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Religious Strife 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
Instead the SID team would take out the Obsidian's predecessor, the Blackbird-class scoutship, the Solstice. The Solstice herself having just undergone repairs after Macen's team used her for the first leg of their assignment. Neela had been gifted the Iotian Starfleet's copy of an United Earth Starfleet vessel by one of the team, Harriet "Harri" Fedora Mudd. Before Neela took possession of her, Macen had had the Warp 4 engine replaced and upgraded to a Warp 7 warp core and drive. The polarizing hull plating was gone and shield emitters installed. The Type VIII phaser banks and modern photon torpedo launchers had replaced antiquated phase cannons and photonic torpedo launchers.
"Since we're respected as a trustworthy third party, we've been called in to determine the causes behind the attacks and identify the culprits," Macen told everyone, "Make no mistake about it, after the Federation's war with Bajor, outsiders aren't especially welcomed anymore. I rather doubt we'll get easy answers to our questions. Especially since they'll be operating in cell networks like back in the Resistance. Each Order will have their cells and each will have a spiritual leader fomenting the violence but each cell will act independently of each other in order to prevent the capture of all should one cell be compromised."
"We'll still be acting undercover," Neela told the Militia officers and enlisted under her, "We have to act as spiritual pilgrims on colony worlds in order to allay suspicions and act the part of sympathizers towards the radicalized Orders."
"I recommend the ship's crew remain aboard the Razor's Edge," Major Wyn Mesa of Militia Special Forces and the commander of the ship recommended, "Griff and I can help you and the deputy constables in your search."
Lieutenant Griff Goring was also Special Forces and Wyn's second-in-command. The rest of the crew were enlisted except for Doctor Lens Frenic and Nurse Kenji Nola, who in Militia tradition held no military rank. The others looked universally disappointed to be left out of a chance to directly secure the Bajoran safety and security.
"We'll be docking the Solstice at Deep Space Nine with a skeleton crew aboard and the rest of us will take the commercial shuttle to Bajor," Macen informed the team, "Pack everything you'll need for a duration because we won't have transporter capability restored unless we have to call in the ship."
"I take it I'm the skeleton crew," Tracy Ebert complained. Ebert had first flown Blackbird-class ships with the Maquis when she was fifteen. Macen had personally recruited her to fly his ship, the SS Odyssey.
"Parva will be with you since I have special project for her and she'll need the ship's fabricators," Macen cut off the Orion engineer's protests, "Everyone else goes to Bajor."
"And I won't be in Federation space so I don't have to hide my mobile emitter," Tessa, the Obsidian's EMH, was excited to come along.
The Synthetics Ban had been broadened to include sentient holograms. So Tessa's existence was illegal in the Federation. Fortunately for her, the team rarely operated within Federation borders or under Starfleet scrutiny when they did. Some sympathetic officers knew about Tessa's existence and that she operated independently of the ship when called to. They had sworn vows of silence regarding her existence to Starfleet in violation of the ban. They valued the person Tessa had become more than a knee jerk reactionary law.
"Neela's crew will travel to the colonies posing as pilgrims. They'll be free to infiltrate a sect and unravel how the vedeks and prylars are acquiring explosives. Meanwhile we'll determine how they're distributing them and which Orders have become violent to present the evidence to Kai Tila and First Minister Astris. We have to always be aware that members of the Militia and Constabulary may be acolytes of one or more of these Orders," Macen advised them.
"They're blinded by the devotion to the Prophets and no longer recognize the truth of who Bajor's gods are or what they expect of us," Neela told everyone, "I was one of them once. I know how committed these people will be. They're willing to sacrifice themselves along with untold hundreds and even thousands to prove their Orthodoxy is the only correct one."
"The vedeks leading these Orders have substituted belief in the Bajoran Republic and their vision for it over their faith in the Prophets. It's time we remind them of just how wrong that is," Macen said his final words as the shuttle prepared to dock.
"It's better if we don't arrive in Bajoran space at the same time," Neela suggested, "You have a faster median cruising speed. We'll catch up."
"Don't give up on them just yet," Macen urged.
"I would have to give up on myself first," Neela pledged.
Mudd sat at the OPS Station beside hers, "And I thought my ship was an antique."
"Tactical is fairly similar to modern layouts," Rab Daggit said from the Weapons Station.
"It's not like we weren't aboard just a few weeks ago," Macen chided them from the center seat.
Celeste Rockford and her Detective Squad took over the Briefing Room Module attached to the rear of the bridge. There Lee Kang, Shade, and Arianna Forte began assembling the clues Bajoran Intelligence had already begun transferring to them from the Militia Constabulary's inquiries into the matter. Neela was receiving the same data. Deeper within the ship, Parva was reactivating the warp core from standby to active modes as well as the impulse fusion reactor. Tessa made certain Sickbay was squared away.
Angelique Kerber and Bailey Smith took occupancy in the Data Womb center they'd insisted Macen install on all of his primary and support vessels. The one aboard the Ju'day-class Eclipse was rudimentary in comparison just as the one aboard the Solstice wasn't quite as advanced as the primary Data Womb aboard the Obsidian. But pairing modern equipment to older model starships could be tricky even for engineers as talented as Tom Eckles and Heidi Darcy who were experts with those types of older ship classes.
"Parva, are we ready?" Macen commed Engineering.
"The antimatter inducer is right where I left it," Parva chuckled, "We'll have warp drive in five minutes. In the meantime, we have impulse engines so you can take us out of drydock."
"You heard her, Tracy. Contact the Yard Master and take us out, "Macen instructed.
"I've got us clearance to depart and a traffic lane to exit the system," Ebert gleefully told him, "This'll be like old times."
Macen and Daggit wondered how she could have such memories of the Maquis rebellion and the Dominion War but then again, the Odyssey crew had replaced the family she lost to the Cardassians. The SID was another kind of family to her but the crew of the SS Odyssey would always be her primary family. Happily for her, all the surviving members of the Maquis crew now worked for Outbound Ventures.
Macen had founded Outbound Ventures after leaving Starfleet as a security contracting corporation. Now it was the irregular forces for Starfleet's SID. The SID itself didn't have any starship assets. So its Starfleet agents utilized hopping rides aboard fleet ships or requisitioning auxiliary craft to get from destination to destination. Outbound Ventures SID starship crews were vetted by both Starfleet Security and Starfleet Intelligence. Since the majority of the crew members were former Starfleet officers and enlisted personnel, their security clearances came swiftly.
Outbound Ventures provided both a Starfleet presence where the traditional fleet couldn't or wouldn't operate as well plausible deniability. The SID teams wore a different, Starfleet styled uniform then the corporate fleet. But Macen's unit and the Obsidian crew weren't required to wear the uniform since they primarily acted undercover as simple corporate assets.
Outbound Ventures had acquired the Rockford Detective Agencies in a merger orchestrated by Macen and Rockford. Years later, they married after the death of Macen's Vulcan wife, T'Kir. Their relationship was far more stable than his with the mercurial T'Kir. Macen's closest friends, Captain Elias Vaughn and Commander Ro Laren, of Starfleet, both agreed that Rockford was a far better influence upon him then the mentally unstable Vulcan.
Macen was a veteran of the El-Aurian Survey Corps and then Starfleet Intelligence. As a Survey Corps member, he'd been given life prolonging drugs that amplified an already long life span. Macen was nearly 450 years-old. Rockford was 90. But as an Angosian she appeared to just be entering her 30's. Since Macen's treatment had been nullified by a near lethal dose of theta radiation, they would grow old together at a comparable rate.
Rockford had been born Annika Ryst and made an Angosian Augment Infiltrator. This meant she created completely separate personalities in order to get inside Tarsisian forces and assassinate their commanders. But Ryst and the other personalities had voluntarily ceased to exist in order make Rockford the dominant personality left remaining. But their memories had been integrated into Rockford's stopgap memory. Now she bore their collective wartime traumas.
