referred us to you," Wyn explained, "I'm relaying the coded message now."
Hendryks perked up, "This is one of T'Kir's old ciphers she gave us."
"Can you respond to it?" Noble asked.
"Yes, the message is just a handshake to garner a response. They aren't transmitting anything yet," Hendryks decoded the message and sent of a correlating reply with a trigger word to evoke a response, "We're transmitting in subspace channels. So the Orions will detect our signal. If someone is using a whisker laser to pulse messages off of a comm buoy, it can be detected if they start searching for the transmission source."
"Do it," Noble instructed, "I need to talk to whoever is sending that signal."
"Someone sent the response code," Javi told Major Wyn.
"Verify who they are," Wyn instructed.
It took several moments to get the navigational laser to transmit the message but a response was almost immediate, "They're former members of the Maquis cell on Ronara Prime. A Chris Noble is leading them."
"Identify ourselves and inform them that Neela, Macen, and Rockford aren't in the system. They departed with an unknown third-party leaving the planet," Wyn instructed, "We have no knowledge of Ghemor's treatment. But the Orions haven't boarded us or the Obsidian. They have a presence aboard the Ascendant Emissary."
"Message sent," Javi replied, "They should acknowledge almost immediately upon receipt."
"The Obsidian lowered her shields and transported down a landing party," Wyn scowled, "The Orions and Varic have looters in the streets. But I think something's amiss. They haven't attempted any more pressure tactics on us. That means they don't want us at all. They're after Neela and the Corsair crew."
"The ship they boarded and its sister ships didn't even register on sensors until they decloaked," Katts advised Wyn, "There weren't the usual slight distortion fields. These were on par with Reman cloaks."
"Which hopefully were obliterated with their world," Griff grunted.
"We can't be certain of that. And its Starfleet's problem. What we have here are locals that were more highly advanced than the known races on Raas," Wyn assessed, "The enclave Neela and the constables visited could've housed millions. But it still shows as a blank on sensors. We can confirm its there by the senor hole it creates but we can't get any readings from inside it."
"I triangulated the transporter beam from the Obsidian to the enclave," Katts told Wyn, "The Orions obviously pressured Forger into sending them help in accessing it."
"Javi, pull the comm logs from the buoy. They would've been transmitting in the open. I want to know if the buoy recorded their conversation and what was said," Wyn instructed, "We may be able to help their landing party out."
"I have it," Javi told her, "It's about to replay the comm message for everyone so we don't look like we're the ones pulling the data."
"Trigger the replay," Wyn ordered. They watched Forte and Kale's exchange studiously, "They were obviously sexually involved but Forte has moved on. This 'Captain Kale' hasn't. It seems Forte suggested Varic undergo an interrogation as well. I wonder how that turned out."
Varic was currently being prosecuted by a council of Orion captains. They'd set up holographic projectors in the capital city's audience chamber. Ghemor and War Vedek Amera were in attendance under guard as well. The various captains were angered by Raas' obvious lack of leads to the desired technology they'd been ordered to locate.
Captain Temzin summarized the situation, "We've revealed ourselves and our numbers to the Bajorans and presented ourselves as a target of choice for your vain ambitions of reclaiming this useless ball of sand and rock?"
"I revealed the hub of technology on the other side of this world. You saw the inhabitants depart in advanced starships. Track them down. They obviously know far more than they ever revealed to any other race on Raas," Varic defended himself.
"You've proven you're useless," Captain Drezen accused, "The ships that left this system did so under quantum slipstream drive. We have no means to track them."
"You have looters at the site. They'll reap you a harvest. You saw their ships," Varic said smugly.
"Except our people can't access the city. Apparently its inhabitants transported in another people group to inherit their abandoned city. The auto defense systems have thwarted even our best raiders and our interceptors can't get within range to attack the site without risking being shot down," Captain Verden snarled, "You led us into a perfect trap."
"I may have a solution to your dilemmas," Ghemor interrupted.
"The Valk refuser to recognize the authority of the 'Orion Syndicate' to access our territory," Anariko explained to Kale as the sole representative sent out to make a statement after Forte, Lee, and Shade after they joined the pirates attempting to loot the mysterious S'aku city.
"And if we decide to orbitally bombard your city?" Kale asked nastily.
"By the time our defense grid fails, you'll have destroyed every vestige of what you seek," Anariko replied, "How will that profit you?"
"No one is bombarding anything," Forte snapped at Kale, "Anariko, you represented your people in delivering your history to our research. Unfortunately, we can't make contact with your heritage world until the Syndicate abandons the system. Simply tell her what you told us about the S'aku."
"They left the planet and they gave us their city," Anariko told Kale, "We have the means to defend ourselves and prosper indefinitely. We have no knowledge of where the S'aku went. They've been migrating off of Raas for years. Your arrival temporarily delayed their final departure. I don't know what changed but they left and brought us here."
"Obviously if they had gateway technology at their disposal, they wouldn't have needed starships to leave," Forte reasoned with Kale, "And it wouldn't have taken them five thousand years to leave the planet."
"I want to see for myself," Kale demanded.
"Anariko, if I escort Captain Kale with your people assigning a security detail, can we have a tour of the city to prove that there's nothing of interest here?" Forte asked.
"I'm truly sorry but the Elder has closed the city from outsiders for now. Come back in a few years when we're properly established and the Elder at that time may reconsider," Anariko offered.
Kale drew her disruptor and aimed it at Anariko's head, "That's unacceptable."
She found the emitter of Forte's phaser pressed against her skull, "I'd reconsider this."
The Orion pirates all had their weapons aimed at Forte and the detectives. Lee and Shade had drawn their phasers but it was a losing battle. Phasers turrets over the hatchway that led into the city swiveled and aimed themselves at the Orions. The detectives could only hope they weren't targets as well.
"We've a zero sum standoff," Forte warned Kale, "If you don't back down, we all die."
"The S'aku took all their knowledge of how to construct star craft with them and dismantled their shipyards years ago. They've been replaced with something called 'hydroponics'. We've inherited enough information to maintain our defenses and our farmlands. Whatever it is you hoped to gain from us is already gone. I suggest you track down the S'aku for your answers. But I'll warn you, they value their privacy above all else," Anariko told Kale.
Kale holstered her disruptor and the Orions eased off. Forte and the detectives followed their example. Kale turned to Forte, "Stand by for my next signal."
The Syndicate team transported back to their raider. Forte apologized to Anariko, "I'm sorry that took place. It could've actually been far worse."
"Now that they're gone, let's go inside," Anaraiko offered, "You can see what your leaders saw."
The hatchway, when opened, led into the mouth of a cave. The city walls and dome were built over a naturally occurring butte. Caves lined the butte and tunnels, naturally occurring and artificially created, connected the cave systems. Outside the butte, sprawling hydroponics farms and housing were constructed over what had been shipyards.
"This is where the S'aku initially took shelter and built their city outwards from. It was a generational working, just as the construction of what they called 'starships' came about over the last hundred years. They've been colonizing a different world. Their last act upon this planet was to bring the Valk here, to relative safety and prosperity," Anariko explained to them, "The center of the formation is hollow. Inside is a water source and fertile soil that grew native grains and fruits to sustain them until they cultivated their farms."
"Those are replicators," Lee noted the machines lining the hallowed cavity.
"Yes, they brought the ones you gave us as well. Like yours, some are dedicated to water and food while other produce replacement machine parts and yet other sundry items for clothing and bathing," Anariko told them, "There is a natural hot spring beneath the formation used as baths."
"I never thought I'd see any of your people without their survival suits," Shade chuckled.
"They aren't needed within the formation or within the dwellings. Tending the farms, we were warned to still wear our suits in case of sand storms and the beating of the suns," Anariko surprised them by removing the headpiece fo her survival suit. As they'd expected, she appeared to be nearly human but her alien blood that tinted her eyes also tinted her cheeks with a bluish tone that was barely discernible while she wore the headpiece, "The S'aku gathered files on all the tribes across Raas. They might interest you."
"We know from cousins of the S'aku they can pass for humans," Forte told her, "Just as Shade and I can. But how did they travel the planet?"
"I'll show you," Anariko said mirthfully. She led them outside to a covered garage. Force fields protected it from the elements as they did the crops of the spanning hydroponic trays. Yet the outer areas beyond the butte were otherwise exposed besides the fortress-like walls encircling the city itself. Defensive weapons were mounted across the open areas and presumably lined the butte. From inside the city, it was obvious the massive dome was a holographic projection. One that presumably vanished while the city's defensive shields were engaged to save on power expenditures. Fusion plants and warp core power facilities dotted the interior landscape. The S'aku had definitely known a much higher degree of technology five thousand years ago than humans.
Aircars, interceptors, and electric motorcycles filled the garage. There were a few fighter craft and they looked forsaken. The air and ground cars were freshly maintained as were the bikes. Anariko proudly displayed them, "The S'aku taught our caravan merchants and protectors how to operate these vehicles. They would draw near to tribes and enter the camps under the guise of traders. They always had foodstuffs to sell and even primitive weapons by their standards to trade for information on the Raas."
"We saw the wreckage lining the deserts surrounding the city. It's obvious the Raas tried to enter by force on more than one occasion," Shade expressed.
"There are signs of orbital bombardment by phase cannons and photonic torpedoes," Lee had duly noted as well, "What stopped the invasion attempts?"
"We don't know. The S'aku said they merely dealt with the threat in such a way the Raas feared sending more ships to this side of the planet," Anariko told them, "I myself met with them on a caravan journey. They shared little about their history but seemed capable of ruling the planet by force if they chose to. Their ambition was simply to develop the world they'd chosen for themselves and to leave Raas behind. This city was their thanks for being friendly with them and not invading their privacy."
Alarms sounded across they city and the Valk froze in place wherever they stood. Anariko looked terrified, "I don't know what's happening."
"Look at the way the airborne sand is setting off an electrostatic glimmer in the air around the city," Forte pointed out, "The shields have automatically gone up. Someone's targeting sensors must have been detected."
"Your frend, Kale, is about to get a harsh lesson," Shade warned Forte.
Quantum torpedo turrets fired in rapid successions followed by the sustained phaser bursts from ground emplacements. Lee spoke cautiously, "I think we just discovered what deterred the Raasians."
Kale's raider barely managed to break orbit before being rendered a derelict. An Orion battlecruiser and two raiders were moving in to support Kale but at a distance. The battlecruiser targeted the city and received a similar treatment. This time the barrage was sustained for a longer period until the heavy warship's shields and targeting sensors failed. Two more battlecruisers attempted a long range strike against the entire region but weapons emplacements on the nearby moons activated and pummeled the Orions into submission.
Forger ordered Zimbalist to fire off a rapid coded pulse updating the allied forces gathered outside the Raas system. The Orions forced the issue and staged a boarding party on the Obsidian's Bridge and Engineering. The Transporter Room was locked down as well, stranding Forte, Lee, and Shade on the surface. Elsewhere, negotiations were taking a turn.
"What could you possibly offer?' Varic sneered at Ghemor and War Vedek Amera, still under guard while the holographic avatars were deactivated.
"A way out for you and the Orions," Ghemor calmly replied.
Varic's comm badge began chirping. He stepped into another room to take the message.
Amera looked to Ghemor, "What could you possibly offer them?"
"The chance at what they came for," Ghemor said placidly.
Varic stormed into the room as images of different Orion captains appeared. Varic was livid, "Did you make an alliance with those terrorists on the other side of the planet?"
"I sent them messengers. They were never heard from again," Ghemor told him, "I was recently told they were executed."
"So you have no idea of why the ground facility opened fire on one of our raiders? And then furthered its attack using ground based and lunar based weaponry to inflict heavy damages to three of our battlecruisers?" Captain Vorlon demanded to know.
"Perhaps your people triggered an automated response," Ghemor said smoothly, "Perhaps by targeting the facility?"
Vorlon's image vanished again. Varic swore before returning his attention to Ghemor, "My people fought those demons. None of our dispatched forces ever returned. Even our starships in orbit over the city were destroyed. We learned to leave them alone."
"Perhaps you should've advised your Orion compatriots to do the same," Ghemor said blandly, "Did it ever occur to you all they ever wanted was obscurity? They obviously bested you in force of arms. Yet they never subjugated this world. They left it to your people to dominate the various races left here."
Her image vanished and a transporter beam whisked Varic away. Ghemor wore a cold smile, "That ended pleasantly."
Amera's communicator began tweeting. She flipped it open since their guards didn't seem to mind. It was her second in command aboard the Ascendant Emissary, "War Vedek, we've been allowed to contact you. The Orions have boarding parties aboard our ship. They presently hold the Bridge and Engineering. They've also secured the Transporter Room so we're unable to beam you back aboard."
"That seems to have been their intent all along. The Emissary has advised we cooperate with the Orions. Don't resist them but don't overtly assist them either. Let them work for whatever aims they have."
"I understand," the Second cut the transmission. Amera felt it was a forced decision.
"Emissary, I understand we're badly outnumbered, but what good does complacency serve us?" she had to ask her spiritual leader.
"I feel the compulsion to act as well. But the Prophets came to me in a vision. They want us to stand by while the Hand of the Prophets accomplishes her mission," Ghemor explained.
"But Neela isn't even on the planet anymore," Amera protested, "The Orions would've brought her to us by now if she were."
"These strangers we sent missionaries to and they returned from, they received envoys from the Cult of the Pah-wraiths as well. The Cult has a presence here on Raas. They will reveal themselves when they attempt to strike a bargain with the Orions. Only then will we act," Ghemor told her, "Neela is probing the strangers to see if the heresy has taken hold with them as well."
"We have three friendly ships in orbit," the War Vedek reminded her, "The Ascendant Emissary is held by the Syndicate. I assume the Obsidian has been boarded as well. That leave's Neela's Razor's Edge as the variable."
"The least likely can be the deadliest of all," Ghemor spoke from personal experience with the Obsidian Order.
"There is a lot of subspace chatter since those ships got pounded," Javi reported to Major Wyn, "The Syndicate captains are communicating back and forth over what was and wasn't reported by Varic and a Captain Kale. Apparently Kale is the only non-Orion captain and she's taking heat because of it."
"How many coded frequencies are they communicating on?" Wyn inquired.
"Three. Kale and Varic are being questioned on one. Another is being used to transmit orders back and forth to the boarding parties aboard the other friendly ships. And finally, the other captains have excluded Kale and Varic from the decision making regarding what happens to them next," Javi told her, "If weren't for Bailey Smith and Angelique Kerber's code slicing programs, we'd never be listening in on them."
"What's Ghemor's status?" Wyn inquired.
"Her War Vedek just got word from her ship in the clear. They've been taken of course, but they just being held. The Emissary and her War Vedek seem to be hostages of some kind," Javi pronounced, "Based upon how the Orions reference them anyway. They boarded the Obsidian after they transmitted that burst signal. Forger isn't offering overt resistance but I doubt the crew is just complying with every Orion demand."
"Yet, they haven't threatened us," Griff noted.
"We haven't antagonized them yet," Wyn replied, "That comes after they realize they can't locate Neela."
"Why would they still be looking for her?" Griff asked.
"Because the Cult of the Pah-wraiths will be paying them to," Wyn decided, "Neela signaled us she'd found evidence of cultists on the planet. She and her security detail were the only Bajorans on the planet. That, and her profile among the cultists is growing. Raasian cultists might not recognize her but any foreign spiritual advisors they have with them might have."
"Or they may simply hunt them because they are Bajoran," Griff noted.
"In either case, the Syndicate will be searching for Neela, Odon and the others and will turn up empty. Then they'll apply pressure tactics on us to give them up," Wyn predicted.
"Major, the Syndicate is moving another raider into firing range," Ferris reported to her, "That makes three in a triangulated crossfire."
"It seems they're already getting impatient," Griff said grimly.
"They've cut off our line of sight with the comm buoy we were transmitting on. Our laser can't reach it now," Javi told them.
"Katts, can you send a coded pulse though the sensor array?" Wyn asked the tech corporal.
"I could, but if no one is looking for it, who'd receive it?" Katts asked.
"The Orions will wonder why we're scanning the solar system," Griff pointed out.
"We won't need to," Wes reminded them, "We still have access to the navigational grid set up in the system by the Ascendancy. We could tight beam a message pulse through the navigation sensors. The Syndicate would think we're prepping for a departure run. They'll investigate and find out it's precautionary."
"Katts?" Griff asked the sensor specialist.
"It's easy enough and our allied forces will be monitoring the nav grid for any entry run they plan on making," Katts agreed with the CONN Officer.
"Ear mark the signal for Captain Noble and continue to use the Maquis encryption," Wyn instructed, "Stand by for the message."
"The nav sensors are detecting an unusual pulsing from the navigational array set up in the Raas system," Sito reported to Noble.
"Elfi, check it for encrypted messaging," Noble was quick to grasp the change in tactics.
"It's the same code," Hendryks told her, "They say their access to the comm buoy is compromised and three Orion raiders have triangulated them. There's still no hostile action against them but two battlecruisers and a raider were damaged by defensive fire from a ground source and lunar emplacements. That confirms Captain Forger's reporting. The Obsidian and the Ascendant Emissary both have Orion boarding parties controlling the ships."
"Signal Locarno. We're going into the system," Noble instructed.
"I don't know how you talked Colonel Wyn and Captain Gardner into this plan but has anyone briefed the Iotians?" Tulley had to wonder.
"They've been apprised but there's still no response coming from them," Hendryks told him, "What they're planning is anyone's guess."
"They have a total of nine ships. All unknown vessel types. One looks on par with the most modern Starfleet vessels," Lacey had been discreetly scanning them for some time, "Whenever the Iotians switched over to original starship designs, they jumped a tech level. Even the Ascendant crew aboard original Iotian ship classes are at the peak of duotronic capability. Even the frigates and light cruisers are nearly on par with a standard known heavy cruiser from the era. I asked Eckles and Darcy to review the scans."
"Bridge to Engineering, I'd like your assessment on the new Iotian vessel types. Both duotronic and isolinear tech types," Noble requested.
"Eckles here," the chief engineer replied, "It was Darcy and Thool that spotted that all of them, even the duotronic models are modular in nature. They can be customer specialized by the inclusion or exclusion of specific modules. The Ascendant ships favor defensive module enhancements. The Iotian ships are more diversified. Some favor heavy weapons while others are sensor platforms with standard armaments. The lead ship is an exception. It's a purpose built as a pocket battleship. But it isn't Iotian."
"Care to explain?" Noble asked.
"Iotian ships use standard Starfleet design warp cores. Even their new ship classes employ standardized warp cores we're familiar with just adapted to fit inside different hulls. The ISS Scalphunter uses a different type of warp core altogether. I've never seen anything quite like it. But the technology probably started out as a Defiant-class' warp core system. But its been rebuilt, refit, and repurposed into a new breed of technology. I've never seen anything like it," Eckles confessed.
"Locarno signaled his readiness to enter the system," Hendryks interrupted.
"Tell him to go in at maximum impulse until we encounter our first Syndicate interdictor," Noble ordered, "Thanks, Tom."
"Thank Heidi and Thool. They figured out why each starship seemed alike and so different at the same time," Eckles chuckled as he signed off.
Noble knew she had Eckles, Darcy, and Lacey to thank for complete redesign and refit of the Blackbird-class Solstice. Having spent the Maquis Rebellion and the Dominion War serving aboard the same class SS Odyssey, they'd become intimately familiar with the starship design. Ten years later, after running a starship chop shop and enhancement drydock, they'd formulated plans of how to adapt and maximize the ship class if given unlimited time, funds, and parts. Macen provided all of the above with the Solstice. She was purposefully retro to provide an illusion that she was comprised of outdated technology. Yet the Solstice was on par with any modern Federation starship in her class and size. The Cardassians had learned to fear the compact starships as originally designed. Even the modern Cardassian Guard would tremble upon encountering the refurbished Solstice in combat operations.
The sturdy, yet predictably designed Coyote-class Nova was an improvement upon the old Blackbird-class specs yet was deemed unworthy of Starfleet service. The pocket sized scouts were marketed to security contractors and scientific institutions for exploration and planetary surveys. Even courier companies were investing in replacing their aging Peregrine-class fleets. Federation Security, in particular, favored the scoutships. The law enforcement agency had a long history of adapting civilian technologies into specialized variants that excelled beyond their design specs.
Eckles, Darcy, Thool, and Lacey had spent time adapting Locarno's command as well. He'd had his own suggestion and requests as a pilot but even he had been overly impressed with the results. Unlike the Solstice, the Nova retained its original appearance while the other scoutship looked like a different ship altogether. The Orion scoutships and single raider that intercepted them took deep scans of the two ships before hailing them. The raider captain did the speaking.
"I'm Captain Tosh. You're intruding in occupied space," the Orion woman told them.
"The Ascendancy isn't engaged in hostile action against the Orion Syndicate. What right do you have to take a system under their jurisdiction?" Noble politely asked.
"Varic claims jurisdiction over the primary planet in this system. He granted us access to it and the system itself. We repelled the invading Ascendant forces and their Bajoran allies who we are at war with," Tosh said confidently.
"Varic was deposed and exiled from Raas," Noble replied, "Something you're all too aware of. My understanding is that you came here looking for something specific. Maybe I can help you find it."
"Any why would you do that?" Tosh asked with great suspicion.
"Patch me in to Gomer and I'll discuss my terms with her," Noble stated boldly.
"And why would she speak with you?" Tosh was indignant.
"Just tell her Christina Noble wants an audience with her," Noble replied.
The screen reverted to the view of the opposing ships. Tulley was hardly mollified, "That went well."
"Better than expected actually," Noble told him, "They didn't demand to send across a boarding party to either ship."
"We're receiving a hail from the comm network. It traces back across the Wormhole to Orion," Hendryks sounded surprised, "They hacked the Bajoran and Federation networks."
"So did we once upon a time," Noble reminded her, "Put Gomer on the screen."
The head of the Syndicate sat upon a simple throne with two guards present, one to either side. Gomer looked amused, "Imagine my surprise to hear from you again, Chris."
"You'll want to take this privately," Noble advised her.
"See you in five," Gomer ended the signal.
The time elapsed and Hendryks dutifully informed Noble they were being hailed from Orion again. She put on the screen and Gomer looked less pleased with herself and more attentive, "What's your proposition?"
"You're occupying Raas for no reason than to restore Varic to political power," Noble warned her, "Whatever prize you were baited here with left a long time ago. I've read Macen's updates from the planet. The imperial power that brought every race here took their technology with them when they abandoned the planet. Or why wouldn't Varic be using it?"
"We encountered another race even Varic can't explain. They have superior technology and seem to have abandoned the planet upon our arrival," Gomer told her, "Macen and his team seem to have disappeared with them. I can withdraw the House forces if I have somewhere else to send them."
"Macen won't hand over information for no reason. You have his ship and crew. You also have Ghemor and her ship. Trade them for a copy of his flight recorder data when he returns to the system. Because he will come back. In the meantime, I'll stall Colonel Wyn and Captain Gardner," Noble bartered, "Is that a fair enough exchange?"
"That takes care of your corporate partners and the Bajorans. What about the Ascendant and the Iotians?" Gomer wondered.
"The Ascendant are following Colonel Wyn's orders. If she says 'hold' they will. The Iotians are operating independently and won't communicate with us," Noble warned her, "I think they want to hear from your force themselves."
"The Iotians will bargain for a piece of the action but right now there's none to be had," Gomer complained, "Unless Macen offers up his flight data. Then we can approach the mystery race and bargain for quantum slipstream drive and cloaking technology."
"We received a report that their remainder defense technology nearly destroyed three of your ships. They might not respond well to further threats," Noble advised the gangster.
"I said 'bargain' not take. There has to be something they want that we can provide. Or something we can addict them to and provide in for a technology transfer," Gomer schemed.
"And you wonder why I quit working for you," Noble said sternly.
"Your scruples are why you lost your war with the Cardassians and Dominion," Gomer shrugged, "You were easy to replace as a scout captain."
"And your job was easy to replace," Noble replied, "Now I get to work with my friends and family."
"Tell Macen I know he recruited moles to spy on my operations. Tell him to leave my business interests alone and they'll survive. If he interferes, I'll start eliminating the suspects on my list. Not all of the former Maquis in my employ also work for him but I'll kill every last one of them to shut down his interference," Gomer told Noble, "Make certain he understands their lives are in his hands."
The screen returned to the star field filled with Orion ships. Noble instructed Sito, "Make ready to exit the system. Hendryks, contact Locarno and relay instructions to follow our lead. Then patch me in to Captain Gardner and Colonel Wyn. I'll tell them Gomer's terms."
"Wyn and Gardner may hold for longer but what about the Iotians?" Tulley asked, "We still don't know their intentions."
"Their intentions are to make a profit," Noble told him, "That's always their intention. They can't afford an arms race with the Syndicate with the Orions getting quantum slipstream drive technology and cloaking devices. The Syndicate may even cut Grimes Armaments' Illegal Sales Division in for the manufacturing end of it."
"I thought Grimes Armaments was under Federation Security oversight," Sito mentioned.
"The division exists. Federation Security is monitoring Baroness Estella Grimes as the former CEO and the majority stake owner. They aren't watching her younger sister, Baroness Stefi Grimes. Stefi Grimes has no official role in the company. Making her the perfect chairperson to lead the illegal arms division," Noble told them, "I've brokered deals between the Syndicate and Grimes before. I know the division exists without Marko Vilnius or Federation Security being aware of its existence. And Estella certainly won't rat out Stefi. Not when they arranged for her position in the first place."
"I thought it was sketchy that you knew my location on Izar without ever visiting me," Tulley admitted.
"I'd only moved to Izar three weeks before Macen recruited me," Noble told him, "He knew my past. He didn't care. Just like he didn't care about your former dispute with the rest of our cell."
"Ebert led him to Eckles, Darcy, and I when we were running an illegal shipyard in the Kalendra system," Lacey told them, "All that mattered to him was getting us back to working for him."
"I have to admit, my station security duties give me plenty of time to spend with Annabeth but they get tedious at times," Tulley admitted, "Just like the ten year stretch after the war ended."
"Outbound Ventures didn't upgrade this ship just to appease Eckles and Darcy's fantasies," Noble advised them all, "There are plans within plans for us to be more active in fleet affairs."
"Us, not Macen and his team," Lacey sought clarification.
"Correct," Noble confirmed it, "Captain Riker will be getting notified about it while we're here. I'd hoped to be there to explain the change but we were needed here and Macen couldn't soften the blow to the staffing issue for obvious reasons."
"I didn't say I wanted to be deployed full time," Tulley complained.
"We won't be," Noble told him, "But I hope you all still remember how to be Maquis. Because we're going to do a lot of undercover work."
"I wasn't Maquis but I was close enough after leaving Kodosh II," Sito grinned, "I worry about how Nick will take the news."
"He'll be advising us," Noble told her, "After he left the Eclipse crew, he wandered in fairly criminal circles. We'll need his insights."
"This is how you plan selling a 'wait and see' approach to Gardner and Wyn?" Tulley asked.
"I think they want to avoid unnecessary bloodshed," Noble told him, "My plan offers that."
"Macen will take issue with surrendering his flight records," Lacey predicted.
"I know. But he'll respect the goals of my plan," Noble replied.
Danan reported to Riker's office. He'd been notified a time delayed message had been opened on his comm account. It was an internal missive from Macen. He'd concluded his business with Korepanova and Liu and entered his office to receive the message. Several moments later, an angered Riker had summoned Danan into his office.
"Tom, what did Brin have to say?" she asked.
"He confirmed that Sakonna is running a Covert Ops Department off of the station. He also informed me the purpose behind the Solstice refit. Noble and her crew are being permanently time shared between Sakonna's department and the Rockford Detective Agency. Meaning they'll be deployed more frequently. None of this was ever discussed with me. It was decided for me," Riker angrily told her, "I can't do anything about Sakonna. She exists outside my chain of command. But everyone else answered to one of my departments as station personnel. I've covered their absences before but now it seems it'll be a routine matter. This doesn't just affect Ops. It also cuts deeply into Station Operations and Security. Dammit! I deserved notification."
"I think you just got it," Danan told him, "Noble was supposed to be here to defend the decision. No one could see her sudden departure coming."
"Caity Floss included a list of personnel likeliest to be promoted to the missing positions," Riker slapped the padd on his desk, "I already had people I trusted. And they've done this to me. Even Jaxa kept her mouth shut."
Danan knew Sito's silence felt like a personal betrayal to him. Danan knew, however, how unhappy Sito was as the Gamma Watch Deputy Security Chief. Station duties bored her. She relished the chances to deploy with Noble. She also knew Locarno would be involved.
"What does it say about Nick Locarno?" she asked.
"Funny you should ask. He keeps his administrative role as Flight Operations Director but he's no longer flying for the company except in command of the Nova. He's going to be seconded to Sakonna as an advisor," Riker was scornful, "That explains the purchase of the ship when station operations and defense didn't need her."
"And you feel betrayed," Danan knew.
"Brin was reasonable enough. He knew that Noble and the others were bored silly with station duties. He even had testimonials that included Sito. But it all boils down to him pulling my command out from underneath me again," Riker glowered.
"It seems to me he was trying to accommodate the best interests of all parties concerned. Including yourself," Danan replied sternly, "This is just another bruise on your ego. It's taken quite a few hits over the last forty-eight hours."
Riker looked abashed and then confessed, "I'll admit, a lot of old self-doubts have resurfaced. The fact that I spent so much time on fleet operations that I neglected my station command's staff's needs is appalling."
"So strike a balance," Danan told him, "I split my time between Station Ops and the Sciences Division. I found a way to make it work."
"What exactly do you get up to in our Sciences Division?" Riker asked, "We're not exactly charting new territories or frontiers."
"Now you're finally asking?" Danan laughed.
"Like I said, I've been remiss regarding my station command duties. I need to play catch up and fast," Riker told her, "Especially with a huge Gamma Watch shakeup underway."
"You forget that before I joined the Maquis, I was a noted stellar cartographer and astrophysicist. Our patrols may not be engaging in frontier exploration but they do run routine sensor exams of charted systems that the Federation and other territorial governments are neglecting ongoing monitoring and research of. Even Daystrom and other Institutes and Guilds are seeking out the sexy research programs to garner grants. Brin set me up with a team to monitor and observe potential buildups like the Hobus destabilization. We detected that years before it happened but the Romulans refused to believe a Federation starship's research into it," Danan explained, "Call it preventative maintenance."
"So with corporate assets running routine scans of multiple sectors and systems across the Federation and beyond, you're keeping tabs on the health of stars and planets?" Riker asked her.
"Essentially," Danan told him, "It's an independent study program Tyrol was able to pitch to Daystrom and other entities to fund."
"But your Sciences team wears SID uniforms," Riker had noted.
"We may or may not be clandestinely involved in research work for the SID itself as well," Danan smirked.
"You can't confirm or deny?" Riker was surprised.
"Our work is sanctioned by Admiral Forger but extends to areas you're not cleared for. Macen and Rockford only acquired clearance because they wouldn't pressure Tyrol into creating my Division without it," Danan shrugged, "I can tell you we're delving into some projects Section 31 left unfinished on Daystrom Station."
"Lees!" Riker yelped.
"Nothing too immoral. Just sensitive explorations not easily condoned by the Federation's scientific community. But the inverse of the military applications is real-world beneficial science," Danan told him, "So that's the approach we're using. Starfleet can't openly pursue the projects and inquiries without revealing where they derived from. Whereas we're a fringe scientific community that would be prone to making unexpected discoveries."
"And you never told me?" Riker was stunned beyond words.
"Forger asked that it be kept confidential. It's a separate enterprise from Outbound Ventures security contracting but it requires SID clearance to participate in," Danan told him, "Hence the uniforms."
"What other operations are underway on my station?" Riker grew stern.
"A branch of the Archaeology Guild has set up shop aboard the station. They've been given offices and labs in what would have been an assayer's storehouse on a typical Cardassians station. Apparently, this is the closest staging outpost they could acquire outside of Bajoran territory for Deeper Alpha and Gamma Quadrant studies," Danan explained.
"Why can't they set up on Bajor or one of its colonies?" Riker asked, "Or even Waypoint Station?"
"The Guild and several other Federation scientific groups aren't openly welcomed in the Bajor Sector or its related territories in the Gamma Quadrant since the war," Danan hated the politics but they were what they were, "And they obviously can't set up in Cardassian territory. The starsbases along the Cardassian border are closed to non-Starfleet exploration teams."
"With the Kalendra Sector joining the Iotian Federation, that leaves us the closest sector to the Wormhole other than the Kalandra Sector. There are welcoming worlds there. Why choose a neutral sector to operate from?" Riker also understood the politics.
"The Militia and the Bajoran Republic will accept scientific teams staging out Serenity Station but not the Kalandra or other nearby Federation sectors," Danan sighed, "It's interstellar semantics but the Bajorans wants the guild to work for access."
"And they're still denied access to Bajoran territory," Riker understood now.
"That's the short version," Danan shrugged, "Korepanova set up the Intelligence Section and put several former Starfleet Intelligence analysts to work. They all left under varying shades of gray."
"Meaning they were asked to resign to spare Starfleet the embarrassment of a Board of Inquiry leading to a potential court-martial," Riker knew that one as well from personal experience.
"Nechayev had no issues with their actions but Internal Affairs and Starfleet Security felt they compromised regulations by sharing secrets with their home planetx," Danan told him, "In most cases, the leaked information led to arrests made by local enforcement."
"And Starfleet balked?" Riker was ashamed of them.
"They analysts in question broke the chain of command to feed actionable intelligence to their worlds' law enforcement agencies. Waiting for permission would've closed the windows of opportunity and Starfleet wasn't going to take action," Danan further explained, "That's why Nechayev overlooked the cases but fellow officers in their sections reported the leaks. The following investigations led to our current Intelligence Section team members before they resigned from Starfleet."
"I knew Korepanova had put together a team of analysts that she relied on but where do they get their intelligence?" Riker wondered.
"From Sakonna's department," Danan told him, "As well as tips from the Rockford Detective Agencies."
"So where do Gerrit and Radil fit in this?" Riker wanted to know.
"They don't," Danan told him, "Mainstream Station Operations Departments are clueless as to the true nature of the covert ops personnels' true allegiances and activities. The Intelligence Branch wears SID uniform but blends in with the other corporate officers and enlisted."
"How do you know all of this and I was ignorant?" Riker had to ak.
"You took your Fleet Commander role so seriously that station management largely fell to me as Executive Officer," Danan sighed, "Rather than give Korepanova and Liu a freer hand and concentrate on both your roles, you steered towards the fleet. That put me in the unenviable position of finding space for all these various groups without revealing their natures to one another."
"Well, I'm back now," Riker assured her, "Part of command is learning to delegate. But these various departments operate on my command. I need to meet with them. I even need to meet with whomever is running the Archaeology Guild through here."
"That'll certainly free me up to actually do my dual roles," Danan appreciatively smiled.
"I think I'm going take an inspection tour of my station and see what's really going on on it," Riker decided, "I'll need you to upload the true locations and personnel records of every secret department as well as the public departments."
"That information has always been available to you," Danan told him, "You just never opened the files."
Riker looked puzzled but activated his screen and began perusing his file access. Sure enough, the data set he was requesting was waiting him to open and inspect. The queued file size had been growing for over a year. He met that realization with a sense of shame.
"Thank you for pointing that out. Inform the Watch Officer I'll be busy today. Korepanova can reach me if she needs authorization for anything," Riker told her, "I'll be reviewing the broad strokes before I set out. But I will be visiting every section of this station today. Please don't tell anyone I'm coming."
"An informal inspection," Danan smiled with gratitude.
"More of a long overdue meet and greet," Riker smiled gratefully, "I'd like to meet everyone in their own environment after I've learned what those environments are exactly."
"And be nice to Zerinda," Danan scolded him.
"On further consideration, I've decided to err on her side. 'Trust but verify' is the term I'll be using," Riker promised.
"I can't just sit here and leave Emissary Ghemor in the hands of pirates," Colonel Wyn argued., "One of your fellow captains and her crew are also being held at disruptor point. Not to mention my sister and her crew."
"I've advised Commander Korepanova of your plan," Gardner relented a bit, "She advises standing by and seeing how Commander Macen responds to the Syndicate's demands."
"I can't believe that," Wyn snapped.
"I was sent to avoid a conflict. It was thought that by gathering superior forces we could compel a peaceful withdrawal by Syndicate forces," Gardner told her, "An open conflict is what we're trying avoid."
"Colonel Wyn," Horst interrupted the meeting at eh rear of the bridge, "the Iotians are moving into the system."
"I didn't authroize that," Wyn was miffed.
"No one authorized that," Gardner reminded her, "They haven't responded to any of our hails."
"Then why are they moving out?" Wyn was dubious, "They're still outnumbered shipwise."
"They want a piece of the action," Noble explained, "I got in and out and have made an obvious deal that's withholding your advance. The Iotian commander wants to know what they can get out of the Syndicate."
"We haven't gotten anything from them yet," Wyn said angrily.
"They don't know that," Gardner told her, "We bought the hostages' lives. But the Iotians will think we gained a profitable concession so that's why we're leaving the Orions in place."
Noble appreciated Gardner's insight, "These are unknown Iotian commanders. We can't predict what they'll want."
"We were led to believe there was technology of great value left on this world. Our associate merely wanted us to leverage his reclamation to power over this planet. He's being dealt with," Captain Anseta told him.
"Then what deal did the others make with you?" Lebeauf wanted to know.
"They're exchanging data for the hostages' lives and the freedom of the planet," Anseta explained, "Unless you have a better offer."
"I offer our withdrawal in exchange for avoiding a conflict," Lebeauf said and terminated the transmission, "Alert all commands. We're returning to Kalendra. We can at least exact a toll from the Tzenkethi and Breen that enter the sector."
"The Iotians just left the system at high warp and are headed back towards the Wormhole," Bol Ferris reported from the Weapons/Navigation Station.
"So much for a mutual defense pact," Wyn snorted.
"The Orions probably told them we had a peace deal," Noble explained, "Lacking profitable motive and no attack being imminent, their commander probably felt it was safe to withdraw. You can file a complaint with Fleet Boss Kracko while you wait for the Corsair's return."
"If Neela, Macen, and Rockford aren't already prisoners themselves," Wyn groused.
"Trust in them. They wouldn't have gone away with strangers unless they felt it was necessary," Noble told her, "If nothing else, trust that Neela was led by your gods to do so."
The S'aku ships arrived at space station that was designed as a port en route to their colony world. The Corsair launched with barely a word spoken to them by the S'aku. The station had several ships docked there and others traveling to and from.
"I've got a navigational fix on Raas' twin stars," Ebert told them, "We should get there in less than ten hours at maximum warp."
Which for the runabout meant Warp 5. No one said anything until they were underway until Mudd broke the silence, "Why keep us locked up in their hangar bay just to let us loose at a space station they built?"
"It's a display of might," Neela told her, "The Cardassians are similar. They kept the location of their colony a secret but they evidenced their ability to extend a defense from it at a distance."
"So they're showing off?" Burrows asked from the corridor leading the mission modules.
"They expect us to return or sell out their location," Macen told them, "Given what I told them about the Orions while our ride was being arranged for, it's no surprise they expect us to be forced to hand over our flight logs."
"Will we?" Ebert asked, "We didn't promise them not to but it's obvious the Orions would try to take whatever they wanted from the S'aku."
"I don't see that we'll have a choice," Macen sighed, "Ghemor, the Obsidian crew, and the Razor's Edge crew are all hostages. The Orions will want something to give them up. The S'aku are an obvious temptation now that they revealed themselves."
"Quantum slipstream drives and cloaking devices have been high on Orion buying lists for decades," Daggit noted from where he was leaned up against the transporter. Rockford was in the aft compartment with Neela's constables redressing the sensor logs taken before the runabout boarded the S'aku ship and the Orions were taking the system over. Most of the data had been pulled from the nav array and comm buoys. Rockford was impressed by Odon, Varis, and Maru. Odon was obviously competent enough to be Chief Constable or Inspector in the Constabulary. Instead, he remained a deputy assigned to Neela's detail.
The younger deputies were children during the last days of the Occupation. Odon had been a Resistance fighter turned law officer. It was easy to see how his deductive capacity would've enhanced his his efforts as a terrorist. His desire to avoid a desk also impressed Rockford. Being assigned to Neela was his last field posting before he had to choose between mandatory promotion or retirement.
Rockford knew Varic had to have made elaborate promises to get the Orions diverted from hunting for the Neverwhere and Tigerlilja to blockade Raas. Those promises would've come up empty. She wondered how the Syndicate was dealing with him in response.
"It seems you've broken too many promises," Ghemor remarked, "Even by your standards."
Varic gnashed his teeth as Ghemor and War Vedek Amera were returned to the Ascendancy Emissary under Orion guard. The Syndicate had broken all ties with him and his small squadron of forces. Raas was his to control, if the Ascendancy and the Militia allowed it. He severely doubted they'd simply hand him the planet back.
Varic still knew of worlds that the Ascendant hadn't reached yet. Worlds where his credit was still good thanks to Mudd Kenra. He and his forces exited the Raas system through unoccupied route. Colonel Wyn had nicely gathered her allies in a single star system outside of the Raas system. The Iotians had come and gone. Varic wondered why they'd simply left but he was in no position to ask why.
"You're to be allowed monitored contact with your external forces," the pirate in charge of the boarding party aboard Ghemor's flagship told her, "You're to offer proof of life and assurances you'll be held indefinitely until we get what we've asked for."
Even Ghemor didn't know what terms had been set for her release. She did know meeting them was supposed to take time. She made her necessary statements to Colonel Wyn and didn't offer to take questions before the transmission was halted. Amera ascertained from the bridge crew that the Obsidian and the Razor's Edge were still in planetary orbit. They hadn't withdrawn with the Militia and Ascendant forces. Which meant her contacts aboard them weren't presently actually aboard them. Whatever surrender was impending, it was up to Neela and the others to make it.
The Militia Scouts had reported the presence of Federation derived inhabitants upon Raas. That had set in a chain of events that Ghemor hadn't seen coming nor had the Prophets warned her about. Neela's arrival had also been a surprise. Until that point, Neela had been content to allow the Ascendancy to deal with the Cultist missionaries. But Raas was an exception that general rule, it seemed. The humans on Raas hadn't concerned her but she became personally involved when the SID teram investigated the mysterious dwellers on the other side of the planet. Dwellers that had received both Ascendant and Cultist missionaries.