It was a situation Macen was familiar with. He was a survivor of the Borg assimilation of El-Auria, being ripped of the Nexus Ribbon by Captain Montgomery Scott aboard the Enterprise-B, the Border Wars, the Maquis, and the Dominion War. Scotty himself had been preserved into the 24th Century and found himself meeting both Macen and a version of Captain James T. Kirk that emerged from the Nexus Ribbon from a parallel universe.
Kirk now commanded the refitted USS Voyager-A on its new mission to explore the Delta Quadrant. Scotty commanded the original Constitution-class mock-up of the NCC-1701 USS Enterprise-M teaching Starfleet cadets about retrograde technology of the type the Iotian Federation and Starfleet were proliferating. Both had become Macen's allies in several struggles that pitted them against Starfleet itself.
The Brsknir system, which contained Barrinor, Odin, and Serenity Station, was their departure point. The Barrinor Sector was on the other side of the neutral Kalendra Sector, which bordered both the Bajor and Kalandra Sectors as well the Barrinor Sector. The Kalendra Sector also bordered Breen and Tzenkethi space. Barrinor itself and the bulk of its sector were neutral as well. But the United Federation of Planets had been making in-roads into it. Barrinor's neutrality, as a banking cartel world, was secured by treaties signed by every major power in the Alpha and Beta Quadrants. Odin, which Serenity orbited, was Barrinor's colony. Serenity served as Outbound Ventures corporate headquarters as well a commercial hub for transporting goods to and from Barrinor and Odin, neither of whom would allow foreign traffic onto them. All goods and travelers had to transfer materials and tourists alike onto native shuttles and cargo runners.
Serenity Security backed Barrinor Customs agents aboard the station in order to preserve the planets' safety and security measures. The corporation also secured the system from direct threat in order to insure the security of the monetary deposits locked away on Barrinor. Because Barrinor's neutrality and security was guaranteed by so many foreign powers, no starship from any of them was allowed into Barrinoran space without the cartels' express permission. Violations of this protocol would result in a seizure of assets and near universal criminalization of the offending party.
The Solstice reached the outer system and leaped to Warp 5. The Razor's Edge, an Iotian built 22nd Century United Earth Intrepid-class starship, followed her at Warp 4. Complicating matters near the Bajor Sector was the Cardassian Civil War. The leadership of the duly elected Castellan Rekena Garan and the Detepa Council had been challenged by the escaped convicts, Gul Macet and Gul Maret. Macen had captured the half-Bajoran, half-human Mudd Kenra so that the Cardassian Ministry of Justice could provide testimony of how the guls had made a pact with the Cult of the Pah-wraiths to enable the Cult to destroy Bajor on their behalf.
Maret's rhetoric of occupying Bajor once more and the inherent inferiority of the Bajorans went against allying himself with a renegade religious sect made up now of both Bajorans and aliens. Including Cardassian converts. The secular Cardassians sneered at religious beliefs and Maret's participation with the Cult damaged his position with the average Cardassian citizen. His popular support was waning even as Supreme Legate Malyn Ocett was closing her loyalist forces around the Dorvan Sector where Maret made his base aboard Ampok Nor.
Invoking their mutual defense pact, Castellan Garan had summoned the Militia's Colonial Defense Forces to guard Cardassia Prime while Ocett led a collected fleet against Maret's. Mudd Kenra was then given over to the Bajoran's to be tried for treason in aiding the Cult of the Pah-wraiths and securing the alliance between the Cult and the Cardassian rebels. Harcourt "Harry" Fenton Mudd III and Mudd IV had also been arrested by Macen and Rockford's SID team and turned over to Federation authorities alongside their cohort, Thadiun Okona.
Baroness Estella Grimes of Grimes Armaments had been captured by the Iotian Starfleet while Pytor Boromov and Solarian Security Services had been declared renegades and were sought by both Starfleet Security and Federation Security for violations of the Prime Directive and for exercising lethal force in an unprovoked action against Outbound Ventures SID starships representing Federation interests in defending the world of Amar. It was the second time in recentt history that Solarian had opened fire on Outbound Ventures ships and personnel in an unprovoked attack.
Grimes Armaments had a court appointed overseer now. Solarian found their Federation accounts and assets seized and Starfleet remanding all decommissioned starships sold to Solarian impounded. Their Grimes Armaments built Pincer-class starships were left to corporate interests but the Federation courts removed Boromov as CEO and installed Marko Vilnius as the new overseer of Solarian Security Services. However, this created a rift between corporate interests within and without the Federation. "Commodore" Benton Crawford led the remaining Solarian corporate fleet outside Federation space in support of Boromov. Boromov and the four starship crews he'd assigned to assisting the Avanti invade pre-warp cultures in the Algona Sector within the Deeper Beta Quadrant and then supply the natives with weaponry to resist those same invasions, were fugitives now.
Boromov had led his starships through neutral territories to return to the Alpha Quadrant and rendezvous with Crawford's forces. Informants had relayed this information to Starfleet Intelligence who then turned it over to Starfleet Security. Commodore Oh knew precisely where Boromov and his starships were but she lacked the jurisdiction to pursue them. So Starfleet was at an impasse regarding Solarian.
The Cardassian matter, however, could resolve itself within days. Either Ocett or Maret would prevail and either return in victory or march on Cardassia Prime and face the Militia Colonial Forces under Colonel Anara's command. Anara had stripped the Gamma Quadrant patrols and depleted the Alpha Quadrant patrols in order to take up the defense of Cardassia Prime. The Emissary to the Ascendant, Iliana Ghemor, had dispatched Ascendancy forces to take up those abandoned patrols to insure Bajoran security wasn't left unintended.
It was a decision born of grace considering how the Militia had opened fire on Ascendancy ships weeks ago. Anara had removed those starship commanders from their posts for violating her orders and firing on allied ships. Fortunately, Captain Benjamin Sisko, the Emissary to the Bajorans, and Kai Tila Trus had explained to Ghemor how the Vedek Assembly had issued forth writs of excommunication to any officers who failed to retrieve the Orb of the Kosst Amojan that Ghemor was assisting Macen, Rockford, and Neela in destroying. The Vedeks had done so against Sisko and Tila's express desires. The Vedeks, finding that they could disobey the Kai of Bajor and not face her wrath as they would have under Kai Winn, found themselves emboldened to take even more radical positions. So the polarization of he Vedek Assembly had quickly taken shape.
Kai Tila denounced the violent actions taken against differing Vedek Orders. She pledged the cooperation of the Vedek Assembly and all prylars to assisting the Militia Constabulary in finding and arresting those responsible so they could face magisterial justice. Those responsible, however, felt they were beyond temporal justice. Each of the renegade Orders wished to reshape the Vedek Assembly and the Bajoran Republic in their own image. Each Order had lay followers, including those within the Militia and Constabulary.
Knowing this, Kai Tila had recommended to First Minister Astris Beru that a third, trusted party investigate matters alongside the Constabulary to insure a fair and impartial investigation free of the spiritual influences of the rogue vedeks that had yet to be identified. Finance Minster Kara Gena, also Astris' wife, had recommended to her that Outbound Ventures be contacted and hired to conduct such an investigation. Chairperson of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Kira Nerys, personally requested Macen and Rockford's team be the lead investigators. Then Neela's participation was asked for as a secondary, discreet option.
Where the guilty would refrain from answering direct questions from alien investigators they might choose to reveal themselves to potential Bajoran converts. Neela's status within the Vedek Assembly as the Hand of the Prophets would make her an attractive prize to be won by all the differing factions. As Winn's former personal troubleshooter within the Vedek Assembly, Neela also appealed to the ultra-orthodox Orders. They didn't know that Neela had spared those she'd been sent to execute as Winn's perceived enemies and instead exiled the targets and their families. When Winn discovered this, she'd had a faithful acolyte within Militia Special Forces sabotage the Ark of the Prophets so that her power systems were ruptured during combat and Neela and Anara were sent off to their deaths. Neela apparently died, but actually rescued by the Prophets, while Anara was rescued by Ro Laren's command, the decommissioned Starfleet Newton-class science ship, the SS Asimov.
Macen and Ro led an Angosian platoon in turn led by Rab Daggit behind enemy lines and ostensibly working as freelance information brokers for the Dominion as contracted by the Vorta named Kilana. In truth, the Maquis under Ro and Macen worked for the Militia as it entered an active phase in the war against the Dominion. Macen was Starfleet's Mission Commander while Ro was the Militia commanding officer of the effort.
After the war, the entire Ronara Prime Maquis cell, even those in custody, were pardoned in exchange for Ro surrendering herself to Starfleet to face a second court-martial. Macen's crew were exonerated by their efforts on Starfleet's behalf but were not welcome back in the Federation. There history diverged into alternate realities. In one reality, Macen stayed within Starfleet until he himself was forced to resign and created Outbound Ventures. In the Prime Reality, Macen resigned in protest and created Outbound Ventures using the latinum he'd earned in the Maquis and Dominion posing as an independent freelance spy.
That Macen, his team, and the Obsidian crew were all dead. The Prophets had employed the Nexus Ribbon to move Macen, Rockford, and their key allies into the Prime Reality. Neela was returned, unaged, ten years after the Dominion War ended when the substitutions took place. The Prophets led Neela and had appeared to Macen on separate occasions to prepare him to lead his team in defense of Bajor. They'd done so twice already but it seemed Bajor's security needed constant attention.
So Neela dealt with external threats to Bajor's safety while Macen and Rockford led the team in facing existential threats to the Bajoran Republic. Now, Neela was getting involved in a domestic matter that the Prophets had warned about. She in turn had warned Macen. So they were not surprised when the bombings began to take place. What did surprise them both were the ongoing updates of escalating violence and frequency of attacks against Vedek Orders.
Neela contacted the Solstice as she was due to dock with Deep Space Nine to confirm that the Prophets had shown Sisko the nature of the threat and he in turn had warned Tila and Kira. Tila went on a hearts and minds campaign fo the population to persuade them not to follow the sectarian teachings of the politicized Orders and to remain true to the Prophets' teachings through their Emissaries both past and present. But it did little to sway those already polarized into believing violence was a necessary tool to spread "the" truth about the Prophets teachings and their implications for Bajoran life.
Macen had known Captain Vaughn, DS9's commanding officer, for 70 odd years. Vaughn been the one to train Macen, then a Starfleet Intelligence analyst, as a field agent. The two had worked closely together for decades. Vaughn had only recently accepted promotion to captain after decades spent in-grade as a commander in order to assume command of the station after Kira left to accept promotion and Commander Sam Lavelle took control. Lavelle had a breakdown over conflicting orders from conflicting sources within Starfleet Command. He'd eventually been assassinated by Cell 51, a splinter faction that survived the dismantlement of Section 31.
Vaughn had already persuaded Starfleet Command to transfer Lavelle to Starbase G-4 in exchange for his own accepting promotion and command of the Deep Space station. Lavelle's death tied up a loose end for Cell 51 and hastened Vaughn's assuming command after a decade as station XO. But it was a different Deep Space Nine that Vaughn commanded. The Federation expelling Bajor from its ranks and then declaring war upon the Republic had caused Bajor to remove Starfleet from anything but an administrative role aboard the station.
The Militia Liaison Officer also served as Vaughn's XO. Colonel Cenn Deska commanded the Militia forces aboard the station. While many at Starfleet Command resented the Bajorans resuming control over their own space station, Vaughn appreciated it. With majority of personnel aboard DS9 belonging to the Militia, Starfleet couldn't use the station as a toehold to occupy Bajor as once planned. Starfleet had long criticized Bajor and Andoria for maintaining the Militia and the Imperial Guard but the war proved why it had been a necessity.
After the Mars Massacre and Starfleet's withdrawal from defending Protectorate worlds and its own outer colonies, those worlds were once again under ostensible Starfleet protection. But despite the official line, it was Outbound Ventures SID teams being hired to deal with threats to these world and colonies. It was little wonder then that the colonies were queuing up to obtain decommissioned starships to aid in their own defense and not be dependent upon the SID, whose role was an investigative one and not a security service.
Rear Admiral Amanda Forger, the SID Director, constantly reminded Admiral Duncan McNeil of that salient fact. The Starfleet Chief of Operations would wearily remind Forger that the Federation Council had once again expanded Starfleet's exploratory mandate and its protective umbrella over qualified worlds but it had not, in turn, authorized the release of the bulk of the fleet from Federation territory. Until such time as it did, the SID would be subverted into providing security services to Protectorate worlds and colonies.
Forger consoled herself in the fact that every case the SID was assigned to required an investigative effort to determine where the threats were coming from and how to stop them. Her mentor, the recently demoted Vice Admiral Alynna Nechayev, served as the Director of Starfleet Intelligence. Nechayev counseled Forger not to overtax Outbound Ventures or to ease up on pressuring Starfleet to release more modern decommissioned starships to the corporation in order to expand the SID qualified crew lists. Acquisitions were currently allocated in a queue.
Outbound Ventures had been released more early and mid-24th Century starships that were already undertaking assignments. But in order to meet the increasing number of assignments, the company was also purchasing starships from the Iotians. These included designs pre-dating 2245 up to 2293. For more extensive threats, Outbound Ventures required more 24th Century model starships and only Starfleet could provide them just as Starfleet was generating the work orders.
The Iotian Starfleet itself employed starships copied from Starfleet vessels of those eras. But the Iotians were canny enough not to export starships rivaling their own domestic fleet. Instead they had a three-tier sales line. The Econo Line starships were copied from United Earth Starfleet designs and very early Federation designs. The Standard Line starships were copied from Starfleet vessels originating between 2230-2269. The Premium Line models were Starfleet designs from between 2270-2293.
Outbound Ventures had bought out all available Premium Line ships and purchased Constitution- and Asia-class heavy and light cruisers from the Standard Line. They'd even purchased twelve of the original design Enterprise-class which melded early 24th Century technology with the Constitution-class. But they hadn't yet invested in the other original product line of the Interceptor-class starships the Iotians had actually designed on their own in a first for Iotian technological development.
The bulk of the ever-expanding Iotian shipyard network was devoted to the Econo and Standard Line starships because those were the big sellers. The Premium Line was sold out to Outbound Ventures and Bajoran demand. The Enterprise-class was sold out and more were under construction. A handful of Interceptor-class starships were now available but several planets were in talks to finance purchases of those. Financing brought in greater revenue than direct purchases so the Iotian Starfleet was holding out those ships from Outbound Ventures.
The two Militia flagships were each of the original designs sold at a discount to the Bajorans to promote their newest product lines. Colonel Anara commanded the Enterprise-class Fist of the Prophets while General Kira's System Defense Force flagship was an Interceptor-class christened the Shield of the Prophets. Both commanders recommended the starship designs and they'd served the Militia well in combat situations. Just as the Standard Line starships the Militia had previously acquired had served them well. Now the Ascendancy was an Iotian Standard Line customer in addition to their domestically produced dreadnoughts and heavy cruisers.
"Brin, Celeste, it's good to see you, however briefly," Vaughn welcomed them at the Solstice's assigned airlock. Rockford and Vaughn had a fling before she married Macen. They'd both moved on but remained close friends. Just as Ro had accepted Rockford as a close friend in a way she'd always pushed T'Kir back. It was a sign of her approval of Rockford as Macen's beloved. Macen and Rockford in turn supported Ro's romance with Captain Alfonso Reyes, the commanding officer of Deep Space Three. Ro had made her counter-terrorist unit's headquarters at DS3 to stay closer to Reyes.