Neela had fired of a flurry of messages shortly before her disappearance. The dwellers, apparently called the S'aku, had claimed the missionary groups had killed one another. Neela called that a lie. Ghemor knew better than to dispute her. Neela had always been quiet and observant but the Prophets had honed her observational and deductive skills during her intensive training in prison. She was a living lie detector. The S'aku had falsely presented the facts of what had happened. Even given the different physiological and cultural imperatives due to the S'aku being a n unknown race, Neela knew they'd lied. The Ascendant had killed the Cultists and the S'aku had indeed killed the Ascendant. But not before the Cultists had swayed the S'aku to their cause.
It didn't appear to be a religious awakening. But the S'aku had been more expectant of some kind of support from Neela than Macen. Which indicated at least one Cultist had been Bajoran. The S'aku had only agreed to Macen's bargain because of Neela's presence. Yet, they strongly suspected differing allegiances at play. So, the S'aku had arranged for their own test of brands of loyalty.
That much Neela had fired off as a text message to Ghemor and Major Wyn. Neela's intention had been plain. Ghemor was warned that the Ascendant had made an enemy of the S'aku. Wyn was meant to warn General Kira of the Cultist having an advanced collaborator in the Gamma Quadrant that could prove dangerous to the Bajoran colonies there. The Orions running interference hadn't been accounted for.
Ghemor couldn't show her concern in front of the Orions. The pirates would take any show of weakness and exploit it. From testimony from the Raasians, Ghemor had gathered the S'aku were extremists. Their extremism on Raas merely extended to privacy and escape. But while the Raasians were technologically inferior to the Ascendant, the S'aku were militarily superior to the Bajoran Militia. If they were striking an alliance with the Cult of the Pah-wraiths, then they were far more dangerous than could presently be accounted for. Any dealings with the Orion Syndicate would only further cloud the issues.
Ghemor knew from strategic briefings from First Minister Astris that the Militia's blockade of Empok Nor was ongoing but that Starfleet had loosened their side of the border. Penitents were arriving and departing from the station on a daily basis as blockade runners delivered needed supplies and ferried personnel to and fro. The Syndicate did most of that work. Despite Commander Ro's urgent warnings, Starfleet Command hadn't recognized the insurgent Kosst Amojan forces as an active terrorist threat. They merely saw them as a religious spin off from the Bajoran faith.
Starfleet Security had labeled Neela and the crew of the Razor's Edge as persons of interest in several ongoing mass murder investigations. Standing orders were to detain the ship and crew for investigators to arrive and interrogate them pending charges being brought against them. Nechayev had made Ro disavow any knowledge of Neela's crusade. She could neither confirm nor deny Neela and the others' involvement in the slayings. Ro couldn't overtly support Neela's efforts. But she was under no pressure to impede them either. It was a repetition of Nechayev's role towards Ro's Maquis cell. Macen and Danan had been assigned to infiltrate the Maquis and report on their activities. Once they'd assessed the Maquis' threat to the Federation, they were free to assist the Maquis if they chose to but they'd officially be branded outlaws. A side effect of Macen''s relationship with Ro was that Starfleet Intelligence fed her information regarding targets that posed active threats against the Maquis and the Federation. Threats Starfleet couldn't act against but nothing stood in the Maquis' way.
Ro was on friendly terms with the Militia and Bajoran Intelligence. So, she was able to coordinate efforts against the Cult of the Pah-wraith with the Militia. So long as the Militia Special Forces weren't detected operating outside of the Bajor Sector, Ro didn't have to report it. Since the Bajorans were still classified as allies, Ro's exchanges were above reproach. Kira had shared some of Starfleet's growing misgivings regarding the Gamma Quadrant.
Akaar was retiring and Jellico was lined up to take his place as Starfleet Commander. Jellico was a hated name among the Cardassians. But Ro had passed on Jellico's intention of being an interim Fleet Admiral while a longer serving successor could be found. The Federation Council still strongly supported Kirsten Clancy despite her improprieties that they saw as a distraction from her job performance. Clancy had obeyed orders that she'd found questionable but followed through on the civilian leadership's declarations of war. She'd even broken Starfleet tradition and initiated hostilities when ordered to.
The sitting President had already announced he wouldn't run for re-election. He'd found Federation politics to mired in the mud for his Vulcan philosophies. The Federation Council was the most hawkish Council assemblage since the aftermath of the First Klingon War. This Federation Council wanted to shape interstellar politics rather than react to outside pressures. They wanted to apply the pressure to achieve their political aims. Starfleet was considered an extension of their activist agenda. Akaar and Jellico were traditionalists. Clancy was a revisionist who'd steered Starfleet policies that were unpopular with the liberals but focused on defense of the Federation member worlds at the expense of all other obligations.
Bajor's growing independence irritated many of these peers within the Federation Council. The Council's advisory role to the President was pushing for a withdrawal from the Gamma Quadrant, ending Commodore Saavik's mission there. Deep Space Nine would be surrendered wholly to the Militia. The Bajoran Republic and Cardassian Union would be rendered a buffer zone between a Dominion advance and the Federation. Some policy makers even recommended mining the Bajoran and Cardassian borders to isolate them from Federation trade. Veteran policy wonks kept the isolationist impulses at bay but that merely channeled the aggression towards perceived threats from other parties.
Extremist groups were arising within Federation society as well as a rapid growth in the criminal elements underpinning Federation economics. Starfleet was being called upon to quell insurrectionist groups on candidate worlds. Akaar resisted as effectively as he could without actually disobeying direct orders. The Federation Council hadn't taken the Cardassian and Bajorans' resistance well. What had been promised as easy victories had ended in bloodied stalemates and even defections among legendary starship captains and crews. The aggressors within the Federation Council wanted vindication.
Astris and Kira fed Ghemor the data. As a former Obsidian Order operative, she knew how to interpret it. The Federation had refused diplomatic overtures from the Ascendancy and wouldn't even recognize them as an interstellar nation. Growing up amid the Border wars, Ghemor had little use for the Federation. She'd faced her demons regarding Kira Nerys and the Bajorans. The Federation had chosen her response to them of their own accord. Most of Outbound Ventures' contracts came from Starfleet in one capacity or another. Yet they were independent from the Federation. They walked their own path and if Starfleet followed them, then they worked together. Ghemor wondered how Macen would choose when given the price for her life and the lives of the others.
"Elias," Ro nodded his way as she stood at ease before him.
"Let's clear the record and clearly define my objections to this line of inquiry," Vaughn said sternly.
"It wasn't my choice either. But I was selected over you to run point on this to spare you from having to do it," Ro told him, "As a part of the condition of my running the inquiry, I have to assume guilt."
"Then why did you come here rather than go to Serenity first?" Vaughn asked.
"Because you've known him the longest of anyone outside of a fellow El-Aurian. And Guinan politely told me to 'go to hell'," Ro answered, "We both acknowledge how fast and loose Brin played with Starfleet regs with the Maquis. The Dominion War was even more of the same. Since going independent, he ignores the letter of the law while apparently keeping its spirit."
"You really believe Brin Macen is setting up a private fleet to act against the Federation?" Vaughn scoffed.
"There are those that do. They garnered enough attention to demand this inquiry," Ro told him, "Those voices are getting louder and gaining traction in the halls of power. I have better things to do than crucify a friend. But in order to spare him ongoing disrepute, I have to prove beyond a shadow of a doubt that Macen is still loyal to the Federation."
"And I'm a character witness?" Vaughn asked.
"You've sworn an oath to Starfleet to defend the Federation Charter," Ro replied, "That means you'll answer honestly or face repercussions should the truth come out that you lied."
"Are you listening to yourself?' Vaughn wondered.
"Elias, just answer the question. Is Brin Macen still loyal to the Federation?" Ro asked bluntly.
"The man that I know and have been friends with for eighty years is loyal to the Federation Charter," Vaughn clarified, "But maybe not so much to the current expression of the Federation."
"Care to elaborate?" Ro inquired as she finally took a seat and began jotting notes into a a secured padd.
"Brin was on Earth when the Commonwealth of Worlds was formally established. He was in the Alpha Quadrant when the Commonwealth became the Federation. The Charter was published on every Federation ratifying world and dozens of candidate worlds. The Charter was what brought him and Guinan to lead their group of El-Aurian refugees to Federation space. Brin Macen swore an oath to defend the charter in 2303 when he applied to Officer's Candidate School and was sworn in as a Starfleet Archaeology and Anthropology Officer. He swore even more complicit oaths upon joining Starfleet Intelligence. You personally know which ones I'm speaking of," Vaughn related to her, "As you know, political eras come and go and go and administrations rise and fall. But the Federation Charter has been the bedrock of the Federation during every period. Brin saw it differently in 2369 when the Demilitarized Zone was established. He felt the social contract between the Federation and its citizens had been broken. This made him join the Maquis. Nechayev learned, through me, of Brin's intentions and scrambled to create the black books project that she got Admiral Elijah Waters to come out of retirement to oversee."
"He mentioned that rationale to me several times but I always thought his connection to the settlers was his driving motive," Ro told him.
"And that connection is what made him see the Charter as being violated by the Federation. So, in order to preserve the Charter, he joined the Maquis," Vaughn carefully explained to her, "Nechayev simply used the situation to her advantage in a way where she didn't have to compromise a valued agent."
"They same way she covered for Mackenzie Calhoun's personal vendettas during his tenure with Starfleet Intelligence," Ro understood now.
"In a way, she was protecting you as well," Vaughn explained further, "The rehabilitation offer you received was due in part to your methodology and willingness to deal with imminent threats against the Federation as well as your service in the Dominion War."
"Because I ran my cell as a military campaign rather than a terror campaign," Ro had heard the speech.
"You actually turned on your fellow Maquis cells when they became too extremist for your tastes," Vaughn reminded her, "You warned Sisko of Eddington's plans to use biogenic weaponry. His dismissal of your warnings based on the source of them was counted against him by Nechayev and further enhanced your standing with her."
"Eddington's loyalists gave my cell up to Starfleet while we were between bases," Ro recalled dismally, "I was barely able to escape capture with Thool and Hendryks by my side still."
"After the Dominion purge of the Maquis, you reported to Bajor and negotiated your after war surrender to Starfleet. Your services earned your cell their freedom. Even ex-cell members that had turned to Eddington like Aric Tulley," Vaughn recounted, "This all comes back to the Federation Charter. You're the same as Macen. You uphold the Charter without upholding its current expression in the political body."
"So, essentially your statement is that Macen upholds the Federation Charter's letter and spirit as originally written and ratified regardless of how the current body politic interprets it?" Ro asked.
"In a nutshell," Vaughn told her.
"The Maquis experience and his going against Federation and Starfleet policy to support the Bajoran Republic during the war indicates Brin is willing to fight Starfleet and the Federation if he views them as breaking the Federation Charter," Ro summarized.
"Which the Federation Council and the courts upheld that the declarations of war were, in fact, illegal under Charter terms," Vaughn offered an important caveat.
"Still, they're dangerous precedents in the eyes of Starfleet Command," Ro warned Vaughn, "And his open defiance of Starfleet regulations ending in his resignation puts certain admirals off."
"You're talking about Kirsten Clancy and her allies," Vaughn said with distaste.
"Clancy survived, through technicalities, inquiries into her decision making and compromised command ethos. The charges of 'Officer unbecoming' were the worst Admiral T'Lara would allow the prosecution to pursue. The Federation Council views Clancy as the heir apparent after Jellico retires," Ro told him, "And the Council is pressuring the sitting President to pre-determine Jellico's tenure as Fleet Commander."
"The recordings of her urging Solarian Security Systems into goading Outbound Ventures into attacking them to take over the SID contracts was pretty damning. Why wouldn't T'Lara allow them into evidence?" Vaughn asked.
"JAG was under presidential orders to drop the case. A Freedom of Information request could unseal the court-martial and paint a Fleet Admiral in an unfavorable light when Starfleet's reputation had just taken a major hit because of the internment camps Sok set up," Ro told him, "Clancy's minor demotion and removal as Fleet Admiral was deemed punishment enough. But it also sets her up for promotion back into the role."
"And Clancy hates the SID. It only came about because Nechayev, Forger, and Johnson went before the Federation Council Starfleet Oversight Committee and plead their case. The Council took it up and they held a strategy session with the admirals briefing the President. Clancy was overruled," Vaughn recalled, "You think this inquiry is paving the way for her to restrict contracting irregular forces."
"Or to change the contracts over to her preferred contracting partners," Ro admitted, "Your case for exonerating Brin can be spun into a weaponized testimony against him."
"I don't see how outside of the Maquis issue," Vaughn frowned.
"The first mandate of any institution is to insure its own survival. Our institutions safeguarding the Federation Charter interpret it as often times as enforce it. And political headwinds and interpretations change over time," Ro reminded him of his statements, "You've pictured a man willing to go against the institutions in favor of a personal interpretation of the Charter they're charged with protecting and enforcing. Brin's mentality has already pitted him against Starfleet on more than one occasion. Nechayev's foresight saved him the first time. Public opinion and court decisions have since. But the judiciary's interpretations evolve over time as well as legal theory changes. Starfleet is looking for an agent that will back them and prioritize their needs."
"The argument could be made that's what Outbound Ventures has always been doing," Vaughn pointed out.
"That argument will eventually be lost," Ro said grimly, "Eventually Starfleet's current agenda will take precedence over traditional role play. Forger can salvage the SID contracts with Outbound Ventures but Macen and Rockford may be the sacrifice made to do so."
"I thought Celeste had been left out of your mandate," Vaughn said tersely.
"She has been for now. But she's his equal partner in the business and she's a member of his investigative team. He can't be assembling secret forces without her direct knowledge and participation," Ro sighed, "Eventually the inquiry will include her."
"Is this criminal probe?" Vaughn began to worry.
"Nothing so formal," Ro said with a measure of relief, "But it is an investigation into the breadth of Macen and Rockford's business dealings. Outbound Ventures contracts for a lot of clandestine work for Starfleet. The Rockford Detective Agencies consult with various Federation law enforcement agencies. Those concerned want to know if the corporate heads have ulterior motives or even exterior allegiances."
"We both know they've taken an outsized interest in Bajoran security," Vaughn replied.
"And in this day and age, we both know such considerations can be considered detrimental," Ro responded, "General Kira's allowance for Starfleet to maintain a presence on Deep Space Nine is contingent on you being the administrative commander. That has painted a political target on your back."
"So, I'm being investigated as well?" Vaughn asked.
"You already were," Ro admitted, "I can't provide details but Starfleet Security and Internal Affairs opened an informal inquiry into your maneuvering to assume command of the station and transferring Lavelle to another command just hours before he was assassinated. You were cleared of any and all suspicion in involvement in his death. But the Militia's stated contingency on maintaining an allied command aboard Deep Space Nine and your actions of relieving Lavelle of his command to defend Bajoran interests during the war has heightened interest into your command decisions."
"I've given ninety years of my life to Starfleet's service," Vaughn grated, "And I've never faced a charge or inquiry into impropriety."
"And the Federation never ejected a member world until Bajor objected to declaring war on the Cardassians," Ro reminded him, "Nor had they ever declared war on the ejected world until recently."
"I don't think I recognize Starfleet or the Federation anymore," Vaughn said despairingly.
"Starfleet began to change when the DMZ came into being," Ro commented, "Suddenly Starfleet was divided into an 'us' and 'them' mentality based on where you came down on the Maquis."
"I remember. Officers and Starfleet Security began reporting opinions to Internal Affairs. They opened their own counter-terrorism branch," Vaughn vividly recalled. "I had to counsel several people on considering private opinion as state secrets."
"We've never left that environment." Ro warned, "The junior officers that came up in that era are now commanding officers thanks to the staggering losses endured during the Dominion War."
"Michael Eddington wasn't the only Maquis collaborator in a command-level position that used their influence to steer material and personnel to the Maquis ranks," Ro confessed at long last, "Tom Riker was one of the recruits routed by a sympathizer aboard the USS Gandhi. Even Riker is unaware that his harshest critic in the command staff was capitalizing on his expressed sympathies with the Maquis cause to get him into our ranks."
"Whatever happened to them?" Vaughn was startled.
"She had a brief tenure as CO of the ship before all hands were lost to a Dominion battlecruiser," Ro told him, "Others were more fortunate."
"Nechayev never explored this line of inquiry with you?" Vaughn was surprised.
"Of course she did. I let her believe that Eddington had sole knowledge of the Starfleet insiders' identities. I nicely left out that Korepanova was the one to set up the network and manage it until her arrest by Kira and Odo," Ro explained, "She knows it's a lie but the Maquis were destroyed as movement before the war began. So they're no longer considered an internal threat by Starfleet's reckoning."
"But that kind of radicalization just doesn't go away," Vaughn warned Ro.
"Which is why I flagged the remaining officers in the surveillance system," Ro told him, "I'm not an idiot. We've scooped up half a dozen officers actively supporting new terrorist groups. The others either went to ground or double downed on their precautions."
"I haven't heard of this," Vaughn told her, "It should be in the general dispatches."
"If the court-martials had been general knowledge. When you're prosecuting command-level and flag officers, the Maquis-era military tribunals were still on the books and were easily re-activated. JAG has kept the investigations and prosecutions top secret. The convicted are sent to the maximum security wing on Jaros II," Ro explained the lack of reporting, "Officially, all of the officers were placed on medical leave."
"I'll admit some surprise that you labeled Maquis sympathizers," Vaughn confessed.
"They are actively conspiring against the Federation and its citizens as well as employing Starfleet do so," Ro told him stiffly, "Most of Korepanova's network simply resumed their careers during and following the war. With no DMZ to contest, they no longer had a divisive political issue. But, a small percentage drifted towards Cell 51's brand of extremism if not the organization itself. It seems Sorbo had certain recruitment standards after all. He and his fellow administrative heads are feeding us actionable intelligence in exchange for reductions of their sentences and negotiated entitlements during their incarcerations."
"No incidents have been broadcast in the mainstream news," Vaughn pointed out.
"Because we've headed off several attacks," Ro sighed, "The Mars Massacre energized extremist factions across the Federation. Even the average citizen has been affected, or else how do you explain Auri's election? That wasn't an outlier vote. Right-wing populism is taking direct hold of the Federation's imagination. In response, left-wing 'defenders of the liberal order' are going rogue as well. Every member world has a faction on one or more sides of the equation. Candidate worlds and protectorates have both and are joined by anti-Federation forces that are becoming active insurgencies."
"And Starfleet is worried that Brin may be one of those insurgent forces or aiding and abetting one?" Vaughn sought clarity.
"That's my brief," Ro answered.
"And what is the current political discourse and feelings towards Bajor?" Vaughn asked, "Because that will weigh heavily on any outcome you derive at."
"I'm well aware," Ro said grimly.
"Understood," Riker signed off with the Ops Duty Officer. He was outside the entrance to the offices of the Intelligence Unit. He'd visited Danan's lair and found himself denied access to any information regarding her team's current projects. But she'd warned him that would be the case. At least he'd met her team.
Sakonna and Hakatay had been cordial enough, given his mutual past as a Maquis. But they clearly weren't going to divulge any information regrading non-fleet oriented activities. Sakonna had apparently embraced Riker's seeming ignorance of her offices and her unit's existence. He could see her Vulcan mind prepping contingencies if he explored their matters further.
Riker's stop, after an uneventful inspection of Flight Operations, was Station Security. Both Gerrit and Radil had been member's of Macen's command but they remembered events differently than Riker and a selected few. Fortunately, They'd studied the revised histories and avoiding reminiscences that involved specifics served to avoid confusion. Gerrit and Radil had adapted to station life better than most. Both were combat veterans from the Bajoran Resistance and the slower pace, and Radil's motherhood, lent itself towards the stability of station life.
The Infirmary was always an interesting stop for Riker. As a sober addict, their Klingon CMO named Kort was also Radil's mate. Adding to their marriage was Doctor Hayley Galloway, who was romantically involved with both. Galloway had come to them at Kort's request from Johns Hopkins on Earth. Galloway was still linked to Johns Hopkins research divisions so she maintained several research projects at once. Kort himself was proficient physician and surgeon but he lacked the temperament to be a researcher. So, Galloway and a few aides pioneered alone while consulting to Kort's Infirmary.
Station Operations was Riker's final stop. Unsurprisingly, Zerinda was expecting him. Her engineers had spotted him moving about the station and she'd undoubtedly deduced his purpose. She was slightly apprehensive when he paid her private visit in her office.
"I came to apologize," Riker began, "You called me out on several proficiency issues and I reacted with anger and racial biases towards you. That wasn't right. My issues with individual Romulans shouldn't color my perceptions of you. My journey today has made me aware of several dozen upgrade requests made by different departments across the station and I was wondering how you plan to address them where Cardan obviously ignored them."
"I reviewed all the requests. I've authorized the reasonable ones. There are a number of requests that would require structural changes to the station itself to accommodate. Those were obviously denied. I've devised a number of work arounds on those denied requests that will accommodate the purpose for the upgrade without requiring a refit," Zerinda told him, "Since you've obviously become aware of Priyanka Amoor and her department, you can know that I denied her request on the basis that I wouldn't allow adaptations to the EPS grid to be made by outsiders. If she wants the power grid adapted to accommodate her purposes, she has to allow my engineers access to her space. I also need the specifics of her power needs to insure they can be safely met."
"I see Ms. Amoor has given you the same cold shoulder I received," Riker wore a thin smile.
"I don't need access to her work to assess her situation," Zerinda told him, "Without it, I can and will give her a blanket denial to her and whoever she reports to."
"My department oversees the well being and safety of over two thousand lives at any given moment," Zerinda reminded him, "I refuse to compromise my standards for doing so."
"And you just earned my unconditional support for your position," Riker told her.
"I've erected monitors over the EPS grid at her station junction," Zerinda told him, "And Gerrit Gren enhanced my detectors with security monitors. If Amoor should move against my injunction, I will know about it."
"You sound like you expect her to," Riker noted.
"I pulled her replicator records with Gerrit's permission. She's fabricated the junction tap components," Zerinda said dourly, "What she's awaiting is a portable data core from a source in the Federation. Security was alerted that a data core was arriving through Customs and to be cleared without inspection by CEO Kathy Tyrol. Gerrit planned to hold the core pending a decision from you on whether to clear it through Customs."
"And if I do, Amoor will go forward with a plan in place that may threaten our power grid in that section," Riker understood.
"If her personnel are even qualified to make the tap properly," Zerinda further argued, "Cardassian grids are vastly different than Federation type power systems."
"But if I impound the core, it sets me up with a direct confrontation with Tyrol," Riker further comprehended.
"Which may prove necessary to get her to understand that the unit's paranoia cannot come paramount to station safety," Zerinda insisted, "I won't allow it as Chief of Operations."
"She'll try and fire you," Riker warned her.
"Which pits them against you once again," Zerinda replied, "Then we see who the corporate owners have more faith in. A corporate bureaucrat or a trusted friend who was given direct responsibility for the station, its inhabitants, and its visitors? Outbound Ventures is not your standard latinum generating company, I've discovered. I've found that in almost every case, the cause is deemed more important than the price tag. While the corporation does generate enormous profit, it reinvests those profits in its assets, both materiel and personnel. The owners are even more quixotical since they invest most of their earnings into privately funded campaigns that Starfleet won't assign assets to or they subsidize operations for clients that can't pay market rates. If profit isn't the motive, then ideology is. Are you aware of the number of founding partners who still operate as security contracting agents?"
"I couldn't guess," Riker admitted.
"Within the Federation? None. A few mercenary corps are still led by the founder but even the bulk of mercenary corps eventually changes hands when the founder retires or dies," Zerinda pointed out, "This is true even among the Privateer Guild commands within the Star Empire. This means Macen and Rockford have an agenda outside of Outbound Ventures stated purpose. From what corporate records show of that agenda, I'm inclined to either call it a great work or utter folly."
"Why such a disparity?" Riker wondered.
"They seem to seek to maintain an activist brand of the Federation that the Federation itself as a body politic no longer seems inclined to fulfill," Zerinda told him, "And their charity towards the Bajoran Republic is unsustainable."
"What actual engineering have you done since you arrived?" Riker asked her.
"As I said upon our meeting, I assessed dozens of top priority repair needs during my brief tour of the stations outlets that I witnessed," Zerinda told him, "A review of Cardan's repair and maintenance logs tripled that number. My teams are scheduled to address these issues throughout the next three days throughout the work rotations. I'm nearing the need to sleep. So, I'll be excusing myself when the watch changes."
"How long have been awake?' Riker was suddenly concerned.
"Three standard Cardassian days that include my flight here," Zerinda admitted, "Did you have a specific request to personally file?"
"When you have time, I'd like you to personally inspect the defense grid upgrades and assess their viability and see if any of them require further modification or a re-installation," Riker told her, "But, that's for when your docket clears."
"Thank you. I've assessed your engineering staff. They are quite competent Federation and ex-Starfleet engineers. But the former Maquis and Resistance engineers have a better grasp of Cardassian technology and its limitations. Your former Starfleet personnel are too reliant on the notes taken by Master Chief Miles O'Brien and Lt. Commander Nog and their experiences with Terok Nor. Antok Nor was built to current station classification guidelines and has multiple upgrades over the Bajoran held station. O'Brien and Nog's notes and logs don't account for those variations. Whereas the practical hands on knowledge of those that fought the Cardassians in their own environment are much more adaptable to the current situations," Zerinda critiqued her staff.
"So losing Eckles, Darcy, and Thool must be a hindrance?" Riker wondered.
"Hardly. They were assigned to starship repair operations," Zerinda told him, "I consult on the drydock's staffing but ultimately, the Harbor Master makes the final decisions. The drydock falls under your authority on text but in reality, it has been operating as an independent command."
"I thought it was under Cardan's control," Riker irritated by another seemingly purposeful gap in his knowledge.
"As I stated, I consult on the drydock's material and personnel needs but it a separate division under Serenity's command structure," Zerinda told him, "The Harbor Master is instructed to file regular reports to your office. The computer states that the reports are being made an authorization for special projects given. I would investigate who has the command authority to reroute routine reports and then green light special project developments you've been kept unaware of."
"I think I'll do that," Riker told her, "Thank you for clearing the air with me. I think we've gotten off on a much better understanding of each other now."
To Zerinda, Riker's candidate list had three names. She wondered how forcefully he'd investigate because he had to know the three names were the only ones who could possibly be suspects. Administration wasn't her concern unless it interfered in her department. Riker seemed re-invested in actually commanding the station. So, that would save her time in getting authorization for necessary station adaptations should the need arise.
It seemed Riker doubted Cardan's competence in installing his outsourced weaponry and shield emitters. The man had overseen the construction of the station and was an expert in their design. But after the Federation adapted and gutted Deep Space Nine, the Cardassians had taken great steps in preventing similar stations from being modified by Federation technology. Cardan had also gone to legal and illicit arms dealers for the components and equipment he'd installed. That added countless variables into the reliability of the components themselves much less their suitability for usage. She was pleased Riker had assigned in her overseeing and inspecting the work done. The Cardassian Guard had decided to allow Serenity to keep the modules in exchange for a complete inventory of their type and origins. Afterwards, the Cardassian military would have their own conversations with suppliers that had defied explicit government decrees banning such sales be made.
"There it is," Captain Davis told Commodore Smith. The archaeologist was out of uniform and in field attire. With him, from the accompanying Tigerlilja, was Doctor Jones in nearly identical garb, "We started grabbing sensor readings as we entered the system. They're pre-warp but they've mastered fusion technology. The universal translator chewed up their broadcasts and rendered translations. Modulating her shield harmonics and using reverse sensor implanted readings should keep us undetected. We've tapped into several learning channels. There's an identical ziggurat formation to the ones you explored on different worlds. The locals avoid the area. Its local history is tied to a period of slavery and native expeditions have never returned from the site. So, they simply quarantined it."
"It's best of Jones and I go down alone. If the locals should spot us, it won't compromise the crew that way. We also stand the best chance of circumventing whatever active defense measures still guard the site," Smith told the Neverwhere's captain.
"I know you'll just make it an order if I argue with you," Davis sighed, "But we're keeping a sensor lock on your comm badges. Any hint of a threat and we'll beam you back aboard."
"Captain, we've been tracked," the XO, Tao Yashida, told her, "An Orion ship from the look of her. A scout rather than a raider."
"It seems Doctor Schneider and Doctor Chopra earned more attention than we'd have liked," Jones grumbled.
"Macen warned us the Orions were hunting for us," Smith complained, "I wonder how little it took for Schneider to sell us out?"
"We left a clear warp trail that's fresh enough to follow," Davis reminded him, "And our rendezvous with Captain Watts took time out of our schedule."
"The Orions aren't charging into the system," Yashida pointed out, "They're threading their way through like we did to avoid detection from the native's satellites."
"That buys us time to inspect the site alone," Smith gambled.
"I don't detect any power signatures," Jones informed Smith has she took her initial readings, "Whatever defenses this site has, they're purely mechanical."
"And effective, given the locals' history with them," Smith studied the walls of the ancient city, "The walls weren't torn down."
"If the population was brought here, they managed to survive the slavers' withdrawal and thrive in this environment," Jones pointed out another key difference.
"They managed to colonize without a history of planet shattering warfare. That implies social cohesiveness," Smith told her, "A cohesiveness that persisted despite their vast geological distances."
"The fact that none of them settled in an equatorial range yet both the northern and southern hemispheres of every continent are developed," Jones caught on, "So they expected to reunite someday."
"And having a constant reminder of a mutual, external foe kept them cohesive even after presumable centuries of relative isolation before they reconnected," Smith added, "The site's defenses might not have been made by the slavers. It's more than possible the inhabitants erected their own traps to dissuade any individual party from returning to the site and potentially gaining an advantage over the others."
"Which would only work if the original architects of the defenses were killed after completing their task so no record would remain of what they'd built and how to defeat the defenses," Jones concluded.
"The resultant society has the capacity to place monitoring satellites throughout the system but little interest in space flight it seems. It's as though they don't wish to attract interstellar attention," Smith mused.
"If they've mastered fusion technology and littered their system with detection devices, what kind of defenses do you imagine they've prepared for unwelcome visitors?" Jones asked.
"Let's hope we don't find out," Smith replied.
"Well, they certainly parked themselves into a leisurely orbital insertion," Tabitha Washington, Watts' XO, stated with some incredulity.
"Patience, Tabs. They'll make their intention clear enough sooner than later," Watts replied.
Washington didn't want to dispute the Aussie CO but the Orions had had hours to announce their intentions. Or even send a simple greeting. Smith and Jones had successfully penetrated several layers of protective devices erected to keep people from penetrating the ziggurat. They'd carefully disabled then re-enabled the protective features.
A junior officer flagged Washington's attention and she reported to Watts, "They beamed someone to the surface. The same location Smith and Jones are exploring."
"Awfully small raiding party, wouldn't you say?" Watts asked, "Something larger is at play here. The Syndicate has rerouted every House raider and battlecruiser to chasing down remnants of the technology that we're pursing. Yet, they deploy a single scout to to follow us? Either they're overconfident, have a better hand than we know about, or something has distracted the focus of the pirate forces. Or it could be all of the above. We aren't within rapid response range of any comm buoys So it'll take hours to days to get news out of Raas."
"Or to get word out that we need help," Washington complained.
"Raise Captain Davis. We need a plan in case the Orions get hostile," Watts decided.
Smith and Jones penetrated the heart of the ziggurat's underground antechamber. After their arrival and setting up several beacons, a transporter halo formed and Doctor Taryn Argus materialized. She seemed particularly pleased with her waiting for them to arrive.
"Thank you for getting this far. It was a lot easier to simply track your comm badges than try and navigate this structure on my own," Argus laughed, "Now, what have you found me?"
"Who said anything about cooperation?" Jones huffed her indignation.
"Easy, kid. Argus is El-Aurian and over four hundred years old and traveled throughout the Alpha, Beta, and Delta Quadrants. She may know something about who built this site," Smith advised his protege.
"Indeed I do," Argus gloated, "This was built by the Skaarian Empire. Or didn't Macen tell you?"
"I've never heard of the Skaarian Empire," Jones remained unconvinced.
"Not surprising. They were an Iconian slave race until the Iconian Empire began to collapse. The Skaarians stole the gateway technology and decided that turnabout was fair play and began to enslaving less developed races and scattering them throughout the quadrants. My people banded together with the Metrons and a few others and ended their threat. But we never learned where they derived from. No one ever thought to look as far away as the Gamma Quadrant," Argus told them, "Apparently when they went into retreat, they fully retreated back to their home world and took all traces of how to find them with them."
"But you're here anyway," Smith pointed out.
"Doctor Schneider wasn't persuaded to reveal what you'd discovered at her find, nor was Doctor Chopra. But your starships led a merry trail here. So, obviously the Skaarians haven't covered their tracks nearly as completely as they'd thought," Argus explained, "We can either continue to follow you around like stalking horses, or you can accept my help and we can solve this puzzle together."
"You can plainly see there's no technology to plunder here," Smith countered.
"But you've obviously developed a translation matrix for the Skaarian language. Which means you can deduce the next stop in the trail to their world. Working together avoids a conflict when we find the Skaarians or what's left of them," Argus offered,
"Macen warned about you and I saw you working for the Cardassians on behalf of Bajoran religious extremists," Smith growled.
"Yet, he didn't tell you about the Skaarians or our people's past with them," Argus said gleefully, "So very Brin of him. I can open a door into your research you never knew was there. And don't concern yourself about my employers' ambitions to profit from whatever discoveries we make. What do you think Outbound Ventures does with yours? They sell the facts regarding your finds to Admiral Picard's trust at the Archaeology Guild. All except what you've uncovered about so-called religious extremists from Bajor. Those stay secrets shared only with the Bajoran government and the Vedek Assembly. Why do you suppose that is?"
"Let's stay on topic," Jones demanded, "You plan on selling any recovered technology on the black market to the highest bidders. Technology that's been proven to be harmful on a galactic scale."
"I'm not selling anything," Argus clarified, "I've merely been contracted to find what's out there if there's anything to be had. Once I've collected my data and hand it over, it's up to the Orions to decide what they'll do with it. If there's anything they can do. You don't honestly expect to meet living Skaarians do you? If they still retained gateway tech and were a viable culture, they'd have been a resurgent presence by now. Instead, they've gone silent for nearly five thousand years. I'd say their culture passed its expiration date."
"You need us," Smith deduced, "Neither Schneider nor Chondra have the translation matrix. You need us to translate the Skaarian messages left behind. I doubt the Orions are offering you much assistance in your mission."
"If I had the time, I'd work it out," Argus boldly declared, "But you have a head start and that puts me on a clock. Look, I won't block your access to the data when it's recovered if you don't block mine. Then a new race to see who can reconstruct the technology begins. All's fair at that point."
"And if we find the Skaarians and there's still no trace of any gateway tech?" Smith asked.
"Then my employers come up empty," Argus shrugged, "And I sell my findings from the trip to the Guild or Daystrom."
"You can't seriously be considering this," Jones objected to Smith's mulling it over.
"Kid, she made a point. These Skaarians vanished. Pretty intentionally. If we find them, I doubt we'll find an extant culture. Like she said, the temptation to try and rebuild what they briefly had after overthrowing the Iconians would've seduced at least some of them. Yet, we've never heard of them until today. Argus' mercenary reputation proceeds her. But she's also done some incredible recovery work along the way. She answers to our questions and we hold the key to answering hers," Smith explained his rationale.
"But we can't trust her ride to simply let us walk away with the information while they want an exclusive to it," Jones argued.
"She makes a fine point," Smith told Argus, "You dismiss the scoutship back to Waypoint Station and ride with us. We'll drop you at the station so you can catch a ride back to Orion. We'll escort your ship through the Bajor Sector so they don't detain it and we all go our separate ways in the Kalandra Sector under Federation jurisdiction."
Argus frowned, "The Orions know my reputation as well. They may insist on a minder to watch over me to secure my intentions to hand over the data."
"No Orions. Just you," Smith told her.
"They won't go for that," Argus promised him, "I barely managed to get permission to meet with you by myself. My escort will be arriving any minute now."
As predicted, a transporter halo came to being and deposited an Orion female pirate. Argus sighed, "Doctors Idaho Smith and Cairo Jones, meet Paka. Paka, meet my opposite numbers."
"Did they strike the bargain you predicted they would?" Paka slid her shoulder bag to the ground.
"It seems you anticipated my offer," Smith frowned.
"The scoutship is leaving the system and returning to a neutral system unheld by either Ascendant or Bajorans near the Wormhole terminus. They'll detect our approach and retrieve Paka and I at that time. Failure to hand us over will result in Gomer retaliating against Outbound Ventures ships on assignment," Argus told them, "And now you're thinking about just leaving us here. Except, we brought an old fashioned radio beacon that will alert the inhabitants to our presence here. Who knows what kind of deal can be made if we offer them advanced technology in exchange for building a subspace transceiver to message our ship? This could become a Syndicate market place."
"Blackmail wasn't listed as one of your frequent crimes," Smith grated.
"I adapt to the situation," Argus shrugged, "You were career Starfleet. You're no longer bound by oath to the Prime Directive but as a Federation citizen, you won't violate it either by leaving us here, unmonitored."
"It seems we're partners then," Smith acknowledged, "First, you explain who the Skaarians were and why they aren't a threat anymore."
"To demonstrate my good faith, I'll share the history that even my people in the Federation won't tell you," Argus offered, "The Iconians were a scourge. But they were largely content to merely raid worlds. Some worlds, like the Skaarians', they enslaved. But the Iconians tried to build an empire out of their terror network. And it worked for a time. Then enough worlds banded together or simply resisted while an alliance formed and the Iconians retreated. They took to in-fighting and their influence waned even more. Finally, their domestic slaves, mostly Skaarians revolted and used gateway technology to return to their home planets. Unlike the others, the Skaarians took enough knowledge with them to build their own gateways."
"Learning from their former masters, they stayed away from advanced worlds and extracted slaves from across undeveloped planets and spread them across the quadrants to harvest resources they wanted without actual toiling," Argus continued, "But, they made a mistake in capturing citizens from two advancing planets to become a technical labor force. Those worlds issued distress calls which were answered by more advanced races who'd been tracking the Skaarians progress and march across the Alpha, Beta, and Delta Quadrants. They formed a temporary alliance of interested parties to expel the Skaarians from their claimed worlds. Their retreat was quick and decisive. They left no traces of where they'd gone or where they originally came from. With the threat decimated, the alliance of interests broke apart before any attempt was ever made to relocate the Skaarians' slaves back to their original worlds."
"So when the Bajorans sent word to the Federation that humans had been found living on Raas for thousands of years, you took a guess on how they originally got there," Jones knew with certainty, "And you sold that idea to the Syndicate."
"When Schneider and Chopra compared notes over coffee and discovered they'd made the same discoveries light years apart, they shopped the coordinates around. You were the only takers thanks to political tensions rising with the Bajoran Republic. But it fit the pattern from the old Skaarian sites," Argus told them, "Syndicate eyes in the Bajor Sector noted your particular starships making passage to the Gamma Quadrant and I doubted you were both going to Raas. So, I gambled at least one of you was following up on Schneider and Chopra's finds. Lucky me, I got both of you."
"Decide whether or not you'll uphold your sacred 'Prime Directive'," Paka sneered.
"You know we won't leave you here," Smith angrily replied, "You're entire gambit was based on catching up with us and presenting us with this ultimatum."
"Orion ships aren't equipped with Doctor Argus' needs," Paka said indifferently, "Your ships, however, are tailored for this type of exercise."
"I've shared all I feel inclined to for now," Argus told them, "Maybe I'll feel more inclined to share more after you translate the script littering this chamber. Obviously, it held a gateway at one point."
The semicircular mount ascending from the stone floor was testament enough. Neither Smith nor Jones debated the obvious. They used the tricorders to scan the glyphs and script labeling different sections of the chamber. An oddly mapped out star chart was also recorded. They ran scans in different spectrums searching for differing clues across the entire room before signaling the Neverwhere and asking that every person present be beamed aboard. Davis balked at bringing an Orion aboard but Smith overrode her. It was a rare occurrence when he pulled rank on her concerning shipboard concerns.
"This had better be good," Davis announced as she entered the transporter room. Two Security officers had their hands on their sidearms while Paka obstinately refused to disarm.
"Paka isn't here to sabotage your precious ship, Captain," Argus argued, "She's here to kill me if I betray my contract with the Syndicate."
"Then you should have no trouble bunking together," Davis told them, "Since we're carrying an extended science team we have no VIP quarters. But I have a junior officers' berth available. Your weapon will be returned to you when you reach your quarters. It only be available to you in them."
Paka slowly handed over her disruptor and Davis wore a grim smile, "I'm certain that's only the most visible piece of your arsenal. Normally, I'd have you scanned and searched but I've been told by Commodore Smith to give you allowances. You'll be taken to your quarters to drop off your personal effects and then you'll be brought to the A&A theater where Doctors Smith and Jones are reviewing their scans of the site. You're invited to join them there without any detours."
"We'll cooperate fully," Argus promised.
Davis knew Smith had been blackmailed with a violation of the Prime Directive to grant Argus and Paka a ride aboard her command. But it seemed Argus was fully briefed on the nature of the ship's complement and its specific type of mission. She'd also known which ships Smith and Jones were aboard. Which had flushed Argus out of hiding when she learned they'd entered the Gamma Quadrant on the eve of Schneider and Chondra advertising their discovery for further research, in exchange for a hefty finder's fee.
The starship captain knew Serenity was an open port on behalf of Barrinor and Odin. But that meant that invasive eyes were always aboard. They already had a very visible CIB agent aboard. How many other spies for nameless entities came aboard every day?
Korepanova and Liu reported to Riker's office at the watch change. He looked disappointed, "I've had an extended conversation with the Harbor Master. It seems all of these mysterious refit and upgrade orders for starships came from my office. Yet, I was blithely unaware of them. Care to explain?"
"You're referring to the Razor's Edge and the Solstice, specifically?" Korepanova asked very precisely.
"Are there others I should be aware of?" Riker asked rather relunctantly.
"Most of the Harbor Master's reports and requests are routine," Liu told him, "They fall under my brief or Korepanova's. The specific ship's she named were special request projects outside of the station or corporate budget."
"Someone paid for them." Riker snorted.