Nechayev didn't mind as long as Ro fulfilled her duties to her utmost. Which was something she'd learned Ro would do regardless of expectation. It was why she'd pushed to have Ro rehabilitated and brought back into Starfleet. But Ro could never advance beyond her current rank. She may have been re-inducted into Starfleet twice after court-martials but Starfleet Command would never consider her for captain again.
If all else failed, Ro held a reserve commission of colonel in the Militia. A position Kira had vowed would always remain an option for Ro. And even as a reservist, she was eligible for promotion, as Neela had found out when she was informed she'd been elevated from major to colonel without her knowledge. Although, the promotion had gotten her out of a fix with the Parisian gendarme on Earth. Ro herself dressed down the Inspector holding Neela for questioning in a show of Starfleet support for her mission against Cell 51.
"It's still damn good to see you both with everything going on Bajor," Vaughn told them.
"Has the violence spread to the colonies yet?" Rockford asked.
"Yes, the first reports are starting to filter in. Colonel Cenn is personally verifying the religious outlooks of the Militia officers and crewmen aboard," Vaughn reported, "Commander Blackmer is assisting the Constabulary in the inquiries."
Lt. Commander Jefferson Blackmer was Starfleet's Chief of Security aboard the station. His small squad was vastly outnumbered by the Constable and his deputies. But Blackmer and Starfleet Security represented a neutral voice in Bajoran religious matters.
"Starfleet Intelligence has assigned my Strategic Operations Officer to your investigation," Vaughn warned them, "In her capacity as Agent O212 rather than her station responsibilities."
Lt. Commander Sarina Douglas was the only other genetically enhanced Starfleet officer other than Doctor Julian Bashir. Douglas doubled as a Single 0 agent in addition to her typical Starfleet duties. Vaughn was one of the few aware of the 0 Divisions. Macen and Rockford had worked with 0212 before as both the secret agent and as Sarina Douglas. Just as they had dealt with 0086, Agent James Smart. They had just dealt with Smart when disposing of the Orb of the Kosst Amojan.
After Ezri Dax had transferred to the Command Division and transferred off of the station, Douglas had returned, first as the Staff Intelligence Officer before beiing promoted to Strategic Operations Officer. She'd rekindled her abortive romance with Bashir. Now, Dax was captain of the Vespa-class USS Aventine, and Bashir and Douglas were inseparable when off duty. She shared his many passions and was his new holodeck partner. The return f newly promoted Command Master Chief Miles O'Brien had only added a new player to the holodeck adventures. O'Brien was happy to his friend so blissful in his relationship.
Keiko O'Brien ran a botanical research division for Bajor from a converted laboratory module installed into the station. Molly, their eldest, was off to university while Kirayoshi, their youngest was in a preparatory program for Starfleet Academy. Kira had convinced the O'Briens to return while she was still a colonel and in command of the station. Shortly thereafter, Kira had been promoted to general and appointed Chairperson of the Joint Chiefs by First Minister Astris.
Neela had managed to repair her damaged relationship with O'Brien. But the Razor's Edge wouldn't be docking at DS9. Vaughn handed off a secured padd with a private message for the couple. Neela had received the reports of colonial violence and was striking out for Golana to begin her team's infiltration fo sectarian Orders from there.
"How soon until the commercial shuttle for Bajor departs?" Macen inquired of Vaughn.
"Your team has twenty minutes to get to the appropriate airlock," Vaughn warned, "The next shuttle won't arrive for another eight hours."
"I'll motivate our stragglers," Rockford hung back to speak with the others.
"I have personnel aboard the Solstice. They aren't to be disturbed," Macen told Vaughn.
"I'll have Blackmer assign round the clock security on your docking pylon," Vaughn promised.
The Solstice had been assigned to Lower Pylon Two owing to a lack of available Docking Ring Ports. Plus, the scoutship wouldn't be offloading cargo so she didn't require a cargo bay. The station's paying customers needed such accommodations. Only the USS Defiant was an exception to the Docking Ring rule. Starfleet vessels docking at the pylons were waived docking fees. Those utilizing Docking Ring space paid fees like any commercial vessel. Even the shuttle services paid fees for their reserved airlock.
Militia spacecraft and starships were also exempted, much to Starfleet's chagrin. Starfleet Command filed daily protests for Vaughn to pass on. He filed them "delivered" and promptly ignored them. The Bajorans let Starfleet utilize Deep Space Nine not the other way around. There weren't many Deep Space stations that were planetary or corporate holdings but Deep Space K-7 was one of the others. Colonial interests in the sector had financed the construction of the space station and its administrator was a civilian appointee while Starfleet protected and utilized the station as a logistical resupply center. The de-escalation of tensions between the Federation and Klingon Empire had reverted DS K-7's role to principally a commercial one. But Starfleet still maintained a procurement and repair presence aboard the station.
The SID team's baggage was waived through Bajoran Customs and Station Security. The Constabulary had been alerted to their arrival and forwarded their imminent arrival on to their counterparts on Bajor. The Militia had signed off on the team's practice of always going armed. Since they were in the employ of the Bajoran Republic itself, it seemed fitting they should be allowed similar privileges. Douglas met them on the transport and she too was armed.
"That Starfleet issue Type II phaser is going to give you away," Macen warned her, "We'll have the Constabulary swap you out a Militia issue phaser pistol upon arrival."
"I wasn't briefed on your role in the investigation," Douglas admitted to Macen and Rockford, "What's our first stop?"
"Militia headquarters to meet with General Kira and Brigadier Jolan Kig of the Constabulary," Rockford explained, "From there the Brigadier will assign us an Inspector to ingratiate and coordinate our efforts with the ongoing domestic investigation and the Supervisor running it. We have to make certain our role as independent investigators doesn't step on local toes."
"They bumped it up to a Supervisor?" Douglas noted, "They are taking this seriously."
"A Special Supervisor that oversees counter-terrorism and counter-espionage cases," Macen told her, "The Militia and Constabulary are worried that members of the investigation itself belong to these sectarian factions and are impeding progress and nullifying the capability to identify those groups responsible for the violence."
"Colonel Cenn mentioned a second team of domestic specialists were involving themselves as well," Douglas mentioned, "But he didn't identify them."
"Cenn doesn't know," Rockford explained the omission, "Kira and Jolan should explain the situation to you if they choose to. They've compartmentalized the second team's efforts as much as humanly possible."
"In case of potential leaks," Douglas nodded her understanding of the situation, "I take it these operatives are attempting to infiltrate one or more of the sectarian factions."
"Correct on all counts," Macen confirmed it.
"So these specialists have their own mode of transportation and yet are loosely connected to you," Douglas assessed, "Don't deny it. You're far too familiar towards them when speaking of them even discreetly. I'm guessing Neela and her cohorts drawn from Deep Space Nine personnel are involved."
"There's a reason you're Agent 0212," Rockford admitted.
"I'm also cognizant of the fact Neela is too public a figure on Bajor to simply slip into a sectarian's ranks. So she'll be headed for a colony. Preferably an Alpha Quadrant colony. Dreon VII is too distant for an easy commute back to Bajor and Free Haven has the Militia starbase. Prophets Landing has the same starbase problem. So that leaves the Valo system or Golana. My guess is Golana. It's well established and closer to the Bajor than the Valo colonies," Douglas summarized her study.
"Good work. Now apply that logic process to who would want to inflict harm on a Vedek Order? Furthermore, who stands to retaliate for such an attack on separate Orders?" Macen prompted her.
"You're suggesting the sectarians are vedeks and prylars?" Douglas was shocked.
"It's an natural outgrowth of the Assembly defying the Kai and the Emissary in its recent attempts to seize control of the Orb of the Kosst Amojan," Macen replied, "Which will make us a target as well since we destroyed their prize."