"Commander Macen and Detective Rockford personally funded those projects," Liu told him, "They were earmarked for 'Special Projects' outside of normal corporate operations."
"Neela obviously works outside the company," Riker stiffly replied, "But Sakonna's takeover of most of my Gamma Watch department heads has been orchestrated for months building up to Noble's suddenly going AWOL."
"The change was supposed to occur while Noble was present to explain the circumstances to you. Instead, she felt compelled to inject herself into the Raas situation," Korepanova said very carefully, "Caity Floss has prepared a candidate list for interviews and promotions."
"This isn't about a damn list. This about two of my most senior officers conspiring to keep me from knowing about activities centered on this station without my express knowledge. You two seem to be in the middle of everything yet you kept me in the dark. You'd better have a damnably good explanation or, I don't care who is protecting you, you'll be out of Ops."
"Sakonna came to us requesting the use of two starships and crews for each. The Solstice was off of the fleet registry and listed as a dual secondary command of both Chris Noble and Commander Macen. Macen agreed to transfer the ship into Sakonna's service and to retain the Eclipse for undercover work. Noble and her crew volunteered for the assignment when Sakonna offered it to them. Looking into the Coyote-class scouts was an easy task and procuring one was simple enough. Locarno assumed personal command of the Nova despite its not being registered as a fleet asset. That was done openly. Locarno made his request to take a more administrative role with Flight Operations and you signed off on it personally. Noble and her crew all petitioned for transfers out of fleet responsibilities, citing corporate opportunities in similar fields. You signed off on those transfers as well. We didn't hide much of anything other than funding sources. Everything else crossed your desk and was thumbprint authorized by yourself," Korepanova told him very precisely, "It just so happened that routine station paperwork wasn't your priority, so you hardly read the requests being made of you. That's how Gerrit got Cardan's security detail authorized without you noticing."
"Those days are over," Riker told them, "Your briefs have been updated. You'll find that any and all station operations that formerly overlapped Ops on are now revoked from your authority. You're the fleet operations managers. That's all you'll be overseeing. Sakonna can operate without you. If I've found you're supporting her section using station or fleet resources, I'll have you dismissed. You can go work for Sakonna full time at that point. I won't care."
"It's good to have you back, Captain," Korepanova manged a wry smile.
"It seems Noble's insubordination served some good after all," Liu mentioned.
"If I ever start to wander off the reservation again, bring it up. I won't take your heads off. I'm angrier that you felt compelled to take on my duties for me rather than tell me I was remiss," Riker confessed.
"You've been distracted since your nephew died. But it began when your twin stepped down from command of the Titan," Korepanova shared with him, "You overcompensated with the fleet's operations and neglected station duties. It was almost like you were chasing a ghost of Will Riker's standing down and making certain you weren't doing the same. Yet, in a sense, you did."
"Next time, just tell me. Don't coddle me. I was long overdue for a reality check. The saddest part is Cardan paid the price for mine," Riker said with deep regret.
"Cardan chose to defy the Cardassians rather than tell you the legal limits of how far the station could be upgraded," Liu told him, "He chose to break his people's law and his oath to it."
"It's nice of you to say but I should've done my research into the contracts that were signed when the station was under construction. I never should have placed him in a compromising situation. That blame falls squarely on me. Cardan's choices were limited to a binary option by me. That's why he tried to hide the work. I thought it was a security precaution. I hide no idea he was hiding it from Delain and Macen," Riker said sadly, "But, you're both off duty. If you run into Lees, tell her I'll be doing some catch up work here. I'll probably stay late."
"As you're aware, we're both on call all hours of the day. If the Duty Officer flags something, call us back in," Liu reminded him.
"I will," Riker assured them. After they departed, he began his review of department activities by examining their official reports and cross-referencing station and fleet expenditures. He had a corporate accounting program running down expenditures. One of the corporate accountants on the Gamma Watch was also involved, looking for irregularities. Riker had told Tyrol he was looking for unaccounted for expenditures siphoning station and fleet funds.
He'd sensed the pair had told him their version of the truth. But Sakonna's section had to be paid from somewhere. They couldn't openly advertise to Starfleet reviewing the books that they were running a covert ops section. But Sakonna and Hakatay had candidly admitted that they were running off the books operations for the corporate interests. Which meant they'd been told to give him that knowledge should he come asking. Korepanova and Liu had supplied strategic operations planning and logistical support to the Maquis then covert operatives during the Dominion war in plain sight. But their operations had seemed legitimate. They'd undoubtedly created another false front for Sakonna to operate from behind.
He'd been honest enough with them. Their past complicity with Sakonna was the past. But any future ventures would cost them their positions. What he immediately found was that the budgets involved in both station operations and the fleet operations were each the size of a modest planetary budget. Being raised in the cashless Federation, Riker had learned capitalist economics during the Dominion War through first hand experience. He'd theoretically known that Starfleet was tapping huge amounts of hard currency reserves to pay SID retainers and contracts but the sums were staggering.
It was then that he discovered that he was paid more on a monthly stipend than Macen and Rockford received on a monthly basis. Yet they were entitled to a composite fifteen percent of the profits. Which given any particular month meant they a could afford to retire in luxury. Yet the bulk of their owed interest in the company went to subsidizing unspecified operations. Following that trail, the accountant ran into a lockout above his pay grade. Riker gained limited access to past expenditures and saw how Macen and Rockford had funded Outbound Ventures 'operations out of their own pockets. That process was ongoing.
Everything at that point was hidden behind file code names. The one funding Neela and her team was a dead giveaway. The rest were ongoing or closed operations. A percentage of the money was in a replenishing trust designed to maintain operations for a limited time during a business downturn when profits were minimized or nonexistent.
Riker was impressed by the scope of the secret project. Korepanova and Liu had hidden the funding as an investment portfolio. Macen and Rockford's contributions made the trust seem profitable at first glance. Yet, none of the project operations yielded a profit. But they each connected to a law enforcement agency within and without the Federation. Those contacts extended even within the Romulan Star Empire and Cardassian Union. Riker connected the raw data points drew a conclusion.
Macen and Rockford were using the ex-Maquis as operatives infiltrating and moving within criminal and extremist circles and then using them as informants to harbor arrests of those same circles. Riker had to admire the plan. He also had to question how Macen had motivated Sakonna's operatives to undertake such work. These were men and women that had acted as career criminals since their releases from Federation penal colonies and Cardassian labor camps following the Dominion War. It was hard to imagine them supporting a massive law and order campaign without some overarching motivation.
They'd volunteered and risked their lives to resist Cardassian occupation of their colony worlds. The fact that the Federation had deemed them criminal terrorists just added to their resentment over the administrative change and territorial concessions decided thousands of light years from their home planets. After being besieged by Cardassian Guard forces for fifty-years. they'd expected more from the Federation. Their collective career decisions following their captivity adequately displayed their disregard for the Federation's norms of law and order.
Yet Riker tracked contact information leading to agencies encompassing hundreds of worlds. The Federation was merely one recipient of assistance. But all roads led back to Serenity and Odin. Riker reached out to Odin's colonial administration and found that Outbound Ventures had sponsored dozens of applications to join the colony and had financed purchases of homes and invested in establishing local businesses.
It all made sense to Riker now. These were people without a home. Macen and Rockford had offered them one. It was, in old terms, a "work equity" program. In exchange for services rendered, the Maquis would acquire citizenship in a non-Federation world as well as homes and jobs to inherit. Riker couldn't access the current and previous target lists but past news media feeds showed arrests coinciding with the conclusion dates of special projects. They were as wide-ranging as their locations.
It was a game of four dimensional chess. The fourth dimension being time. Operatives were placed inside of varying groups to be activated in due course to betray that groups intimate secrets. Riker had seen dozens of Maquis come and go from the station. Some never returned. Others maintained quarters on Serenity and came and went. He suspected they were the ones that enjoyed the work and carried on on a continuing basis. The registration of new colonists on Odin always increased after a special project completed. Riker had to believe it was the operatives cashing in their work equity for their new lives on Odin.
"I brought you dinner," Danan said as she entered his office, "You're still at it a lot longer than I'd thought you'd be. You seemed pretty grounded in the details you'd missed over the last year on your informal inspection tour."
"Zerinda steered me towards two avenues of investigation. One was personal and the other is professional," Riker told her as she sat the takeout carrier on his desk apart from his monitor.
"Care to elaborate?" she asked as she helped herself to a share of the portions on her own plate and sat down in a chair.
"I think I figured out what Sakonna is up to. If I'm right, the plan is pure genius. But it isn't sustainable. Eventually all the Maquis operatives will be resettled to Odin and there won't be any new agents," Riker began doling out his own food.
"And the other?" Danan had told him before she was unaware of what Sakonna's department was ultimately up to. She'd merely requested quarters and offices aboard the station. But Danan's own observance had shown that Sakonna's operatives were pulling strings from across the corporation down to Odin's planetary administration.
"Priyanka Amoor and her Intelligence Unit have been making power and structural adaptations to suit their unspecified needs. Zerinda flatly denied them all. Her professional opinion is that Amoor's requests can't be safely met by the station's EPS grid. She and Gerrit are collaborating to monitor of Amoor's people attempt to undertake their own modification efforts," Riker told her, "Korepanova and Liu depend on Amoor's unit for actionable intelligence concerning fleet movements. But Amoor has requested an independent data processing core and the EPS taps to power it and run an independent computer network within Serenity."
"Cardan set them up with a Virtual Private Network within the computer core., Only specified people with certain access can even tap into that portion of the station''s core. It's a standard pro-active for Starfleet Intelligence, the Cardassian Guard, and Bajoran Intelligence. The Romulan Imperial Forces are the only major power that maintain separate computer cores for Fleet functions and Tal Shiar functions," Danan recalled, "Why would Amoor demand we break a familiar protocol?"
"Despite Cardan and Zerinda's warnings, Amoor went ahead with her discretionary budget and purchased a computer core. She then approached Gerrit and requested that it bypass Customs. She doesn't want it inspected," Riker added fuel to the matter's fire, "Zerinda and Gerrit reported matter to me. I've ordered Customs to hold the core and for it to be thoroughly inspected for threats against the station."
"Which means setting up an independent power source and closed network to activate the core and inspect its preset operations system," Danan understood, "Customs isn't properly equipped for that."
"Zerinda is changing that. She'll manage the inspection herself," Riker told her.
"I see you and she have come to good terms," Danan chuckled.
"She bluntly as ever told me her priorities and I happen to appreciate them. We reached a mutual understanding. I also got the sense from her that she'll be enforcing the Cardassian Guard's restrictions on the use of this station," Riker grinned, "It was unspoken but she feels a certain obligation to the Cardassians for shielding her for the past ten years. I gave her a personal project of inspecting all of Cardan's defensive upgrades and determining of they're safe and/or functional."
"You handed her an open invitation to strip everything under that pretext," Danan warned him.
"Delain said the Guard an authorized the upgrades in exchange for details regarding them. This gives Zerinda an opportunity to detail the changes and ascertain they're functionality not only for us but for the Cardassian Guard," Riker shrugged, "Zerinda told me that the modern variants of the Nor-class stations are designed to prevent Deep Space Nine styled defensive upgrades. The Cardassians want to be the sole supplier of weapons and shield emitter upgrades."
"So, we could've avoided Cardan's arrest if we simply asked the Cardies for the parts?" Danan asked dismally.
"Apparently it would involve an inspection tour and several bureaucratic hiccups to determine the necessity of the upgrades, but the contract the station was built under had provisional clauses for future defensive upgrades should the station face repeated threats beyond it capacity to defend itself."
"A qualifier Cardan seemed to agree with," Danan remarked, "Why didn't he simply jump through the proper hoops?"
"The process, as laid out, can take years before installation ever begins. Cardan obviously felt we didn't have that much time considering the threats we've actively faced despite our location in a guaranteed neutral system," Riker told her, "Solarian, DeVos, and the Orion Syndicate have all defied Barrinor's neutrality to strike at us."
"The Orions escaped accountability in that," Danan groused, "They transferred all of their economic assets off of Barrinor so there was nothing to seize and they're already pariahs across the quadrants."
"Even our assisting Gomer back into control of the Syndicate didn't reset Bajoran and Orion relations. Their de facto war is still in effect. Which begs the question, if the Militia is aware of the true nature of the Syndicate's presence on Waypoint Station, why do they allow it to remain there?" Riker asked.
"Maybe because the Orions sent dozens of ships through the Wormhole before hostilities were declared and the border closed. The Syndicate will still get aligned smugglers and traders through the border by registering in independent worlds. So, the question remains, how best do you track them?" Danan assessed, "You keep their forward operating post under observation."
"My thoughts exactly," Riker admitted, "If Gomer and Miranda Wells have set up shops on Waypoint and presumably Bajor, what's to keep them off of our station?"
"Miranda Wells' operation on the station was shut down and Annabeth Frinks took over Quark's. You think they simply changed operators?" Danan asked.
"I have to ask myself why Priyanka Amoor is so paranoid that she needs a separate computer core safeguarded from the station's main core despite the precautions that have been taken to give her and her unit complete privacy. She thinks the core is compromised," Riker stated.
"The core and its related systems are routinely screened by Kerber and Smith. Most of our existing security protocols were programmed by T'Kir and even our hacker duo is impressed with their robustness," Danan reminded him, "The few holes they discovered they patched with their own protective software and firmware."
"But we know Section 31 and Cell 51 both penetrated some of our security," Riker reminded her, "The leaks were always found to be on starships linked to our central network here. But what of those linked starships were used to insert spyware cleverly disguised as ship's operations and communication links? As a former OPS Officer, I can think of dozens of ways to use our older model starships that way. The Iotians copied them exactly, including their design weaknesses."
"So, you're suggesting someone or several someones aboard our own fleet starships have inserted spyware through their ships' connection to Serenity?" Danan wanted to be certain.
"Amoor is convinced," Riker replied, "That's what matters here."
"Then why not report it?" Danan was puzzled.
"Because while it's an elegant theory, it's still just theoretical. There's no solid evidence it has happened. But Amoor is running as if it's an actual scenario. An official request or report would be processed through the central computer, tipping her hand in any investigation she may be mounting," Riker replied, "In the interim, she's the one running rogue."
"Who vetted her?" Danan asked, "She didn't get reviewed by Station Ops staff."
"Actually, she did," Riker slid a padd across his desk, "There's her personnel file. Caity Floss did the initial recruiting. The entire section came about from a proposal request put forth by Korepanova. Since the entire unit would answer to her, I wasn't included in the recruiting process. The unit exists outside of my direct command. Korepanova recreated the Architect Project after a fashion. Pike facilitated their security clearances for SID projects. The disturbing feature of this drama is that Sveta and Kris stood before me a few hours ago and never mentioned a word about creating and overseeing the Intelligence Unit."
Danan studied the personnel jacket which had her public portion of her Starfleet service record attached to it, "It seems Miss Amoor was drummed out of Starfleet for advancing private alternative theories regarding the commonly derived at conclusions at Starfleet Intelligence."
"She leaked her private theories to the press and created several uproars," Riker filled in the next portion, "She signed a nondisclosure agreement to work for us. Any leaks and she's released and blacklisted."
"It also seems Cell 51 proved out several of her rejected theories. She actually predicted large swathes of their agenda and how they'd accomplish it," Danan noted.
"A fact Commodore Oh noted in her service jacket recommending she be watched for potential connections to Cell 51 itself," Riker grimaced, "Oh can never concede when she's been wrong about someone."
"So, how will you respond to this new information?" Danan asked.
"I'll inform Korepanova know I'm fully aware of the nature of the Intelligence Unit and how it came to be," Riker told her, "I also will inform her that my recent alterations to her brief includes her private unit. Any links between the Intelligence Unit and Sakonna's unit will be severed."
"That could put lives in danger," Danan frowned.
"Sakonna operates outside fleet operations. Korepanova, for better or worse, placed Amoor's unit under the fleet banner. Which, contrary to her intention, places them under my authority. They'll be used as I deem fit. I don't want them distracted from fleet missions by side projects for Sakonna. If they can't agree to those terms, I'm within my authority to shut the unit down."
"And the private computer core?" Danan asked.
"Will be impounded," Riker told her, "Consider it a lesson in wasting discretionary funds on unsanctioned projects. Zerinda has a solution for their privacy needs that doesn't involve overstressing the EPS grid.."
"I take it she presented this solution to Amoor and it was handedly rejected," Danan surmised.
"It sells better when there's no other options," Riker smirked.
"Coming out of warp in the Raas system," Ebert reported, "Its full of Orion ships."
"Three of which are intercepting us," Mudd complained, "A battlecruiser and two raiders. A lot of overkill for a runabout."
"And they're triangulating us to block exit vectors," Ebert groaned, "Do they honestly think we think we can outrun them at warp?"
"Never cast doubt on the paranoia of the criminal mind," Mudd told her, "Especially when they've had a day to stew on a problem."
"They've had a very disappointing invasion," Macen warned them, "The only bright spot for them is our flight logs so they can approach the S'aku and attempt to strike up a trade deal."
"Three of their ships have taken heavy damage," Mudd observed, "None of the Orion ships are orbiting Raas but the Ascendant Emissary, Obsidian, and Razor's Edge are still in orbit."
"I'm impressed with Colonel Wyn's restraint. Typically, Colonial Defense Forces would have responded with force by now," Neela stated.
"She probably wanted to but was talked down," Macen replied, "We know it wouldn't have been an Iotian commander doing so so that leaves a persuasive commander from the corporate fleet. I can't imagine Riker sending a voice of restraint on a rescue mission. He's too aggressive for that."
"Figure it out later, we're being hailed," Mudd told him.
"Put it on my screen," Macen instructed. A particularly striking looking Orion female captain glared at Macen.
"I'm assuming you want a copy of our flight logs so you can approach the race that departed this system upon your arrival," Macen replied, "May I ask who negotiated this settlement?"
"A Captain Chris Noble set the terms with Gomer herself," Dolin told him, "She said you might require persuasion."
"Actually, we anticipated your request. Stand by for our data stream," Macen told her. Mudd took her cue and sent the data. Macen amended his prior statement, "You'll understand that we scrubbed all the data pertaining to our previous voyages."
"Your trip began at this space station at these coordinates?" Dolin asked.
"We were passengers aboard one of their starships. We were released at that point. The message was clearly one that they could defend themselves and that they were keeping the location of their colony world a secret," Macen told her, "As your damaged ships attest to, the S'aku value their privacy. I'd advise caution and restraint in dealing with them."
"This entire errand has been a colossal waste of time and resources," Dolin snapped at him, "We'll take our chances at earning some profit at last.":
"And what happens to Varic at this point?" Macen asked.
"We've cut all ties to him. Deal with him how you like. The Syndicate doesn't care one way or the other," Dolin signed off.
"They're maneuvering. They seem to have restored warp capacity to their damaged ships," Ebert studied her sensor readings, "They're doing flybys of the Obsidian and Ascendant Emissary. No one is approaching the Razor's Edge. They must not have been boarded."
"We're suspected of piracy in the Militia's criminal activities watch list and of terrorism by the Federation," Neela shrugged, "The Orions would see that as a badge of honor."
"Except the Federation really does want you in murder inquiries and investigations into terrorism," Macen sighed.
"Commander Ro is being unreasonable," Neela said flatly.
"Starfleet made its position into your operating within Federation space clear enough. You accepted the potential repercussions of continuing to operate within its borders," Macen replied sternly.
"Would you have me stop?" Neela pointedly asked.
"I'd ask that you be even more discreet," Macen told her, "Circumstantial evidence is piling up connecting your appearance at a planet and cultists dying en masse afterwards," Macen told her, "Even with key officers looking the other way, the rest of Starfleet will come after you."
"Then isn't it a good thing I live in a neutral system?" Neela posed the obvious question, "Aboard an independent space station?"
"Starfleet will eventually make your capture a priority," Macen warned her,
"Until then, I'll operate as I deem fit to please the Prophets," Neela told him.
"The Orions are exiting the system," Ebert interrupted their discussion, "Long range sensors have various starships entering as they depart. Some of them are ours."
Macen pulled up a list of the Outbound Ventures ships, "Somehow I doubt Riker authorized the Solstice and the Nova to be here. In fact, I'd wager no one authorized their presence. Alert Captain Forger we'll begin docking preparations. Give her my condolences over the Orions' treatment of the crew in advance. Have her alert every corporate commander. I want to speak with everyone."
"Can I include the Wyn sisters?" Neela asked.
"Invite Ghemor and her chief War Vedek as well," Macen easily conceded, "We'll meet in the Acendancy's war room n the Raasian capital."
"We've received docking permission," Ebert announced, "Captain Forger sounds miffed."
"She'll understand better when we brief the counsel of captains," Macen told her.
"We?" Mudd caught that inference.
"You two were in the cockpit with Neela and I the entire time the S'aku guarded our runabout. But they maintained daily operations in the background. You also took most of the sensor readings we have on their space station and the ships docked there. You're impressions will be crucial to warning Colonel Wyn and Ghemor about the threat on their doorstep."
"Because the Orions will antagonize the S'aku?" Ebert asked.
"Because the S'aku are cultists. Or at least allied with the Cult of the Pah-wraiths," Neela warned them, "That's why they killed the Ascendant missionaries that killed the cult missionaries."
"You got that from getting us to ride aboard their ship and get them out of the system?" Mudd was incredulous.
"Actually, I knew that before Commander Macen negotiated that trip," Neela told her simply, "Just as I knew I wasn't the first Bajoran they'd ever seen."
"How do you know that?" Ebert was curious.
"They grilled me about being human but they never once asked Neela what race she was from. That oversight meant they already knew," Macen told her.
"So we took a ride at the mercy of potential killers for what?" Mudd was beyond astonishment at this point.
"To give their coordinates to the Syndicate when we returned. If they really have joined with the Cult, they'll embrace the Orions as trading partners. If not, then the Syndicate's Gamma Quadrant presence is about to be severely reduced," Macen told her.
"And having the Orions trading with the S'aku is good because...?' Ebert let the question hang in the air.
"Gomer is aware of it, but we have eyes inside the Syndicate just like she has eyes and operatives on Serenity," Macen explained, "So, the Orions will get advance warning of any attacks on Ascendant or Bajoran territories and we can pass that information along."
"So, this entire trip was a chess move in a game that started how long ago?" Mudd asked.
"Since before we met," Macen told her, "Of course, back then it was two dimensional chess. Now we're in four dimensions."
"I'm not even gonna ask what the fourth dimension is," Mudd grumbled.
"You probably wouldn't like the answer anyways," Macen confided.
Forger and Jones met them in the Docking Bay. Forger was ill tempered, "Did whatever scheme you had running work?"
"Someone on this end bargained for the Orions to withdraw in exchange for what I was going to offer them to do so," Macen said, "I'd like to know who brokered the deal."
"That would be Chris Noble," Jones told him and Rockford.
"I told you that's why she was here," Rockford gloated.
"Riker wants her and Locarno's hides handed to him," Forger warned Macen.
"He can't have them. As long as they're here, they're being put to work," Macen replied.
"It took Gardner a lot not to send them back to Serenity when Riker demanded it," Jones warned them, "She needs to have some slack cut for her."
"I noticed a distinct lack of an Iotian presence despite their bold promises," Rockford had noted the list of ships Macen had given her.
"They were led by our Terran friends you sent Oxmyx and Kracko's way. They went in alone to cut some kind of deal and found out Raas had nothing to offer. So they left as abruptly as they came," Forger said with distaste.
"Pretty Terran of them," Macen accepted it for what it was, "The Iotians under their command wanted to do the same. Kracko can put forth she sent forces. Colonel Wyn can't deny that. Any protests Wyn makes will have to go through diplomatic and business channels to be heard."
"What held Colonel and the Ascendant back?" Rockford asked, "Neela was quick to point out that this level of restraint wasn't a Militia norm."
"You can personally thank Jennifer Gardner for that as well. Gardner's reputation with the Militia is golden after she assisted them in the war," Jones pointed out, "Noble persuaded Gardner to follow the plan and she passed it on to Wyn."
"I don't recognize most of the commanding officers that reported under Gardner's command," Macen confessed.
"Other than John Smith aboard the Tardis, neither do I," Forger admitted.
"Anything interesting happen to my detectives while I was away?" Rockford grinned.
"Forte's ex showed up commanding an Orion raider. They beamed down to that S'aku city to find somebody called the Valk had taken possession," Forger said, "But I'm assuming you already knew they had."
"True," Macen agreed.
"Anyway, Forte's ex got impatient and wanted inside the city. The Valk said 'no' and she tried to attack from orbit. Some crazy defense system triggered and nearly blew her ship apart. Two Orion battlecruisers stepped in and lunar defenses assisted the planetary defenses and all three ships were crippled for a time. They limped out of here headed towards a port that isn't too far away that Varic knew about and the Ascendant avoid," Forger finished the story, "We beamed Forte, Lee, and Shade up as soon as the boarding party left."
"This was the same Captain Kale that confronted you earlier?' Rockford asked.
"The very one," Jones confirmed it, "She's still got a touch of crazy in her eye from growing up on Miri."
"I'll go talk to Arianna and catch up with you at your briefing," Rockford kissed Macen and hurried off to the Situation Center where her team would be gathered.
"Someone may want to tell Colonel Wyn to stand by for a data transmission containing the technical specifications of the S'aku fleet," Macen advised them, "Angelique and Bailey were able to discreetly hack their computer network and pulled as much data as they could hide being drawn while we were aboard."
"Please tell me that wasn't the only reason you hitched a ride with a potential hostile?" Forger groaned.
"Having the Syndicate approach them will verify or deny a lot of relevant theories being floated about," Macen told the command staff, "If Neela's right about them, then the Ascendancy and Bajor just earned themselves a new enemy with even more advanced technology and the will to use it."
"Oh happy day," Jones quipped.
"Mesa!" Colonel Wyn tightly hugged her startled sister.
"I can't breathe, Meru," Major Wyn managed to say in the midst of the crushing embrace.
"Sorry. I just haven't seen you since the promotion and your transfer to covert ops," Colonel Wyn confessed.
"You do realize I'm outside your chain of command, right? So, you can't pull rank on me," Major Wyn ribbed her sibling.
"At least you aren't confined by the uniform," Colonel Wyn sighed, "Sometimes I wish I could take proactive measures against Bajor's enemies."
"It isn't all that it would seem to be," Major Wyn warned her, "And it involves a lot of illegal actions on foreign soil. Bajoran courts would justify us but Federation courts aren't so inclined."
"Which is why you moved to a neutral system," Colonel Wyn nodded, "General Anara explained Neela's situation to me and the legal fiction that you've turned rogue."
"Thanks for doubting me," Major Wyn grimaced.
"The official reports are pretty damning and no one was telling me otherwise," Colonel Wyn warned her, "General Kira herself briefed our parents but swore them to secrecy. They didn't even tell me."
"The General is very persuasive," Major Wyn grimly chuckled, "She probably made it sound like a state secret."
"It is a state secret," Colonel Wyn warned her sister, "General Anara swore me to absolute secrecy before she told me. That's why couldn't bring Captain Horst with me. We received orders to detain you if we positively identify you. Bajoran Intelligence believes you're aboard the Razor's Edge but without a legal pretext when we can't simply stop her and board her to determine if you are aboard."
"Why the sudden increase in scrutiny?" Major Wyn inquired.
"Starfleet and the Federation are applying a considerable amount of pressure to have you captured and extradited to Federation custody for interrogation," Colonel Wyn told her.
"So we've been warned by other sources close to Starfleet," Neela interjected into the family reunion, "The meeting looks primed to begin. We should find our places."
Ghemor and Amera had prime seating positions. Captain Gardner had invited the relatively veteran Captain Smith to sit beside her. The relatively junior corporate command officers took up the rest of the seating. Neela was amused to find Noble and Locarno excluded from the seating as well. There was an air of tension between them and their fellow captains.
Macen had Ebert and Mudd at the podium beside him. He briefed the captains on the nature and history of the S'aku as they knew it so far. Ebert described ship types that Kerber and Smith had shown her and their relative strengths and weaknesses. Mudd had noted certain weaknesses among their security detail and the crewmen servicing the bay they were held in. For purported paranoids they were jovially relaxed and paid little attention to their assumed inferior guests. Mudd made the remark they had a cultural superiority complex.
"Now, for the bad news. I'm turning this portion over to Neela," Macen announced.
Neela stayed put and forced everyone to contort to view her at the rear of the room. Ghemor wore a sly smile knowing it Neela's object lesson for taking up the good seats in the house and relegating those deemed "out of the club" to standing at the rear of the room, "To most of you, my news will be inconsequential. Yet, it sets up potential conflicts of interest over time. The S'aku were approached by religious missionaries from differing Bajoran and Ascendant faiths. The why is still unknown but they chose a side. The side that wants to see Bajor subjected to their rule and the Orthodox believers executed. That desire extends towards the Ascendant for following the ways of the Prophets. But, make no mistake, their ambitions include the Cardassian Union and the Federation and that's just to begin with."
"How can you be so certain they want to convert everyone else by the sword?" Captain Taylor Morgan asked.
"Because they already have converts inside Cardassian and Federation space," Neela told her, "Starfleet Intelligence is working to uncover them. But they're openly hidden like terrorist cells inside your planetary and colonial populations. They're gathering weapons and intelligence on government targets. When they feel confident of a victory, they'll begin with political assassinations and move to street violence."
"How can you be so certain of their tactics?" Smith inquired.
"Because in the entire existence of the Cult of the Pah-Wraiths over thousands of years, their tactics and strategy have never altered trajectory. They've merely grown in scope by recruiting non-Bajoran believers." Neela told them, "And the Orion Syndicate is working to provide them what they need and access to their temple on Empok Nor."
"Please tell me we're not getting involved in a religious war," Captain Jolene Rand requested.
"For most of you, you rushed here for little reason it turned out," Macen told them, "You'll be released to return to Serenity Station over the next few days as Colonel Wyn determines that an imminent attack on Raas is becoming less of a threat. Captains Noble and Lucarrno will be staying on with me as we assist the Neverwhere and Tigerlilja in their mission."
"Captain Riker was most insistent that they return with us," Gardner put forth.
"You can remind Captain Riker that their change in designation takes them outside of his command. They have no current assignment, so I'm commandeering their services. If he still has issues with that situation, he can feel free to speak with their immediate superior," Macen instructed her.
Gardner knew she'd been placed in the middle of a turf war and didn't appreciate it, "I'm not sure I'm the one to deliver that message."
"Captain Riker will question you as to why they didn't return with you. That's your answer," Macen told her.
"I'm not informing him ahead of time?" Gardner was wary.
"Only if you want to be ordered to turn around and butt heads with my team's authority over our current mission," Macen advised her, "Better to return to Serenity empty handed than waste days forcing an issue that's already resolved. Just not to Riker's liking."
"And if Captain Riker orders you to return?" Gardner asked.
"I'm outside his chain of command. Captain Forger works with the corporate fleet but exists as an independent command," Macen informed her, "Captain Riker can review the corporate fleet registry to confirm this. I have no authority over fleet assets in the chain of command. But Captains Noble and Locarno are no longer in the fleet registry and he's aware of this. He's using you to test his own boundaries."
"All right," Gardner conceded, "I came to work for you when there were just seven of us that made up the 'fleet'. Things have changed a lot over the last year. Our role within Starfleet is the biggest change. It imposed rules we didn't have before. I don't think anyone has fully reviewed all the technical issues of chains of command and corporate boundaries. I'm beginning to think there's corporate divisions most of us are unaware of."
"You'd be right," Macen confirmed her suspicion, "Best to keep it that way."
"Why were we scrambled here for a fight that never happened?" Gardner had to ask.
"Captain Noble saw an opportunity to resolve the situation without violence. She went AWOL on her last night of Fleet duties to get here and make the pitch to Gomer," Macen explained, "Riker wants his pound of flesh for Noble and Locarno abandoning their posts. Remind him there's a due process for him to follow on such matters. He has to submit for a corporate personnel investigation into what occurred. Human resources will take his desires into consideration when they dole out whatever administrative punishment they feel is warranted."
"So, despite all pretenses beside, we may play the part of Starfleet but we're not under its judicial rules and traditions?" Gardner asked.
"We're still a private sector corporation that adheres to certain client requested standards, like the uniforms and certain codes of conduct, but otherwise we do things our own way. Captain Riker has just forgotten that aspect of our business since being overly involved in SID fleet affairs," Macen told him, "Certain events have transpired while you were called here to remind him that we work for Starfleet without being part of Starfleet, all pretenses aside."
"Care to dictate all of this on a padd before I depart so he doesn't shoot the messenger?" Gardner asked. He handed her the prepared remarks already loaded on one. She wore a rueful smile, "When did you have time to prepare this?"
"I did most of the work on the trip back from the S'aku territory. I updated it while Neela was speaking to include Noble and Locarno," Macen told her, "The Federation is funding our mission and that of the Neverwhere and Tigerlilja. The budget has room for two new crews to join in."
"I imagine that'll eat the profit margin," Gardner noted.
"It pretty well cancels it," Macen agreed, "An issue Tyrol will take up with me in length. But, whatever evidence we bring back of what occurred here will justify SID reimbursement for the extra costs incurred. That will increase the original profit margin and today's events indicate a new threat against Bajor and the Ascendancy but it also shows a growing threat against the Federation. Commander Ro's unit will be asking Admiral Forger for us to follow up on it."
"I hope that's on the padd too," Gardner confessed.
"It has a message for both Riker and Tyrol to pursue the matter through Lieutenant Pike and a confidential report to be forwarded to Commander Ro at Deep Space Three." Macen told her, "Jennifer, you were one of the first captains to sign on when I first began expanding operations from a single ship to accepting multiple contracts at a time. The Bajorans are indebted to you for leading our response to the war against them. Several events have conspired to make Riker feel unhinged. A little tact and diplomacy are called for. Remind him you're just the messenger."
"Riker's good and I appreciate our so-called 'higher calling' now but sometimes I miss the old fast and loose days," Gardner told him, "Bureaucracy is the one Starfleet thing I really don't miss."
Captains Morgan and Rand caught up with them. Morgan spoke first, "I really can't believe I'm actually meeting you."
"I'm not that hard to find on Serenity. I have an office there," Macen replied.
"I just wanted to thank you for providing somewhere to go outside of Starfleet," Morgan gushed.
"Problems in the 'big happy fleet'?" Macen grinned.
"I was passed up for my own command four times running because I wasn't 'old enough'," Morgan explained, "Apparently there's no age limit to rapid advancement to an XO slot or the rank of Commander but 'Captain' is reserved for people over twenty-nine. That's the youngest they've ever promoted anyone to command and it's an unofficial rule now that it's the mindset age limit," Morgan told him, "I decided to accept Caity Floss' offer rather than wait eight years as an XO before I could finally get the command my superiors were always recommending me for."
"But you waited four of those years out just in case someone changed their mind," Macen noted.
"Until the Admiralty sat me down and told me in no uncertain terms that they were not only going to make me wait but they were reviewing my case to extend my wait for protesting their decision making processes," Morgan explained.
"Korepanova and Liu backed your command application and sold Riker on it," Macen deduced.
"Exactly," Morgan exclaimed.
"And you are?" Macen asked Rand.
"Jolene Rand," she answered, "I took a mandatory retirement for 'the good of the service' but I wasn't done with Starfleet yet."
"I took one of those myself once upon a time," Macen told her, "Were you in the right when you disobeyed direct orders?"
"I saved eighty thousand lives by doing so at the cost of one pirate ship," Rand said stiffly.
"Then we made a good hire," Macen assured her, "Civilian lives always come first."
"Captains, prepare to make way. I'll discuss our departure schedule with Colonel Wyn," Gardner told them.
As the word spread the SID captains returned to their ships. Macen had a final word for Gardner, "Don't trust that the Iotians have withdrawn. Their commander has is own ambitions that extend far beyond the Iotian Starfleet."
"Let me guess, the mysterious ISS Scalphunter we can't identify where it came from," Gardner had noted over and over again during the long wait, "It isn't Federation or Iotian and its captain refused to discuss any planning with us. They ran an independent operation the entire time they were here. They penetrated the system while we held and then disembarked for the Wormhole."
"You're assuming they returned to the Wormhole," Macen reminded her, "Captain Lebeauf will refuse to leave the quadrant empty handed. Just expect a surprise or two on your way home."
"Cryptic as usual but I'll take precautions," Gardner promised him.
Rockford arrived, "Arianna's a mess. Seeing Melinda Kale again dredged up memories she's been trying to bury."
"But forcing her to finally confront everything will be good for her," Macen replied, "Or else you wouldn't be here."
"So, rather than stick around Serenity to soften the blow for Tom, Chris Noble and Nick Locarno went AWOL to join us here," Rockford sighed, "That won't go ever well."
"I imagine Riker and Danan are neck deep in investigating corporate affairs by now," Macen shrugged, "Cardan's arrest should have happened by now as well."
"You're using their last names. Why are you distancing yourself from your own close friends?" Rockford asked.
"Tom Riker is being forced to accept multiple realities he's been denying for a year now. Lees and the others indulged him and kept a wall up to keep us from getting involved. All of those consequences came due at the same time. Either Riker will adapt and strengthen from the changes and realizations or he'll hold a grudge we can't afford to nurse right now," Macen warned her.
"Any specific concerns here or is this general paranoia?" Rockford asked.
"You didn't see most of Tom's stint as my XO. When he first assumed command of Serenity, it was a good fit for him. Then as the SID contracts and fleet grew, he was given oversight of fleet operations congruent with his station command. By now, he's hip deep in learning that certain operations on the station, besides the corporate side, are completely out of his control. He's also discovered by now that we're an independent command despite what he's always assumed," Macen advised her, "Tom has always assumed Shannon was under his command. Sveta and Kris allowed him that delusion because it kept his support for our operations a priority."
"And learning he has no authority over us at all might lead him to detach fleet operations from supporting our missions," Rockford acknowledged the possibility, "But ultimately, we work directly for Amanda Forger. So does Tom. Her Starfleet Division provides the fleet with their operations orders. We're part of those operations so he can't willfully deny us support without violating the contracts he has on the books."
"That's an optimistic view of it," Macen sighed, "Tom Riker can hold a grudge whether he knows he's doing it or not. His grudge against Will sent him to the Maquis. His grudge against Starfleet led him to working for me. Whether he mentally acknowledges it or not, this might taint our relationship, personally and professionally."
"That was an older version of Tom. I think he's grown even while distracting himself from his actual duties. I'm betting he's doubling down on both roles even now," Rockford assessed.
"And where does that leave us with him?" Macen asked the pertinent question.
"I guess you're going to have to ask him," Rockford smirked.
"Commander, Detective, I'm glad I found you before my departure," Neela approached with Major Wyn and Ghemor at her side.
"You're leaving?" Rockford was surprised, "Even though the S'aku may have an alliance with the Cult of the Pah-wraiths?"
"I'm better suited to track the Cult in the Alpha and Beta Quadrants," Neela told them, "I will consult with the Emissary. But the S'aku will deal directly with the Ascendancy before reaching Bajoran territory. Therefore, the primary response to the threat must come from within the Ascendancy."
"We have a cadre of vedeks specially trained in tracking and identifying Cultist threats. They've been responsible for revealing the Cult's presence within our areas of influence," Ghemor told them, "This is an example of why the Ascendant needed a former Obsidian Order agent as their Emissary from the Prophets."
"I can't imagine a faith outliving its own gods and its messianic Emissary," Rockford still had problems processing belief systems. She could analyze them and see their potency in people's lives but to her they were still a construct to prop up weak minded individuals. But, she had to admit Neela, Ghemor, and Macen were hardly weak minded prone to mythological fantasies.
"Dukat and the Pah-wraiths may be trapped in the Fire Caves but they still exist on one plane or another," Neela told her, "The Cultists look to Dukat's lineage for a savior figure to free them."
"I thought they viewed the half-Bajoran child with the Cultist woman as their anointed one," Rockford frowned.
"Dukat's wife and children legally separated from him when Tora Ziyal's existence confirmed her husband's decades' worth of infidelities but he was still financially responsible for them. His estate went to them. Its value compounded during his tenure as Supreme Legate. His periods of capture and exile did not affect the value of the estate's investments," Neela explained, "Despite the mother's despising her husband, some of the six children have taken on a favorable view of their father."
"Meaning any one of them could be groomed to assume the role of a leader who would free Dukat and the Pah-wraiths," Ghemor explained.
"You can't simply assassinate Dukat's children," Rockford frowned, "Cardassia is Bajor's ally."
"But after Gul Maret and Gul Macet's mutual support of the Cult and its activities, Supreme Legate Ocett has deemed them a terror organization. Dukat's family was already under CIB observation. This will merely heighten its extent," Neela told them.
"You and Agent Delain have previously discussed this," Macen surmised.
"In depth," Neela replied, "Until three children began vocally supporting their father's role in Bajoran religious affairs, the CIB was content to allow them a relatively unobstrusive detail assigned to them. In short, they asked for the intrusiveness."
"Dukat spent decades away from Cardassia. What most of his children know of him came from his legend," Rockford pointed out.
"And as Macet and Maret pointed out, that legend is corrosive," Ghemor replied.
"Most of Dukat's surviving children are adults now. Those that survived the Dominion purge of Cardassia Prime are assuming roles within Cardassian society. The male children have followed him into the Cardassian Guard. His daughters have sought out security services roles. That isn't simply patriotic behavior. Those are the levers that still shape Cardassian society," Neela pointed out, "Levers they'll be tempted to pull."
"I still don't understand why they simply weren't arrested and tried," Ghemor confessed.
"Garan's Detepa Council is trying to slowly push democratic reforms through Cardassian society," Macen told her, "The first of which was being arrested from crimes actually committed rather than just potentially committed."
"But Dukat's spawn are recognized threats. Why give them access at all?" Ghemor complained.
"To cast a wider net," Neela explained the CIB's rationale, "If Dukat's children are contacted and groomed, the trail will lead back to a Cult cell. If the heir approached refuses to cooperate, then their loyalty is proven for a time. At least as far as the Cult of the Pah-wraiths goes."
"What impresses me is that they all seem to inherited their father's confidence," Macen admitted, "They have to know their name carried enhanced scrutiny with it yet they all chose potentially high profile careers."
"Neela, Gren and Wills report the ship is ready for the trip home," Major Wyn interrupted, "General Kira is awaiting your report."
"And duty calls," Neela stepped away with Wyn so Wills Fani, the Assistant Engineer, could beam them back aboard and they could get underway.
Colonel Wyn and Captain Forger made an entrance. Wyn expressed regret at having missed her sister's departure but she quickly moved on, "I have Major Kris and Captain Gil standing by to assist in your ongoing search."
"It's a Starfleet priority, not a Militia objective," Macen reminded her.
"A threat to the Bajoran colonies in the Gamma Quadrant is our priority," Wyn explained, "Maybe the race that deposited aliens from across quadrants here on Raas are extinct or perhaps they're only dormant. Either way, my scouts will be accompanying you to find out which it is."
"And you'd like to tie up any loose Orion ends," Rockford interpreted the order's necessity.
"Varic tricked the Syndicate into prioritizing Raas. Now, they're refocused on these mysterious S'aku. But I doubt every Syndicate ship was dispatched to Raas. There were disproportionately fewer scoutships than raiders or battlecruisers," Wyn had assessed, "Orions love to scout ahead."
"Doctors Schneider and Chopra did offer up the coordinates to their finds to anyone who would meet their fee," Rockford sighed, "We only paid for the first look at them."
"Which should have given Smith and Jones more than enough time to get ahead of any competition," Macen replied, "But perhaps not enough time to avoid being tracked."
"The commander of Waypoint Station pulled all the recent comm buoy records involving your ships outside of the Ascendancy. Two ships filed reports being held for you at the edge of Bajoran communications range. Their signal still came from five hours beyond amplified subspace range. Unless your people left behind clues, you'll never be able to follow them into deeper unknown space," Wyn had noted.
"They're leaving messages and coordinates of their next stops in the journey," Macen told her, "But in such a way the Syndicate is unlikely to detect the clues."
"I know I'm asking to to slow your pace to accommodate my ships but I really want them involved," Wyn told him.
"She made a really good case for it to me," Forger added.
"I'm not helping anyone plant a flag and claim a planet," Macen told Wyn, "Not the Republic or the Federation. Besides which, the claim would be laughable without adequate logistical support to reinforce the claim. We're going into territories even Commodore Saavik's crews haven't explored."
"In case you haven't noticed, the Militia only has two allies in the Gamma Quadrant. Starfleet is deemed unreliable and the Ascendancy are technically capable but still inferior. We have the right to pursue allies for a common defense," Wyn asserted.
"But not at the expense of my two crews that are already out there," Macen countered, "If you're right that the Syndicate is pursuing them, then it behooves us to reinforce our own as quickly as possible."
"If you won't wait for scouts, will you object to them tracking you?" Wyn asked.
"You're within your rights in allied territory and in neutral space," Macen told her, "But I can't guarantee their safety if they catch up with us."
"I never asked you to," Wyn said stiffly, "Can I expect you to set out immediately?"
"You can," Forger told her, seeing Macen's mood.
"Then I'll alert the Major and the Captain," Wyn moved off.
Ghemor had already left as well. Forger read the room, "You're expecting trouble."
"The Archaeology Guild would only pay for first look rights to the finds. Schneider and Chopra were still free to sell the coordinates and their initial findings to anyone else," Rockford explained, "Now, we know the Orions generally lack technical expertise in historical matters. But they can hire mercenaries in the trades."
"Including Schneider and Chopra themselves," Forger duly noted.
"Smith and Jones are Federation and Starfleet trained. They're taught to share information, not withhold it. Which means they'll disclose their discoveries at the sites with the two original archaeologists that discovered them," Macen told her, "Who will also have that data to sell afterwards."
"Noble and Locarno are already back aboard their ships. They're just awaiting orders," Forger told them, "Our original mission brief have the coordinates Doctors Smith and Jones paid to see. Shall we set course?"
"Stay focused on the Neverwhere's course. Captain Davis is briefed on how to leave clues behind. The Tigerlilja will be rendezvousing with them and traveling together," Macen told her.
"And if we run into Orions?" Forger inquired.
"We do our best to discourage them," Rockford told her.
"You're going too slowly," Argus whined.
"We sift through the data accordingly," Smith lectured her again, "The translation matrix gave us our next heading and we're underway. What could you possibly have to complain about?"
"I need evidence the Skaarians took those people," Argus snapped at him.
Paka loomed in a corner of the lab. Jones intervened, "We determined the inhabitants weren't native. We also determined when they arrived. All of it fits within your narrative. But these 'Skaarians', if they're responsible, scrubbed all traces leading back to them in their retreat."
"But why retreat at all?" Paka broke her long silence.
Argus sighed, "The Skaarians didn't invent the gateway tech. Unlike the Iconians, they didn't know how to weaponize it other then by deploying starships into conflict zones."
"The Iconians could do differently?" Smith had wondered why the Iconians had fallen from within rather than from an external threat.
"They could create gateways on the surface of stars and project solar flares at their enemies' starships or home planets. Just has there were few defenses against a gateway, there was little warning for anyone to evacuate from such an attack," Argus explained, "The Iconians were simply overwhelmed by more threats than they could respond to before the Skaarian uprising."
"The possibilities are endless," Paka smirked.
"You do realize I won't let you weaponize this technology all over again?" Smith asked her.
"You don't have choice, human," Paka sneered.
"If we even find the Skaarians," Jones interjected, "They've covered their own tracks fairly well. They didn't seem concerned about anyone following the breadcrumbs to their abandoned outposts."
"Yet all the evidence points at them retreating in a panic," Argus replied, "People miss things when they're panicking."
"They'd mastered the gateways enough to employ them for interstellar travel," Smith mused, "It was only a matter of time before they weaponized them like the Iconians had. Unless they were under so much pressure they didn't feel they could buy that time."
"Let's just say the grand alliance brought against them wouldn't be possible to assemble today," Argus told him.
"So, we have the Skaarians, in possession of Iconian technology of which they've barely been able to master. We have them kidnapping members of technologically inferior races. And we your so-called 'grand alliance' mounted against them," Smith summarized, "Why the alliance in the first place of the Skaarians were an inferior threat?"
"Because when they met significant resistance on worlds, they waged genocidal campaigns against them," Argus explained, "And given time, they would unlock the full potential of the technology they'd stolen."
"So your people and your allies acted proactively," Jones deduced.
"The threat was confronted wherever it was known to exist," Argus told them, "Apparently, they felt threatened enough to believe we'd root them out in the Gamma Quadrant as well."
"So, they just abandoned their slaves to fend for themselves on worlds they hadn't evolved to survive on," Smith said grimly.
"Yet we just saw that some have survived," Jones pointed out, "And they were united behind the threat of the Skaarians returning."
"Some of the outposts here don't fit the Skaarians usual profile," Argus finally shared.
"What do you mean?" Smith latched on to that onto that njew data.
"They favored worlds orbiting red giants in the other quadrants. Yet the three worlds we've observed all had mainline yellow stars as their system primaries. Evidence from the war showed the Skaarians were naturally adapted to the cold," Argus told them, "They'd find warmer planets uncomfortable."
"Which explains the heavy use of slaves on intemperate worlds," Smith concluded, "The worlds we explored were both jungle worlds. The slaves likely fell victim to native pathogens. Raas has twin suns and is a desert world. The recruitment of slave labor from dozens of other worlds would insure at least one people group survived to serve."
"Do we have any advance notice to what kind of solar system we're headed into?" Argus inquired, "Specifically its primary."
Smith queried Davis. She reported that their destination coordinates had been charted to a red giant star. Argus grinned, "A world the Skaariuans could have held an immense presence on. A world they couldn't scrub clean."
"We'll know more when we get there," Smith dampened her expectations, "This could just be another graveyard."
"Even tombstones reveal a lot about the dead," Argus replied, "I'm back to my shared quarters. Summon me when we're in orbit."
Paka dutifully went with Argus. Jones breathed a sigh of relief, "That Orion scares me."
"She should," Smith concurred, "Even unarmed she could easily kill us both and escape from the ship. What her plan would be afterwards is anyone's guess."
"You think the Orions are still following us," Jones realized.
"They'll stay out of sensor range until summoned by Argus or her minder," Smith told her, "Captain Davis and Captain Watts both agree that this new class of scoutship could engage both of our ships and retrieve their crew and escape."
"How? The Orions barely invest in their ships anymore," Jones asked.
"Davis showed me an internal intelligence report showing how the Orions have undergone massive shipbuilding and refitting over the last year. Gomer started the program. The Blood Queen let it continue. Gomer just went full throttle upon her return to power," Smith shared, "The days of Orions investing only in casino ships are over."
"So, why are we working with Argus?" Jones revisited that decision.
"She just shared something she hadn't even shared with the Orions," Smith told her, "About how the Iconians weaponized their gateways in ways the Skaarians hadn't learned how to duplicate or were unable to."
"The Orion killer certainly perked up when hearing that part," Jones had noted as well.
"The Syndicate's interest in the technology is a simple one," Smith said, "Argus' motives are less clear."
""She's a mercenary," Jones dismissed the concern.
"This is personal business for her. She wants access to that technology," Smith warned her, "I doubt her motives are altruistic."
"So, now we're secret agents?" Jones asked worriedly.
"Welcome to the Special Investigations Division," Smith chuckled, "Sometimes we can't reveal what we've discovered for the security of the galaxy."
"You've done this before," Jones realized.
"So, have you. For your friend, Neela," Smith told her, "It was no simple arrangement that Captain Watts dropped you off to aid her. Neela had been collecting the same artifacts I helped recover and she destroyed them to preserve Bajoran safety."
Jones gasped, "I knew she stowed them aboard a torpedo but I didn't realize she'd fired it."
"Some things aren't meant to be recovered," Smith warned her, "I've been on digs and recovered artifacts and technologies that Starfleet seized and sent to black sites for study. I was even brought in to one of those sites to analyze someone else's find. There's parts of Starfleet you never became aware of. I helped shield you from some of them. The SID replaced Section 31 but even then Cell 51 came onto being. So, you have to realize there are still forces even within Starfleet that don't care about morality, just results."
"If we find the Skaarians, what do you intend to do about it?" Jones asked.
"I'll bury every shred of evidence we find about them," Smith told her, "No one can ever know they existed. The El-Aurians were right to never tell us about them. It's a revelation that can't serve any good purpose."
"The Archaeology Guild hired us to track down and recover evidence of the civilization that transported races across quadrants," Jones protested.
"They've been disappointed before," Smith said grumpily, "They'll swallow it."
"But this could be a career defining find," Jones argued.
"It could also destroy civilization as we know it," Smith replied, "You have to think of the broader implications of your discovery when you make it. I've made dozens of 'career defining' finds that will remain secret until such time as they can safely be introduced into galactic society."
"Maybe revealing the finds will make society ready for them," Jones countered, "A forced cultural evolutionary change."
"Like finding the Dominion or the Borg?" Smith asked, "Both forced societal changes and not always in a positive fashion."
"What if I object to making the findings a secret?" Jones asked.
"I'm the senior field researcher. All releases of information go through me," Smith warned her, "And breaches of that would constitute a breach of your contractual employment. You would be prosecuted, first by the company and then by Starfleet. You'd be stripped of your professional credentials and be looking at time on a penal colony."
"You can't guarantee that," Jones balked.
"I can. Part my arrangement with Macen is answering to Admiral Forger on our discoveries. Starfleet determines what remains secretive and what gets published," Smith warned her, "Starfleet takes security precautions very seriously."
"Why wasn't I made aware these arrangements before?" Jones asked.
"You were. You obviously didn't pay much attention to the contracts, confidentiality and non-disclosure agreements you were signing when you hired on," Smith told her, "It's never proven to be an issue until you just made it one."
"Where do they take these kind of finds?" Jones inquired.
"I asked that once, when I was about your age, I was simply told the artifacts were secure and top personnel were investigating the relics. When I asked who these experts were, I was simply given the rote response. Frankly, I think Starfleet just locks these things away and hopes they'll fade from living memory," Smith told her, "I did become aware that Section 31 and later Cell 51 had departments dedicated to these kinds of discoveries."
"That isn't reassuring," Jones confessed.
"The SID assumed Section 31's duties. I have to assume they inherited the trove of artifacts as well," Smith shrugged, "I'm a field researcher. What happens once they're declared 'top secret' goes beyond my expertise."
"I guess I'll have to be content with that," Jones said grimly.
"You no longer have a choice but to accept it," Smith told her, "When I recruited you, I told you to mind the paperwork and terms of employment. You should've heeded my advice."
"How long are the non-disclosure agreements in effect?" Jones asked.
"Until you're informed otherwise," Smith told her, "You'd have faced the same terms under Starfleet had you remained in its ranks. You were becoming a noted A&A Officer. You would been assigned to secret projects soon enough."
"Maybe I would already was and that's why I left," Jones said sourly, "I didn't know that contracting with Starfleet would still impose their same rules on my research."
"The terms are made by the client in the contract. Starfleet expects certain considerations when working for them. Every client does," Smith said gravely, "Even in the Archaeology Guild. Especially in the guild when you're contracting for specific research and expeditions."
"So why not just return to Starfleet?" Jones sighed.
"Because Starfleet wouldn't have allowed Argus and the Orion to join up. We're using them as much as they're using us. But we have the advantage here. Argus can't translate the languages we've discovered and the translation matrix isn't in the ship's computer core. I'm running this lab off of a portable computer. When we're not present, it's safely locked away by Security. Only you or I can retrieve it from Security," Smith told her.
"So, the lab is a sealed system. Locked out even from Captain Davis and the other research teams?" Jones inquired.
"Precisely," Smith wore a lopsided grin, "Consider it life insurance when it comes to the Orion Syndicate. I'm sure Argus has already attempted to hack into the lab Now, we'll see if her minder attempts to break out of their quarters and get passed Security in an attempt to track down how to access the lab's files."
The red emergency lighting came and the "Intruder Alert" went forth. Smith grinned even wider, "I guess we have our answer."
"Shouldn't we send the computer to Security?" Jones asked.
"I did that hours ago," Smith chuckled, "I've been using a faked copy of the translation matrix and the scans of the language ideograms we captured while Argus and Paka were in here," Smith told her, "I'm sorry I couldn't clue you in earlier but they arrived just after I'd delivered the computer to Security and installed the fake."
"So, all that research was spent chasing down figments of a computer's imagination?" Jones was irritated.
"It forced Argus' hand," Smith happily told her, "By now, she's realized the processing core I'm using is independent of the ship's systems. Therefore its plugged in inside the lab itself. The Orion will steal the core, return to Argus where she'll make a copy of its programming, and her minder will return the core unseen. What she does afterwards will be telling."
"So, what do we do now?" Jones asked.
"We baited the trap. Now we just leave and let the Orion take the bait back and forth," Smith chuckled.
Captain Davis personally inspected the ersatz "guest" quarters, "You mean to tell me you were just in the refresher when my security team inspected this room? All three times?"
"Your food disagreed with me," Paka said defiantly.
"The exterior guards can tell you that Paka never left the quarters," Argus told her innocently.
"Yet she failed to make her presence known when asked to," Davis growled, "And you barely cooperated in allowing a search of your belongings."
"Even on a Federation starship, a captain has to have just cause to conduct a search. As it was, your security officers invaded our privacy and issued a false intruder alert while Paka was indisposed by illness," Argus argued with Davis.
"So, your claim is she was too incapacitated to respond for nearly an hour?" Davis asked.
"Precisely," Argus replied, "Your food synthesizer simply couldn't properly replicate an Orion specialty and Paka suffered the consequences."
"You've conducted a search of the quarters since I came out of the refresher. Your doctor verified I had a bacterial upset of the stomach and intestines. What have you actually found to accuse us of anything?" Paka demanded to know.
"You're right, of course. But then, you already knew that," Davis excused herself but stopped at the open door, "You'll undergo inspection every thirty minutes. Even when you're asleep."
She and Security excused themselves. Argus activated the padd she'd transferred what she could from the portable computer to it. She began scrolling through the results and scowled, "Today's scans are gibberish. They're sentences but there's no context. It's like the phrases are being randomly generated."
"Seems they saw us coming," Paka appreciated the ruse.
"This is Smith asserting dominance," Argus snarled, "Letting us we can't gain access to the research except under his observation."
"It's an elegant trap. I thought the portable computer gimmick was clever enough but he wasted hours just to set you up," Paka chuckled.
"Jones didn't know," Argus told her, "Smith is a hard read even for an El-Aurian. But Jones is an open book."
"He'll have told her by now," Paka told her, "And Security knows I got out unseen. Until we remove the dermal trackers Davis injected us with when she shook our hands, they'll know exactly where we are at all times. The inspections are just to distract us to the fact she bugged us with nanotech."
"I'm surprised you went along with it," Argus admitted,.
"I thought the job was done to satisfaction," Paka shrugged, "We'll just have to play the long game."
"Your certain your new scouts can track these starships from beyond their sensor range?" Argus asked again.
"For the last time, yes," Paka huffed.
"Smith will be expecting that as well," Argus frowned, "For a career A&A Officer, he thinks like Starfleet Intelligence."
"Your friend, Macen, rose from A&A to Starfleet Intelligence. Now look at him," Paka reminded her.
"Macen's near death experience at the hands of the Iridians pushed him back over to the 'law and order' camp again. After the Maquis, he was more a criminal than I am," Argus complained, "That Macen I could strike a deal with. He's the same yet vastly different at the same time. The Enforcers' effort to kill him doesn't produce that profound a change. Not after living the life he has."
"You're just angry you can't read him anymore," Paka laughed.
"I never could. That was the attraction. And the reason I couldn't be with him," Argus scowled, "He turned me in to the Survey Corps for selling artifacts on the black market to interstellar collectors. It saved my life. If I'd been benched on El-Auria, I'd have been assimilated by the Borg. The only survivors came from colony worlds or were outside El-Aurian territories. I was working a dig in the Beta Quadrant when word of the assimilation reached me. I didn't find out Macen was alive until the Enterprise reached a world I was living on. The Diplomatic Corps and Cultural Exchange Teams followed and they've never heard of data security."
"It's funny you specifically looked him up," Paka mused.
"If anyone would survive the Borg, or the Cardassians, the Dominion, or the Iridians, it's Macen," Argus warned, "And he's surrounded himself with like-minded specialists. And the harpy he's married to is an Angosian Infiltrator. The deadliest class of Augment produced during the Tarsus Wars."
"You just don't like her because she wants to kill you," Paka chuckled.
"It's a matter of self-preservation when it comes to someone like her. Your people's dealings with her as Annika Ryst border on the legendary," Argus warned her, "She's a single personality now and it isn't Ryst. She's inflexible."
"And she's protecting Macen from you," Paka said mirthfully.
"Our people and heritage are Macen's vulnerability. As a Seeker of Truth he's bound by custom and oath to pass both along to another El-Aurian," Argus explained, "Younger El-Aurians emigrated to the Federation from the Beta Quadrant. He should be seeking them out. Instead, he's taking assignments like these."{
"So, are you're upset he isn't passing on the knowledge or that his people could be in our way once they lead us to the prize?" Paka inquired.
"Both, I guess. He and Guinan's choices to marry outside the race reduces our reproductive threshold to 'endangered' status," Argus complained.
"So, basically you're bitching because he chose Rockford over you after knowing you were alive," Paka snickered.
"Like I said, I could never read him," Argus complained, "And we ended up up on seemingly opposing sides despite his conduct during the Maquis and after the Dominion War."
"Why the fixation on him?" Paka asked.
"Because he's my peer. I don't have many of those," Argus told her, "And the fact that he sees me as somehow less irritates me."
"But you said he read you," Paka argued, "That sounds one-sided."
"He reads my work," Argus clarified, "I'm a mystery to him. He sees people and sees puzzles. I look at them and see games."
"That's a fine tooth distinction," Paka grumbled.
"But it affects everything between us. Macen sees puzzles in people that need to be unlocked. I see games that can be played to manipulate them and their circumstances," Argus clarified,
"From what Gomer has said of Macen, he's a game player too," Paka admitted.
"Which means we're not that different," Argus complained, "He's still ideological where I've become ultimately practical."
"Anyone who fight alongside the Maquis is a lost cause," Paka warned her, "The Syndicate recruited former Maquis when it became clear politics were no longer their rive. Latinum was."
"Politics still drives them. Otherwise they wouldn't have forsaken the Federation," Argus did her own warning, "The Syndicate is just a means for them to set their own terms with the Federation. Or pay it back for its perceived slights."
"Everything is a game to you El-Aurians," Paka complained, "Sometimes greed is just that."
"Except these people weren't greedy even when they were stealing Cardassian leks to pay for their war," Argus reminded her, "So forgive my doubts."
"What are you going to do about Smith and Jones?" Paka asked.
"They expect us to pretend we don't know. So, we'll play that game. Meanwhile, I'll try to determine where the portable computer is stored when it's not in the lab. I'm confident this isn't the first time you've been nano tagged. I'm also confident you beat it before," Argus smirked.
"Am I already that predictable to you?' Paka whined.
"Only since we first slept together," Argus's smirk grew.
"So, we're broadcasting a retrieval code for an emergency beacon that's floating in the system on standby?" Zimbalist sought clarification from Forger.
"According the plan made by Smith and Kerber, the following set of destination coordinates will be encoded along with a log summary made by Doctors Smith and Jones," Forger told him, "We use the coordinates to follow them and Kerber and Smith hand over the logs to the Investigative Team."
"Which is why Smith and Kerber decoding the data burst and sending us our coordinates," Aglaia had easily understood Forger's directions. This was the first mission she was sharing the helm with Clara Bell. Bell had been a Maquis nearly as young as Ebert. She'd spent time under Ro's command during the Dominion War before Starfleet objected to her presence. Ro had reconnected with Bell and sent her to Macen. Joelle Jones had vouched for her as a former crewman. That had been enough to persuade Forger to take her on as the replacement Gamma Watch CONN Officer since the previous pilot had transferred to Station Flight Operations.
So far, the handovers between pilots had been smooth. Aglaia seemed to honestly like Bell. Jones' recommendation carried weight with her. Bell had left the SS Waylaid crew after the Jem'Hadar purge of the DMZ to find a way back into the fighting while Jones concentrated on keeping her crew together and alive. Despite their methodological differences, Jones respected Ro and knew from contacts within the Militia she was still in the fight against the Dominion. Getting Bell cleared by the Militia to serve aboard the SS Asimov had taken the first year and half of behind the lines sabotage work. But Bell came aboard as the new pilot, freeing Ro up to just command the missions.
Since Bell wasn't covered by either Ro or Macen's Maquis amnesty agreements, Starfleet wanted her transferred into their custody to prosecute. So her tenure hadn't lasted another year. But they ensured she escaped Federation custody. She'd piloted tramp freighters again, like she had before the Maquis, for a time. Then she signed on for work with a mercenary company. It was from there that Ro recruited her out of.
Every step in Bell's career was accompanied by a hair color change. Her naturally black hair was bleached platinum blonde to fit in the Waylaid crew. She'd gone neon pink during the Dominion War. Her hair had been neon green with the mercs. Now, it was a bright ombre effect red velvet. Even Jones, her longest serving commander aboard the Obsidian, couldn't explain the color compulsion. It seemed to be a means to an end of letting go of the previous assignment. Ro advised Jones and Forger not to dwell on it.
"We have our coordinates," Aglaia informed Forger, "The beacon was launched out an airlock four days ago along with scattered trash debris from Engineering."
"Make sense. If they were under observation, it would blend in as simple littering," Jones grinned.
"But they have a four day head start and can cruise at Warp 4," Forger complained, "We're restricted to Warp 3 by our Bajoran friends."
"So, ditch them," Jones said, "Macen and Rockford told you that you could justify the call by observing safety of the other crews."
"Colonel Wyn wants them attached at our hip," Forger reminded her.
"To make territorial claims they can't back," Jones reminded her, in turn, "Let them know we'll drop off comm buoys at the extreme edge of their range until we simply run out of buoys or catch up with our ships. We can still report our progress to them and they'll arrive too late to demand concessions."
"You've done this before?" Forger asked.
"Eddington would seize Cardie systems in the Dorvan Sector, plunder them, and get alerted to Gul Maret's responses by friendly Maquis forces in so-called 'empty' systems of no strategic value other than to form up an early detection grid. For all Ro and Macen's posturing against Eddington, he brought some smarts into the Maquis as well," Jones touted, "He reported actionable intelligence to Cal Hudson almost as soon as he arrived on Deep Space Nine. If he hadn't been forced to reveal himself by taking control of the convoy of industrial replicators headed to Cardassia Prime, Things may have stayed that way indefinitely since Starfleet Security on the station and for Sisko answered to Eddington."
"Definitely not the hallmark of the 'extremist' they've been branded as being," Forger confessed.
"Sisko resorted to the same 'extreme measures' to get Eddington to surrender. But Starfleet never charged him with deploying a weapon of mass destruction on a human colony," Jones was visibly agitated.
"Macen and Ro are quick to point out Starfleet is self-blinding," Forger reluctantly admitted.
"The Alpha Watch is concluded," Jones noted the arrival of the Gamma watchers, including Bell, "I'll keep you posted if anything interesting turns up while we chase cold warp trails."
"You do that," Forger chuckled, "I'll be in the Team Room getting a drink. You should check in when your watch is over to see if I'm still there. Kovic has a new strategy game she's challenged all comers to. I thought I'd give her run for it."
"Anyone else take her up on it yet?" Jones asked.
"Miller tried but Jaycee couldn't pull it off. She came the closest though. Abby Collins refuses to even try," Forger chuckled as he excused herself. Jones oversaw the watch changeover. Aglaia lingered longer than necessary. Obviously, the Platonian was bored with the last week so chatting up her duty replacement for dirt wasn't a distraction since Bell was already briefed by Aglaia on the watch updates. Jones would let Aglaia stick around as long as she wasn't posing as a distraction. But frankly, they weren't exactly making precision maneuvers.
Two days later, the Neverwhere and Tigerlilja made orbit over an advanced world. The inhabitants, no one was labeling them 'natives' yet, were warp capable. Paka and Argus accompanied Smith and Jones' security detail to the surface. Though the security seemed directed at the Syndicate employees rather than the representatives dispatched to assist the archaeologists' examination of the new familiar ruin site.
"We've conducted surveys of the site over the centuries," the leading historian told them, "We managed to cobble together translations of some the text left behind but there samples that defy our translation programs. They have no direct context with other script left behind in the retreat."
"You have a history describing it?" Argus jumped on that point.
"Our people maintained a distance from the invaders. They brought in slave races. Most of whom died off to bacterial and viral infections once the slavers departed," the historian told them, "What history we learned from them were of other worlds they couldn't describe how they left. Merely that they'd been brought here. Not to sound judgmental, but they were primitives by comparison. We were amid an industrial revolution and world travel and communications was within our grasp. But the slavers cane here for a solitary resource. Its supply ran out shortly after they left."
"Our sensors detected signs of ancient strip mining. The ecology is still recovering," Smith replied.
"This site was the locus of their mining operations," the native told them, "We always assumed we weren't the only resource rich targets. But it seems that key resources were shared by the words you've explored?"
"A mineral deposit known as dilithium," Jones explained, "We process warp core power through it."
"And you're wondering how we achieve it with an existing absence of dilithium on the planet," the historian deduced, "The invaders only pillaged our world because they could tolerate its atmosphere and so could their slaves. The airless or methane worlds in our system still have an abundance of what you refer to as dilithium."
"But they deploy dilithium warp cores for travel purposes," Argus argued.
"Let me show you what we reversed engineered to achieve warp power," the historian led them to an interior chamber still kept lit, "This held a warp core. Obviously the slavers didn't feel threatened by abandoning it. There were other sundry technologies as well but nothing pertaining to spaceflight. Just power generation."
"Could we inspect this site more thoroughly?" Jones asked.
"Your equipment seems more sensitive and specialized than our own. You'll share your discoveries?" the historian asked.
"Leave a team with us and we'll coordinate everything through them," Smith offered.
"Are there any populated worlds visited by both the slavers and your people within travel distance?" Argus inquired.
"No, we've reached interstellar neighbors but none of them share our history even though their worlds or solar systems contain dilithium," he answered.
"Meaning their capacity for scouting and excavating worlds was more limited than we first assumed," Argus told Smith and Jones, "I find it interesting that a people with your history are exploiting your neighbors in a trade imbalance, transferring technologies at a vast sum compared to the resources you're extorting from them."
The historian bristled, "We did not acquire our technology cheaply. Our planet still suffers barren zones in the slavers' acquisition of dilithium."
"Which could breed empathy rather than exploitation," Argus replied,
"Your time here s done," the historian snapped, "Please gather your personnel expediently and we'll see you out of our system."
"That could've gone more diplomatically," Smith scowled at Argus.
"We have the scans we need," Argus replied, "In exchange for the real translations, I'll share the scans I've been conducting of this site's internal layout."
Small orbs flew to gather at Argus where she opened a small tricorder case and they flew into it. Jones realized they'd been had, "So, you obviously penetrated the lab."
"Of course," Paka snorted with derision, "Your people aren't very good at security."
"I exchange my scans for your complete translation log," Argus offered, "And only give it a few more minutes before the locals compare notes on just out of eye range anomalies."
Smith begrudgingly had them beamed aboard the Neverwhere. Davis reported to him to apprise of their escort, "They made good on their threat. We're being herded out of the system to a point of their choosing."
"Away from their trade victims," Argus gloated.
"From now on, Doctor Argus and her minder will be retiring for the evenings on the Tigerlilja," Smith told Davis, "It'll be inconvenient but better than the alternative."
"I'll begin coordinating with Captain Watts," Davis got one last parry in, "I'm certain you won't mind us sending your gear aboard separately."
"Feel free," Argus projected calm assurance. Inside she was seething. They were about lose all chances at copying the translation matrix to run their own independent study with. Now she was relying upon Smith and Jones for access. They were being forced out of the relevant star system because of her and their scouts hadn't caught up yet. There was no telling how the Orion Syndicate would be received now.
Argus had faith in the inhabitants' mercenary motives. The Syndicate would meet their price even with limited means. The following scoutships were loaded with illicit narcotics, alcohols, and a few sex workers. They even had limited gaming opportunities. Every creature had its vices. Even if they weren't aware of them yet.
"We've pinged the specified solar system. There's no beacon," Forger explained to Macen and Rockford in her Ready Room.
"Sweep the surrounding systems," Macen instructed, "The local starship crews weren't happy to identify us. And their precise umbrage suggested they took a turn with the Orion Syndicate and are still reeling from it."
"You think the Orions are following our people?" Forger asked.
"Definitely following them," Rockford told her, "My guess would be they tried to strike a bargain. They probably tried to get crew aboard our ships. They might even have succeeded in exchange for backing off. Which, of course, they won't do."
"This will slow us down," Forger grumbled.
"But it opens a door for Major Kris and Captain Gil to play an important part. The locals don't like humans or near-humans. They might approach Bajorans differently," Macen shrugged, "At least they'll feel needed."
"Kerber and Smith will flag you if we get coordinates," Forger sighed, "I can't say I'm reassured by the idea that the Orions are tracking two of our starships."
"I'd be less reassured by the idea they got someone aboard them," Macen said dourly.
Rockford entered Macen's office, "You think she's involved."
"It's her type of market," Macen said grimly, "And she has insights that Smith and Jones would be looking to trade for."
"Taryn Argus is an ongoing threat. One you won't let us deal with," Rockford complained.
"Is this personal?" Macen asked.
"Damn skippy it is. She's tried to have me killed on more than one occasion. I get that you won't kill her. The past of one of your kind and whatnot. But what stops her from killing you?" Rockford asked, "Because she's had opportunity she just seems to lack motive."
"She's sees me as her only peer," Macen confessed, "She won't attempt to kill me until she thinks she fully understands me rather than being something of an enigma to her."
"Are you her peer?" Rockford had to ask.
"In many ways. But you're my peer as well. I chose your company over hers. She can't stand that," Macen told her.
"So, she literally is the jealous ex," Rockford scowled.
"It's the challenge of understanding me. She can't predict me or my actions. She can scarcely identify with my motives," Macen elaborated, "That makes me interesting to her. El-Aurians typically have a hard time finding interesting people."
"If she gets bored with you, then she tries to kill you," Rockford understood now, "And your refusal to kill her keeps her in the game."
"And it keeps her employers identifiably in the game," Macen agreed.
"Why didn't you tell me about her fixation before?" Rockford asked.
"Because until recently, I wasn't certain it existed," Macen explained.
"I find that hard to believe," Rockford snorted.
"She's an enigma to me as well," Macen had to explained further, "We come from similar backgrounds and ended up at completely different moral points on the compass. I confess I don't understand all of her choices. She suffers from an amorality that borders on sociopathy."
"That couldn't be that difficult for you to understand. Starfleet accused you of the same," Rockford reminded him.
"But it was an accusation, not a fact. Clinical sociopathy is the absence of empathy. Something no El-Aurian in good mental health can claim. Our culture is built around listening and empathizing," Macen told her, "Outliers like Soran and Argus are rarities."
"And you when you flip that switch inside," Rockford reminded him.
"But mine is a conscious decision, reached by assessing alternative methods. Argus, it's just natural to her," Macen warned her.
"You've told me how she came to Federation space through the Deeper Beta Quadrant. So, she never went through the Nexus?" Rockford sought a point of clarity.
"Otherwise she might have assisted Soran in trying to get back to it," Macen admitted.
"Which, he did in at least one reality," Rockford reminded him.
"And in another, James T. Kirk survived his encounter with Soran to eventually end up in this universe," Macen concurred, "How and why are still largely unknown."
"Neela's convinced our home reality was destroyed," Rockford noted to herself, "I wonder if the Quantum Portal the USS Cerritos fixed to this universe had something to do with that."
"The portal didn't exist in our universe. It definitely has limits even Starfleet is still unaware of," Macen admitted, "In the years since it opened, the exploration teams have noted that the quantum realities are already distancing themselves further apart than before the fissure opened."
"The Mars Massacre certainly changed Starfleet's perception of it. Instead of exploiting it for research purposes, they've set a guard around it," Rockford had read the same reports he had, "Starbase 80 went from pariah to the new Deep Space Nine in strategic importance."
"And commanded by the first El-Aurian born in the Alpha Quadrant," Macen said smugly.
"I knew you couldn't let that go," Rockford rolled her eyes.
The door chimed before opening automatically. Macen maintained an "open door" policy to his office while he was in residence. Smith walked in.
"They found the beacon several star systems away from its designated point. Doctor Smith and Jones have log updates. You won't like one of then," she warned hem both.
"Meaning Taryn Argus joined the expedition," Rockford grated.
"You already guessed?" Smith was only mildly surprised.
"It was a logical conclusion that the Orions would hire her and a few other experts in the field," Macen told her, "But if Argus alone joined them, I could only hazard guesses at who the others would be."
"She came aboard the Neverwhere with an Orion minder," Smith warned them, "One who successfully broke out of their shared quarters and evaded security. They're being housed aboard the Tigerlilja now while the research is underway aboard the Neverwhere. It seems Smith devised using a portable computer for the lab rather than tie it into the ship's systems. It seems Doctor Argus provoked the locals into escorting our ships out of their sphere of influence."
"To control the flow of information," Macen gathered, "She found a means of countering Smith's exclusive access to the lab's computer."
"Did either Doctor Smith or Jones mention Orions following them?" Rockford asked.
"They suspect it but they don't have confirmation and neither Argus nor her minder have attempted to contact anyone outside the ship," Smith told them, "You can read the summaries yourselves. Angelique updated the bridge as to their next destination. It seems they spent time in this area gathering the data needed to calculate the next stop."
"Meaning we're catching up," Rockford grinned.
"Aglaia estimates we're two days behind them at Warp 6," Smith explained, "Our ships are still cruising at Warp 4."
Smith excused herself. Rockford looked worried, "The Orion Syndicate will only play hands off for so long."
"The two corporate vessels may be older heavy cruisers but it was still require at least an Orion raider or two to overwhelm them. If these are modern scouts, they might just equalize forces," Macen told her, "Which means they want the crews distracted by a survey of a planet and to get Argus and her minder off of the ships."
"I wonder how Noble and Locarno are dealing with the boredom," Rockford noted, "They have much smaller crews so they only man single watches."
"Joelle has the Gamma Watch overseeing computer operations aboard the Solstice and Nova while the crew is off duty. They're maintain twelve hour watches but so far there hasn't been an overwhelming need to maintain a full bridge crew," Macen told her.
"And it gives the Gamma Watch something extra to do to feel more important," Rockford grinned slyly, "Astute thinking."
"Jones was a successful freighter captain before the Maquis. She learned to be a decent armed vessel commander. She's obviously blossomed over the years since," Macen said.
"I'll be sure to tell her you said so," Rockford smirked.
"Joelle and I settled our past differences," Macen shrugged, "She found out I recommended her for her post with Shannon. I thought it would prove to be a stepping stone if she really had changed. Shannon has recommended her for her own command but she's turned down three offers of an independent command."
"Her Maquis crew were her family even after the purge and the Dominion War ended," Rockford had noted, "When her crew went into retirement, she was adrift. She's found a sense of family here. She values that above her own command."
"She certainly adapted to the crew's needs," Macen had also made his notes, "And the needs of our team."
"I think she relishes our being outside the corporate chain of command," Rockford mused, "I think she'd have a hard time even taking orders from Tom."
"Being outside the Starfleet styled chain of command appeals to a lot of ex-Maquis," Macen said ruefully.
"Meaning Noble and Locarno," Rockford brought it back.
"Locarno doesn't mind answering to station authority. It's essential to his Flight Operations. He's never had fleet responsibilities, so he has no issues with taking orders from Tom," Macen explained, "Chris is more complicated. She's never wanted a fleet command of her own. Even having her as Acting Captain of the Solstice under the station's banner riled her. She never wanted her role with Station Ops. So Sveta, Sakonna and I brainstormed this solution."
"Without warning Riker or Danan," Rockford accused.
"No one expected Chris to hare off across the quadrants to support us on Raas," Macen said glumly, "Because of Argus' actions in this area, we can't deploy a comm buoy directly in line with our last drop off. So, we'll be losing touch with Serenity even through the Militia comm array."
"Having you spoken with Tom?" Rockford worried.
"He was very...professional about it," Macen said cautiously, "Obviously Korepanova got to him first and Lees did some intervening. Once he saw he wasn't having his authority usurped but that Noble and Locarno actually wanted this to happen, he calmed down quite a bit. He even saw an opportunity in investing in new Gamma Watch officers. Gerrit had been bemoaning sharing Sito and Tulley with fleet command, even as rare as it was. I was under the impression Sito's decision to move forward without consulting him hurt his feelings more than the actual transfers."
"They've come a long way together since being Cardassian prisoners," Rockford admitted, "Her neglecting to mention it probably did seem like a personal blow."
"Shannon has been briefing Noble and Locarno concerning our joint progress," Macen told her, "I was about to contact them regarding specific roles I want them to perform when we get caught up to our missing parties...and their presumable Orion trackers."
"I contacted Chris over a personal matter. She is still wearing SID uniform," Rockford had noted with interest, "Despite your claim she's outside of the chain of command."
"So do Shannon and the crew," Macen replied glibly, "Except when undercover."
"So, is that a contradiction in terms?" Rockford wondered.
"They're still corporate and they're still SID vetted. Keeping the uniforms was part of Chris' idea. Locarno does it because I told him to. But Noble and the others still need clout with SID fleet assets. That means captains and crews that won't respond well to those out of corporate uniform," Macen explained, "Noble gets that since in her role as Station Ops, she dealt with them all the time."
"Why do I have the distinct impression most of our ex-Starfleet officers are still stuck up?" Rockford asked.
"They all left Starfleet over the way it's changed since the wars and the Mars Massacre but they still suffer from pride in the uniform. Even if it isn't an official Starfleet uniform. It's Starfleet mandated. So, it serves as that ego crutch," Macen told her.
"And the Orions might confuse the uniform with Starfleet uniforms," Rockford happily noted.
"That too," Macen grinned.
Macen had a wall of monitor displays at one end of his office. Noble was taking the meeting in the ship's Briefing Room, which remained, even in the refitted model type, at the rear of the bridge. The entire crew as gathered before individual monitor screens so they could see and be seen. Locarno held court in his Ready Room, which was cubicle big enough for two off of the Coyote-class starship's bridge and reminiscent of a NX-class Ready Room.
"So, first things first: how do the upgrades to the ship rate?" Macen asked from the viewers.
"She's like the dream version of the Blackbird-class Darcy, Lacey, and I spent months debating in our leisure time at Kalendra Sector shipyard," Eckles chuckled.
"The new warp core adapted to the design really well and provides surplus power," Darcy agreed.
"And I have Type X phaser strips now rather than Type VIII phaser banks," Lacey happily refrained from drooling.
"Any drawbacks?" Macen had to ask.
"The impulse engines need fine tuning," Sito reported, "We accelerate in an almost uncontrolled surge."
"The Defiant-class had a similar initial problem," Thool had been reading up, "Chief O'Brien managed to square it way with few modifications."
"OPS is a dream," Hendryks admitted, "And the Data Womb Smith and Kerber dreamed up for the refit model outperforms all expectations."
"Tulley, any remarks or observations?" Macen asked him his opinion.
"The ship's systems survived test trials but we have no idea how it'll respond to real combat," Tulley said dourly, "And I know our old raiders were half as well designed or practically built from the keel up when they were modified but it's still a question we haven't answered yet."
"We don't have any idea of what the Orions threw into this effort," Noble clarified, "Their battlecruisers and raiders were a new level of performance art for them. None of us are rated to take on a small flotilla of raiders much less a small pocket of battlecruisers."
"Colonel Wyn's reports and sensor logs reported a dearth of scoutships in the Raas invasion. I think because they were needed elsewhere," Macen told them all.
"Meaning here," Noble caught the implication, "Now many could we be talking about?"
"Deep Space Nine reported a dozen of each ship type transiting the Wormhole before hostilities broke out with Bajor," Macen told them, "But I seriously doubt they'd commit a dozen scouts to a single effort. Invading a system is one thing but the Orion offices at Waypoint are still scouting markets for their brand of vices. It would take a major decision from Gomer herself to pull many of those same resources into a treasure hunt."
"But we could still be outnumbered," Tulley said grimly.
"There is that chance," Macen admitted.
"And with the exception of the Eclipse, we have the corporation's least capable corporate starships collected here," Noble said wearily.
"This ship will surprise you," Eckles promised, "The original turn of the century Blackbird-class was a tough little ship. The Cardies were right to fear them. We took all the best features from the class and built a modernized version."