"Kira is aware that this might reunite the factions?" Douglas was actually surprised.
"She's counting on it quelling the internal violence long enough to establish the guilt or innocence of each Order," Rockford explained.
"Something Starfleet is unaware of or they wouldn't have assigned me to assist you," Douglas realized.
"You could always go back to the station," Macen offered.
"All the same, Commander, I'll stay on," Douglas decided, "I'm more restrained than most of your team."
"The flight to Bajor is two hours long at low impulse. So we can strategize some common responses to threats," Macen told her.
"And we can inform you of our investigative strategy," Rockford offered.
"I'm all in," Douglas smiled.
"Dropping out of warp," Wes Culin, the Razor's Edge's pilot, announced.
"Contact Traffic Control and assume standard orbit over Golana," Wyn instructed.
"Contacting Golana Control," Javi Tem, the Communications Officer, crisply informed the Major.
"The shipyards are active and no Colonial Defense Forces starships are present as predicted," Katts Killian observed from her sensor hood, "But we have two Ascendant starships in the area keeping the peace as arranged by Colonel Anara."
"Vessel types," Griff wanted to know.
"I make a Mercury-class frigate and a Detroit-class cruiser," Ferris Grev told him from Tactical.
"Have they challenged us?" Wyn asked Javi.
"No, they're maintain a presence but just monitoring the security situation," Javi reported on the dialogue between Golana Control and the Ascendant ships, "We've been cleared for orbital insertion. Golana Control would like to know if we intend to beam down any personnel to the planet."
"Inform them that we'll be sending down the ship's commander and executive officer as well as four support personnel," Wyn ordered, "Have Wills meet us in the transporter room and alert the constables that we're ready to begin."
"What about Neela?" Katts asked.
"My guess is that she's already aware of our arrival," Wyn rose from her seat, "Ferris, you have the conn. Javi, report to us if those Ascendant ships suddenly get nosy."
"Yes, ma'am," Javi replied.
"Let's go sightseeing," Wyn told Griff.
The Engineer's Mate, Wills Fani, stood in for the Chief Engineer, Gren Taru. The constables were present as well. The senior deputy, Odon Fendic, led Varis Cinway and Maru Gel. Neela herself was already present as well when Wyn and Griff arrived. Odon handed out phaser pistols and shoulder clips to hide them under their jackets.
"Golana is colder than Bajor so we'll blend in," he told them.
Doctor Lens and Nurse Kenji were present as well to inject subdermal isolinear tags so Wills could maintain a transporter lock even if they were separated from their comm badges.
"Your idea?" Wyn asked Neela.
"It seemed prudent," Neela shrugged.
"I have a transporter lock outside the main colony's temple, as requested," Wills told them, "Ready to begin transports when ready."
They had more personnel than transporter pads so they were going down in separate waves. Wyn, Griff, Varis and Maru would go first, closely followed by Neela and Odon. The temple's vedek immediately recognized Neela.
"What brings the Hand of the Prophets to this humble temple?" the vedek inquired.
"It seems this house of worship is the last one standing on Golana," Neela answered, "Tell me, why is that?"
"The Prophets are merciful and kind. The other temples weren't as blessed," the vedek answered.
"Or perhaps they espoused less political views," Neela suggested, "They taught faith and politics could be separated. Faith shaping one's politics without becoming the faith itself."
"Is that a question?" the vedek warily asked.
"More of a condemnation," Neela told him, "The Prophets told me about you. Your Order's desire to reshape Bajor to fit your blind notion of what true faith is denies the Prophets and makes the secular government the god you worship. You ambition to legislate faith is an abhorrence never taught in the Prophecies or the sacred scrolls. How many of your followers have acted out violently against their fellow Bajorans? How many fellow vedeks and prylars have they killed in your name?"
"I don't know what you're talking about," the vedek began to back away further into the temple.
"Secure the rear of the temple," Neela ordered. Varis and Maru drew their weapons and moved behind the vedek. Neela truly pitied him because she saw herself back in 2369.
"How many Orders are at war with each other?" Neela asked a direct question.
"I demand you take your heretical views out of my temple before I issue a writ of excommunication," the vedek demanded.
"This isn't your temple. It belongs to the Prophets. Just as the Bajoran people do. The Prophets are of Bajor but they are beyond it as well. They see the myriad of time all at once so they told me that you would attempt to draw a weapon," Neela aimed her phaser at him, "Surrender it."
Odon moved in and frisked the vedek and discovered a compact holdout weapon, "A plasma stinger. Six shots of pure lethality."
"Now, why does a vedek need a weapon?" Neela asked, "Is your faith in the Prophets or your weapon?"
"You have no idea of what you're facing," the vedek laughed.
"Varis, Maru, beam the vedek to Razor's Edge and lock him in the brig," Neela instructed, "The rest of us will search for a list of his congregation and summon them here."
"The Prophets haven't called you," the vedek spat at her, "The Kai and false Emissary are relics of the past. We are the future Bajor needs."
"So says every cult," Neela told him, "You might as well worship the Pah-wraiths openly."
"You served Kai Winn. She was a visionary. How can you betray her memory?" the vedek asked as Maru contacted Wills to lock onto them.
"Winn Adami was an apostate who freed the Pah-wraiths in an act of rejecting the Prophets. How can you follow her memory?" Neela inquired before the transporter took effect.
"That was a little off script," Wyn complained.
"He'll tell us what we need to know," Neela predicted with certainty, "Meanwhile, we need to weed out his congregants to find out which ones bombed the other temples on Golana."
"How do we do that with their vedek in our brig instead of helping us?" Griiff wanted to know.
"They're faithful to a corrupted faith. We show them the truth of the Prophets and they'll come forward to confess," Neela said with certainty, "They felt called by the Prophets and heeded a madman's words. Now we give them a fresh start at redemption."
"Not everyone responds to the truth like you did," Wyn warned her, "Most will deny it."
"The Prophets have an answer for them as well," Neela told her.
"We've arranged lodgings for you in a barracks," Kira told them, "You can stow your gear there now."
An adjunct lieutenant showed them to the deserted barracks facility, "This site hasn't been used in some time. You're free to choose any quarters you desire to. The General and Brigadier will brief you in fifteen minutes."
"Thank you, Lieutenant," Macen replied, "Gear up, people."
"You never disappoint," Kira smirked as the SID team appeared before her when the adjunct delivered them to the briefing theater.
Brigadier Jolan looked worried, "You didn't tell me they'd be prepared for a small war."
"This is a war we're fighting, Brigadier," Kira flatly told him, "And right now we''re losing because we don't have the necessary intelligence to even identify the enemy. For the first time since the Circle crisis, the enemy is fellow Bajorans. Only this time, they aren't deluded politicians and disaffected General Staff officers. They're vedeks and prylars leading their congregants astray."
"Our own forces constitute some of those 'disaffected' congregants you mentioned," Jolan replied, "How will outsiders help us?"
"By providing a common enemy," Macen told him, "We destroyed the Orb of the Kosst Amojan. The one ambition the divided faction united behind before resorting to violent means to eliminate their political competitors. These people don't worship the Prophets anymore. They worship the ambitions of Winn Adami to unite the secular government with a purified Vedek Assembly."
"While they target us, we investigate who they are and where they're being led from," Rockford explained the stratagem.
"You approved of this?" Jolan asked Kira.
"I did," Kira confirmed it, "As they identify suspects, the Constabulary backed by the Militia Special Forces, will be making arrests to present them before arbitors. It will be up to the Constabulary to investigate the suspects' motives and actions to present to the prosecution."
"Your compromised constables and officers will make themselves known by how they approach the investigation and our presence in it," Macen promised them.
"One of the affected temples is in this city. You can start there," Kira instructed, "Commander Douglas, I didn't authorize Starfleet's involvement in these investigations."