"We took pains to reinforce the EPS grid so the warp core won't overload the systems even under duress," Darcy promised, "The core is remarkable. I can't believe it's tailor fit for small ships."
"How did we come by the core specs anyway?" Thool asked a lingering question.
"Some things are better left unanswered," Macen chuckled.
"Especially when asked by Captain Vaughn or Commander Ro," Hendryks gathered.
"I'd leave them out of any conversations regarding the ship's warp core," Rockford advised, "It's easier to plead ignorance than innocence."
"So? Why call us together?" Locarno asked.
"'I have specific instructions for you when we encounter the Orions following the Neverwhere and the Tigerlilja," Macen told them.
"This should good," Noble said ruefully.
"A personal mission scout," Danan remarked as Ro emerged from the airlock, "Why does your visit rate an official support craft?"
"Because I'm here on business," Ro sighed.
"And here I thought you were visiting old friends," Danan said glumly.
"I'm here in an unofficial capacity," Ro told her as they moved the station towards Ro's assigned quarters Danan had arranged for, "I'm doing an inquiry into whether or not to launch an official inquiry."
"That's sounds tedious," Danan remarked, "Who do they have you hunting down probable cause on?"
"Macen," Ro stopped in the corridor to let it sink in, "The Admiralty is changing the old guard out. Those waiting in the wings have their doubts about Macen's intentions regarding the Federation."
"They are aware that Outbound Ventures is the SID's single largest contractor for irregular operatives?" Danan asked.
"Which is what makes them nervous," Ro told her, "The company has amassed a significant fighting force in the name of those contracts."
"And these admirals wonder of they can or will be used against Starfleet?" Danan asked, "I thought this was behind us."
"For Tyrol and the company, it's behind you. This is about Macen," Ro said glumly.
"The Maquis was a long time ago," Danan sighed.
"And we both know our Brin Macen isn't the one the history books record after the Dominion surrendered," Ro said tersely, "Commodore Oh has the specter of Macen running a private force within Outbound Ventures."
Danan hesitated just long enough for Ro to catch it, "He has, hasn't he?"
"Tom just found out himself," Danan told her, "Thad's death and Will and Deanna's situation shifted his focus. He ignored a lot of what happened on the station afterwards. A few surprises occurred and now he's refocused."
"So, he can answer my questions," Ro shifted the weight of her duffel, "The sooner we get it over with the sooner we can spend some actual personal time together."
"Sounds good. But, I'll warn you, Tom didn't find out half as much as he wanted to," Danan told her, "We might have to speak confidentially and off the record."
"Let me drop this bag off and you clear Tom's schedule," Ro offered, "I already spoke with Vaughn. On the record. It didn't go well."
"I'll warn, Tom," Danan promised.
"Ro Laren, always a pleasure," Riker greeted Ro with a handshake, "Will finally told me why you were awkward around me."
"That was a secret that could've stayed buried," Ro grunted, "I suppose Lees told you why I'm here?"
"Your timing couldn't be worse," Riker admitted.
"Did I spot a Romulan leading a repair party?" Ro asked.
"Zerinda. She's our new Chief of Operations," Riker shared, "The Cardassians arrested Cardan."
"Why?" Ro was stumped.
"He upgraded the defense systems. That violated an oath he took the Cardassian Guard," Riker said unhappily, "He complied with my wishes and it got him exiled to a dead end repair posting on Cardassia Prime."
"Courtesy of the diligent reporting of Agent Delain, no doubt," Ro scoffed.
"Brin and T'Kir signed an agreement with the Cardassians that the station would remain at specs when it comes to defenses," Riker complained, "No one ever bothered to inform me."
"Then how did you get the defense upgrades funded?" Ro asked.
"I redirected most of the maintenance budget to unspecified projects. No one from corporate came looking to find out what they were," Riker told her.
"Is that how Macen is funding black projects?" Ro asked him.
Riker looked abashed so Danan answered, "Brin and Celeste are diverting almost all of their personal wealth to funding those unspecified projects."
"How much are we talking about?" Ro inquired.
"They each receive fifteen percent of net profits," Riker said glumly.
"So, we're talking a significant sum," Ro realized, "I know the SID contract budget alone could fund planets."
"Which even deducting for salaries, acquisitions, ordnance, station and starship maintenance and upgrades, still accounts for the budget of several larger worlds," Riker admitted, "I never knew the sums until I went digging."
"I knew the SID subcontracted several Section 31 scientific projects and scientific inquiries your way. You're saying this unrelated?" Ro asked.
"Those projects are non-profit," Danan confessed, "Work for the work's sake."
"Yet, you'd classify these 'unspecified projects' as unrelated to the SID?" Ro inquired more sharply.
"They have nothing to do with our SID work," Riker said sternly.
"Are they part of your general security contracting operations?" Ro pounced on the next question.
"They aren't corporate operations," Danan sighed, "They're privately funded by Celeste and Brin."
"They direct them?" Ro didn't like what she was hearing.
"No," Riker said with relief, "They have an operations director the way I have Sveta and Kris."
"Is there any chance of meeting this 'director'?" Ro inquired.
"I can take you to their offices," Riker volunteered, "But once you get there, you'll see why you won't be getting any answers."
"I'll take my chances," Ro smirked.
The smirk faded when she was reunited with Sakonna. The Vulcan was as unperturbed by Ro's visit in uniform as she'd been negotiating arms deals, "I do not see the logic in your inquiry. Whatever official determination you make, it will not affect the admiralty's bias."
"At least tell me if your operations are legal or not," Ro grated.
"Since 'my operations' cover vast jurisdictions of varying government entities, I cannot tell you whether or not they violate local laws at any given time," Sakonna replied.
"Are they a threat to the Federation's security?" Ro bit out.
"It would not be logical to violate the Federation's security when its chief enforcement arm is the principal contracting partner of this corporation," Sakonna replied as straight forward as she seemed to be getting.
"Whose interests do you represent then?" Ro tried one last tactic.
"Do you adhere to the principle that there is a common and greater 'good' to be had by all?" Sakonna unexpectedly asked.
"That's why I joined the Maquis," Ro admitted.
"Then rest assured that such a common denominator is at work here," Sakonna offered.
"My superiors will want to know more about your operations," Ro argued.
"I have said all I am at liberty to speak of," Sakonna replied placidly.
"I noticed a number of old Maquis faces on the Promenade and in the Habitat Ring," Ro confided, "I can't imagine them contracting for Starfleet."
"Neither could I," Sakonna agreed.
Hakatay entered the office at that point and scowled, "Ro, you've gone back to Starfleet."
"Is that a problem?" she asked in reply.
"That depends on why Riker brought you here," Hakatay answered.
"Commander Ro is engaged in an unofficial inquiry as to Macen's loyalties. She fears he's building a sizable force to act against Federation interests," Sakonna briefed him.
"Macen's loyalties are to the people he's gathered here," Hakatay was angered by Ro's mission.
"Then maybe you can explain what you do here," Ro suggested, "Before it becomes an official inquiry."
"We deal with problems Starfleet ignores," Hakatay dug in, "If they don't like it, they can hunt us across the quadrants again."
Ro frowned, "Do you operate within Federation borders?'
"As I previously stated, we operate within multiple jurisdictions," Sakonna answered before Hakatay gave anything away.
"Do you remember the code the Maquis lived by?" Hakatay suddenly asked, "What activities we did and did not allow within the DMZ?"
"Of course," Ro easily recalled the Maquis enforcing their own brand of justice in the fairly lawless environment the Cardassian administrators of the colonies had allowed after the Federation ceded its colonies to the Cardassian Union or the DMZ.
"Then you'll understand if we aren't finished with that work," Hakatay snorted and exited the office.
"Thank you for your time," Ro said as a farewell to Sakonna. Out in the corridor, she made mention to Riker, "Brin's set up a vigilante police force?"
"Honestly, you just got more out of them then I did," Riker admitted, "I should tell you, Korepanova set up an Intelligence Unit. It's led by a Priyanka Amoor."
Ro groaned, "There's a name I never wanted to hear again."
"I read her redacted Starfleet personnel jacket. It seems she was offered early retirement in lieu of a court-martial," Riker mentioned.
"Amoor disagreed with Starfleet's official determination that an internal flaw in the synthetics caused the malfunction on Mars and Utopia Planitia Yards," Ro explained, "She threatened to go public with her so-called evidence."
"What was her evidence?" Riker asked.
"Amoor believed the Romulans, or at least a faction of them, sabotaged the relief effort after the Hobus disaster," Ro divulged, "She had witness testimony of Romulan agents who'd come forward to expose the 'crime'. Unfortunately for Amoor, all of her witnesses either vanished or recanted their testimony before disappearing. It made for good game theory but she didn't have any credible leads left to follow. So, when her avenue of investigation was closed, she threatened to go to the press."
"Which would have been a court-martial offense," Riker understood now.
"She met with Clarice Starr and Anna Snow, Ro told him further, "Which constituted a violation of her oath. Neither Starr nor Snow could pick up the cold trail Amoor left behind, so they dropped it with some persuasive efforts from Starfleet. Amoor was give her retirement offer."
"Sveta never mentioned any of this," Riker frowned.
"Korepanova might have her own reasons to trust Amoor's judgment but Starfleet Intelligence has branded her a conspiracy theorist looking for validation," Ro shrugged, "You can pick your own narrative."
"You're bothered by what Sakonna and Hakatay told you," Riker knew.
"If they are running their own vigilante justice corps, then it sets them up for an eventual clash with Starfleet Security and Federation Security," Ro said wearily, "And they could interfere with strategic law enforcement efforts."
"I hate to inform you, but we receive daily Starfleet Intelligence briefs. Amoor's unit breaks down summaries. If they have access, it's not a stretch to imagine Sakonna's team having access to different intelligence sources," Riker told her.
"They can't access Starfleet files?" Ro was relieved.
"Sakonna and her operations assets operate off the corporate grid. They have no connection to the security contracts, Starfleet or otherwise," Riker assured her, "Korepanova did the internal review to find out Sakonna's people operate independently with no share of Starfleet largesse headed their way. Actually, Sveta doesn't know how Sakonna gathers her operations data. But the operatives are all ex-Maquis and have heavy ties with the Orion Syndicate and other criminal cartels."
"Meaning they work as spies inside those cartels," Ro ventured, "I'm assuming they're also saboteurs and assassins."
"They are former Maquis," Riker conceded.
"Which means they be at an impasse inside my own investigations into extremist groups," Ro scowled again.
"Brin and Celeste are privy to your reports," Riker told her, "My best guess is he steers Sakonna away from groups you're targeting."
"That would help explain Sakonna's caginess about 'multiple jurisdictions'. She probably doesn't have any authority whatsoever to operate anywhere," Ro realized, "That's why the company is legally distanced from her operations. If there's any blowback it can be labeled a 'rogue operation' and the corporation can carry on business as usual."
"So, does that settle the inquiry?" Riker hoped it did.
"We have circumstantial proof that Macen and Rockford are running a covert ops department they personally pay for," Ro told him, "I still don't why they do it. Motive is the heart of the investigation. Starfleet's rising chain of command wants a guarantee that they won't facing a rogue operation in the future. I already have pressure on me from Nechayev to report Neela's activities. Macen and Rockford have been applying a lot of leverage to kep her quest a secret. But, Starfleet Security isn't stupid. They've cross-referenced my own investigations into the Pah-wraith Cult and tied that religion into the common factor between victims."
"Did you say 'victims'? Riker stopped her progression towards the turbolift.
"Neela is massacring cultists across the Alpha Quadrant," Ro told him flatly, "She hasn't been identified as the culprit but it's been close. And I know Brin and Celeste let her operate out of here."
"There's more to it," Riker said glumly, "They're funding most of Neela's expenses. The Militia diverts funds to her campaign but the black latiuum slush fund pays her way above and beyond what the Militia has budgeted for her. Frankly, they can't afford her."
"Tom, Neela's a known religious figure from Bajor. She gets found out and tensions between the Bajoran Republic and the Federation will go back to conflict level engagement," Ro warned him, "She can't be discovered or caught and she won't back down of her own accord."
"Lees and I have no sway over her," Riker warned Ro, "The only people she'll listen to are Macen and Rockford."
"Why them?" Ro asked.
"It's more Macen than Rockford. It goes back to some experience you all had with the Prophets back during the Dominion War," Riker told her what he knew, "Lees got that much out of Rockford."
"Vaughn transferred out of SOC and into Deep Space Nine's chain of command based off of an Orb experience," Ro shared, "That can't be coincidental."
They entered the turbolift and waited for its other occupants to exit at the Promenade. They continue don to Ops. Riker broke the tense silence, "You have to admit, the Wormhole aliens positioned us all like chess pieces. Whatever experience you had during the war, it's shaped Macen's entire priority structure."
"And how does an unsanctioned, illegal police force factor in?" Roi grated.
"That's more of a Maquis thing," Riker told her as they crossed Ops to enter his office, "He spent a lot time and effort recruiting grudging Maquis and repurposing them towards something constructive. I knew that most of them maintained criminal ties. I didn't realize until now that's the benefit of having them aboard. Sakonna is placing operatives within target organizations. Hakatay made mention that they're acting where Starfleet won't. Maybe that's a literal interpretation of his meaning."
"Hakatay was never one for hyperbole," Ro mused, "But let's say there's no conflict of interest. It doesn't mean it'll stay that way."
The door chimed and Riker allowed entrance to Danan. She grinned, "How'd it go with the Vulcan Maid of Mystery?"
"She's running a vigilante force," Ro told her in certain terms.
"That's more than we got out of her," Danan admitted.
"It was Sakonna's way of letting me know to back off of her arrangements with Macen and Rockford," Ro told her.
"What happened to 'Brin and Celeste'?" Danan wondered.
"Right now, I have to consider Macen a suspect, not a friend," Ro told them, "If I can't produce a clean bill of loyalist's health, there's trouble ahead."
"And you can't do that," Riker realized Ro was warning them.
"Macen is being Macen and running operations he shouldn't be involved in," Ro sighed, "He may be seeking the Federation's best interest but the Admiralty wants an oath of allegiance."
"To avoid another conflict of interests like when we deployed to assist Bajor during the war," Riker grasped the implications.
"The traditional wing of Starfleet assumed power then," Ro told them, "They're all retiring. Even Nechayev is looking to groom a successor."
"Leaving Forger and Johnson as our sole solid support in Starfleet Command," Danan understood it as well.
"Macen will never swear an oath to Starfleet again," Ro knew already, "That's why he maintains a separate command outside of your authority. He answers to Forger directly."
"You should know this. Two starships and crews have been assigned to Sakonna's unit," Riker advised her, "They're SID vetted so they'll have the right to war the uniform when it serves their purposes."
"Who are the captains?" Ro asked.
"Chris Noble and Nick Locarno," Danan told her.
"That's something of a relief," Ro admitted, "Locarno proved he can be a wild card with that Nova Fleet nonsense. Who did Noble choose as crew?"
"She has Elfi Hendryks, Aric Tulley, Tom Eckles, Heidi Darcy, Chris Lacey, Emjin Thool, and Sito Jaxa as her crew," Riker told her.
"The merry band of misfits," Ro smirked, "At least they're level headed. Who did Locarno choose?"
"They and his ship were arranged for outside of my authority," Riker was still irked by that, "Noble's crew worked as station support personnel. Locarno's are new hires. I don't know how they were recruited or why Locarno chose them."
"And Sito never discussed particulars with you?" Ro was surprised to hear that.
"Sito went AWOL with Noble just before the recorded message was time stamped for delivery to inform me if the change of their designations," Now Riker sounded definitely angry.
"That must have cost Sito a lot," Ro defended her, "She's very loyal to you as a friend. Given what she transferred into, she was probably convinced she was protecting you."
"She's deserted her post," Riker said stiffly.
"So did a certain Tom Riker to arrive on Ronara Prime brought to me by Chakotay," Ro reminded him, "So, you can't disparage her for actions you yourself have been guilty of when you thought you had good reason to do them."
"No wonder you got something out of Sakonna," Danan was impressed.
"Hakatay getting angry gave most of it away," Ro told her, "But Sakonna quietly confirmed everything and told me to back off."
"In a very Vulcan way," Danan grinned.
"Do you have any idea of when they'll all return from the Gamma Quadrant?" Ro asked.
"How did you know they were there?" Riker asked.
"Vaughn's crew keeps track of particular vessels entering and exiting the Wormhole," Ro told him, "Most of the Outbound Ventures ships returned. The Obsidian wasn't one of them. But the Razor's Edge was among them."
"Captain Gardner made an initial report with quotes from Brin," Riker told her, "They're still under contract with the Archaeology Guild and Forger signed off on a SID contract to go along with the Guild's request. Her terms were transmitted before we lost contact with the corporate ships."
"They're out of contact?" Ro was concerned.
"They left known space," Danan explained.
"What about the Militia's scouts or Starfleet's exploration squadron under Commodore Saavik?" Ro felt an old sense of urgency..
"They're completely of the united comm arrays' range," Riker told her, "They knew this was a possibility."
"What could they possibly be looking for?" Ro was exasperated.
"Iconian technology hijacked by a slave race," Danan told her, "They're in a race with Orion Syndicate to locate it and secure it."
"How do they know Iconian tech is in uncharted space?" Ro had to wonder.
"Apparently, the former slaves created their own short lived terroristic empire. The El-Aurians banded the Metrons among others and repelled them. They found humans and other Federation races on worlds in uncharted Gamma Quadrant space," Danan explained, "Apparently these 'Skaarians' didn't learn any empathy while they were slaves."
"From the reports we did receive, the Skaarians practiced a scorched earth policy in their retreat. They left their slaves behind to fend for themselves or die slowly," Riker said grimly, "They've found evidence of dead populations on several worlds and surviving humans on an Ascendant influenced planet called Raas. But a new potential threat to the Ascendant and the Bajorans was discovered as well."
"Of course," Ro snorted, "Why not?"
"Colonel Wyn Meru filed reports with General Anara of the Militia Colonial Defense Forces. Anara apprised General Kira. Kira chose to alert Starfleet of a potential threat coming through the Wormhole. She also filed a report that the threat seems to be aligned with the Cult of the Pah-wraiths," Riker informed her, "The Militia forwarded those reports to me as well. Korepanova is devising threat response scenarios right now."
"In case you get pulled into a defense of the Bajor Sector or its Gamma Quadrant colonies," Ro nodded her understanding, "What's known about this race?"
"Macen and Neela arranged for an extended ride along in one of their starships. Kerber and Smith quietly downloaded their tactical and strategic database," Riker grinned, "So, we know where they relocated to from Raas and their strategic capabilities. But the report from Captain Gardner warned that the Orion Syndicate is reaching out them first. So, there could be additional trouble from that front as well."
"This day just gets better and better," Ro groused.
"Take a seat," Riker requested, "We need to discuss your inquiry report."
Ro frowned, "You're not under review. The entire SID section of Outbound Ventures is under constant Starfleet scrutiny. So, there's no blow back from anything I report about Macen."
"Except, your findings could indict Celeste. They are equal business partners in the co-venture of Outbound Ventures and the Rockford Detective Agencies," Danan reminded her, "The Rockford Agencies could be hurt by any inquiry you bring against her."
"Her agencies are private investigators. They rarely work with the police," Ro didn't quite get the warning.
"But they report findings to the police. Just as Outbound Ventures reports to the SID. A blow to their founder's credibility would have far reaching consequences," Danan told her, "Including loss of of operating licenses inside the Federation."
"I can't report that Macen isn't running his own agenda," Ro said defiantly, "I can blur the vigilante force's existence. But the fact that Macen himself won't partake in swearing allegiance to the Federation will bother most of the rising admiralty."
"Have you considered recommending he take an oath not to harm Federation interests and security?" Riker asked, "He'd buy into that."
"Brin's goal has always been to enhance the Federation, not tear it down," Danan told Ro, "You and he had those discussion back in the Maquis days."
"I remember," Ro replied, "Which is why I won't report on Sakonna's little operation. I can work your angle but I don't know if that will suffice for admirals like Kirsten Clancy. They're talking about promoting her back to Fleet Admiral after Jellico retires. She made powerful friends in the Federation Council. Patrons that would like nothing better than to see her return to the to being Starfleet Commander."
"I thought Fleet Admirals were chosen because they had no black marks on their record," Danan was also a former Starfleet officer.
"These patrons see her reprimand and its reasons as a motivation t support her,' Ro told them, "Federation Security has been cooperating with a private inquiry Nechayev is personally running. Politicians seem to forget their Federation Security details are fellow humanoids. They're treated like furniture with phasers. The politicos speak openly about their intentions with the agents in the room or in the corridors as politicians strategize future actions."
"Why is Jellico stepping down?" Riker asked.
"Jellico never wanted to be Fleet Admiral. He's doing it as a favor to Akaar. But he already announced his intention of being an interim Starfleet Commander while a longer term officer is selected. The catch is, tradition holds that Fleet Admirals retire rather than revert back to lower postings. It stretches back to the United Earth Starfleet," Ro explained the motivation.
"Jellico would stay on if he thought he could course correct Starfleet," Riker said.
"That's probably true," Ro sighed, "But Picard's resignation began a sweep of the Old Guard retiring from their posts. A few, like Janeway, are entrenched and fighting. But the rest are giving up. Most of them, Like Janeway herself, have been marginalized as the sphere of influence. Janeway has been reassigned as Starfleet's chief troubleshooter for events and actions that don't qualify for Johnson's diplomatic touch. That keeps her away from Starfleet Command."
"And Admiral Freeman and Commodore Saavik were given commands of exploration teams," Danan saw the pattern emerging.
"Starbase 80 may finally have achieved relevance but both Freemans are also out of the Admiralty's way," Ro said.
"My proposed path is the best concession you'll get," Riker advised Ro, "I suggest you lean into your pitch for it."
"I have a few other concerns about elements Macen has allowed to come aboard Serenity. So, I'll be staying a few extra days to observe them in action," Ro told them.
"If you're talking about Delain and Neela, I personally signed off on their ongoing residence," Riker warned her.
"The presence of the Archaeology Guild and a few rogues formerly of its ranks also rate up there," Ro told him.
"They're security concerns?" Riker inquired in reply.
"Why? They're civilians," Danan argued, "Researchers, actually."
"Researchers who receive funding from anyone and everyone," Ro replied.
"This still a civilian station and a civilian port of trade for both Barrinor and Odin, " Riker grated, "Starfleet accepted that when they offered the retainer."
"And they still do. They just have worried concerning the motivations behind certain elements," Ro replied.
"Seriously? The Archaeology Guild?" Danan scoffed, "Starfleet supports them on several digs a year."
"And by doing so, Starfleet monitored where the artifacts were going," Ro explained, "The research was always published and scrutinized. The guild is yielding fewer artifacts a year and hardly publishing findings. All since they halted Starfleet support and Federation funding."
"So, this about having Starfleet control the Archaeology Guild," Riker was angered, "Or, at least their losing control over the Guild."
"They've been excavating a lot of well documented historical worlds lately. The difference in the historical records from new sites is that these worlds had violent histories and innumerable unfound weapons caches," Ro grew terse herself.
"So, you're essentially accusing the Archaeology Guild of gunrunning?" Danan scoffed.
"Kai Winn tried to use Neela as a weaponized enforcer. Benign facades don't reveal the rotten core underneath," Ro reminded her.
"It's funny that both Delain and Neela are due back tomorrow and you've decided to stay aboard," Riker mentioned, "It's like you looked into commercial shuttle passenger lists and station arrival logs."
"I can neither confirm nor deny," Ro smirked.
"I'll be having the station's firewalls upgraded," Riker told her, "You know that."
"And I never back away from a good challenge," Ro chuckled, "The commercial shuttle services are fair game since they could invest in tighter security of their own but refuse to."
"Agent Delain has been an asset to our work. She's assisted in several contracts," Riker reminded Ro, "Something you're already aware of."
"But she comes from a hostile power and is offering help to a Starfleet subcontractor. I need to determine why."
"You're not going to try and arrest Neela and her crew, are you?" Danan sought clarification.
"I don't officially have enough evidence to charge them with anything. And unless Admiral Forger makes it official SID business, you have no reasons to arrest her. I have no jurisdiction in neutral space," Ro reminded them, "But Neela went from a solo operation to a team effort overnight. I want a sense of who is riding with her."
"Why not simply ask Kira?" Riker asked her.
"I have. Official Militia dogma is that Neela is running rogue," Ro sighed, "The Vedek Assembly made a statement that she's doing the Prophets' work and should be left to it. So, Neela is being sanctioned by the Vedek Assembly and given the orthodox faith's influence, that means the Militia's is covertly assisting her. This 'rogue' designation is just to appease Starfleet's sensibilities."
"Then why pursue the matter?" Danan asked.
"Because Nechayev herself, of all people, assigned me to the case," Ro complained, "And not to muck it up. She wants Neela out of Federation space. If it takes arresting a holy icon of the Bajoran faith, then so be it."
"You're a hero to the Bajorans. Don't make yourself a villain to them," Danan advised her friend since the Maquis, "Just deter Neela by dealing with the Cult of the Pah-wraith inside the Federation and she'll have no reason to cross the border."
"I'm trying," Ro got testy, "But I need facts and evidence that the cultists are threats to Federation security. Something that takes time to compile. Neela simply swoops in and executes people on a divine mandate. I need to buy time to deal with the Cult."
"So, tell her that," Danan offered, "She isn't unreasonable. Just incredibly driven. If you make an arrangement with her committing your resources to dealing the cultists inside the Federation, she'll stop hunting them within its territories."
"Even Kira is trying to tone her down," Riker told her, "That's why she suddenly has a crew for her ship."
"A ship Harri Mudd gave her, may I remind you both?" Ro snorted, "Which, by Gul Macet's defense testimony, can outperform its specs by a wide margin."
"How did you obtain court transcripts of Macet's trial?" Riker asked.
"He torpedoed a Federation colony world and caused the deaths of thousands. The Federation brokered the right to receive the trial transcripts to learn who and what he was supposedly targeting of wasn't the colonists themselves," Ro told them, "He pointedly named names as targets. Neela and her ship were both explicitly named and details of the ship's capabilities described. I know Tom Eckles and Heidi Darcy's work when I hear about it."
"They just redesigned and refitted a Blackbird-class from the keel up," Danan proudly told Ro, "It was their dream come true."
"I also have a soft spot for the Ju'day-class raiders and the Newton-class ships after commanding them," Ro confessed.
"My department doesn't need my oversight for a few days," Danan told Ro, "And Ops rarely needs me."
"But I need watching?" Ro caught the implication.
"I can serve as an intermediary," Danan offered, "Delain and Neela will be more prone to discussing things with you of I'm there and recommend they share with you."
"I happened to have worked beside Neela during te Dominion War and her disappearance into the Wormhole," Ro reminded her, "But, I could use the friendly face to loosen tongues."
"I doubt that will happen." Danan warned her.
"I'm a people person," Ro promised, "Really."
Neither Riker nor Danan believed her.
"Contact!" Galen 3 called out from manning the Sciences station, "I have five presumed Orion scouts."
"Relay the data to OPS and Tactical. I want them to survey them from their specialty perspectives," Forger instructed.
"So, we're finally meeting the Orions,": Jones mused.
"Have they detected us yet?" Forger asked Galen 3.
"Their sensors aren't as sensitive as ours," he reported, "We seem to be out of their range."
"I can confirm that,": Miller asserted, "They lose sensor resolution before their scans reach us. They have more sensitive sensors than previous Orion scouts but they're still not Starfleet surveyors."
"We've been enhanced, remember?" Forger warned her from that train of thought.
"I'd say they're on par with a standard Nova-class' capabilities," Miller amended her report.
"They're beyond visual range but I can conjure up a basic tactical reconstruction of their hull configurations," Miller offered.
"Put it on the main viewer," Forger requested.
Five way views of five different vessels were displayed . Forger studied them, "They stayed with the avian styles of their raiders. But they're more diversified to allow for their larger sensor packages."
Miller tended to forget that Forger had been the ship's Tactical Officer before her, "They seem capable of atmospheric operations as well."
"Zimbalist, patch these readings in to the Solstice and the Nova. I want Locarno and Noble warned in real-time," Forger instructed, "Then alert the Investigative Team and give them access to real-time scans and updates."
"They don't make them like they used to. The make them better," Tulley complained.
"The problem is the numerical advantage. Even with the Neverwhere and Tigerlilja, we can't engage them simply ship to ship. They'll always outnumber us," Lacey assessed.
"From Captain Forger's reports, they may be compromised by the Orions already," Noble warned them.
"The Orions would be in their faces if they knew about their presence," Hendryks replied, "They aren't that subtle once they've been revealed."
"I agree," Noble concurred, "Of everyone aboard, she was the only one with direct employment experience with the Syndicate, "Sito, use the nav sensors to determine the size and output of their warp fields."
"I guess," Sito said with a question in her voice.
"Then send the resulty to Eckles in Engineering with a request to determine what kind of power plants we're dealing with. If he can determine how much power they have available..."
"We might be able to ascertain their maximum speeds and defensive capabilities," Hendryks brightened up.
"If they can't detect us, then they won't detect direct transmission subspace radio bursts," Lacey told Noble, "So, we can maintain secure communications."
"Which everyone seems to have figured out," Hendryks mentioned, "We're being hailed by Captains Locarno and Forger."
"On screen," Noble instructed, "Lacey, keep a sharp eye for any responses the Orions might be undertaking."
"Gotcha," Lacey said glibly.
"I reviewed and revised Eckles initial estimates based on our own nav sensors readings," Parva announced in the Situation Center, "He's damn close to being accurate on most of his estimates. Man knows his warp cores. Like you suggested, they fall in line with our readouts on recently developed original power plants on Iotian starships."
"Were they just hoping the Bajorans would assume the warp cores were stolen en masse?" Lee asked.
"I don't think Oxmyx really cared if the Bajorans figured it out or not," Rockford told him, "Kracko seems more invested in long term partnerships than her partner since she assumed controlled of the Familias."
"And she gets all the profits," Shade snorted.
"Latinum brings out the worst in people," Forte said grievously, undoubtedly still thinking of Kale.
"As Fleet Boss, Kracko has to think strategically. With the Iotian Federation growing across quadrants, that means a lot more politicking. Oxmyx is in charge of the Federation itself, as well as Sigma Iotia II, but she's invested in the profitable business aspects of it. Kracko has to clean up her mess when she pulls something like this."
"That'll put a strain on their romance," Rockford predicted.
"Colonel Wyn was distracted earlier. But her teams will be reviewing their sensor logs and note the similarity between the warp core emissions of the Orion ships and the new Ascendant classes. Having the Iotians send starships alongside the Scalphunter also gave them examples to compare," Macen told them.
"A reason you forced Oxmyx into upholding the treaty," Rockford grinned, "You knew they'd send some their newest ships and the Militia would compare their power signatures to the Syndicate ships."
"By now, Colonel Wyn made her final report on the matter and Anara forwarded the results of the investigation onto Kira who had a little chat with First Minister Astris," Macen chuckled.
"And under scrutiny, Oxmyx will have to reveal her deal with the Orions and may even have it forced out of her she balked at reinforcing the Militia at Raas to begin with," Rockford noted, "The Militia certainly has to wonder why the Iotians ran their own independent operation there and pulled out rather than confronting the Orions."
"The bad of this is that as long as they outnumber us, we're screwed," Parva told them, "Those are literally little pocket battleships. Each one is more than a match on even terms with one of our ships. Our more capable ships wouldn't be as threatened but there you have it."
"The numbers will even out when we catch up with the Tigerlilja and Neverwhere," Burrows mentioned.
"Maybe you weren't listening. It'll take them working together to match a single Orion scout," Parva snapped at him, "Century old heavy cruisers are today's scoutships."
"If they follow classic Orion design principles these ships are built for speed and firepower at the price of limiting their sensors and shields," Macen reminded them, "They obviously made sensor upgrades but they could have easily matched our capabilities, which would be the purpose of a scoutship. The Syndicate leaned into stealth over sensors. If they knew we were here, they'd employ sensor scramblers to distort our readings."
"I reviewed the specs on the two modified Constitution-classes. The proposed but never built Phase II initiative increased the capabilities of planetary sensors but didn't adjust navigational or tactical sensors. Their drive systems are improved but they're weapons and shields aren't. The Solstice would've pushed both of them to their limits before its refit," Parva announced.
"Why didn't the ASDB upgrade our weapons and warp drive while they maxed our sensors and shields?" Mudd griped, "Just sayin'."
"Because we still operate undercover and having a Nova-X-class starship would hardly go unnoticed since they aren't available to civilians," Macen explained to her once again, "Enhancing sensors is hardly noticed by our opponents and our shield upgrades are just common sense."
"Our RCS thrusters were overhauled as well," Ebert reminded Mudd, "We're twice as maneuverable as before the refit."
"I get Locarno's Coyote-class joining your secret group. It's a civilian scoutship," Daggit mentioned, "But how will anyone explain the Solstice?"
"They'll assume its a new Iotian design," Rockford told him, "People always choose the most obvious answer and the Iotioans brokering the deal limiting how many Starfleet ships they can copy a year and turning to original designs has everyone guessing. We don't ever know if we've seen every new vessel type or if there's some other surprises still out there. The Solstice will simply join the herd of the guessing game."
"What I want to know is where are they getting all the resources to build so many damn ships?" Parva was irked.
"Joining the Iotian Federation is purely transactional. Protection in exchange for quotas of needed resources and conscripted crewmen," Macen reminded her.
"And they have no Prime Directive, so they can approach any civilization at any level of development," Ebert groaned.
"Something they won't negotiate away," Forte brought up, "Every diplomatic approach to that issue has been rebuffed. The Iotians claim they're the result of the United Earth Starfleet violating what the Federation would eventually adopt as the Prime Directive and they came out alright in their own eyes. You could say the same about the inhabitants of Miri."
"The Fabrini aren't exactly warp capable either yet we benefited from First Contact," Shade brought up.
"But in most cases keeping the Prime Directive sacrosanct is a must," Lee argued their points.
"We can all agree that as a general rule it's to be obeyed but there should be exceptions," Burrows intervened.
The doors opened and Smith and Kerber entered. Kerber smirked, "Did we come at a bad time?"
"We could use the distraction and your input," Macen told them, "Did you follow up on Elfi's efforts to tap their communications?"
"They're employing the same tight beam subspace radio pulses between ships," Kerber told them, "We could break in but our transmission tap would be detected."
"Their pulses have leakage but its data fragments," Smith shrugged, "Without more context we can't even guess at what they're actually saying."
"The term 'treasure' comes up a lot," Kerber added, "So, they're expecting a payout."
"They're maintaining a steady Warp 5 despite presumably having a higher cruising speed. But it matches the cruising speed of the our two missing ships," Parva mentioned.
"So, if we went to maximum warp we could drive passed the Orions and reach the two ships we've been following?" Daggit asked.
"Easily," Parva told him, "The question would be how would the Syndicate respond to being evenly numbered? Especially with their edge in capability?"
"They'd see it as a provocation," Macen promised her.
"They're obviously stealthily tracking our ships," Rockford interjected, "So, they're avoiding confrontation. We know they Argus and Orion are with our two A&A Officers. They haven't detected our beacon gambit or they'd steamroll passed our ships to get to their next destination first. Their aim seems to be to have Argus and her associate confirm the package and secure it so they can come in with overwhelming force to extract the package."
"They do seem to be relying on stealth rather than force," Macen concurred, "Unlike their approach on Raas. We have to assume they know about the failure on Raas."
"Which implies they were still within comm buoy range piggybacking the Bajoran network," Daggit noted.
"Those old ships of your leave a distinctive warp trail. It wouldn't be hard to track them until you decide to insert your players into the game," Mudd conjectured.
"Likely with a deal that the Syndicate would back off," Burrows offered.
"And having an advantage in sensor range and capability, they hang back and wait for Argus to confirm she has possession of the technology they're after," Macen liked the theory.
A comp/comm began beeping. Smith spoke up, "That could be either Captain Forger, Captain Noble, or Captain Locarno. We've been broadcasting this sessions to the bridge and the other ships."
"On your own initiative," Macen said neutrally.
"It's more effective than briefing them afterwards," Kerber stated.
"Lee, open the comm channels yo all commands," Rockford saw that Macen wasn't going to chastise the Ardanans. He'd been trying to get them to interact with the group more often. Their unilateral decision to share the brainstorm session wasn't necessarily bad but it could result in too many outside opinions now being introduced.
"The Orions are dropping out of warp and so are we," Forger advised them, "We're outside the destination solar system."
"We could launch a probe into their region and have it collect data for transmission when they resume warp speed," Smith offered.
"We've been adapting probes just for these occasions," Kerber agreed.
"Load the probe," Macen instructed Forger.
"I'll alert the torpedo room," Forger signed off.
"Tulley, run a review of the sensor logs we collected outside the Raas system and cross check them with the Militia sensor logs," Noble decided.
"What am I looking for?" he asked.
"Iotian ships with the ability to track us the way we're tracking the Orions," Noble hazarded a guess, "They pulled out without a reward. That isn't like them."
All the Iotian ships where of their new ship classes we don't have any data on," Tulley began his review, "One ship in particular is advanced enough to potentially track us beyond the range of our passive sensors. It's the mystery ship, the ISS Scalphunter."
"With the uncooperative commander," Noble recalled, "That would suggest they'd run a Syndicate style operation."
"We can't light up active sensors without revealing our proximity to the Orions," Tulley reminded her.
"We might not have stealth probes like the ones Parva built to Kerber and Smith's specs, but we have regular probes we could deploy out the aft launcher and Hendryks could get a read on what, if anyone, is following us."
"Why not have Forger do it with one of her souped up probes?" Tulley asked.
"You're forgetting, the Obsidian totally lacks chase armaments. She isn't designed for tactical response. Just basic defense," Noble told him, "While we're equipped for both."
"Are we warning anyone we're about to 'Crazy Ivan' our aft?" Tulley asked.
"Elfi, alert Forger and Locarno of our intentions," Noble instructed, "But time it so they don't have time to lodge a protest."
"Thool has the probe chambered in the torpedo launcher," Hendryks informed Noble, "I have the warning set to go. You have the probe broadcasting in the clear. The Orions will receive its signal."
"I'm counting on all of us receiving a nasty surprise," Noble was gambling everything on a hunch.
"Standing by to launch," Lacey advised Noble.
"Sito, prep a series of evasive maneuvers in case the Iotians are out there and turn hostile," Noble instructed, "Forward that one to the other commands as soon we launch the probe."
"Active sensors are hitting us," Tao Gozen warned Lebeauf.
"So, we've been made," Gomez retorted.
"Light up sensors," Lebeauf ordered. The Scalphunter's crew readied for combat, "Red alert. Combat stations. Prepare for warp micro jump. I want to land among those Orions."
"The Orions are scattering," Carrera advised him.
"Deploy our ships. I want the Orions brought to heel," Lebeauf ordered.
"That will take the pressure off of Macen's forces," Torres reminded him.
"But we can spin it that this was for his benefit," Lebeauf announced.
"He won't believe that anymore than we would," Perez advised him.
"But it'll maintain appearances for our Iotian command," Lebeauf told his XO, "They still hold Macen in high regard. That'll prove useful until we decide to destroy him."
"It seems the caravan following you has dispersed," the Metron Commander of the planetary defense force told Smith as he, Jones, Argus, Paka, Davis, and Watts had been summoned to appear aboard the system's defensive space station.
"Your people never mentioned a crew gone missing in pursuit of the Skaarians," Argus accused.
"We were undoubtedly presumed lost in action," the Metron Commander told her, "Did your people list ever casualty with their allies?"
"You don't seem surprised by the appearance of humans," Smith noted.
"The Skaarians left dozens of races behind in their retreat. We sheltered as many of them as we could adapt to fit in with our society and our colonies' environs," the Commander told him, "You wouldn't recognize those that had been your kind."
"Did you mean 'colonies' as in a plural?" Jones asked.
"We were a small fleet of ships that followed the Skaarians through a portal," the Metron Commander told them, "several ships settled each world surrounding the Skaarians revealed homeworld."
"You know where they are?" Argus was excited by that.
"I know where they were," the Metron Commander answered, "You'll note this world has a red sun. Every colony world we settled has one as well. They were former Skaarian colonies and outposts. We conquered them and forced their retreat to their homeworld. You see, this is a red star cluster. At its center their homeworld remains untouched by us. We've simply isolated them for thousands of years. Whatever became of them is unknown to us. They've never attempted to escape our blockade."
"And you've never attempted to pursue the Iconian technology?" Argus was astounded.
"We developed a means of blocking their portals soon after establishing base camps on these worlds," the Metron Commander told her, "They have been trapped. Alone, and isolated in their fear for thousands of years. We have no interest in pursuing them. We contained them and made our own lives upon our claimed worlds."
"You'll be happy to know the Metron Confederacy is thriving and as isolated as ever," Smith told him.
"That is good to hear. Perhaps, someday we will find a means to reconnect with them," the Metron Commander said.
"Actually, there is a way. It's how we arrived in the Gamma Quadrant," Davis told him.
Watts described the Wormhole and gave its spatial coordinates to the Metron. Davis and Watts promised to pave the way diplomatically for the Metrons to send envoys to their home world in the Beta Quadrant. That offer and information seemed to change the Metron's mind about the humans.
"Are you aware your ships are being stalked by other starships?" he asked.
"We had an idea," Smith glared at Argus and Paka.
"There is quite the convoy of ships observing ships," the Metron informed them, "I have just been informed that they have revealed themselves to one another. Two groups are engaging in flight and pursuit. Those in vessels that identify themselves as the same alignment as yourselves are remaining stationary. We could invite them to join us."
"You're saying my people came under attack?" Paka asked.
"Most of the life forms aboard the vessels are similar to your own," the Metron Commander told her, "However, the vessels pursuing them are filled with a collective of races that are unknown to us. While those that remain stationary are primarily of the same race is you four."
He'd indicated Smith, Jones, Watts, and Davis, "They seem to have been both hunter and prey."
"They were coming to join us and insure our safety," Smith told him, "They're avoiding hostilities."
"It is curious there s an El-Aurian with them as well," the Metron Commander gazed intently at Argus.
"You can't grant them passage," Argus demanded.