"I'm allowing it a courtesy to Captain Vaughn," Macen quickly covered up Douglas' presence.
"Strange that Elias didn't ask permission first," Kira was suspicious.
"We only had minutes to board the shuttle after arriving at the station," Rockford picked up the thread, "I'm certain he'll make a formal request through Colonel Cenn any minute now."
"The Colonel briefed me as to your arrival," Kira replied, "He noted that you arrived in the same starship that you used to destroy the Orb of the Kosst Amojan rather than your usual vessel."
"The Obsidian is under repair and undergoing a refit," Macen answered the unspoken question, "Whereas the Solstice had already completed repairs after the encounters in the Gamma Quadrant."
"I'm not certain leaving your ship at the station was the wisest move. The tactics used to bomb these temples suggest the involvement of former Resistance fighters. They're experts at getting around official security postings and guard details," Kira reminded him, "Something you should be all too aware of."
"It's something I'm counting on," Macen informed her, "That's why we're, as the Brigadier put it, prepared for a small war."
"Just keep it out of the streets," Kira warned them, "The First Minister and I can only overlook so much."
"We're so advised," Rockford promised, "Can we see the first site now?"
"We've two armored transports and a mechanized unit standing by to take you there," Kira told them, "Good luck. May the Prophets favor you."
"They already have," Macen promised her.
Chapter Two
As the battle waged on even terms now, Ocett knew Maret's forces further subjugating the captive Subject Worlds that Castellan Garan had been loosening Cardassia's grip on, would be arriving before the battle ended. With the neutral bystanders unwilling to choose sides until then, she faced a complete rout. Ocett had pulled every seeming loyalist ship out of the Cardassia Sector to pit against Maret.
Unless she could disable the bulk of his extant forces before reinforcements arrived, the Bajoran Colonial Defense forces starships defending Cardassia Prime and the Detepa Council would be overrun. Colonel Anara was a capable commander, as her actions against Starfleet in the Bajor Sector and at Waypoint Station, had proven. But Maret would be commanding state of the art capital ships against Anara's starships whose designs dated back to the previous century. Even Starfleet had abandoned further upgrades to those classes.
Anara would also be outnumbered if Ocett's disloyal forces joined the rebels in storming Cardassia Prime. Ocett knew she couldn't win a clean victory. But perhaps Maret's legendary arrogance would lean him into a mistake? With Gul Macet's calming influence, a show of weakness by Ocett, such as a withdrawal, could lure Maret away from the safety of Ampok Nor and into pursuing Ocett's truly loyal forces.
"Order our remaining forces to withdraw and regroup at the Federation border," Ocett ordered.
Her flag captain hesitated and Ocett snapped at him, "Do it!"
"Sir, Ocett's former loyalists are petitioning to join in the hunt," a glin reported.
"Yes, yes, tell them to join the winning side," Maret boasted, "Now, prepare my cruiser for departure for Cardassia Prime. We have a rendezvous with our forces that have left the Subject Worlds behind. Today, we take Cardassia Prime and the Central Command back!"
Ocett knew her commanders were wavering so she broadcast a message to them all, "Victory is with our grasp. Standby to drop out of warp on our side of the border with the Federation and prepare to fight."
Some acknowledgments were delayed as the guls mulled over her prospects of victory but in the end they all sided with her. Ocett began transmitting command codes to the border defenses and remote torpedo launchers and phaser banks. When Maret's forces arrived, they'd find themselves evenly matched once again. But, would Maret march with them or make a play for Cardassia Prime? Ocett had no way of knowing yet.
"Early warning systems detect a Cardassian fleet approaching," Anara's Communications Officer, Tech Sergeant Triss Glivi, reported, "They're not approaching from the Dorvan Sector and they aren't transmitting the 'all clear' code."
"Alert all commands, standby to defend Cardassia Prime," Anara ordered.
"Legate Mariska reports gun pods are activated and targeting," Triss advised her.
"I never thought I'd see the day when I defended Cardassia Prime," Anara's XO, Captain Wyn Meru, voiced aloud, "Sorry. Just thinking out loud."
"We're all thinking it, Captain," Lieutenant Crispus Alva, the helmsman, admitted.
Sergeant Bol Ferin reported from Tactical, "All weapons are hot and shields are raised."
"Engineering, we need all the power you can provide," Anara signaled Tech Sergeant Klego Jeron, "Sickbay, standby for casualties."
"All commands report ready," Triss informed the Colonel.
"Move out at half impulse and engage the enemy," Anara ordered.
"All commands confirm," Triss reported, "We're going to war."
"Hopefully for the last time with the Cardassians," Anara hoped beyond hope.
The assembled congregants in Golana's last standing temple, were at first awestruck to have Neela in their presence. Now they were leery. Varis and Maru had returned to defend the vedek's rear exit. Odon stood beside Neela while Wyn and Griff were armed and secured the main entrance.
"Are we prisoners?" an irritated believer demanded to know.
"Only of your own delusions," Neela told them, "I once felt called by the Prophets to kill a vedek I believed was a heretic. I failed to but I killed another along the way and was spared the death sentence upon capture by the Federation's intervention. In prison I came to know the truth about the Prophets. They would not call me to kill one of their faithful."
"Define 'faithful'," another snorted.
"Nationalism and love of one's planet does not supersede our devotion to the Prophets nor are they one and the same, no matter what you've been taught here," Neela said carefully, "Our love and devotion to the Prophets is our one and only purpose. From that flows our love for our fellow Bajoran believers. Faith is a personal journey guided by the Prophecies. There is no one absolute version of what the Prophets message to us is."
"Then why are holding phasers on us?" a woman asked.
"To get you to listen," Neela admitted, "Since force is all you seem to understand, I'll employ force to make my point. This temple shall not stand. It is poisoned by heresy. Your vedek and his Order have taught you that they alone hold the only truth of the Prophets. Through you and your actions, they mean to establish a theocracy where religious leaders hold the seats of spiritual and temporal power. If the Prophets had deemed that their way, their Emissaries would have taught that truth to us. Instead, the Emissaries throughout Bajoran history have endorsed and fostered a democratic, secular government to deal with the needs of the populations' safety and well being while the Vedek Assembly, the prylars, and the Kai feed the spiritual needs of the people. Instead of teaching you of the love the Prophets hold for all Bajorans, you've been led to believe the Prophets love you and you alone. Those that disagree with your theology and political worldview are deserving of death," Neela spoke from the heart, "If that is truly what you believe, then your mission is incomplete. You must also join the Prophets in the Celestial Temple to teach them the error of their ways. Because they themselves disagree with you. So, who will be brave enough to be the first among you to join the Prophets and carry out this holy mission?"
"Are you insane?" a man stood up in sheer panic.
"Are you volunteering?" Neela inquired sharply, "Do you feel the call to remand the Prophets to their proper place?"
"No one can tell the Prophets what to do," the man was sweating profusely now.
"But you already have," Neela told him pointedly, "You killed their vedeks and your fellow believers because they believed an errant worldview from your prospective. You told the Prophets they were wrong to love these people and to choose their spiritual leaders. So, are you now willing to personally face the Prophets and tell them they were wrong to their faces?"
"You're insane!" the man shouted and others stood.
"Am I?" Neela laughed, "Because I'm the only sane one here. I know my place with the Prophets. I follow them. I don't tell them they chose poorly and need correction. They don't need my help to remove errant vedeks and believers from this life. They can do that on their own. But you have the arrogance to elevate yourselves above the Prophets and choose their message for them. So I will ask one last time. Who is ready to show the Prophets the errors of their ways?"
Neela drew her pistol and set it at its lethal setting, "I won't ask again."
"We were wrong!" a woman screamed, "We see that now! Don't kill us!"
"Major, gather the Constabulary. A temple filled with murderers is ready to confess. I'll lodge a plea of clemency on their behalf. But they will face justice for their arrogant disbelief that cost lives," Neela instructed.