"Don't listen to her," Smith counseled, "She's a wanted criminal but also a talented researcher aiding our investigation. She and her friend's assistance were forced upon us to keep hostilities from occurring."
"Yes, she bears the genetic marker that El-Aurians place in their criminal class," the Metron explained, "We scanned it long before you set down on our world."
Argus' dark cheeks flushed darker as she was embarrassed at her invisible branding being made public. Federation medical doctors and technicians would note the marker and chalk it up to a benign mutation. Those societies that El-Auria dealt with before its assimilation by the Borg knew better.
"You're saying her own people considered a criminal?" Watts asked.
"The genetic coding lists her crimes," the Metron explained, "Would you like the list?"
"She has a long enough list with our own people," Smith declined, "Are you going to bring our comrades to us? The way you brought us here?"
"Yes," the Metron Commander told him, 'My people are impressed by the security surrounding two of your starships. It was actually difficult to break into them."
Macen, Rockford, Forger, Noble, and Locarno were suddenly present with them. Despite her integration, Rockford was still an Augment Infiltrator. Which simply meant she hid her behavioral conditioned threat responses better than Daggit. She immediately noted that she and Macen were no longer armed.
"A Metron society? Here?" Macen was amused, "You were chasing the Skaarians."
"A Metron?" Forger asked, "But they closed their space off hundreds of years ago."
"They were an open society before the Iconian and Skaarian Empires ravaged the galaxy," Macen told her, "Afterwards, they went into isolation."
"My people were always isolationist in nature. We were curious about the worlds beyond ours. Largely, we were disappointed," the Metron Commander told him, "Are you aware of this El-Aurian's status as a criminal?"
"I'm the one that reported her illegal activities. So, I'm well aware," Macen answered.
"Curious how she came to be here then," the Metron noted.
"She's seeking the Iconian portal technology to sell it to the highest bidders through a criminal cartel known as the Orion Syndicate," Macen told him.
'So we gathered from their computers. Yours were much more difficult to penetrate," the Commander told him.
"I know two people that will take that as a compliment," Macen chuckled.
"As they should," the Metron agreed.
"I have the location of the Skaarian home world," Argus brought up, "What's to stop me from seeking out my prize?"
The Metron looked amused rather than irritated, "Go. Seek out the Skaarians. Determine what has become of them. But be warned, we will not assist you once you breach the field we've set around them. If you find them alive, be prepared for a hostile reception."
"Why is that a question?" Rockford inquired.
"The Skaarians have never attempted to break through our effective blockade of their world after we cut their portal technology off. A race doesn't harvest resources from other worlds if they're self-sufficient. The Skaarians needed dilithium and other rarer minerals and elements but they needed food most of all," the Metron explained, "We believed that would be a negotiating point. Only, they never contacted us."
"Can you halt the conflict between the other parties?" Macen asked.
"Done," the Matron Commander told him, "What would you like done with them?"
"How far can you displace them?" Macen asked.
"That I will not share. How far do you wish too displace them?" the Metron said cagily.
"Can you return them to the Wormhole terminus point we gave the coordinates of?" Macen asked.
"Now, wait a minute!" Argus protested.
"Easily done," the Metron conceded, "And now, about these two?"
"Let them play it out," Rockford suggested, "They'll just come back anyway."
"Why?" Argus inquired sharply, "I know you want to kill me."
"You've threatened our lives directly or through your employers on several occasions now. I have every reason to want to see you dead. But, I promised I wouldn't kill you myself. But, if something on that world tries to kill you, I didn't promise to save you. Fair warning," Rockford told her.
"Your intention is to neutralize the Skaarians' stolen technology," the Metron said, "My people approve of this goal despite its containment. This will discourage scavengers such as this Doctor Argus and her companion from attempting to harvest it. Now, we shall return you to your individual starships. Where would you like Doctor Argus and her bodyguard placed?"
"Aboard my ship. We're the best prepared to contain them," Macen told him.
"And it's done," the Metron said to an empty room.
"What about my things?" Argus protested to Macen, Rockford and Forger inside the wardroom where they'd reappeared.
"You don't need them," Macen said curtly.
"Chief Kovic, have a security team meet me in the wardroom," Forger said via comm badge.
Jelena Kovic personally led the security detail to the mess hall, "You called?"
"You remember Doctor Argus?" Forger asked her.
"With great distaste," Kovic chuckled mirthlessly.
"Make certain she and her Orion companion spend their hours in the brig, separate cells," Forger ordered.
"This isn't over!" Argus warned them.
"Signal all commands, we have our destination," Macen told Forger, "I want a group briefing conducted in twenty minutes. You and Joelle will attend in the briefing room. Doctors Smith and Jones will join as well as all captains. All other execs are optional."
"Agent Delain, a moment of your time?" Ro asked Delain as she was on her way to the Coffee Spot.
"Commander Ro Laren, I was told you were aboard the station before I returned. I understand you extended your stay to interrogate myself and Neela," Delain chuckled.
"You seem awfully well informed," Ro told her.
"You are aware that the CIB coordinates with Bajoran Intelligence and that the station's Intelligence Unit coordinates with Bajoran Intelligence?" Delain asked.
"It must've slipped Captain Riker's mind," Ro grated.
"You really must try the coffee here. It's organic and imported," Delain mentioned, "As a former Maquis, you should appreciate non-replicated beverages."
Ronara Prime's cash crop had been coffee beans. So Ro was very particular about her coffee. Something Delain seemed disturbingly aware of.
Nick Claus greeted them at the counter while Roberta Rolands did her turn at barista chores, "How can I help you?"
"I'll have my usual while my newfound friend will enjoy a pumpkin spice latte," Delain told Claus.
Ro was even more irritated that Delain even knew her favorite drink, "How did you know that?"
"Your life isn't one giant secret, Commander," Delain told her, "Most of your life is well documented through various court-martial proceedings and Obsidian Order investigations while you were a Maquis. Your present role in counter-terrorism in Starfleet Intelligence is applauded by my superiors. Your vigilance has prevented several attacks on our citizens. You may have arrested terrorists attempting to strike at the Cardassian Union but you've also provided actionable intelligence through the Bajoran Intelligence that prevented the loss of tens of thousands of lives. Cardassian lives. How does that settle with a former Maquis?"
"The Federation isn't at war with the Cardassian Union and it's my assigned role to prevent terrorists from starting one," Ro said stiffly.
"So, you still have mixed feelings. That's understandable," Delain paid for the coffees, "Let's find a table."
"You want to discuss matters here?" Ro was surprised.
"The Cardassian Information Bureau replaced the Obsidian Order. It didn't inherit its paranoia," Delain shrugged, "I wouldn't discuss state secrets with you anyway."
They found a quiet corner and Ro began, "The CIB pays Outbound Ventures a retainer for security services."
"Yes," Delain said between sips of her coffee, "You should try yours, it really is good."
Ro was impressed her first drink, "How the...?"
"Macen personally recruited the company to franchise a business aboard the station. Rolands and Claus auditioned for their roles. They're exceptionally gifted individuals," Delain told her, "You'll find every ingredient is as fresh as possible."
"Does Outbound Ventures assign SID units to Cardassian cases?" Ro asked.
"Only when Starfleet agrees to it," Delain answered matter-of-factly, "You'll find Admiral Forger to be quite cooperative with the Cardassian Guard."
"Does Macen ever work directly for the CIB?" Ro asked.
"Which is your actual question," Delain sighed, "And yes, he does."
"On what matters, exactly?" R asked.
"Now that, I can't share," Delain sounded rueful, "But, he has acted on our behalf for collective security."
"Who is the collective?" Ro inquired.
"The Cardassian Union, of course. The Bajoran Republic and the Federation have also benefited," Delain told her and held up her free hand, "Let me end this inquiry by clearly stating that Macen and Rockford work for Starfleet at the singular request of Admiral Forger. They undertake work for the CIB and the Cardassian Guard with her knowledge and blessing."
"You seem quick to shut down my investigation," Ro pointed out.
"That's because I have nothing incriminating to offer you," Delain told her, "My role here is to simply facilitate the CIB's requests for Outbound Ventures and to contract them accordingly."
"And what happened to Cardan?" Ro asked.
"He was found guilty of breaking contractual agreements Macen and T'Kir agreed to with my government to have this station constructed. Cardan willingly violated those agreements knowing they were in place," Delain told her, "He has been demoted to a menial repair technician."
"And his replacement? The Romulan engineer named Zerinda?" Ro asked.
"A political asylum seeker. Cardassia could no longer afford to accommodate her so we found her a posting here where she's safely in neutral territory," Delain said, "Macen and Rockford aren't even aware of her employment yet. So, that isn't incriminating either."
Delain gathered her coffee cup and rose from her seat, "If you remain here, you'll undoubtedly see the arrival of your next target. Tread carefully, Commander Ro. Neela deals in secrets none of us want to know."
Ro sat drinking her exceptional coffee. It was far better than anything she could get on Deep Space Three. She considered Delain's open statements as well as what she hadn't said. She also had to consider Delain's warning concerning Neela.
She had another coffee nearly drank before Neela and Major Wyn entered with other members of the Razor's Edge crew. Ro watched the crew assemble at a table and was surprised when Neela singled her out. Wyn seemed as startled as Ro.
"I understand you have questions for me, Commander Ro," Neela said simply as she took a seat. Wyn followed her lead. Ro assessed Wyn as pure Militia. Special Forces from her body language and cues. Ro had always found conversations with Neela unnerving at best.
"You're wondering about my relationship to Outbound Ventures and Commander Macen," Neela said rather than asked, "Ask your questions."
"Does Outbound Ventures financially support you?" Ro asked.
"No," Neela said truthfully. Macen and Rockford directly supported Neela through the Black Ops Department.
"Does Macen support your...work?" Ro treaded carefully.
"Yes," Neela told her.
"Are you aware that you're impeding several of my investigations through your activities?" Ro asked instead.
"No, I wasn't aware. Starfleet seems content to allow the Cult of the Pah-wraiths to spread throughout the Federation," Neela replied.
"Did you know Starfleet Security is actively pursuing you as a person of interest concerning several massacres?" Ro ditched delicacy.
"Is that meant to deter me?" Neela asked.
"You can't afford to be captured in Federation space," Ro warned her, "The net is tightening. You will be caught."
"If Starfleet Security knew my identity concerning those cleansings, then they would've already detained me," Neela replied coolly, "Unless, you're convinced to hand me over to them."
"Don't tempt me," Ro told her, "Just stay out of my way."
"Then act faster," Neela retorted, "The cancer is growing within the Federation. Your citizens have lived with atheism long enough. They seek a spiritual awakening. But they're chasing false gods that will rain down death and destruction if they're freed."
"I won't debate theology with you," Ro said, "But I understand the threat the cult represents. But gathering legal evidence against them takes time."
"And every day, they approach more people and convert them. Time is luxury we can't afford," Neela said angrily.
"I can't condone murder and I can't shield you from Starfleet Security," Ro warned her.
"You'll follow your conscience as I'll follow mine," Neela said indifferently.
"Think about the people traveling with you and what will happen to them," Ro got angry herself, "And think about the big picture. Bajoran citizens caught murdering Federation citizens will heighten tensions between our governments."
Neela produced and slid a pad to Ro, "There you'll find enough evidence to link Cultists directly to extremist groups you're tacking. You want me to back down? Do something proactive and I'll leave them to you."
"I don't respond well to coercion or threats," Ro warned her.
"This is neither," Neela replied, "This is an opportunity to get what you want."
"You're willing to feed my information?" Ro was curious, "What's the price?"
"Your continued ignorance of involvement in activities investigated by Starfleet Security," Neela told her, "I can't gather intelligence for you from a penal colony."
"That depends on the cost of doing business," Ro told her.
"You have said you rarely turn down a challenge. You also have a fatal flaw of wanting to be in the right. I can offer you both," Neela told her, "I've investigative means that Starfleet doesn't have access to. I also have the means and motives to clear nests of threats to Bajor and the Federation that Starfleet can't touch. All I ask in return is that you keep my name out of your reports."
"You rack up too high of a body count and I'll have a conflict of interest," Ro warned her.
"Commander Ro, Starfleet intervened on my behalf so I didn't face the death penalty on Bajor. The Prophets used that for their purposes. I know you only see them as Wormhole aliens. But you also acknowledge they contact me and lead me for their purposes. Trust me when I say, I'm merely delivering justice as determined by my gods," Neela told her.
"I don't believe in divine justice," Ro snorted.
"Even after all your contact with the Prophets," Neela shook her head sadly, "You were chosen by them. Maybe this is why."
"But you're saying Macen knows about your activities within the Federation and supports them," Ro summarized it.
"I'd leave that out of your inquiry report, Commander," Neela rose and Wyn followed as they rejoined their companions from the ship.
Ro grimaced. She'd hoped to interview Macen personally and float Riker's proposal to him. But he and the other ships with him were still out of communications range. They could submit subspace radio reports but they might return through warp speed faster that reports reached the nearest comm buoys. And her deadline for submitting her results was nearly up. She was due back at DS3 in a week. If she left now, her mission scout could get her there in time.
Ro made her farewells and apologies for not being able to spend more private time with Riker and Danan. She passed her well wishes on to Korepanova and Liu as well. She wasn't surprised to find Sakonna's office shut down and relocated elsewhere on the station. She didn't have time to locate it again. She also made a point of greeting Annabeth Frinks and congratulating her on owning her own Quark's franchise.
She had a week to wrestle with her findings and what she was willing to report. She frequently contacted Reyes to seek his advice. She wrestling between her duties as a Starfleet officer and a friend. Reyes was the one to remind her what potential consequences there could be if she were found withholding from her report. She was already knowingly going to withhold Neela's participation and supported activities. But Neela was a proposed asset to her actual investigations. So, she could justify that as witness protection. But she decided she had to give an unfiltered view of what she'd uncovered.
While Ro's final questioning was underway, Macen's conference via monitors was also being conducted as the starships traversed solar systems devoid of interference or Orion and Iotian pursuit. The Terrans had obviously learned there was a potential game changing prize and followed his support ships. It also proved that the Scalphunter's sensors were superior to the Obsidian's. Something to take note of for the future when the Terrans betrayed the Iotians and Macen alike.
Noble was the only other captain to include her XO. Frankly, Macen was curious to see what Tulley would think of it all. In the Maquis, he'd been Ro's second in command and chief of cell security. It was those positions that enabled to him to sneak off with a number of newer recruits and join Eddington's personal crusade. Ro had made her peace with Tulley, but she wouldn't trust him again. The betrayal had been too personal for her. Macen had given Tulley grace just as he'd endorsed Joelle Jones as Forger's XO.
"So, why aren't we manning our bridges while we enter a potentially hostile system?" Jones was the one to ask.
"I second that thought," Tulley admitted.
"Because there won't be a response as we enter the system," Macen assured them, "The Skaarians faced severe food shortages before they were isolated. They were just developing native warp technology when the alliance faced them. I doubt they developed replicator technology in the limited time they had."
"You're basing that on the Metron's word," Argus argued.
"And the fact they never developed advanced starships to challenge the Metrons' blockade," Macen told her in terse tones.
"We know they were largely reliant on the portals. But they lost access to any world outside their own. What would their presumed response be?" Doctor Smith mused.
"Maybe they'd try to adjust the portals so that they pierced more than universal boundaries," Doctor Jones theorized.
"To go multiversal?" Watts scoffed, "We know a multiverse exists but we also know that barriers exist to separate universes. The only people who seem to have mastered modifying transporters into dimensional crossing devices are the Terrans. Section 31 secured a treaty with them to keep them from invading and likewise."
"The Iconians never attempted multiversal travel," Argus was the next to scoff.
"Or they tried and failed," Rockford brought up a point.
"We already know the Skaarians never mastered the finer points of portal travel. They certainly never learned how the Iconians could weaponize them," Macen put forward, "So, perhaps they would seek to escape their confines in another universe."
"But there could still be survivors waiting for us," Locarno warned.
"We haven't detected any kind of signals emanating from this system or the P-class world that's the only inhabitable planet in the system. It also has several space stations in orbit around it," Macen told them.
"You're getting live sensor feeds from the bridge," Forger realized.
"I asked Galen 3 to run a survey of the system as we entered it and keep me updated," Macen told her, "So far, there's no sign the Skaarians maintained occupancy of the system."
"But they couldn't leave either. The Metrons saw to that," Smith posited.
"So they languished on their home planet. But that doesn't mean they died out," Doctor Jones pointed out, "But they would probably be living in a dystopian society."
"The Iconians would've attacked other universes if they could!" Argus snapped back at everyone, "They didn't. Which means they couldn't."
"The portals work through phase shifting people through instantaneous transition gates," Macen recalled, "They may have tampered with the phase shifting in a desperate attempt to break free. Or even become non-corporeal lifeforms."
"Another theory we have no support for," Smith argued.
"We're traversing the solar system. So far, there are no signs of intelligent life still existing in this system. All the extra-planetary colonies are abandoned or destroyed," Macen told them, "We haven't even triggered an automated response or security system."
"Indicating there's no one home," Noble finally agreed with him.
Davis returned to her screen, "My people haven't detected any power sources on any planets or former habitats. We should have detected the natives' warp core power systems by now and there's nothing."
"Given the fact that we're talking about a glacial world and there's no power, everything will be frozen over," Watts concluded.
"We still need to send survey teams down. To make certain no one can recover Iconian technology if for no other reason," Smith reminded them.
"We can't destroy it!" Argus yelped.
"You can't afford to destroy it. That is our contracted mission," Macen told her, "We're fulfilling our contract. Anything recoverable or apparently recoverable gets destroyed."
"This is a lost history," Argus argued.
"A lot of people seem to remember it," Rockford pointed out.
"We'll do our best to preserve records that we can find and access. Anything about Iconian tech gets purged from the record," Macen instructed, "Captains Davis and Watts, you'll provide technical support and security. Captain Forger, you'll keep our guest confined to the brig. The Investigative team will be going down in the Corsair should we need a ship's mission support. I want Galen 3 running constant survey scans. Captain Noble, you and whoever select are welcome to join us on the surface. Captain Locarno, I need you to patrol the system. The Metrons cleared away every Iotian and Orion ship they knew about. They may have been more beyond even their scanning range that may investigate their fellows' disappearances. I need you in the outer system providing security."
"Will you be taking Tessa with you?" Forger inquired.
"We may need her medical expertise," Macen told her, "Just like I'll be borrowing Parva. Oh, and Captain Noble, I need Elfi Hendryks in your Data Womb to process anything Smith and Kerber uncover and need more powerful processing capability to decipher."
"Understood. Send me your landing coordinates and we'll join you," Noble signed off.
Watts and Davis also signed off. Smith grinned, "Now we divvy up the search grid."
"I take it you're receiving live reports as we enter orbit?" Macen asked.
"Of course," Doctor Jones replied.
Jones and Forger excused themselves to alert the Hangar Bay to prepare for a launch. Ebert and Mudd would have to do pre-flight checks. Rockford dismissed herself to alert the team they were going to the surface and to dress accordingly. Argus was surprised she was left alone with Macen and his conference with the A&A Officers.
"I take it I'm, going down with you," Argus ventured.
"You'll be necessary. But you'll have a shadow," Macen told her.
"There seem to be three concentrated metropolises," Smith observed, "Convenient for our initial purposes."
"They're conglomerated federated cities merged together in the habitable zones. I'd hate to have grown up here," Doctor Jones remarked.
"It's no wonder they had food shortages. Gaining access to plunder worlds must initiated a population boom they couldn't sustain," Macen remarked, "Surface scans show signs of conflict."
"There is wild flora and fauna. They aren't being cultivated. Another sign that there may not be any Skaarians left to do so," Doctor Jones observed.
"This world is similar to Delta Vega. Most of the remaining wildlife are probably the apex predators hunting each other," Smith had noted.
"Bolstering the need for security details to accompany the survey teams," Macen remarked.
"Am I going to be free to survey or not?" Argus interrupted.
"Yes, but your findings will be taken from you. You'll be compensated for your efforts per your usual contract rates," Macen explained, "But Gomer can file her complaint with your efforts with me."
"Waitaminute! We're paying her?" Doctor Jones balked.
"She has a degree of expertise in the subject matter that goes beyond either yours or Doctor Smith's. Sorry," Macen shrugged.
"I don't work cheap," Argus warned him.
"I'll pay you what you owe the Syndic Cartel. That will clear your slate of debts and you can start fresh," Macen told her coldly, "Best offer. Otherwise, you can stay in the brig with your minder."
"The Orions paid me a retainer. I'll need that refunded to them," Argus bargained.
"You shouldn't have spent it all already. So, you'll still have one debt it seems," Macen was indifferent to her demand. He depressed a comm button next to his monitor, "Please escort Doctor Argus to the Hangar Bay where Mr. Burrows can take custody of her."
Abby Collins and two security officers entered and took Argus with them out of the room. Argus called back, "You'll get me killed."
"The Syndicate will put a price on her head," Smith counseled Macen.
"I ran a check on her finances before we set out. I assumed Gomer would bring her in once Doctor Schneider and Doctor Chopra sold their findings on the black market. She had the retainer saved. She can afford to give it back, Assuming she's smart enough to," Macen told him.
"So, who claims which metropolitan area?" Doctor Jones inquired with a grin.
Macen joined Rockford in their quarters suiting up for arctic weather, "Tony has Argus under control. It's a mistake to bring her."
"We may actually need her. She did research into the Skaarians and where they disappeared to hundreds of years ago," Macen sighed.
"Back when she legit?" Rockford asked.
"It was the beginning of her downward spiral," Macen explained, "She thought if she could bring in the lost location of the Skaarians their world would be filled with enough plunder to finance her every whim for life."
"So, she began plundering excavations to get a head start on that desired lifestyle," Rockford understood the type, "You knew?"
"Not at first but I began to notice objects going missing. Then professional rivals started unexplainably dying of unnatural causes. Then I knew for certain and did some investigating and turned her in," Macen told her.
"And you two were involved at this time?" Rockford asked.
"We had an abrupt breakup," Macen smirked.
"You turned her in, have been thorns in each other's side ever since you were reintroduced, and she still puts you on pedestal as her perfect match?" Rockford assessed, "That part I don't get."
"Given her narcissism, I can't quite explain it either. But it's just another issue to deal regarding her," Macen told her, "She'll attempt to steal data under Burrows' nose. And she'll succeed. She's quite adept at it. She'll have to undergo full medical scans after we return to the ship."
"I'll have Harri help Tony watch her. Mudd is better at spotting sleight of hand," Rockford told him.
"Rab will be on predator patrol while everyone else surveys the area we land in. Tracy can remain aboard the runabout and keep it prepped for immediate dust off," Macen told her his plan.
"Lee and Shade are level headed. Tessa can't be hurt. Parva can handle herself against predator surprises. What about Angelique and Bailey?" Rockford wondered.
"You've obviously never spent time in the tunnels on Ardana IV," Macen chuckled.
Mudd sat in the rear compartment with Burrows keeping eyes on Argus. The El-Aurian watched Lee, Shade, Forte, Kerber, and Smith and they studied her. She understood Burrows' attentiveness. Everything about him screamed career Starfleet. Probably an elite Security officer. Mudd was the more dangerous one to her accomplishing anything because she knew all Argus' techniques because she was a career criminal brought in by Rockford. Lee screamed law enforcement officer. Forte was another criminal. Forte exuded curiosity.
Kerber and Smith on the other hand were stone cold killers. They played their part but like the Angosians and Macen himself, they'd kill without a thought before doing it on reflex. Even the Orion, Parva, and Macen's fellow ex-Maquis, Ebert, weren't that dangerous. Parva had filled Mudd's usual place at OPS. Daggit monitored the cockpit with Rockford. Tessa readied the medical module in case of emergency. Argus had been brought to ride with a gang of pirates and felt safer with them than she did now.
She heard the impulse engines wind down and the RCS thrusters guide the antigravs in the landing sequence., "I guess we're here."
"Don't speak unless you have something relevant to say," Burrows advised her.
Assembling outside the runabout to reassure Argus at all. Ebert and Tessa seemed smart enough to stay aboard. She suddenly had no ambitions to be on the planet. It was frozen and lifeless. Everyone but Mudd and Burrows carried gear. Argus was surprised to be given a tricorder and told to begin scanning.
"Survey scans from orbit indicated this was a central complex," Macen explained to the group, "We'll be entering to locate records to see what happened to the native population and what became of their technology."
Smith and Doctor Jones checked in from their locations at the other major central sites. A quick conference revealed they'd met the same reception. Macen wished them well and signed off.
"This door is seized and powerless," Parva examined what appeared to be a main entrance. It was made what scanned as transparent aluminum. The entire face of the complex was made of sheets of it. The red sun provided dimmer light than they were accustomed to but it was early morning for them. Smith had a midday location whereas Jones had been given a pre-dawn site.
Parva used a thermal regulator to unfreeze the door. Afterwards she used a small hand generator to power it up so it would open. She left the generator attached. Other than the stolen Iconian technology, it appeared the Skaarians had only been as comparatively advanced as 22nd Century Earth. It seemed little wonder they enslaved primitives. It also explained why the alliance of advanced races had beaten them back so effectively. There was a hiss of escaping air when the door opened.
"Daggit, man this location and secure our exit to the runabout," Macen instructed. Daggit was fully prepared for this outing. He wore an advanced version of Radil's old phaser cannon. He had his grenade launcher, a phaser and pistol and several sonic grenades.
"This building was hermitically sealed yet there's no smell of decay after it's been opened," Rockford observed, "Nothing spoiled or rotting."
"Just a layer of frost," Forte noted.
"Yet, there's plenty of oxygen present despite it being sealed for so long," Lee observed, "That indicates nothing was breathing it."
"This central console seems to be a greeting station," Parva indicated, "Perhaps it has a directory of the building."
"The console appears to have been backlit. It'll require power to be of any use. Charging this one station won't affect its native network. Unless we restore power to he entire building, we'll still be stumbling around aimlessly," Kerber warned Macen.
"I'll go with Parva and keep her secure while she works on getting power restored," Rockford volunteered.
"I'm good at doing this sort of thing," Argus volunteered.
"You'll help when asked to," Macen told her. His comm badge chirped and he tapped it on his belt, "Macen, go."
"You'll never believe who just arrived. Major Kris and Captain Gil just assumed orbit," Forger told him.
"That's an exceptionally dogged pursuit. They've acquired help along the way to keep them pointed in our direction," Macen admitted, "Inform Major Kris the situation is under control. The Militia isn't needed down here."
"Galen 3 already reported transporter activity from Major Kris' ship. Captain Gil is still standing by," Forger advised him.
"Tell Gil to standby to pull Kris' people out if she can't retreat fast enough," Macen instructed.
"You're expecting trouble?" Forger asked.
"Something feels wrong. This planet isn't deserted. Yet it isn't visibly inhabited. I can't describe it. But it means trouble in the long term," Macen told her, "The sooner we're gone, the safer everyone will be."
"You don't usually jump at ghosts," Forger reminded him.
"It isn't ghosts," Argus interjected, "It's living memory."
"Tell Davis and Watts to be ready to transport Smith and Jones' teams at the first sign of abnormality," Macen ordered. Argus' extrasensory perceptions hadn't been heightened by an experience with the Nexus. But she felt it to. Something or someone, or several of either, knew they were there. It felt like forces were gathering against them.
"I'll do it but everyone will balk," Forger warned him.
"This isn't negotiable," Macen signed off with that statement.
"You feel it too," Argus blurted.
"Stop talking," Burrows warned her.
"No, she's right. Despite appearance, we're not alone on this planet," Macen warned the team, "No one goes anywhere alone."
"Too bad you sent my only competition off with your engineer," Argus snickered, "Or, you left your Angosian soldier alone at the door."
Macen recalled Daggit and contacted Ebert, "Seal the Corsair. Only open her up if we come to you."
"They're coming for us," Argus warned.
"A dinner cooked by Robert Tavar Johnson himself," Amanda Forger sighed with pleasure she partook of the food, "I could get used to this."
"I thought it best to deliver pleasure with pain," Johnson advised her.
"Feeling kinky?" Forger almost worried.
"Starfleet Command ordered an informal inquiry into Brin Macen's loyalties. Ro Laren was tapped to do the investigating," Johnson told her, "We were kept out of the loop because of our known association with Macen."
"A test of loyalty?" Forger was appalled, "Why?"
"Outbound Ventures has been amassing starships and personnel. The company and employees themselves aren't under scrutiny. Starfleet Intelligence and Starfleet Security vetting them all placed them out of the scope of the inquiry," Johnson explained, "But Macen's motives are under question."
"Why the sudden turn of interest?" Forger asked.
"Since Lieutenant Pike reported large scale recruitment of ex-Maquis. Many with current criminal records and outstanding Federation warrants for their arrest," Johnson told her, "Pike works contracting for you aboard Serenity but she answers directly to Starfleet Operations. That was the price you paid for placing a liaison officer aboard a civilian contractor's station."
"So, Pike won't spy for Oh but she will report on internal operations to Starfleet Command?" Forger was incensed, "How did you find out about this if you're also out of the loop?"
"Vaughn and Tom Riker have both contacted me. Ro's spoken with them both and toured Serenity," Johnson told her, "It isn't looking good."
"Ro Laren thinks Brin Macen is a threat to the Federation?" Forger scoffed at the idea.
"Ro uncovered, as Riker recently did, that Macen has assembled an ex-Maquis vigilante task force," Johnson sighed, "No one is talking about where they operate or what they do."
"So, Starfleet simply audits Outbound Ventures' books," Forger replied, "That'll show expenses."
"It isn't that simple. This isn't a corporate enterprise. It's being paid for by Macen and Rockford. It literally is a private army," Johnson said bleakly, "The very thing Ro was specifically sent to find."
"Meaning pike already pulled the books and knew they didn't show additional expenses outside the contractors, the ships, and their support," Forger groaned.
"Pike was part of Starfleet Logistics before she was transferred to Operations," Johnson told her.
"Starfleet's Old Guard in Starfleet Command is retiring. We knew there would be changes but it seems the up and coming admirals want an oath of absolute loyalty from Macen to prevent him from doing something like supporting Bajor when the Federation has declared war against them," Johnson explained.
"We both know that's a non-starter," Forger grumped.
"Ro hasn't filed her report yet but there will be fallout. You'll have to prepare for it," Johnson advised her.
"And you?" Forger wondered.
"I'm a Vice Admiral compared to you're being a Rear Admiral. Apparently my extra pip affords me extra protection," Johnson shrugged.
"Do you expect to get deployed any time soon?" Forger asked.
"I can't predict a crisis any more than you can. But I can tell you the Intrepid is in Spacedock for ninety days. It seems the command staff has each accrued over a year's worth of leave. Starfleet is forcing them to take ninety days off. Without a command crew, the ship is undergoing routine maintenance that's overdue. Caplan may be gone but Emily Johnson is busier than ever," Johnson explained, "Every department's junior lead is stocking and restocking equipment and supplies until the senior officers return."
"And like me, you're considered essential staff so you'll cash in your accrued leave time when you retire," Forger understood all too well.
"At least, we both had our evenings free," Johnson told her.
"You may run on Starfleet's traditional San Francisco clock but I'm on London time," Forger chuckled, "This is the morning for me."
"Which is why you've declined the wine," Johnson groaned, "I didn't even think."
"I skipped dinner last night in preparation, so let's enjoy the meal and the company. We can worry about Ro's report after it comes out," Forger offered a settlement.
"I can do that," Johnson smiled.
Smith studied the console the engineers he'd summoned had brought back to life. They'd actually restarted the city's warp core power station. It taken an infusion of antideuterium but the matter/.antimatter was mutually destructing again. The engineering team was staying put. The older styled reactor was less stable than even that of the older model starship they worked aboard. It wore akin to a Warp 5 drive aboard an early NX-class starship. Unaware of just how the power grid was routed, they'd fired up every reactor.
Smith's deduction had proven to be correct. He stood within the hall of political power that controlled the city. The tricorders translation program provided the whereabouts of the archives. His security detail had been split up between the engineering outfit and his survey team. He was disappointed but unsurprised to discover the computers in the archive section weren't even duotronic. Still, they were solid state technology so he didn't have to worry about mechanical seizure of hard drives after so long a period of disuse.
The translation matrix guided him to historical records. He began with the last entries. The Skaarians it seemed were starved. They were unable to break through the Metrons portal block and the knew their own starships were no match for their enemy. Two camps had developed of differing solutions. One camp sought to fight out and try to get the best terms available for a guaranteed surrender. The other proposed a radical solution of adjusting the portals to seek out an escape to another universe.
With no tangible proof of other quantum realities existing, this was the most desperate measure. Yet, a militant faction kept the proposal alive until the death toll was becoming catastrophic. They proposed death over surrender and presumed enslavement. The government announced to its waning citizenry that it would seek terms. Just minutes after the announcement was made public, a message from the opposing faction warned the leaders that the oppositions' hands had been forced. No further recordings were made.
It seemed illogical that no one would keep a record of the Skaarisnas' last days if they were succumbing to mass starvation and extinction as a race. The message the leadership received indicated the portal modification effort had been made in secret. Whether it was successful had never been archived. Even its failure should have been recorded. The silence was as unnerving as it was deafening.
Smith used two portable computers to download as much of the archive as he had time to before night fell. Doctor Jones was ambitious enough to beam into a predawn area. Smith didn't want to subject his teams to the coming cold. The drives were vastly slower tn any current Federation equivalent. So, they weren't able to withdraw to the Neverwhere until sundown. Even within shelter and the building's heating system reactivated, the cold was brutal. He was pleased to be going.
Doctor Cairo Jones had never been so happy to see a sunrise in her life. Even with restored power in the city's grid, the buildings heating was adapted to the cold dwelling Skaarian biology. She'd had hours to conference with Smith regarding his findings. She looked further back in the archival record to learn how the debates between the two factions had begun. It seemed that a former slave race turned enslavers assumed that the Metrons were more of the same.
Smith had told her how far back in the record he was recording. She picked up at that spot and went further back, as far as she had memory capacity to store. It took several hours to crawl through the download speed but eventually, her own drives were full. She signaled the Tigerlilja and returned everyone to the ship. It was then that Captain Watts expressed the concern Macen had shown for the other teams. The sudden arrival of Kris and Gil also surprised Jones. The difference between the Bajoran commanders was stark. Kris hadn't conferred with anyone and sent a team down. Gil contacted all commands and got briefed on the situation. Watts informed her Captain Gil was currently aboard the Obsidian shedding some light on Kris' impertinence.
"Major Kris isn't acting out of malice or out of character," Gil advised Forger and Joelle Jones in her Ready Room,"She's acting under orders."
"What orders?" Jones inquired sharply.
"She's claiming the planet as a Bajoran outpost," Gil wearily told them, "Like she was ordered to."
"By whom?" Forger asked, "There's no validation that can justify that claim."
"But it provides a pretext to get your people off of the planet," Gil said ruefully.
"This didn't come down from General Kira or General Anara did it?" Jones asked.
"No, it was from Colonel Wes Morlan. He's the Commander of the Militia Scouts. We're semi-autonomous from the Colonial Defense Forces," Gil told them, "The General Staff isn't aware that Wes is trying to seize the same technology the Orions were after."
"Frinxing hell," Jones snarled, "Do they have any idea of who these people were?"
"Major Kris and Colonel Wes don't care," Gil admitted.
"I'm contacting Macen," Forger decided, "Standby to explain it to him."
"Understood," Macen signed off after his conference with Forger, Jones, and Gil. Smith and Doctor Jones had also reported on their initial findings regarding the end of the Skaarians' presence on the planet. It made finding any remnant of the lost technology even more pertinent it seemed. The power came on. Parva reported that the building had a backup generator that could sustain power to the building for several days it seemed. Extending power to the rest of the city would require a visit to the warp core power facility. A move Macen denied her.
Rockford and Parva returned to the main lobby to find Macen's team packing up to move to the archive section. Rockford noticed the change in the air. Tensions were running higher than when the pair had left the main group. Particularly with Macen and Argus. Daggit's redeployment was also concerning.
"I want to return to the ship," Argus suddenly demanded.
"You wanted to be here, you're staying," Macen snapped at her.
"Can I have a word?" Rockford asked Macen. They stepped aside to an isolated corner, "What is going on?'
"There's a presence on this planet. A hostile presence but it hasn't revealed itself yet," Macen told her quietly, "Argus and I can sense it."
"Meaning it's spatially or temporally displaced," Rockford caught on. Macen described the factional in-fighting of the Skaarians' last days. She frowned, "So, the portal group could have made their modifications and attempted to use the portals but with unknown consequences."
"The portals used phase shifting to transport matter across vast distances. The matter was immaterial until it reached the other side of the gateway. But, if a portal was opened and the populace phase shifted with no receptive gateway opened..."
"They'd be trapped in an immaterial state," Rockford got it.
"And with no physical bodies to decompose, they could theoretically still be trapped in that state," Macen continued.
"So, we have a planet populated by ghosts," Rockford understood the implications.
"And since we don't understand the nature of the phase shift, we don't understand how they can interact with the physical world," Macen added, "If they even can."
"But you're taking precautions as though they can," Rockford understood why Daggit had been recalled.
"To add to the complications, the Bajoran Scouts caught up with us. Major Kris went forward with a plan to claim the planet for Bajor and sent down a team to an unspecified location. Captain Gil was more reluctant and forthcoming," Macen advised her.
"I can't believe Kira or Anara would authorize this," Rockford expressed skepticism.
"They didn't. The General Staff doesn't know about it," Macen told her, "Colonel Wes, who commands the Scouts, ordered them to recover the portal tech before the Orions could lay claim to it."
"But Kris and Gil would have had to get through the Metrons to arrive here. Surely, they see there's no threat of the Orions obtaining anything?" Rockford had ask.
"The Metrons removed the Orions and the Iotians because they were hostiles. The Bajorans and our own ships displayed restraint, which the Metrons respected. But if another race, even the Orions, showed that degree of restraint, perhaps they'd be allowed access to this world as well. Kris doesn't feel she can take that chance."
"But will the Metrons allow the technology to be removed from here?' Rockford asked.
"Kris is determined to find out," Macen said dourly.
Macen's comm badge chirped so he answered it, "Macen, go."
"The moment we've been expecting arrived. Major Kris has planted the Bajoran Republic flag on the planet and claimed it. She's ordered every non-Bajoran off of the planet," Forger told him.
"Politely decline on our behalf," Macen told her and signed off.
"You're provoking her," Rockford realized.
"I'm testing the limits of her ambitions," Macen clarified, "We're considered allies by the Bajoran Militia. Is Major Kris willing to deny that classification and open hostilities against superior forces that outmatch her to make a point or not?"
"It will certainly test Captain Gil's loyalties," Rockford said dismally.
"They aren't breaking orbit," Kris' exec told her.
"I have eyes, captain," the Major snarled, "Mark it in the official log that they're defying Bajoran law."
"We can hardly press a claim on an isolated planet so far from established Bajoran territory," the Captain warned her, "Despite Colonel Wes' orders, General Kira and the General Staff will not support this before the Ministry."
"I don't need a lecture in legalities. What I need is pressure on Captain Gil to press our claim," Kris replied.
"I'll try," the Captain sighed.
"We have the archival systems running," Kerber told Macen, "You said Doctors Smith and Jones have adequately cataloged enough history and can return for more whenever they choose. So, what are we looking for?"
"The locations of Iconian portals will be classified top secret materials. I need you and Bailey to hack the system and identify any existing locations," Macen told her, "I'll also require their final usage logs."
"What are the detectives looking for?" she inquired.
"Cultural context to compliment the histories we already have," Macen told her, "If we can assemble a picture of the people, maybe we can understand why they did what they did."
"They were slaves," Kerber snorted, "They saw a chance to reverse their role."
"I know this close to home for you as a Troglyte, but they had other options," Macen reminded her, "Even your fellow terrorists just wanted freedom and equal access to opportunities. You never set out to enslave the Stratosians."
"Some would," Kerber advised him.
"A minority faction. This was a majority decision. It became a way of life for these people. I want to understand why," Macen told her.
"Good luck with that," Kerber said, "Bailey and I'll crack the system and let you know what we find."
"Thanks," Macen replied. He had Argus working with the Detective Squad under Rockford's guidance. Daggit guarded the doorways. Parva was on hand for technical support. Burrows was alert but obviously bored with the research underway. Mudd, however, was more alert to Argus' activities than ever before. He checked in with Rockford.
They'd brought three independent portable computers. Kerber and Smith had each carried one. Despite unending protests, Argus had carried another. Two of the three were assisting the detective work. Rockford was summarizing the finds as they came in and directing what data got saved for further study elsewhere. Argus had whined when she wasn't given the role.
"Any news yet?" Macen asked Rockford as she poured over selected data streams coming from Argus, Lee, Forte, and Shade. They were being selective, seeking cultural and historical high points before they became slaves to the Iconians and later empire builders.
"These people were warring factions until the Iconians gave them a common enemy," Rockford told him, That same imperialistic attitude they'd had for one another carried over when the Iconians withdrew."
"Let me guess, their biggest fights were over limited resources," Macen ventured.
"Got it in one guess," Rockford chuckled.
"Argus giving you fresh grief?" Macen asked.
"Harri's on her," Rockford chuckled again.
Ebert saw Noble, Tulley, Tom Eckles, and Heidi Darcy transport down. She guess Lacey was still in command aboard the Solstice. Not that Ebert would recognize its interior and station anymore than she currently recognized its hull configuration. Eckles, Darcy, and Lacey had spent a decade while Ebert was a smuggler that visited them on runs through Kalendra dreaming about redesigning a Blackbird-class starship and tailoring it to their private tastes. Macen had let it happen.
They waved their greetings and then followed their tricorder given directions into a neighboring facility. Ebert had recognized when power was restored to the building the team occupied so she was alert to the fact Eckles and Darcy had restored power to the entire city. Noble and Tulley extracted Eckles and Darcy and beamed back aboard their own ship.
"That was weird," Tessa stated as she plopped down at OPS beside Ebert's CONN station.
"The Captain must've wanted power restored. But why not call Gilan and have an engineering team sent down?" Ebert wondered.
"Maybe he couldn't," Tessa offered, "Captain Forger seemed to be warning us that the Militia Scouts were in orbit. Maybe they're proving hostile and are watching her ship."
"What would make Bajorans hostile towards us?" Ebert had to wonder.
"We are on a secret planet that isn't supposed to exist that criminals and allies alike are hunting for," Tessa reminded her, "Maybe the Bajorans got greedy."
"I hope you're wrong," Ebert admitted.
"So do I," Tessa confessed.
"Can we have a word?" Kerber asked Macen and Rockford. They distanced themselves across the room to join Smith, "We found what you asked us to. There's one remaining portal. They rest they cannabalized to provide extra components to a single, augmented unit."
"How augnmented are we talking?' Rockford grew worried.
"Enough to transport the last of the planet's population," Smith explained what they'd learned, "But the number had dwindled to mere thousands by that point from a maximum of four billion. The system primary is cooling. Soon, it'll collapse to a white dwarf. Because of that beside the overpopulation considering the planet's natural sustainability, the rest starved to death."
"I'm assuming from your tone that the best and brightest weren't the remaining survivors," Macen noted.
"Only a handful of exceptional engineers and scientists had been spared," Kerber said angrily, "The rest were the wealthiest, who could afford the black market prices for the dwindling food supply."
"But, the lack of prey had made the remaining farmland and growing areas primary hunting grounds for the remaining apex predators. So, no one was getting food anymore," Smith described the situation, "The remaining technical staff were used to adjust the phase shifting of the last usable portal to attempt to breach a quantum barrier between realities."
"And they threw the switch when the choice to surrender to the Metrons was announced," Macen sighed, "What happened?"
"No telling. No one was left to turn the portal off," Kerber told them, "Whether it was a success or a failure, eventually the warp cores ran out of fuel and the planet was devoid of intelligent life."
"That feels wrong," Macen confessed.
"It's a fact," Smith said.
"There's a temporal and spatial abnormality surrounding everything around here," Macen told them, "My people are naturally sensitive to such thins. My exposure to the Nexus Ribbon heightened that perception by several factors."
"So, if they failed to reach another quantum reality, where did they go then?" Kerber thought it a fairy tale.
"Then they phase shifted like planned only the Metrons' interference kept them on the planet. Just phase shifted out of sync with our shared reality," Macen offered.
"That would be weird even for us," Rockford replied.
"If they are present, could they affect physical matter?" Smith wondered.
"It depends on the degree that they're phase shifted out of this reality," Macen said.
"What about people? Could they inhabit them?" Kerber scoffed.
"There are too many variables to answer that type of question," Macen admitted, "I suppose a lot of it would depend on the race of the one being inhabited. Otherwise, they'd simply pass through," Macen said.
"Do you have prior experience with this type of phenomenon?" Smith inquired.
"Some," Macen told her, "Nothing I can readily share."
"Your people and their damn secrets," Rockford groaned.
"Would phase shifted beings affect electronics?" Smith asked.
"Possibly, depending on the phase variance frequencies," Macen admitted.
"We had a lot of difficulty pulling this data up because even given the equipment's age and disuse, it was experiencing interference," Kerber told them.
"Whereas my team hasn't experience any difficulty at all," Rockford noted.
"We need to examine the portal itself," Macen replied.
The lights began to flicker and power losses attacked each system in the room. Rockford was impressed, "How did they even understand you saying that?"
"It's possible they stole universal translators from the Iconians as well and they were phase shifted with the populace issued them for wherever they thought they might end up with a need to communicate," Macen offered.
"Pack it up, people!" Rockford yelled, "We're bugging out!"
"They're actually here!" Argus realized.
"We need to clear the building," Macen told everyone, "Just grab your equipment and leave your work unfinished."
Overloads surrounded them as lights blacked out as they hurried through the corridors and down the stairs they come up. The main doors shorted out and sealed. Daggit halted everyone and took aim with his grenade launcher. It made short work of the doors.
"What about the runabout and Tessa?" Rockford worried.
"They have greater insulation and surge protection than anything native built," Macen told her. They did board the Corsair but found some LCARS panels flickering and dimming slightly.
"What, or who, did you piss off?" Ebert asked.
"Take off," Macen instructed and gain altitude, "My guess is they're still planet bound."
The effects ended once they lifted several hundred meters in the air. Parva ran a diagnostic, "Systems check as normal. Someone want to explain that to me?"
"Put me on speakers," Macen requested. He explained what Kerber and Smith had discovered. The Ardanans provided the location of the portal. Surprisingly, the only objection to approaching it came from Argus.
"They'll be expecting us," she argued, "It'll be a death trap."
Burrows drug her out of the cockpit. Kerber and Smith approached it and spoke quietly, even through Argus' ranting through the aft compartment, "We might be able to reverse the phase shifting."
"Assuming the machine will still activate," Smith added to Kerber's opening.
"Then what happens?" Rockford inquired.
"We contact Metrons and the Skaarians finally surrender," Kerber offered.
"They've certainly proven it's their last viable option," Macen considered it.
"And if we can't operate it?" Parva asked.
"Either way, we still destroy it," Macen told them, "I need to brief all commanders to the plan. It probably won't be safe to beam directly into the portal's housing. But from a distance, people should be able to transport down and walk in."
"How many extra people are we talking about?" Rockford wondered.
"We need security teams because it's about to become night and the predators already know we're here. Night will embolden them. We also need additional supplies of heating equipment and engineering expertise," Macen saw Parva looked affronted, "You can't be everywhere all at once."
"I'll take that," Parva relented.
"I also have a task especially for Locarno," Macen shared, "Assuming Captain Gil will back us."
"He alerted us to Major Kris' folly," Rockford mulled it over, "I'd say he's proven himself."
"Does anyone have any idea of what happened to the Bajoran scouts she sent to the surface?" Daggit asked.
"I've actually been afraid to ask," Macen confessed.
"Major, we've lost contact with the landing party," the Captain reported.
"How?" Kris demanded to know.
"We received a fragmentary report from Sergeant Gilpie. She reported hostile fire and then went comms silent," the captain told her.
"Why didn't you transport the team back aboard?" Kris thought he was grossly incompetent.
"We locked on and returned everyone we could. They're all dead with three missing. The missing crewmens' comm badges returned but they aren't wearing them anymore," the Captain told her.
"Have you identified the missing crew?" Kris wondered if he at least that intelligent.
"We have," the Captain told her, "There's nothing in their service jackets to indicate any connection between them. But, their personal logs all reported being granted access to a Tear of the Prophets and having an Orb experience."
"You think the Prophets made them kill the team?" Kris scoffed.
"I think it's time we reached out and told our neighbors in orbit we have three renegade crewmen," the Captain told her.
"You're relieved of duty and confined to the brig," Kris snapped her fingers. The constable on the bridge removed him, "This may play out to our advantage yet. If our rogues remove the aliens from the planet, they can't contest our claim to it."
The skeptics on the bridge wisely kept their mouths shut.
"Well, no systems went wonky on the landing cycle," Parva reported, "If phased Skaarians are protecting this portal housing, they aren't this far out."
"They may assume the cold will keep us from getting in," Daggit told them the exterior temperature. It was twenty degrees centigrade below freezing.
"Sensors are showing multiple life forms inside the housing," Parva warned them.
"Predators," Daggit grinned.
"The Neverwhere and Tigerlilja will be beaming down security and engineering support," Macen explained, "Chris Noble is beaming Aric Tulley down. He'll take over interior security once you clear the nest. You'll have the exterior command."
"Any word on our Bajoran friends?" Parva asked.
"Major Kris isn't speaking and Captain Gil is out of the loop," Rockford told her, "Why?"
"I have three Bajoran life signs at the sensors' extreme range on approach," Parva explained.
"Just three?" Rockford frowned, "In this cold and with the predators out?"
"I'll have Lee, Shade, and Forte stay with Ebert aboard the Corsair," Rockford offered, "Just in case."
"Kris would've sent a larger party," Macen was calculating probabilities, "And she certainly wouldn't have sent three officers out alone. They had no idea of our former location or current destination."
"You're saying they're infected with Skaarians?" Rockford scoffed.
"It's a possibility," Macen told her.
"Why them and not us?" Parva asked.
"Maybe it's inherent in Bajoran physiology or maybe it has something to do with exposure to Orbs. Whatever the case, these three are probably renegades from Kris' flag planting mission she's allowing to roam free to deter us from staying," Macen shrugged, "It could be almost anything. Kris herself could have peeled the three off from her detail to intercept us."
The runabout's cabin and cockpit filled up with warmly dressed bodies. Macen told Ebert, "Signal all commands to begin transporting personnel to this site. Once the nest is cleared, we'll move in and secure the portal."
"This is suicidal," Argus complained.
"No one asked you," Burrows replied.
"I relinquish all claim to the tech. I shouldn't have to go in with you to get killed alongside you," Argus argued.
"I see your greed has some limits, after all," Macen smirked as Daggit led the way outside.
"I'm getting too old for this kind of cold," Smith complained to Macen. The sounds of phaser fire and photon grenades detonating inside the housing complex resounded through the open doors. Daggit emerged.
"We're clear," he reported. Security officers from the selected starships that were assigned to Daggit's detail emerged after him. Tulley dispersed the detail he commanded inside the complex. The engineering team first deployed and set up heating units. Then they united with scientific teams to examine the portal generator itself.
Smith was the resident expert on Iconian technology, "I've never seen this configuration before."
"This unit is on," Parva announced, "It was left on after it was last activated and only powered down when the city lost power. Now that it's restored, the portal is back on."
"Angelique and Bailey, you're up," Macen told Kerber and Smith, "I want its logs pulled."
"These modifications are unusual to say the least," Smith was still studying the generator.
"If the records are accurate, they weren't attempting to break the Metrons' barrier so much as the quantum barrier between realities," Doctor Jones piped in.
"The Skaarians didn't build this portal engine," Smith deduced, "They brought it here or the Iconians themselves built it. Some of the metallurgy doesn't match anything native to the planet. And it predates what their archives show to be their first successfully warp drive test."
"So, they had no idea of what they were doing when they attempted to modify this portal gate," Argus snorted, "They deserved their fate."
"Your empathy underwhelms," Rockford told her.
"There's no reversing its effects," Kerber announced, "The unit may be receiving power but most of its assembly is fused beyond our ability to repair it."
"Which has kept the galaxy at large from exploiting recovered Iconian gateways," Smith admitted.
"Can we go now?" Argus whined.
"They're right," Parva scowled, "There's no way we can fix this. It has components I can't even begin to identify using alloys and metals I've never seen before. Our parts replicators would choke on the attempt."
"Maybe the Metrons can, if we explain it to them," Rockford offered.
"The Metrons would never agree," Argus scoffed.
"I've found it prudent to never try and predict so-called 'godlike' aliens," Rockford retorted.
"Have everyone return to their ships," Macen decided, "We'll dust off as well."
They left the heating equipment In place but deactivated it in case they needed to return. Doctors Smith and Jones joined their shipmates on their assigned starships. As the runabout lifted, three Bajoran Militia scouts opened fire at range. Ebert raised the shields as a precaution.
"Sensors show they're already dead," Parva said dubiously, "They froze to death on their way here."
"So, do they show any phase shifted energy patterns?" Macen asked.
"There's scrambled readings coming off of them. Like when we lifted from the government center," Parva admitted.
"I doubt Major Kris only sent three crewmen down," Rockford said from the rear of the cockpit, "I'm guessing we're going to ask her about it."
"Point in fact, I intend to have a very terse conversation with Major Kris after I contact the Metron Commander we spoke with earlier," Macen told everyone.
"You're seriously contacting the Metrons?" Parva asked.
"I'm going to explain to them that the Skaarians were on the verge of surrender when radicals intervened. I'll describe their current status and ask him to mount an intervention and finally accept that long delayed surrender," Macen explained.
"If they're even interested in doing it now," Ebert said glumly.
"They're likely to do it to end their long vigil, destroy the last gateway, and have a new mission," Macen told them, "Now that the Metrons know there's a way home, they'll want to use it. They can relocate the Skaarians to one of their soon to be abandoned colonies and make the voyage home."
"That's your sales pitch?" Daggit asked.
"Metrons may be isolationists but they also see themselves as morally superior. The only way to uphold that superiority is to follow through with my plan," Macen stated, "Otherwise, they get caught being hypocrites."
"Good luck with that," Parva snorted.
Macen and Rockford negotiated the Skaarians repatriation after their phase shifting ordeal ended. The Metrons agreed to every term of the arrangement in exchange for the opportunity to go home at long last. Macen informed them he'd send a message to the Metron Confederacy telling their brethren to expect them within a year or two.
Major Kris was another matter. Captain Gil sat in on their meeting with her. Kris hadn't boarded the Obsidian alone. She brought a constable with her to act as a personal bodyguard. The fact that she believed she needed one boded ill on public opinion towards her.
They sat down in the Mess Hall. The constable stood next to the door. The crewmen coming in and exiting paid him little attention. Major Kris took exception at Gil's presence, "He mutineed against the major in command of his ship."
"I enforced Militia regulations and Bajoran law," Gil snapped back at her, "What were you doing while three of her crewmen were freezing to death on the planet's surface possibly being manipulated by aliens?"
"They were facing murder charges anyway," Kris heatedly retorted, "They killed the rest of their squad."
"The Metrons are asserting their control over the planet. The natives will be phase shifted back into normal space and resettled. The Metrons will then destroy the last portal gateway. They're nullifying your ridiculous claim over the planet," Macen told her.
"That isn't how it's done," Kris snorted, "I made a legitimate claim for the planet."
"You can take up with the Metrons," Macen told her, "Their technology which cleared all local space of the Orions and Iotians and returned them to the Wormhole has already put them on the planet. You can argue legitimacy with them. I just think you should be prepared for abrupt travel when you do."
The lights flickered and Macen's comm badge chirped. It was Forger, "The Metrons just moved every ship to the Wormhole terminus."
Kris and Gil each received confirmation from their ships. Kris was enraged, "You provoked this!"
"I may have asked for their assistance in speeding up our return home," Macen shrugged.
"Commander, should we plot a course for Serenity?" Forger asked.
"Set your course for Bajor," Macen instructed, "We have a drop off to make."
Several Bajoran constables came through the doors accompanied by Kovic and her security detail. Gil rose and removed binders from his belt, "Major Kris, I'm taking you into custody for the murders of a squad of your scouts under the influence of hostile aliens that you put them under."
"You can't be serious," Kris scoffed. Her constable had his weapon taken from him and was ship's security's custody until Captain Gil could transfer Kris to his brig. Her XO would be released from the brig to assume temporary command. What Kris didn't realize was that Colonel Wes was being arrested at Militia Headquarters on Bajor at that same moment.
"I'd advise you not to speak until you have counsel," Gil told her as he locked her wrists in the binders. His constables removed her and took her to Telrik in the Transporter Room, "I seem to be getting in the habit of arresting superior officers."
"General Anara will back your choice," Rockford promised.
"I hope so," Gil said with grim restraint.
The Neverwhere and Tigerlilja went ahead to Serenity to reassigned to new projects. The Corsair's sensor logs of the three frozen Bajoran scouts that fired on the runabout were handed over and everyone involved gave a deposition for court. Locarno and Noble stood by wondering why they hadn't been forwarded on to Serenity as well.
"Locarno, you and the crew of the Nova will be returning to Serenity with us to resume your duties as Flight Operations Officer and your crew will go into standby until Sakonna contacts you for a mission," Macen told him, "Chris, I have a job for you."
"Do tell," Noble sounded eager.
"I need your crew to determine how deep the connections between the Orion Syndicate and Iotian Starfleet run," Macen told Noble, "You can start at Waypoint Station and make your way through the Kalendra Sector to Sigma Iotia II."
"And what happens next?" Noble asked.
"I want to have a face to face with Oxmyx and Kracko armed with those details," Macen told her.
"And Gomer?" Noble asked.
"I'm sure she'll be contacting me," Macen grinned.
The Obsidian crew fell into routine duties en route to Serenity. Parva and Gilan oversaw some routine maintenance. Tessa continued training her nurses and med techs towards actually treating patients with a doctor's precision. Burrows and Daggit took personal charge of Argus and Paka's security in the brig. Mudd attempted conversation a few times but gave up. Rockford assigned the Detective Squad cold cases referred to her agencies by law enforcement spread across two quadrants. Ebert worked on shielding the Corsair from phase shifted aliens. Kerber and Smith ran down information requested by Macen.
When the surveyor docked at Serenity, Macen and Rockford were now fully aware of Ro's inquiry and her conclusions. She'd submitted her report and recommendations to Starfleet Command by that point. As they expected, Admiral Forger contacted them in advance of the Admiralty.
"I know Starfleet has now officially lost its mind, but the up and coming admirals are serious about this," she advised them both, "Commodore Oh is demanding full access to this secret department you're running independently of Outbound Ventures."
"Commodore Oh is one of the reasons we're running it," Rockford told her.
"They'll at least expect assurances your vigilantes aren't operating on Federation planets," Forger explained.
"I can assure them that they aren't for now," Macen countered.
"That isn't reassuring," Forger complained.
"They operate where they're needed. If Federation Security and Starfleet can keep a lid on extremists and criminal cartels, then our people won't be needed inside Federation space," Macen explained his position.
"You said Outbound Ventures and my agencies aren't shadowed by implied guilt," Rockford interrupted, "So, the SID's contracts aren't in jeopardy. Why the level of concern then?"
"Because, they'll turn this into an official inquiry," Forger complained, "And they'll blacklist you all. I won't be able to use you as personal assets anymore. That concerns me."
"Despite Ro's investigation, Starfleet can't prove that we're running any operations outside of the norm. How Celeste and I spend our corporate earnings is entirely up to us. The fund's ledgers report expenditures as investments. We don't have to report losses on investments," Macen replied.
"I've seen the books. Your so-called 'hedge fund' as a lot of short-term investment losses. In fact, in the exceptional cases where your investing coincides with working with the Bajoran Militia or Cardassian Guard, your investments always fail to yield a profit," Forger pointed out.
"Not true," Rockford interjected, "You'll find most endeavors yield a return. Those returns just get reinvested."
"Since the Ferengi Alliance petitioned for Federation membership, we've had access to corporate accountants. The Ferengi consider you the worst investors they've ever seen the books of. You don't generate a profit. You just continually pour funds into the investment fund. If it weren't for the fact that Kathy Tyrol and her administrative officers were in control of Outbound Ventures and the Rockford Detective Agencies' corporate financing, Starfleet would have been recommended to pull out of contracting your companies. You're right in stating you can use your latinum however you deem fit. But Starfleet Command is worried about what you're investing in and how you'll use those investments," Forger advised them.
"You can safely report to Starfleet that we're not building a private army or fleet to contest Federation authority," Macen promised her that.
"They may expect a formal declaration of that," Forger warned them.
"Which we'll be happy to provide,' Rockford promised.
Forger sighed and signed off. Rockford turned to Macen, "You're resisting that idea."
"I'll pledge to that fact. But I won't reveal what Sakonna and Hakatay have built and are running," Macen told her, "And I won't compromise Neela's operations."
"Right now, you should be more worried about facing Tom Riker and Lisea Danan," Rockford warned him, "Locarno received a chilly reception when he returned. Riker doesn't appreciate sharing Nick with Sakonna. How Noble and Locarno left Serenity has Riker on the war path. The blanket immunity you arranged for them twisted his guts up. He sees it as interfering in his command. Something you both agreed ended when he assumed command of the station."
"I poached unhappy people from their posts they didn't want," Macen stated, "But Chris and her crew defied standing orders and went AWOL before their transfers became official. I'll let Tom know he can address that issue when they return. But other fining them or confining them to holding cells temporarily, there's not much he can do."
"A symbolic victory would still be a victory for him," Rockford offered her advice.
"Then, our first stop will be Station Ops," Macen offered in reply.
"I think Tom is owed that," Rockford agreed with the suggestion.
"Thank you for agreeing to respect the chain of command," Riker was mollified by Macen's offering up Noble and her crew for disciplinary action.
"Tom thought you'd protect them," Danan admitted.
"Chris acted before her transfer went through. It was supposed to occur after her watch ended. They didn't have authorization to go AWOL and they were still effectively Outbound Ventures and Serenity personnel at the time. So, they have to answer for that," Macen told them.
"Is anyone going to offer up an explanation of what Sakonna and Hakatay are up to?" Riker asked.
"Legally, it's better for you not to know," Rockford explained, "You still have to account to the SID. They don't."
"It's been a week and half of revelations," Riker sighed, "Your agreement with the Cardassian Guard concerning the station, Cardan's arrest. Zerinda's placement and fining out about all the secret projects underway on the station. Sakonna moved her offices after facing Ro. I don't even know where she's staging out of now."
"This way you won't have to lie to Starfleet when they ask you for the location," Rockford told him.
"But Lees will," Riker grated.
"I volunteered," Danan told him, "Because of Danan, I can beat a Starfleet lie detector."
"Zerinda will know as well," Macen told him, "But as a non-Federation citizen aboard a station in neutral space, she doesn't have to submit to Starfleet's questioning."
"And you two?' Riker asked.
"We're dual citizens. We'll lean into our Barrinoran citizenship and the neutrality of the planet will legally shield us," Rockford told him.
"And since you severed Korepanova and Liu's connection to Sakonna, they can't cover up what they don't know," Macen added.
"I could have Gerrit launch an investigation," Riker reminded them.
"But as Bajorans, neither Gerrit or Radil can be legally compelled to answer questions by the Federation," Macen grinned.
"And you really are better off not knowing," Rockford promised him.
The door chimed and they could see someone in current Starfleet uniform standing outside. Rockford smirked, "It seems Chris Pike has been asked to bear the bad news."
"Enter," Riker ordered the doors to open.
Pike came in, "Captain, I wasn't aware Commander Macen and Detective Rockford were present."
"You don't lie very well, Chris," Rockford warned her.
Pike stiffened, "I have a list of Starfleet requirements for future operations."
"Can I see them?" Riker asked.
Pike held up her padd and transferred copy of the data to the station's computer, "It's all there. Director Tyrol has already signed off on the new stipulations. You'll need to confirm your agreement with them to carry on as Operation Commander."
"You don't expect me to?" Riker asked.
"I expect resistance. It'd be futile. Starfleet is resolute," Pike dismissed herself.
"And Starfleet becomes the Borg," Macen sighed.
"I can't believe she actually said 'resistance would be futile'," Danan groaned.
Riker keyed open the pertinent file, "This is prefaced with Ro's report. Do you want a copy?"
"We've already read Starfleet's demands," Macen told him, "I had Angelique and Bailey access an advance copy when it was fully approved for distribution."
"Can you skip to the end of it so I don't have a sense of dread while I'm reading it?" Riker asked.
"Starfleet formally recognized that the Obsidian and her crew and my team exist outside of your command. I work directly for Admiral Forger and any other client I deem worthy to," Macen told him, "That excludes me from corporate fleet actions unless pre-authorized by Starfleet Command."
"So, Forger gives a green light. What's changed?" Riker asked.
"Amanda herself has to get a green light," Rockford told him.
"How did she even manage to keep you on as assets?" Danan asked.
"By cashing in a lot political capital in both Starfleet Command, the Federation Council, and the President's Cabinet," Rockford explained, "Akaar and Jellico signed off on it but it took the added weight of the President, the Secretary for Starfleet and the Starfleet Oversight Committee to sell it to the Admiralty."
"With Akaar stepping aside and Jellico as an interim Starfleet Commander, Forger is relying on the administration and the Federation Council to keep her authorization alive," Riker grimly realized.
"Right now, the Federation Council is still grateful to have Cell 51 dismantled and democracy restored but the mid-terms are coming up and the balance within the Council could shift," Macen shrugged, "So, we'll see the fallout in three years."
"Where did you send Chris Noble anyway?" Danan interrupted.
"To chart a path," Macen grinned.
"Captain Noble reunited with Aric Tulley. How heartwarming. Didn't you used to take orders from in Ro Laren's Maquis cell?' Melania asked the pair. Oliana joined her in the trader's tavern aboard Waypoint. The Solstice crew had been making the rounds of searching job postings regarding scouting work in the Gamma Quadrant. Their presence and inquiries had obviously caught the eye of the two Orion Syndicate operatives in charge of the Gamma Quadrant operations.
"Times change when you leave the cell hanging," Noble retorted, "Tulley and I have made our peace with it. Why hasn't the Orion Syndicate?"
"Word is your facing disciplinary reviews if you return to Serenity Station," Oliana told them, "There's also persistent rumors that you no longer work for Outbound Ventures."
"Right on both counts," Noble replied.
"Then why not resume working for us?" Melania inquired.
"I'm sorry. We're strictly freelance," Noble told them.
"We have a freelance type of problem you could solve for us," Oliana offered, "You negotiated the arrangement with Gomer that ceased hostilities at Raas. She was wondering if you could do the same on her behalf with Varic."
"The Raasian crime lord you exiled from your ranks?" Tulley snorted.
"He speaks," Melania chortled, "Your reputation is of the strong, silent type."
"I speak when I need to," Tulley stated, "Varic is your problem. Why make him ours?"
"For the latinum," Oliana told him, "You'll be well compensated for your troubles."
'And troubles would we be involving ourselves in?" Noble inquired.
"You know two of our Syndicate battlecruisers and three raiders were damaged by the S'aku installation on Raas. What you don't know is that there's a free port nearby. The Ascendant aren't welcomed there. But free traders and privateers are," Melania explained.
"So, it's a pirate port," Noble clarified for Tulley.
"Varic's forces withdrew there to lick their wounded pride. Our ships sought repairs. The general rule is that one pirate leaves the other pirates to their business," Oliana described the situation, "Varic has a taken a fancy to Captain Kale."
"And he's holding her," Noble sighed.
"Varic has swung a lot of trade the port's way, so they're letting things slide. But they're preventing our people from intervening," Melania told them, "But you're outsiders and you can persuade Ghemor to reinforce your position."
"Let's say I can convince the Emissary of the Prophets to the Ascendancy to loan me some starships, You just said the Ascendant avoid that system," Noble retorted, "What's the selling picth?"
"The Syndicate will avoid sales in their claimed territory," Melania answered.
"Ghemor is pretty confident she can get the people to abstain from your sales," Noble replied.
"What do you want?" Oliana asked, "You're obviously holding out to sweeten your end of the deal."
"I want access to the Kalendra Sector," Noble told them.
"That's Iotian territory," Melania snorted.
"And you have inside access," Tulley spoke up, "We want plugged in."
"Plugged in how?" Oliana asked.
"We want it known that we're accepting freelance contract work. We'll work for anyone we want if they have the latinum," Noble told her.
"What qualifications do you bring with you?" Melania asked, "Because even I have to wonder?"
"We're ex-Maquis. We're ex-Outbound Ventures. And we have a customized starship with no specs on file," Noble told her, "We're qualified for almost almost anything."
"Do this for us and Miranda Wells herself will pass the message along," Oliana promised them.
"Now we can discuss the fee," Noble smirked.
"I'll admit it, you were right. Misdirection was the approach that worked," Tulley told Noble as they headed for the bridge.
"And Elfi Hendryks got a clean opportunity to clone their computers," Noble boasted.
"I didn't like the fact they insinuated that they know whose aboard and what we're facing back at Serenity," Tulley confessed.
"Gomer has eyes and ears on the station," Noble sighed, "The price of opening it up as a public port of trade for Barrinor and Odin. That was the selling point to get it constructed in that system."
"You sound like you looked up the negotiations," Tulley pointed out.
"I did. I was trying to understand why it became a public port when the company deals with such sensitive matters. That was Barrinor's demand in exchange for building the station in their territory," Noble explained, "Macen wanted Barrinor's neutral status to protect the station from reprisals."
"The Orions found a way around that," Tulley reminded her.
"Being intergalactic pariahs actually sells their brand," Noble shrugged.
"I read the dossiers Ro provided Macen. I thought she was on the outs with him," Tulley said.
"They're still friends. She had to give an unbiased assessment from Starfleet's perspective, so she did," Noble told him, "It doesn't change their relationship. If anything, it lets her know what to specifically warn him about from Starfleet's end."
"I don't know if I could do that," Tulley admitted.
"Macen married T'Kir after she tried to kill him and spent three years in a lock down mental hospital," Noble shrugged, "He believes in people and giving them second chances. You're here, aren't you?"
They found the bridge emptied. But the rear briefing room compartment was filled the entire crew. Hendryks was still sorting through her findings. Sito lent her a hand. They all focused on Noble and Tulley's arrival as the conversations lulled. Noble explained their "mission" and asked Hendryks on the status of her haul.
"We have updates and specs on all of the Orion Syndicate's fleet. We also have crew rosters. General Anara gave us access to Waypoint's arrival and departure logs as well Colonel Cenn's logs on Deep Space Nine," Hendryks told her, "I forwarded everything on to Black Ops on Serenity. DS9 knew starships were going through the wormhole but they were flagged as 'trading vessels' so Starfleet didn't intervene. But the Militia flagged them as potential hostiles and has been watching for them. But as the Waypoint records show, the Orions followed Commodore Saavik's exploration force rather than stay within Bajoran territory. Since official hostilities broke out between the Orions and Bajorans, no non-diplomatic vessel has been cleared through the Bajor Sector. So, the Syndicate is obviously using neutrally flagged smugglers to resupply their dealers."
"Is there a link between Iotian vessels and the Syndicate in the Starfleet explored areas?" Noble asked.
"Nothing that jumps out," Sito told her, "But the Iotian Federation's mutual defense pact with the Bajoran Republic would be in violation if the Iotians were caught supporting the Orions."
"Which they'd take great pains to disguise it," Noble understood the message.
"The Militia monitors the Dominion border," Lacey reminded them, "Odo's terms with the Founders have held since the war concluded. The Bajoran colonies have formed a buffer zone between the recognized border and the Wormhole terminus. The Bajorans are expanding to new planets following in Starfleet's wake that aren't aligning with the Federation; Starfleet's Federation sales pitch isn't gaining traction close to the border."
"The Bajorans and the Dominion renegotiated their non-aggression pact after the Federation ejected Bajor from its ranks," Tulley reminded the group, "So, Bajor is seen as a better partner to those still afraid of Dominion expansion in the Gamma Quadrant."
"Very politically astute," Hendryks noted, "Is this a new side of Aric Tulley?"
"He's taking his role of XO seriously," Noble told them, "I've read the same analysis sent to us by Serenity's analysts. Korepanova and Liu may have been blacklisted from working with Sakonna by Riker but Priyanka Amoor's Intelligence unit operates outside of his command. So we get intelligence briefings. They're available for everyone in the ship's daily briefing updates."
"So, that's where they're coming from," Sito mused.
"I thought Macen's team was sending them," Hendryks confessed.
"There were some specific targets listed in those files," Lacey pointed out.
"You'll excuse us mere engineers for being ignorant," Eckles chuckled.
"I always avoid operations," Thool admitted,
"I read enough to get the gist of what we're doing out here," Darcy offered.
"We're connecting the pipeline between the Iotian Starfleet and the Orion Syndicate. Macen sold his data to the Iotians to get their participation in the Raas standoff. But since the Iotians didn't cooperate and instead attempted to follow us to get the Iconian tech, all bets are off from what comes out of our independent investigation," Noble explained for the uninformed.
"Who's the consumer of the report?" Eckles wondered.
"The Bajoran Republic," Tulley answered.
"It would be an anonymously delivered report, not a commissioned investigation," Noble clarified, "That keep Macen and Outbound Ventures free from liability."
"So, he keeps his word and implicates the Iotians at the same time," Hendryks grinned, "I like it. It's the game we played with Ro during the Dominion War all over again."
"Hopefully we won't get shot at as often this time," Lacey sighed.
"And the Orions get a pass?" Sito asked.
"The Bajorans are still technically at war with Orion," Noble said, "The diplomatic situation can't get worse. But maybe the Iotians can be pressured into stopping support for the Syndicate."
"It'd prove their protection scam of their entire Federation is a lie," Lacey pointed out, "They'd drop the Orions to preserve their image."
"We rescue a Syndicate captain, give Varic a black eye, and earn a favor from the Orions and they'll plug us in with the Iotians," Noble told them.
"I hate to be the downer of the group, but while we're doing all of this, what's Macen doing?" Eckles asked.
"He's paying visits to Gomer and Sigma Iotia II," Noble told him.
Gomer sat upon her seat of authority at the Syndicate's headquarters. Two guards stood to either side of her. She seemed amused by Macen and Rockford's presence, "You mean to tell me, you traveled all the way here just to ask me to end business ties with the Iotians? I don't have any. They've become competitors."
"Their engineers left here less than a week ago after finalizing upgrades on the last ships you still had in drydock. Your yards are empty. Which means the ships have deployed," Macen told her.
"If you already knew they were here, why bother me about it?" Gomer still stared at Rockford.
"We knew they were here and gone. We're simply asking you to make certain they don't come back," Rockford shared.
"Your flight logs proved helpful. Handing them over was a good business decision," Gomer countered, "Make another one now. Just leave."
"Neither of us is indebted to the other," Macen reminded Gomer, "I didn't tell the Bajorans of the Iotians' presence here as a deal made with Oxmyx and Kracko. But if they came back, there's nothing holding me back from telling them of the Iotians' return."
"And why should I care?" Gomer asked, "They declared war on us."
"Because I think I can get them to call it off," Macen told her.
By the time Macen had reached Orion, the Solstice had traveled from Waypoint, passed Raas, to a nearby star system with ho habitable planets. Instead, a Class-D dwarf planet had been converted and hollowed out into a starship yard. Varic's Pincer-class starships orbited it. The Orion ships were in the drydocks. It seemed they'd been repaired but they weren't departing without Miranda Kale returned to her command.
Five Ascendant starships awaited them at the edge of the system. They were all new, unknown Iotian starships classes from their sales line. Noble's negotiations with Ghemor had yielded some interesting facts. All of the War Vedeks, Lesser War Vedeks, and Initiate War Vedeks aboard had human DNA from the crew of the captured Constellation-class starship the Ascendant had captured over a century ago. Unlike typical Sinherrans, they lacked the vestigal forehead head ridge or inherited remains of nose ridges from the Bajoran DNA assimilated thousands of of years ago. But they retained the bronze skin their people had always had even with the influx of alien genetics.
Ghemor also explained the hair coloration donating rank among the vedeks. While dark hair was the norm for Ascendant peoples, the red velvet dye dipped tips were fully ranked War Vedeks. Neon pink dye dip denoted Lesser Rank devotees. And neon green dye dip were the initiate trainees brought into the military order of the faith. Before Ghemor arrived as the Emissary, War Vedeks were both male and female. She'd purged the male ranks. They were assigned to planetary defense. Ghermor still wouldn't explain that decision even to her own faithful. She certainly wouldn't explain it to an outsider like Noble.
While the Iotian ships were new designs for the Iotians, they were still based on 23rd Century duotronic technology. They were a match for many of the ships in port but not Varic's or the Syndicate's. Which implied to Noble that she had to rely on finesse to free Kale rather than brute force. Her latest message from Macen, relayed across Federation comm buoys to Bajoran comm buoys, through the Wormhole to the shared Ascendant and Bajoran comm buoys to her recent location at Raas was that he'd arrived at Orion and would be speaking with Gomer. He'd been sending her a warning of Gomer suspected Noble was still working for him.
Before uniting with them, Noble had to contact the various War Vedeks and get a sense of them and brief them on her expectations. She was surprised to learn one frigate wasn't commanded by a full War Vedek but rather a Lesser Rank War Vedek. Starfleet had used to have Commanders and Lt. Commanders command frigates and destroyers in the late-22nd Century through the mid-23rd Cenury. The practice had largely died out by 2293 when the Khitomr accords were being finalized. Only science vessels had been commanded by officers beneath captain for a generation now. Even that practice had been suspended with the decommissioning fo the last Oberth-class vessels and the full assortment of Nova-class surveyors going into service.
Noble discovered through her conference that War Vedek Initiates were only referred to by their family names whereas War Vedek Lesser Ranks and above used their given names. A reversal of Bajoran custom when using names. The Ascendant had sent two light cruisers, two frigates, and a destroyer. The destroyer, the Ascendancy Missionary, was commanded by War Vedek Lesser Rank Veronic. The commander of the most advanced light cruiser, the Ascendancy Uplifted, was led by War Vedek Divini. Her Vedek Lesser Rank was named Xaran. Xaran made introductions before assuming command while Divini led the conference with Noble. It was obvious she was the group commander.
"I have to ask one thing before we begin, how is it that your military is led by vedeks? On Bajor they're simply spiritual leaders," Noble inquired.
"We are a military order of the faith," Divini explained, "We take holy orders to defend the Ascendancy and obey the Emissary. Before the arrival of the Emissary, we answered directly to the Kai. But the Kai, as the Bajorans practice, is a spiritual role. The Emissary guides as the Prophets see fit and that can take on military applications."
"I see," Noble was more disturbed than ever by the Ascendancy. But the Bajoran faithful and military leaders seemed to trust them implicitly now. She wasn't inclined to do the same, "My crew will do the actual retrieval of Captain Kale. Your role is to provide legitimacy for our presence."
"Wouldn't your connection to the Orions do that?" War Vedek Gilada of the other light cruiser, Ascendancy Descending, inquired. The question was accusatory.
"The code of conduct at the free port as that no 'free trader' interferes or commits violence against another trader. Of course, that's polite speak for pirates. Basically, they can't kill or rob each other while in port," Noble explained, "If I come in claiming to represent the Orions, I'd be prohibited from acting against Varic."
"We have no authority in this system," War Vedek Anaria of the frigate, Ascendancy Coming, reminded her.
"But you're the closest thing to an interstellar authority in the region. You're also obviously not pirates," Noble told them, "That distinction can make the difference I need."
"We're outmatched by Varic's new starships if he should attack us," War Vedek Derioni of the frigate, Ascendancy Embattled, pointed out.
"Which s why you'll be presenting an arrest warrant for Varic," Noble grinned, "While Varic's ships are tied to the port by umbilicals they can't raise shields. Which means strategic shots can cripple the entire squadron before they can act. The Orions won't act against you and the rest of the ships are comparable to your own. Odds are, the pirates will give up Varic just because he brought trouble down on the port."
"What happens to his ships? We can't tow them all back home," War Vedek Lesser Rank Veronic, commanding the destroyer Ascendancy Missionary, asked.
"Offering them and their crews as salvage to the port authority will be the cost of apprehending Varic," Noble told her to the vedek's obvious disappointment.
"The Emissary briefed us as to such," Divini reminded them all, "We accepted that cost before setting out from Raas. Bringing Varic to justice is worth the price of abandoning his ships."
"If his ships are helpless when we strike, we could simply destroy them," Derioni offered up.
"Except that the Orions have already offered them to the portmaster. That bribe is what is giving you temporary jurisdiction to arrest Varic," Noble explained to them.
"If the port authority knows the Orions are behind this effort, why the subterfuge? Why not simply act directly?" Gilada demanded to know.
"Because the portmaster would lose all credibility of maintaining neutrality between parties," Noble told them, "That facade is the only thing that keeps the port from being overrun by factional violence."
"How did Varic come to be in possession of Captain Kale to begin with?" Veronic asked the question Noble had waited for.
"Varic claimed Kale consented to coming aboard his ship," Noble shared, "Her crew testifies to the opposite. Kale has been sequestered so no one can speak with her. Varic himself is showing injuries from an obvious struggle. Her crew swears she rebuffed Varic's advances and he simply wouldn't take 'no' as an answer. What's happened to her since being taken is a complete unknown. The Orions can't even confirm she's still alive."
Sexual violence was still known even in a society as religious as the Ascendancy. The various vedeks were outraged by Varic's actions. Noble had counted on this when Ghemor explained that she'd purged men from the war vedek ranks. Ghemor had explained they took vows of chastity from male sexual congress. That still left the for open for lesbian sex and masturbation.
Again, this seemed to be a bias on Ghemor's part. Her history of what had become of her after her surgical transformation into a doppelganger of Kira Nerys was unknown. Or, how she'd resumed her natural Cardassian appearance. Before Ghemor's actual conversion to the faith, she'd taken the Ascendant to Cardassia Prime on a manhunt for Dukat. So, obviously he factored negatively in her past.
"I'll signal you when it's time to strike Varic's ships. Your operation is your own. I'll leave it to your best judgment," Noble told them, "I'll have to infiltrate Varic's ship to retrieve Kale and withdraw."
"Which is why you want to us to hold our fire until you've been extracted," Divini understood now.
"How did Varic manage to overpower an Orion?" Anaria asked, "They're rumored to be superior fighters and stronger than your average humanoids."
"Kale is member of the Syndicate but she isn't Orion," Noble explained, "She appears and registers as human on sensors even though she's from an alien planet."
"How can that be?" Veronic asked, "Your sensors are more advanced than ours. Does that result happen with your sensors as well?"
"Even on medical scanners," Noble confirmed it, "Her home planet is even a duplicate of Earth."
"An exact duplicate?" Divini was astonished.
"So, I've been told. Personally, I haven't been to either planet. I was born and raised on a colony world. I haven't explored much of the Federation. But I have seen a lot of the territories outside of it," Noble explained her own history, "Apparently there's another near duplicate world called 492 IV. It's now in Iotian space."
"Iotians appear human as well," Derioni reminded them all.
"But they register differently on sensors," Veronic interjected, "An exact match implies a common history."
"Maybe another instance like that of the humans found on Raas?" Gilada asked.
"Still, could even the Prophets fashion a duplicate world?" Anaria asked.
Noble decided now was not the moment to bring up differing quantum realities and divergences where objects and people went from one to another. It was counterproductive to her present cause. She could explain that the Prophets existed outside quantum realities. But that was Ghemor's role to play. If she hadn't taught on it yet, there was a reason Nobel didn't know about and wouldn't infringe upon.
"We need to go in," Noble interrupted them, "So, you'd best make a plan to cripple Varic's ships as effectively as you can with a first strike."
"We'll be ready far sooner than your signal is sent," Divini promised and signed off. The other war vedeks followed suit. Oddly, Veronic alone now dominated Noble's briefing room screen.
"How can I help you?" Noble asked her.
"The Emissary told us your ship was once a simple scout before it was rebuilt and is far more powerful than it appears. Our sensors indicate you have the warp core of a warship. How did you come to command such a vessel?" Veronic inquired.
It seemed the War Vedek Lesser Rank wanted a promotion and a new, more powerful ship, "I proved myself over time. You will too."
"I cannot be elevated unless another War Vedek is killed or retires," Veronic sighed, "That could take years."
"I've found opportunities arise through misfortune far too often," Noble said, treading carefully, "But I wouldn't wish for them, if that's what it took to get promoted."