"If a single one of you recants your confession, I will learn of it. After that, the Prophets will judge you and I will execute their will upon you. Are we clear?" Neela asked the dumbstruck congregation.
Wyn returned with the entire Constabulary, "I believe these people would like to explain how those temple sites were targeted and bombed."
"Chief, are we going to listen to this?" a deputy asked.
"Your complicity finds you out, Deputy Moran. You scouted the temples to know when they held services and when they were emptied in order to plant the bombs and set them to go off when the temples were holding services," Neela pronounced.
"You did take a lot of leave time recently. Just before the bombings began. You did a lot of traveling according to your official check-in at other constabulary jurisdictions," the Chief realized.
"I never planted a bomb," Moran protested.
"But you enabled the maximum amount of carnage for those that did," Neela was unrelenting, "The Prophets see you and they speak of your guilt."
"Your comm badge and your phaser, Deputy Moran," the Chief demanded, "Take him into custody and we'll verify his travel route and his contacts over the past few months."
"The Prophets really told you that?" Wyn quietly asked Neela while the congregation was being arrested and detained, "When? How?"
"The Prophets take you elsewhere when they wish to speak and reveal truths," Neela explained, "No time might pass in the world or ten years might go by."
"That had to be the scariest thing I've ever witnessed," Griff confessed.
"You were ready to kill them," Odon scowled.
"If their pagh demanded it, and the Prophets decided it, then yes, I would have killed anyone who chose the path of telling the Prophets they were in error and in need of correcting," Neela promised him, "Fortunately, none of these were that apostate yet."
"And if we meet someone that apostate?" Odon asked.
"Then the Prophets will choose their fate and I will carry it out," Neela said with a smile, "It truly is that simple."
Neela went with constables to lodge her plea of clemency for the killers. Varis brought up the uncomfortable truth, "She'd do it without blinking."
"What makes her way different from theirs?" Odon asked.
"She at least gave them a chance to confess," Maru countered, "These people simply killed anyone who believed differently than them and gathered together to do it. They want to legislate how we believe what we believe. Do you think you could live under that?"
"I believe our vedek prisoner needs to be closely monitored when Neela interrogates him," Wyn suggested, "And Prophets help you if you feel a need to intervene. That woman is a force of nature."
"I was on the losing side of the Circle," Odon confessed, "Yet I never that close to harming another Bajoran."
"Jarro had General Kira tortured," Varis reminded him.
"I wasn't part of that and would have objected to it. I just dealt with aliens on Bajor. Clearing them off of our world so we could build again," Odon explained, "But I never fired my weapon at a fellow Bajoran that wasn't a criminal. And I always sett for stun."
"These were criminals," Varis shrugged it off.
"But she set her phaser to kill," Odon had watched it happen, "And she wouldn't have blinked. She's as much an extremist as they are."
"But we just saw that the Prophets are with her," Wyn protested.
"And if she gets arrogant enough to jump before they say to?" Odon asked, "How will we know?"
"We have to have faith and be open to the Prophets guiding us the way they guide her," Maru opined, "That's why we were brought together, isn't it?"
"That's one explanation," Griff mulled it over.
Rockford had already untethered the Special Supervisor's patience. She'd sent Shade and Harri Mudd to the troll the city's public houses and taverns. Shade had been a professional thief before Rockford recruited the Fabrini and offered a choice between employment or a stint on a penal colony with a complete list of Shade's extensive crimes submitted into evidence. Shade chose wisely.
Mudd had come to Rockford's rescue rather than save her own skin from terrorists. The two career criminals unevenly walked the path of angels now. But their experience and contacts could open doors closed to the more virtuous Lee Kang or Arianna Forte. While Lee and Forte gathered evidence from the bombed out temple, Daggit and Tony Burrows monitored the crowds gathering around the site. The mourners were losing patience with the Constabulary for allowing non-believers to have access to a holy site where their loved ones had been killed.
Angelique Kerber and Bailey Smith had set up a portable crime lab while they used their linked portable computers to troll Bajor's data nets for evidence of the guilty parties. While some vedeks had made provocative statements of judgment and condemnation, they'd wisely avoided taking credit. Still, the mud stuck and the pair of undercover Ardanans compiled a list of suspects.
The harried constables and Militia officers tried to maintain the peace but the crowds were growing unruly. Rockford interviewed the Bajoran investigators to get a head start on where they'd been and what they'd uncovered thus far. Macen interviewed the Supervisor.
Special Supervisor Kell Jaza was growing restive under Macen's scrutiny, "The crowd is getting agitated by your presence."
"Your deputies can handle it," Macen assured her,.
"There hasn't been an incident like this in living memory. These days were thought to be long behind us," Kell told him, "The faith is our bedrock that unites Bajorans. Take away that and we unravel. Even the imposition of djara's back into society wouldn't be as disruptive."
"We aren't here to interfere," Macen assured her, "We're corroborating your findings as a neutral third-party brought in by the First Minister and the Joint Chiefs."
"What you're doing iis making yourselves targets for these extremists. How far removed from the Circle do you think they are?" Kell asked, "Anti-Federation rhetoric is back in vogue."
"Then it's a good thing we're not wth the Federation," Macen told her, "Except for Mr. Burrows and Detective Lee, none of us here are human in the strictest sense."
"Define that," Kell demanded.
"Detective Forte, the one with the pink hair, is human but her people were removed from Earth back when the humans worshiped aliens as gods and thought the Earth was flat," Macen told her.
"Like we believe 'Wormhole aliens' are gods?" Kell sneered.
"I've met the Prophets on more than one occasion. I don't worship them but I respect their importance to your people and their devotion to Bajor," Macen replied, "I wouldn't be here if it weren't for the Prophets. None of us would be."
"I actually hear conviction in your voice," Kell noted.
"You hear the truth," Macen promised, "We each owe the Prophets for our lives. So we're friends to Bajor because of it."
"Yes, your company has supported Bajoran security at the cost of expenses. I can't imagine you offer such steep discounts to all your clients," Kell had read Kira's accounting report.
"Give us room to work in and we'll find your extremists. No matter where they're found," Macen vowed.
"You're making yourselves their targets," Kell warned him.
"That's actually a large part of the plan," Macen confessed.
"Are you frinxing insane?" Kell blurted.
"People get sloppy when they're filled with anger and hatred," Macen reminded the key investigator, "That kind of sloppiness led the Cardassians to more Resistance cells than competence on the Cardassians' part."
"True," Kell had been a Resistance fighter, "Detachment breeds professionalism in terror tactics."
"These aren't detached people," Macen pointed out, "They have a fundamental disagreement with this Order and are committed to stamping it out of existence. It's been observed that they place political zeal over religious accuracy. You can't be a true believer unless you subscribe to their brand of Orthodoxy. The goal is to end up being the one true brand of faith."
"Who pointed that out?" Kell wondered. The Constabulary had competing theories over who was responsible for the temple bombings but the religious aspect was a closely guarded secret inquiry.
"Neela," Macen told her.
"The Hand of the Prophets?" Kell gasped.
"She's investigating the matter as well, beginning at the colonies," Macen informed her, "She should have arrived at Golana a few hours ago."
"Supervisor Kell, you'll want to see this update from Golana," Chief Inspector Fel Harrs approached with Rockford holding a constantly updating padd. Kell read the report from Golana's capital that mass arrests had been made of congregants of a temple belonging to the same one destroyed at this site had confessed to bombing every other Orders' temples on the colony world.
"It seems Colonel Neela has already struck a blow," Kell handed off the padd to Macen, "Strangely enough, the vedek teaching at the temple has disappeared."
"I'm sure he or she will show up eventually," Macen wondered what Neela had planned for the poor sod.
"Several prylars are wanted for questioning in connection to the bombings," Kell pointed out, "Perhaps they were tipped off by Neela's arrival."