"I wouldn't wish harm upon any of my sister vedeks. But the last of the old guard have retired. The rest of us were elevated to available commands," Veronic explained.
"Be glad you even have a command," Noble advised her.
"I try but my role and patrol rarely involve any contact with other ships. How do I prove my worthiness of there are no circumstances in which to prove it?" Veronic felt stymied.
"A little advice, your people are about to be up to their eyeballs in Orion Syndicate ships traveling through your territory. That means you'll have more pirates and smugglers than you'll know what to do with," Noble cautioned her.
Veronic brightened, "Excellent."
She signed off then. Noble had known Maquis like Veronic. Always looking for action against the Cardassians despite the odds always being on the Cardassian Guard's side. Most of them hadn't survived long enough to face the Jem'Hadar purge of the DMZ. The remainder that escaped that holocaust left any territory near Cardassian borders after that. Izar had been as close as Noble had been willing to get. She knew Eckles, Lacey, Darcy and Ebert had stayed in the Kalendra Sector on the other side of the Bajor Sector. Even that was too close for Noble's comfort. They'd stayed on with Macen to fight the Dominion War. Noble had just served her penal sentence and left the Federation and ended up working for the Syndicate. And yet, Macen and Rockford entrusted Noble with this assignment. She wouldn't repay them with betrayal despite Gomer's inevitable offer to.
"So, now we try Oxmyx and Kracko?" Rockford asked as she plopped down into the couch in Macen's office.
"Now, we inform them about the truth regarding the Terrans' origins and their inevitable ambition to overthrow the Iotian Federation," Macen smirked.
"Wait, you set the Terrans up?" Rockford was slightly surprised.
"I gave the Terrans a chance. They'd tried to betray and probably kill us at the first opportunity they had. If they had the Iconian tech, they would've immediately killed Oxmyx and Kracko, claimed the Iotian Federation as their own, and began using the portal to send raiding parties to anywhere they pleased," Macen replied, "I set them on a path to see what they would do. Now I know. They haven't learned a thing from the Terran Rebellion. If anything, this group of Terrans is even more dangerous than any Starfleet has encountered in fifty years."
"Do you think they would have tried the same thing and attempted to open a portal to the Terran Universe?" Rockford asked.
"The Terran Empire attempted to invade this universe before its collapse in the face of the Klingon-Cardassian Alliance. It was actually Section 31 that stopped them," Macen told her, "A unit that included a traditional officer, Rachel Garret."
"As in Captain Rachel Garret of the Enterprise-C?" Rockford refused to believe it.
"She wouldn't assume command for a while yet," Macen chuckled, "Before then she had a wildly varied career. Parts of her record are still classified."
"And you've read it?" Rockford doubted that.
"I once held the security clearance typical for most Rear Admirals," Macen explained, "It opened a lot of doors. Elias still holds that clearance rating."
"But you don't," Rockford realized.
"Captain Vaughn is still a highly respected and even revered member of Starfleet. As a civilian contractor I can access top secret files but nowhere near the level of security access that I had before the Dominion War," Macen explained.
"That's why you have Angelique and Bailey break into Starfleet's records instead off requesting special access," Rockford had understood before but had greater clarity now.
"I use the tools I have," Macen smirked.
"Does Forger know?" Rockford asked.
"She suspects but can't prove," Macen chuckled, "It'd be to her detriment anyway. So, she really doesn't investigate it."
"Which is why Ro didn't ask around regarding breaking into classified files above your clearance rating," Rockford understood better.
"No one aboard Serenity knows. You suspected but never asked. Now you have the burden of actually knowing," Macen told her.
"It's not like I don't have them breaking into Starfleet Security and Federation Security files on suspects," Rockford shrugged, "Like you said, use the tools that are available."
"I received an update from Chris Noble. Miranda Wells brokered an arrangement. Noble does the Syndicate a favor and then she plugs the Solstice crew in at the Kalendra Sector," Macen told her.
"Where you'll have her watch the Terrans," Rockford understood that part of the operation that was underway. She hadn't known about the adjustment regarding Oxmyx and Kracko. It seemed they were deemed to be more reliable allies than the treacherous Terrans.
"Kracko will react immediately," Macen told her, "The question is: how many members of her Starfleet will engage the Scalphunter rather than join with it?"
"You expect mutiny?" Rockford asked.
"I expect entire starship crews to defect," Macen told her, "They were too willing to follow the Terrans in following us."
"Despite knowing what our intended fate was and Oxmyx and Kracko's opinion would be after the fact," Rockford mused.
"They've already lost control of Yar and her confederates. This is just the next step," Macen stated, "But it still accomplishes the intended purpose. To keep the Iotian Starfleet too embroiled with itself to be emboldened against the Federation."
"But it also makes them vulnerable to the Iridians," Rockford cautioned him.
"Making them more likely to turn to the original Federation for help, not less," Macen grinned.
"You're evil," Rockford laughed.
"Like the fruits of the devil, evil?" Macen asked.
The door opened and Ebert and Mudd entered. Ebert looked frustrated, "I know we handed Argus and Paka over the Gerrit Gren for transfer to Starfleet Security, but the last time we transferred high value prisoners to Starfleet, they went missing and were found in a Cardassian prison by Sam Lavelle. Then went missing again."
"I trust Captain Dax to get Argus and Paka to Earth," Macen said, "Their fate afterwards is murkier."
"How?" Mudd was scornful.
"Paka is being turned over to the Orions. She didn't actually commit any serious crimes to hold her on. Argus is an escaped felon and with a fresh list of charges to be brought against her. But both JAG and the Federation Prosecutors are talking deal in exchange for damning testimony against Dylan Sorbo and his top level lieutenants."
"What else could they possibly want out of a witness?" Ebert was caustic.
"The locations of Doctor Elena Kita and other Cell 51 fugitives," Rockford said sadly, "Some of them have gone so far underground they can't be located. Starfleet Intelligence believes they're selling bio weapons to extremists in exchange for protection."
"Does the Skipper believe that?" Ebert asked.
"It's Ro's leading theory," Macen replied.
"Word is Ro came and shit all over you for Starfleet," Mudd told them.
"That might be an extreme interpretation," Macen winced.
"Starfleet Command published the report and sent copies to Tyrol and Riker. They put them on the corporate database. I'd hate to have friends like her," Mudd replied.
"Ro was forced to think like a Starfleet officer not my friend," Macen told her, "And she left key questions unasked when she did her inquiry."
"It's still a hatchet job," Ebert scowled.
"That's less Ro and more Starfleet Command. You can bet Commodore Oh had a lot of input in its final draft," Macen reassured her.
"Ro Laren is still the best friend we have in Starfleet," Rockford promised, "Even more so than Captain Vaughn or Admiral Forger or Admiral Johnson."
"I see you left out Nechayev," Mudd snorted.
"Nechayev has her own battles as she looks for her successor," Macen advised them, "She's fought for what's right her entire career. Maybe it's time she gets to take a break."
"Amanda Forger is our front line defender. Bob Johnson is a political operator that smooths over the rough edges our work generates. But there'll always be a Commodore Oh or Admiral Clancy," Rockford warned them.
"Akaar is older than Vaughn. That's elderly even for a Capellan. Jellico won't change policy unless he has to," Macen promised them, "Who comes after Jellico is an issue. But until it happens, we operate as usual," Macen told them.
"Like your destabilizing the Iotian Federation," Mudd smirked, "Oh, come on. I saw the con developing when you sicced the Terrans on them. Now you're siccing the Iotian Starfleet on the Terrans. It's a perfect distraction and payback."
"Are you looking for a spot on my detective squad?" Rockford asked.
"Hard pass," Mudd quickly said.
"I get disrupting the Iotians while they're getting aggressive towards the Federation, but while the Iridians are talking about invading them?" Ebert had to question the strategy, "They have done us a ton of favors."
"They're completely transactional. They helped us to help themselves," Rockford counseled her, "Just like their violating the mutual defense pact with Bajor and Cardassia to upgrade Orion ships while Bajor is technically at war with Orion."
"You want them to ask the Federation for help when the time comes," Mudd spotted it, "Because the Bajorans and Cardassians will only be able to send so many ships across the Alpha Quadrant without Starfleet interfering."
"You are bucking for promotion," Rockford chuckled.
"The marks know you sent the Terrans their way. How will you explain their sudden dangerous treachery without exposing the fact you put them in that danger?' Mudd asked.
"I don't have to," Macen grinned, "I have Lebeauf's own declarations that he would serve the Iotian Starfleet until he felt ready to move against them recorded. I'll simply explain to them that I held the data as insurance in case the Terrans turned against me, which they did. Oxmyx and Kracko will eat it up."
"Because they'd do it themselves," Rockford added, "It's the assumption that everyone thinks like you do."
"Kracko must have thought highly of them if she put them in charge of a support mission," Ebert said.
"Or, it's an elaborate test of loyalty and of how much influence the Terrans are already exerting over fellow Starfleet captains," Rockford mentioned.
"The Terrans are another Yar and her cronies," Macen told them, "They put a conscripted crew aboard with the Terrans but they'll obey orders. The test was the other commanding officers. Some of them had Familias' connections before Oxmyx took over the Five Families' businesses."
"You've already contacted them," Mudd realized.
"Contrary to what we told Gomer, we are not en route to Sigma Iotia II," Macen explained, "We're headed to the Kalendra Sector to rendezvous with Kracko and a fleet she's put together to weed out the conspirators."
"You created the problem only to reveal it so the Iotians would be indebted to you?" Ebert put it together, "That's sneaky even for you."
"I've had help," Macen told her, "With Free Haven Port so close to the Kalendra border, General Anara has been tracking signals between Iotian starships. She's compiled a database of incriminating exchanges between starship captains."
"And Captain Noble?" Ebert asked.
"Plugging up the Orion hole in the Iotians' business interests," Macen told her.
"Chris Noble is using the Syndicate to get plugged in to the Iotian Starfleet's operations in Kalendra," Rockford explained, "Proving both the collusion between the Syndicate and the Iotian Starfleet but also between the renegade captains."
"You think Gomer is supporting the Terrans' takeover bid," Mudd realized.
"The bomb I dropped on Oxmyx and Kracko closed their business deals with the Syndicate just when the Orions need a steady source of ordnance and phaser coils. The Ferengi are formally negotiating entrance into the Federation so that doesn't leave many high end weapons dealers willing to sell to the Orions," Macen explained.
"Except Grimes Armaments' Black Sales Division and Baroness Stefi Grimes charges even more than her older sister did in the position." Rockford had done her research.
"And even the Grimes sisters can't keep up with the Orion market," Mudd thought it was an elegant solution.
"One bad piece of news just released is that the Klingons have decided to expand their own weapons sales to include 22nd Century starship models and some decommissioned 23rd Century designs," Macen sighed, "Apparently they want to directly compete with the Iotians' current domination of the starship market."
"Chancellor Martok signed off on this?" Ebert wondered.
"He did, after heavy lobbying from the arms manufacturers. The Klingon battles with the Tholians in the Taurus Reach aren't creating substantial demand for current vessel types because the Klingons aren't taking heavy losses, unlike the Tholians," Rockford described the marketing, "The Klingon Imperial military budget hasn't grown since just after the Dominion War. Martok's temporary displacement swelled the budget but he reversed the promises made while he wasn't Chancellor because the Treasury couldn't afford them. Even the High Council hawks stop short of returning to the budget practices that led to the Praxis disaster."
"So, the Taurus Reach expansion is an economic failure because there aren't enough Klingons dying?" Ebert was skeptical.
"Or at least they haven't taken enough material losses," Rockford replied, "At least not enough to suit the arms manufacturing sector of the economy."
"The current roll out from shipyards is meeting with military recruiting demands and training schedules," Macen told her, "So the Imperial Defense Force is content with the way things are. The easy early victories against the Tholians may not be worthy of song but they are acquiring planets with much needed resources."
"But the IDF is still expanding its forces," Mudd pointed out, "There's an ulterior motive there."
"Besides needing to patrol and secure their new holdings, Martok has sought political agreement to engage the Romulans," Macen told them, "The talks are secure and only a handful of Starfleet admirals are even aware of the Federation Council's negotiations."
"Martok doesn't want Federation assistance, just for Starfleet to stay out of it," Rockford clarified for them.
"That doesn't sound very Martok of him," Mudd pointed out.
"He's under a lot political pressure from Emperor Kahless and his supporters within the High Council," Macen revealed, "Kahless is willing to challenge Martok for control of the Empire. If Martok wins, he kills Kahless with all the fallout that entails. If he loses, he dies and can't affect the outcome of Kahless' demands for war."
"So, he can't block the petition but he can steer it," Mudd thought it through.
"I thought Kahless lived in isolation," Ebert dimly recalled, "What brought him to Qo'nos?"
"Martok has asked Commodore Oh to assign Captain Worf to investigate," Rockford told them, "Worf is part of Martok's House but he's independent as a member of Starfleet. So it crosses a line without crossing it at the same time. He's also asked Starfleet Command to send Captain Dax and her ship to Klingon space for an 'unspecified' task."
"So, after Dax drops off Argus and Paka, she's headed to Klingon space?" Ebert asked.
"That entirely depends on Bob Johnson's petition with the Federation Council that's currently moving through committee," Macen warned her.
"Either way, it sidelines Dax and Worf," Rockford said unhappily, "Just when they could be needed to meet an Iridian threat."
"This might just be the way of the Iridians sidelining the entire Klingon Empire," Macen suggested, "Ro is recommending that avenue of investigation to Worf."
"What happens after we give the Orions and the Terrans a black eye?" Mudd asked, "There has to be an end game."
"The Syndicate needs its ships in the Gamma Quadrant back and able to transit the Wormhole," Macen replied, "So, a suggestion to Gomer will be to sue Bajor for peace. They cut a deal and the Syndicate returns to making a profit through traditional venues and doesn't have to hire out to the Iridian Enforcers any further."
"You think she will?" Ebert inquired.
"Gomer isn't stupid. Part of the Enforcers' promised roles in any territory is destroying criminal organizations like the Syndicate. As soon as the Enforcers have a toehold in mainstream Beta Quadrant territory, they'll be gunning for the Orions," Rockford explained, "She knows that's the eventual outcome of an Iridian invasion that succeeds."
"But right now, she needs the short term latinum they provide," Mudd grasped this all too well.
"If the war with Bajor ends, the Syndicate can openly do business with the Iotian Federation again," Macen told them, "A side effect of peace."
"And the Orions will help prop up the Iotians against the Iridians," Ebert grinned.
"If they want to secure their easiest procurement of weapons and starship repair support, then yes," Macen nodded his agreement.
"Were you planning this when you sent the Terrans to the Iotians?" Mudd had to ask.
"Not in these exact terms, but the same basic endgame," Macen told her.
"What was the original point?" Mudd pressed further.
"To get the Terrans to stage a coup to force Starfleet to intervene in Iotan affairs," Macen told her, "Thereby reinforcing the Iotians."
"Because Starfleet would never allow a Terran based government to stand," Rockford finished explaining, "So, Oxmyx and Kracko would be restored to power and they'd open actual negotiations with the original Federation."
"And this is why we're not under Riker's command?" Mudd finished asking.
"One reason," Macen shrugged.
"Did Admiral Forger approve any of this?" Ebert wondered.
"We were out of communications range when all of these decisions were made," Macen told her, "So, we set things in motion in good faith and just looped Forger in."
"This is exactly what Starfleet is afraid you'll do to the Federation," Ebert pointed out.
"If I was going to, I would've a long time ago and cut a deal with Cell 51," Macen told her.
"Luckily for you, Johnson solved your Cell 51 problem," Mudd snorted, "But Starfleet still has concerns even after all of that."
"Clancy and Oh muddied the waters so the junior admirals can't even look back six months ago to see the truth of the circumstances they were faced with," Macen said dourly.
"They see a threat to their developing power bases," Rockford offered up, "That tends to be consuming and blinding at the same time."
"In the meantime, between coddling admirals' egos, we're rendezvousing Kracko," Macen reminded them, "Hopefully, Chris Noble and her crew will be in place by then."
Noble, Tulley, Lacey, Thool, Sito, and Hendryks materialized inside Varic'c command ship. Thool looked around, "Right according to commercial specs."
Hendryks jacked a tricorder directly into the main computer, "No security alerts have gone out. They really do believe they're untouchable while in port."
"Any word on Captain Kale?" Sito asked.
"Varic has her in the brig. It's low-rent, physical jailing. He's visited the infirmary every time afterwards," Hendryks told them.
"She's still alive, which means he hasn't gotten what wants out of her," Tulley sounded proud of her.
"He wants to rape her in every degrading way he can imagine," Noble grated.
"I thought this 'Kale' was a teenager," Thool responded, "How can she be so dangerous?"
"You've met Arianna Forte, right?" Lacey asked him.
"Of course," Thool answered.
"Strip away all traces of civilization from her and you have Kale. They're from the same planet and background," Lacey explained it to him, "Don't let her appearance fool you. She's over four hundred years old. In which time she lived like a savage on a planet where puberty turned people into monsters."
"Are interior sensors on?" Noble asked Hendryks.
"Shut down to conserve power. The port provides water and life support but not power," Hendryks explained to her, "So, they're down to emergency systems in an effort to conserve deuterium and antimatter."
"What crew?" Noble asked.
"Skeleton maintenance crew and two guards on Kale," Hendryks read off her screen, "Everyone else has shore leave with reduced duty rotations to man what's left of the watches."
"Could we have simply beamed into the brig?" Lacey asked.
"The two guards would have sounded an alert and they would've activated security's interior shields," Sito told her, "From here, we're just down the corridor and can access the brig unseen and get the jump on the guards."
"Let's see if it's that simple," Noble decided.
Thool returned with Darcy to the Engine Room when the crew beamed back to the Solstice. Kale accompanied the bridge crew, wondering why they weren't releasing her yet. Captain Dreeni was already on the main viewer.
"Exactly as promised, Captain Noble," Dreeni admitted, "Now, for the firework?"
"Elfi, signal the Ascendant ships," Noble ordered Hendryks. The various war vedeks of various ranks ordered their ships to preemptively open fire on multiple Raasian pirate ships. They successfully destroyed the drive sections of each ship, laving the bulk of the starship undamaged. Varic's crews surrendered wholesale. Varic himself sought shelter in the port until the portmaster gave him up to War Vedek Divini. He took Varic's ships and crews in exchange as salvage.
"You fulfilled your bargain," Dreeni admitted. Kale was beamed off the Solstice's bridge, "Now for your reward. Miranda Wells. Commander Macen has spoken directly with Gomer and Kracko. It seems a tentative arrangement has been made. Wells has inserted you into the Kalendra Sector patrol as an independent contractor. From this point forward, you answer to the Fleet Boss. Her contact information is included with your invitation guarantee you'll present to the local commander on the scene in Kalendra. It was a pleasure working with you again. You should make it a habit."
Dreeni signed off and Noble got the scoutship headed back to the Wormhole. Noble sat down and sensed trepidation in her crew's actions, "Yes, I can confirm I worked for the Syndicate after the Maquis were destroyed. Ro's deal commuted by penal sentence so I left the Federation. Eventually I tired of being a career criminal, so I left and settled on Izar until Macen found me there with Tracy Ebert's help."
"I was with them," Lacey confided with the others. Noble pointed us towards Tulley, who was hiding out as a recluse, "From there, we picked up Elfi and Thool."
"I was already aboard Serenity," Sito recalled, "But I remember the reunion party."
"We all have criminal pasts except for Sito," Hendryks reminded them all, "Most of our fellow Maquis coming in and out of Sakonna's office either still work in the Syndicate or rival cartels. Some are inside extremists groups that make Eddington's wet dreams look passive."
"Thanks for that reminder," Tulley said dryly.
"The point is, we're together again and we have a special purpose to go with our specialized talents and pasts," Noble stated, "Right now, we're off to save the Iotian Federation from internal enemies and the Iridian Enforcers."
Macen and Rockford had given the crew a brief containing the Iridian threat and its intended target to build a foothold next to Federation space. The crew was less interested in the Federation's short term survival than in bolstering proven allies in the Iotian sphere. Plus, ending the war between the Bajoran Republic and the Orion Syndicate with fair terms seemed ideal.
"The navigation system puts our time to the Wormhole at five days at cruising speed," Sito reported, "We can have some time off by interspersing bursts of maximum warp. From Bajor, we can reach the Kalendra Sector in hours. I'm assuming we'll use the least approach through Free Haven?"
"You assume correctly. We'll update General Anara on the way," Noble told her.
Noble passed her update on to Anara as they cruised through the Free Haven system passed the starbase that was the headquarters for Anara's command and the Militia Colonial Defense Forces. Militia starships were readied near the border crossing in case the Solstce received a hostile welcome. As Iotian allies, and Kalendra being Iotian Federation territory, the Militia could deploy an escort but that would force a revelation of why the scoutship was important to the Militia.
The Solstice crossed the border and navigated halfway through the nearest star system before being greeted by an unfamiliar stasrhip design with a very familiar registration. The ISS Kelly was under a new commander, a male to female crossdresser named Jerli. Until now, no outsider had ever encountered a transgender or crossdressing Iotian. Given the prevalence of near-humans in that section of the Beta Quadrant, they couldn't even be certain that Jelri was Iotian. The Starfleet had recently opened commands to non-Iotian fleet officers.
"I am I not what you were expecting?" Jerli asked mirthfully.
"Your ship type and commander have changed since we last encountered the registration," Noble explained.
"Yes, Commodore Mirita speaks highly of her exploits with former Maquis," Jerli conceded, "Do you have your guarantee cipher?"
"We do," Noble confirmed it.
"Then I'll transmit your sealed orders," Jerli told them, "Afterwards, you're to follow me to our patrol routs along the Tzenkethi and Breen borders."
"Will we be joining the patrol?" Noble asked.
"Your ship is listed as a scout. So, I've been told that you'll be doing some scouting for us. Unless probing enemy borders is an issue for you?" Jerli asked.
"We've spent most of our adult lives penetrating areas we're not supposed to be in," Noble replied jauntily, "We'll manage whatever you throw at us."
"Good. I've sent you coordinates. It''s the rendezvous location with the border patrols. You'll be given your exact assignment upon arrival," Jerli told them.
"Why not tell us now?" Noble wondered.
"Captain Lebeauf wants to see your reaction to your orders personally," Jerli told her.
"A lot of familiar registrations that don't match what we have on file for vessel types," Hendryks pointed out as they were escorted by Captain Jerli to the border region.
"And with little surprise, we find the Scalphunter here as well," Lacey reported.
"The ISS Hitman is presently in this sector. The access Kracko provided allows me to hack the Iotian Starfleet's datanet. The Hitman is commanded by one Admiral Brigani. Brigani is technically in command of the entire Iotian Starfleet fleet activities in this sector," Hendryks explained, "But Brigani has lost effective control over this subsector's patrol."
"Captain Jerli said Captain Lebeauf would want to personally see your reaction to your assignment orders," Tulley pointed out, "The safest bet is Lebeauf commands the Scalphunter."
"This entire patrol accompanied Lebeauf into the Gamma Quadrant where they distanced themselves from helping us as ordered and instead cut a personal deal with the Syndicate and stalked us until the Metrons intervened and sent Lebeauf and starships back to the Wormhole where they apparently returned here," Lacey continued the deductive thread.
"Because they're established here and their influence is spreading," Noble understood the implications, "Which is why Kracko agreed to our infiltration."
"We're being hailed by the Scalphunter," Hendryks told her.
"Put him on screen," Noble instructed.
The first sighting of Lebeauf was very instructive. Though a man in his prime, he dyed his short, spiked hair gray. He also wore a leather version of the Iotian uniform. Wearing a uniform seemed natural to him but in any choice other than leather seemed to insult his aesthetic.
"Captain Noble, you come highly recommended by both the Iotian Starfleet and the Orin Syndicate," Lebeauf opened with, "Miranda Wells herself reached out to place you in my patrol. Why is that?"
"The border is said to have opportunities on it," Noble replied, "If you seize the opportunities."
"The Tzenkethi have learned their proper place again," Lebeauf told her, "You'd have to be willing to cross their border to provide an 'opportunity' for yourself. But the Breen are a different matter. Their military has sealed the border but they still send privateers into the Kalendra Sector to collect tribute from nearby worlds."
"Which you allow them to collect and then take it from them. Very clever," Noble replied.
"We can't stop every privateer or the Breen would begin militarily assist their efforts," Lebeauf told her, "But if they had sufficient provocation, they'd send their military in to assist their privateers."
"And you'd have a war to operate in with looting a regular part of your duties," Noble grasped the plan.
"The Syndicate tells me you operated throughout the Dorvan Sector from the Demilitarized Zone with far less capable vessels. The cell you belonged to was the most capable in both military and asset acquisition terms. Now you're here. Are you ready to employ those skills once again?" Lebeauf asked.
"You want me to invade Breen space, skirmish with military units, and draw them in the Kalendra Sector so you can begin war profiteering. Is that it in a nutshell?" Noble asked.
"With the Iotian Starfleet at war with the Breen, they'll never notice a regime change back at Fleet Base One," Lebeauf chuckled, "I have to actually admire certain aspects of the Iotian culture. They respect shows of power and strength."
"Meaning you'll be king," Noble understood, "Got it. When do we start?"
"Easy enough," Noble told him, 'We used to lure Cardassian cruisers and frigates into traps like these all the time."
"Then you're on a clock," Lebeauf signed off. The Solstice altered course and was escorted to the birder by the ISS Kelly and the ISS Jesse James. The light cruiser's commander felt the need to reaffirm Noble's understanding of her task.
Captain Gendre's dark, dye dipped pink and blue hair also defied Iotian conventions. Noble guessed she was either part of a new rebellious Iotian scene or from another planet altogether. Whatever the case, Gendre wanted to make certain Noble understood that she was provoking a war. Failure to do so would not be tolerated.
"I understood without your thuggish intervention," Noble replied to the threat.
"We'll be awaiting your return at the rally point. Make certain you're being pursued or we'll target you instead of whatever Breen chasers you have after you," Gendre made certain to convey.
"Cut her off and set course across the border. We have a conversation have with the Breen," Noble told her crew.
Kracko lifted herself out of her command chair, "What do you think of her? I don't get to take her out very often."
"I think the Fleet Boss is an exact copy of a Nebula-class starship whose plans the Intendents Ro and Kira gave you that were stolen from Deep Space Nine," Macen shrugged, "Even the carpeting matches Starfleet issue."
"Why did you keep your and Oxmyx's flagships unchanged while your replaced the rest fo the fleet in record time?" Rockford asked her.
"Despite our recent technical innovations, these two ships inspired most of them," Kracko admitted, "They remain our most powerful assets."
Kracko studied Macen, "You knew when you sent these Terrans to us they'd revolt."
"It's their cultural drive to dominate. The slaves that made up the Terran Rebellion softened the new Terran Empire but these are old school Terrans. Even placed in a new universe, their first instinct is to conquer and dominate. There was a chance that Lebeauf and his crew would settle in as privateers like Ishtashra Yar. But that experiment isn't paying dividends either." Macen noted.
"And what benefit do you receive from us dealing harshly with these Terrans?" Kracko asked.
"They're made renegades and the captains exposed to their rebellious ideas and embracing them see where the true seat of power is," Macen told her, "You'll need that when the Iridians make their move."
"We have a purely transactional relationship," Kracko reminded them, "We greatly differ in ideology, yet you're supporting the continued existence of the Iotian Federation. Why?"
"Because you supply my company with ships and weapons. You back the Bajorans and the Ascendancy. And you're treaty partners with Cardassians. Those are all benefits for me," Macen explained.
"It's like hiring you without having to join your Federation," Rockford told her.
"Opening our markets to the Orion Syndicate sold Oxmyx on endorsing peace terms between the Bajorans and Orions," Kracko admitted, "Why do you care so much about it?"
"It opens certain windows of opportunity for us," Rockford told her.
"Within the Orion Syndicate," Kracko began to understand.
"And beyond," Macen confirmed it.
"And the other Starfleet is unaware of these 'opportunities'," Kracko smirked.
"They're suspicious,' Rockford confirmed Kracko's own suspicions.
"And you're telling me because your opportunities will develop our own opportunities," Kracko deduced.
"It should open new markets," Macen agreed.
"We should drop you back off onto your ship," Kracko advised, "We'll be dropping out of warp to join the Hitman and some loyalists to bolster my task force."
"Your ROE stands?" Rockford asked.
"Yes, neither of your ships will engage in combat operations. This is an internal matter. It has to be solved internally to persuade the Terrans' co-conspirators that they've chosen sides poorly," Kracko confirmed her prior orders.
"Understood," Rockford said.
"It didn't take the new admiral long to add his ships to Kracko's," Rockford had felt the vibrational shit in the deck plates as the Obsidian resumed warp speed.
"Planetary Bosses and Fleet Bosses in the past have used scorched earth policies to insure loyalty in the ranks. Kracko's response is actually a restrained one," Macen told her.
"You've dealt with more Iotians than I have," Rockford admitted.
"The Terrans stranded here seemed surprised by the Iotians' advancements," Rockford had noticed.
"Traditionally, non-Terrans were slaves," Macen told her, "Only select races were even allowed to serve as conscripts within Starfleet."
"A move mirrored by the Iotians in making conscription tours part of the price of membership in their Federation," Rockford saw the circumstantial similarities, 'Only, the Iotians have opened up command possibilities for proven conscripted officers."
"Captain Mara and the Bonnie & Clyde are part of the Hitman's fleet," Macen had spotted the admiral's transmitted loyalist commands, "So, that investment paid off."
"You don't expect Lebeauf's 'conspirators' to stay with him," Rockford had noticed.
"They're opportunists sold dreams of importance and prestige," Macen shrugged, "Those aren't loyal allies. They'll go where the payoff is. Kracko obviously outguns them three-to-one. No advantages to be found there."
"You're worried about Chris Noble and her crew," Rockford noted.
"Kracko has other, loyal informants that have been feeding her information regarding the Terrans. They chose Chris as the instrument to start a war between the Iotian Federation and the Breen," Macen explained, "If she crosses the border and isn't being chased by Breen military forces, the standing orders are to destroy her and the crew rather than any other Breen response."
"Is the another potential Breen response?" Rockford asked.
"That section of the border is frequently crossed by Breen privateers to exact 'tribute'," Macen handed her the padd with the Iotian Starfleet's updates, "Apparently, the Terrans ordered the Iotians to stop enforcing the border and embolden the Breen."
"In order to profit of an inevitable war when Kracko ordered the bordered enforced the rest of the fleet moved in from other subsectors in the Kalendra Sector," Rockford followed the narrative, "That would create an opening fo rthe Terrans to challenge Kracko and Oxmyx for leadership of the Iotian Federation. They'd claim mismanagement of the Kalendra border led to war but it was mismanaged by the Terrans themselves."
"The member planets of the Iotian Federation wouldn't be scrutinizing the record of how the war began. They'd be looking to a strongman to end it swiftly," Macen charted the scheme to its conclusion.
"I'm surprised by Kracko's restraint now," Rockford admitted.
"Yar and her followers have created enough instabilities within the Five Families that Oxmyx felt compelled to eliminate the competition and seize singular control over their businesses," Macen reminded her, "Add characters as potent as the Terrans to Yar's uprising and you reveal the inherent weaknesses within the Iotian Starfleet. It's bad for business. The more ships committed to the solution, the larger the threat appears. But if Kracko herself deals with the problem and reunites the rogue commanders with their version of Starfleet Command, then the show of strength will have been successful."
"But they won't be able to take the Terrans alive, if at all," Rockford pointed out.
"They don't need to. They just need them branded renegades and cut off from fleet support," Macen replied.
"And what happens to our conquering cutthroats then?" Rockford asked.
"I have no idea," Macen admitted, "But I predict they'll become Starfleet's problem."
"We're dropping out of warp at the Breen border.," Captain Forger warned them, "Kracko has advised us to drop back. Kracko is transmitting in the clear."
"We'll watch it from here," Macen told her. He patched the signal into the primary wall monitor. Kracko did not look amused.
"It's come to our attention that an insurrection is underway. A plan to draw our Iotian Starfleet into war with the Breen is currently being undertaken. I'm here to make certain the plan fails. Captain Lebeauf, the origins of you and your fellow Terrans have become apparent. The implications of that have also been revealed. I'll offer you one chance to peaceful surrender or we'll test the loyalty of your conspirators. Will the rebel with you or return to their duties as Iotian Starfleet officers? Let's find out, shall we?" Kracko announced, "All ships target the Scalphunter and any other vessel that ignores orders to stand down."
Lebeauf responded, also in the clear, "Your fake promises of equality have been found out. Your Iotian dominated fleet will rebel against you and follow us in rearranging the power structure of the so-called 'Iotian' Federation."
"Have you explained the power structure fo the Terran Empire you come from?" Kracko asked mirthfully, "Here's everything the other Federation Starfleet would share with us regarding the Terran Empire, its history, and current ambitions."
The Obsidian received the data packet as well since it was sent over the channel. Rockford smirked, "This should be a game changer."
"The alien commanders will realize they're just replacing one set of imperialistic overlords for another. The Iotians swayed by the Terran promises will realize they'll still be locked out of real power," Macen chuckled.
Macen paged Forger, "Let me know when all of the Iotian ships are targeting the Scalphunter."
It took several minutes as captain reviewed the data they'd received but eventually even Lebeauf's 'followers' turned against him once again. But then, sensors showed the Solstice returning from the Breen side of the border followed by a dozen Breen privateers.
Lebeauf transmitted to crow his triumph, "The war has begun! You've lost!"
Noble transmitted in the clear, "Captain Lebeauf, the Breen military has declined your invitation to a war. But they have placed a bounty on your crews'; heads. These privateers escorting me back across the border intend to collect."
The Terran warship accelerated and vectored to an opening between starships and went to maximum warp. Kracko alerted all Iotian commands to be on alert. Fleet Base One and the Sigma Iotia II system were reinforced. She established communications exclusively with the Obsidian and Solstice while Admiral Brigan reconciled the would-be rebels back into the fleet and sector command structure.
"I assumed that Captain Lebeauf and his Terrans would fight rather than retreat," Kracko confessed.
"It's them against a universe," Noble pointed out, "Not great odds."
"They'll seek revenge against all of us now," Macen advised them, "Terrans don't let any slight against their ambitions go unpunished."
"You've fulfilled your side of the bargain. I'll reach out to Oxmyx and have her recommendations for a peace process laid out with the Bajoran First Minister as soon as they can coordinate a meeting," Kracko told him, "Given our importance to the Republic, it shouldn't take long."
"I'll advise Gomer to prepare her negotiating team," Macen told her.
Kracko signed off to address her troops. Noble asked the obvious question, "Do we return to Serenity to face the music?"
"You shouldn't be in the holding cells for long. Gerrit will need them back for the drunk and disorderly," Macen promised.
The trip wasn't a long one but Forger interrupted Macen's finalizing his report of the Skaarian discoveries to Admiral Forger, "There's been trouble. The Barrinor system is still floating debris that shows battle damage. Recovery teams are still clearing the approach lanes to the station. Most of the damage seems to have come from civilian traffic."
"The Terrans aren't bound by the Barrinoran neutrality," Macen sighed, "I should have seen it coming."
"You can't predict everything," Forger reminded him as she signed off.
Riker met them at the Docking Pylon, "I don't give a damn what the Cardassians think about it. Those defensive upgrades saved countless lives."
"Give me the worst of it," Macen told him as they and Rockford exclusively headed for the turbolift.
"By the time the Indomitable and other defense craft were deployed, the Terrans withdrew. It was a simple hit and run. Civilian freighters took the brunt of it. Those docked at the station and protected by our defenses were spared. This was brute force message that they could get at us anytime they want," Riker assessed.
"No, this was a terror campaign," Macen corrected him, "Left with little other recourse, they've become terrorists."
"They've a powerful ship, extreme experience in such tactics, and a universe full of enemies. They'll hire themselves out to groups that can afford their demands," Rockford predicted.
"Any chance of sending them home?' Riker grated.
"They volunteered to come here. I think whatever awaits them at home is worse than being alone in a hostile universe," Macen surmised.
"So, that's a big 'no'.. You could've led with that," Riker groaned.
"Why didn't you alert us?" Rockford asked.
"The first targets were the Federation's comm buoys on the other side of the border," Riker detailed, "We lost contact with everyone outside the system."
"And gave you warning to raise the defenses," Macen said, "That was calculated."
"Meaning they have other targets they don't want us warning," Rockford understood the implication.
"I have teams replacing the Federation's buoys with our own," Riker told them, "But we're fifteen minutes away from activating them."
"They don't know where our ships are deployed," Rockford ran it down, "So, we're not the next target. Who is?"
"We're in a line towards the Iotian Federation," Macen reminded her, "They may be trying for Oxmyx."
"But Kracko reinforced the system and they're on high alert," Rockford reminded him.
"A sledgehammer taken to stained glass. They're just after casualties to prove their point," Macen said grudgingly.
"According to private information Kracko gave us, Oxmyx is aboard her flagship rather than Fleet Base One. That was a secret relocation that wasn't broadcast to the fleet," Rockford recalled.
"Kracko anticipated this where I didn't," Macen said angrily.
"We can still send the alert. It'll take the Terrans days to reach Sigma Iotia II. They'll have a defensive fleet waiting for them," Riker promised.
"I also need to alert Nechayev, Amanda Forger, and Ro that they're Terrans here and how they've gone rogue," Macen said grimly.
"Without implicating yourself in a plot to overthrow Oxmyx and then turned it around to overthrow the Terrans," Rockford smirked.
"Just what Starfleet wants to hear," Riker groaned again.
"At least the feelers for supporting the Iotians against the Iridians have already gone out. There should be updates on the feedback," Macen hoped for positive results.
The news regarding the presence of the Terrans wasn't received well. The fact that Macen had concealed it and sent them to the Iotian Starfleet was even less kindly received. While Noble and her crew were slated by Riker for a three-day stint in the holding cells, the Obsidian was dispatched to Deep Space Three. Both Nechayev and Forger wanted Macen off of Serenity to be questioned by Ro.
"Is the Skipper going to arrest you?" Ebert breathlessly asked after bursting into Macen's office after they got underway.
"That's our least likely scenario," Rockford assured her, "Or, at least we hope at this point."
"They want us on Starfleet territory and unsupported in case they decide to make an arrest," Macen chuckled.
"I don't find it funny," Ebert confessed.
"I violated a Starfleet regulation rather than a Federation law. I'm not part of Starfleet so I'm not bound by regulations," Macen promised her, "This is an administrative review with no basis in law. But I do need to brief Ro on the Terran threat."
"They can't hold us responsible for the Terrans running loose," Rockford pointed out, "Our capability of capturing them is non-existent if we match them ship to ship. But hiding them with the Iotian Starfleet takes some explaining."
"Whose idea it anyway?" Ebert wondered.
"It was mine," Macen confessed.
"But I endorsed it," Rockford followed rather quickly, "Just as I backed turning Oxmyx and Kracko against them. It ended up being the safer play."
"And the good news is, the Bajoran Republic and representatives from the Orion Syndicate are actually holding talks in Federation space," Macen congratulated himself.
"Before you award yourself a peace prize, there still opening talks," Rockford disabused him of his vanity.
"So, you're not worried?" Ebert asked.
"It's Ro," Macen shrugged, "What's to worry about?"
A few days later, Macen and Rockford were in Ro's office faced with an extremely livid Bajoran, "I can't believe you two! If my inquiry wasn't damning enough you pull this shuk!"
"You know Starfleet can't prosecute me for anything," Macen reminded her, "I'm not an officer."
"But as a contractor, you're meant to uphold Federation law," Ro snapped back at him.
"And there's no law stipulating I have to report the presence of Terrans in this universe," Macen reminded her, "It's a Starfleet regulation to which we aren't bound."
"Section 31 condoned Terrans being in this universe. Starfleet has never done so," Ro argued.
"Except during the First Klingon War," Macen replied, "Look it up. Your security clearance is now high to review the 'return' of Captain Philippa Georgiou. The Starfleet regulations in question weren't even drafted before the multiple crossovers at Deep Space Nine. It was a concern that the Terran Rebellion might strike a deal with the Dominion."
"I wasn't aware of that," Ro admitted, "The regulation came to be before the war."
"James Fowler and Luther Sloan wrote the regulation and submitted for consideration to Starfleet Security where it was recommended for review by the Admiralty," Macen continued, "It was enacted without dissent or changes. Kira had a similar regulation pushed through the Militia for similar reasons. She was directly afraid of the Intendant version of her attempting a coup on a Bajor."
"So, you're not beholden to it. But it just makes sense to warn us about Terrans in our universe," Ro's fury simmered.
"The end results were better than expected," Rockford argued, "The Iotian Starfleet weeded out potential mutineers and re-asserted control over their own forces."
"Which of it wasn't for alooming Iridian Enforcer threat to them, I would've cheered on some disarray in their house," Ro confessed, "Starfleet Command and the Federation Council are proving more resistant to the idea of aiding the Iotians in the event of an Iridian invasion than the President and his Cabinet. It takes a measure from the Council to authorize intervening in a war."
"What's so pressing that they can't see the obvious threat?" Macen asked.
"Everyone's securing their own power base," Rockford sighed, "That takes precedence."
"Exactly. The politics of this couldn't have come at a worse time," Ro told them, "Command doesn't want to be in the position of being thrust into another war with a rival only to withdraw and let that rival rebuild after the Iridians are forced home."
"This isn't invading Cardassia on trumped up accusations. This is enlightened self interest," Macen grew angry.
"The Admiralty doesn't see it so they're not selling it to the Federation Council," Ro said sadly, "They want the Iotian Starfleet crippled before they act."
"Which deprives Starfleet of a natural ally," Rockford pointed out.
"If Starfleet intervenes at all," Ro warned them, "The majority of the responses are to leave the Iotians to their fate and let their own allies sort it out with them."
"And you wondered why I refused to put the uniform back on," Macen grated.
"I'll also warn you, Starfleet has committed to contracting every available Outbound Ventures eligible starship to prevent you from coming to the Iotians' aid." Ro told them, "Admiral Forger can't refuse orders coming from her superiors to do so."
"How can they be so time specific about this?" Rockford asked.
"Because Starfleet already knows when the invasion begins," Ro told her.
"And?" Macen asked tartly.
"It began seven hour sago," Ro finally revealed.
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