"Unlikely," Macen replied.
"How so?" Kell inquired.
"The Hand of the Prophets as a convert is an attractive prize," Rockford pointed out, "Equal to persuading an endorsement out of the Kai or the Emissary."
"Tila Trus is the closest kai we've had to Opaka that Bajor has seen," Kell remarked, "She's a consensus builder, not a fanatic."
"And Benjamin Sisko only follows the teachings of the Prophets as he's learned them from the Bajoran faithful and the Prophets themselves," Macen replied, "So, as Neela has pointed out to us, these Orders believe the Prophets themselves are wrong and in need of correction for allowing Bajor to become a diverse population filled with many opinions and perspectives. Each sectarian Order believes they alone have the real truth and they'll force it down everyone else's throats when they acquire dominance of the Vedek Assembly and the Ministry. They see no difference between spiritual authority and temporal authority. So they'll claim a mandate for governance."
"How can even Neela be so certain?" Kell asked.
"Because they fashion themselves after Winn Adami, who first popularized these views amongst the vedeks and prylars. They have a doctrine that they are infallible. The problem is, not every one of them can be infallible. So they have to eliminate the perceived heretics sharing their claim. They're would-be messiahs here to save you all from the Prophets' errors," Macen explained.
"You agree?" Kell asked Rockford.
"He's the believer. He handles faith. I handle cold hard facts. And the fact is that you have a barely concealed religious war being waged by two or more competing Orthodox Orders who believe this way," Rockford told her, "It's only going to get worse as the holders of these belief systems get more entrenched in their views and righteously indignant enough to strike back at one another. Of course, the teachers of these views won't sully themselves. But their congregants are going to massacre one another. Every temple site that was bombed was destroyed during services. That leaves grieving survivors to take up the sword and shield of the false religion."
"These Orders are the by-products of Winn's conversion to worshiping the Pah-wraiths. She had a transactional view of your faith and her gods. So do the vedeks and prylars that follow her example," Macen warned, "The Prophets haven't delivered their fantasy ambitions to them, so they abandon faith in the Prophets and just seek power for its own sake using the Prophets as their crutch to lure believers into committing acts of violence against their perceived enemies. It was Winn's playbook as both a vedek and as the kai."
"Their followers live among you and are everywhere scattered throughout levels of society," Rockford warned Kell.
"That's why we were brought in to incite the Orders to reveal themselves by commanding their adherents to eliminate us," Macen shared, "We deprived them of the Orb of the Kosst Amojan so therefore we must be their enemies. It might be the one thing all of these sectarian leaders agree on."
"Which flush them all out," Kell understood, "Why take such a risk?"
"Because Bajor can't fall," Macen said firmly.
"Okay then," Kell was surprised by his fervor, "I wish these warring vedeks felt the same way."
"They think they do. But they're the only true path to salvation," Rockford explained, "Classic cult mentality. You just ended up with an overabundance of competing saviors."
"Supervisor Kell, we have a problem," a harried deputy said as he nursed a split lip, "A vedek and two prylars from this Order arrived and are whipping the crowd into a frenzy. They claim we're defiling the blood of their martyrs with alien filth. No offense."
"Have you identified the vedek and prylars?" Kell asked.
"Chief Inspector Fel ran facial recognition. They're locals. They were outreach workers for the local chapter of this Order," the deputy answered, "They're getting angry."
"Did you arrest the person that did this to you?" Kell asked.
"Chief Inspector Fel ordered the man released, "He's afraid of emboldening the crowd with a martyr complex."
"And by doing so he's shown them they can get away with it," Kell scowled, "Send me the Chief Inspector. Have everyone else set phasers for stun and prepare to sweep the crowd if they turn violent. They have to respect the uniform if nothing else. Have the vedek and prylars brought to me."
"They're tools. We need to identify how high and far the rot reaches within their Order and see how their perceived enemies react to our being here," Macen recommended.
"Angelique and Bailey are monitoring the data net channels," Rockford told him, "The anti-alien rhetoric was already spreading across select Orders even before we arrived."
"Can you tag the vedek and prylars so we can monitor who they meet with and what they say?" Macen asked.
"Civil liberties are sharply curtailed in criminal investigations on Bajor," Kell smirked, "I'll commit a team to them."
"I'd like to accompany them," Rockford requested, "I can bring Lee and Arianna with me. All they've managed to do here is confirm your previous findings."
"I'll have Fel head up the surveillance," Kell decided, "Meanwhile, what will your remaining people do?"
"Be seen," Macen told her, "Can we move to another site?"
"As soon as I conclude admonishing the vedek and prylars. They'll be tagged in the process. Then we can use a Militia transporter network to move to a separate bombing site," Kell told him.
"Same Order or another?" Macen asked, "We need to follow the timeline of events in the order we visit the individual sites. The better to stir the razorcat nests."
"Understood," Kell moved off to speak with Fel while preparations were made for her to isotope tag the religious leaders that were stirring the local pot.
"I wonder how Shade and Harri are doing," Rockford confessed.
"It's a big planet. They'll seeing select portions of it before we reunite," Macen reminded her, "That part was your idea."
"Don't remind me," Rockford groaned, "Unleashing Shade and Harri on Bajor might destabilize the situation even more."
"I'm certain they're already in trouble," Macen grinned.
The doors flew off their hinges as Shade's body was roughly shoved through them. She wiped blood from her lips and nose and re-entered the pub and the fray Mudd was fighting alone right now. She'd missed evenings like this. It was good to let go and play the part.
Mudd had just grabbed a Bajoran man's head and pulled it down as she rammed her knee into ridged nose and broke it. Whistles began blowing from loudspeakers.
"The Constabulary! Run!" a few, still relatively unharmed personages hobbled out into the waiting arms of deputies surrounding the building. Mudd and Shade found themselves arrested with the others and sharing a communal holding cell while their case was processed. Since no major crimes had been committed, just a round of personal assaults, the Chief Constable assigned them seventy-two hours together in the same holding cell. Then the deputies sat back and watched.
"You two can fight," a Lisipian nursed a swollen eyes and a fat lip, "Who are you anyway?"
"Name's Harri Mudd," she said proudly.
"I'm Shade," the thief confessed.
"Yorik, most of these here are my crew. What happens when the Constable realizes he's captured a member of the Mudd clan?" the captain asked.
"He'll probably check the bounty sheets. But the Syndicate just cleared me. So, I'll just wait out my time and go find somewhere else to drink," Mudd shrugged.
"The statutes of limitations expired on my Federation warrants and I've never been to Bajor before," Shade told him.
"So, you're a Mudd. What's your specialty?" Yorik asked.
"Mainly confidence games with the odd smuggling job," Mudd told him, "That's what brought me to Bajor."
"I'm the thieving end of the partnership. I'm good enough to never having been nicked. I was a person of interest in dozens of crimes but, like I said, the limitations expired," Shade gloated.
"You're nopt the Fabrini exile are you?" Yorik asked.
"I see my reputation proceeds me," Shade chuckled.
"You've been awfully unheard from lately," Yorik said.
"Living off my largess waiting for a suitable score. Who knew religious types could pay so well?" Shade asked.
"That's what brought you here?" Yorik was a tad suspicious.
"Free market economy and all that. Bajor's currently a planet of opportunity," Mudd said with relish, "Which is why I need to get out and about sooner than later."
"We're here for the same," Yorik admitted, "You never when and where a job will present itself right now. Even in here."
"Meaning?" Mudd was the suspicious one now.
"My spiritual advisor will be coming by later. I'll make introductions," Yorik offered, "I owe your father a debt. This will square me."
"Pops has been arrested along with my idiot brother and half-Bajoran sister," Mudd whispered, "But I have it on good authority Mudd Kenra will be tried here on Bajor."
"I'll spread the word and see where it lands," Yorik offered.
"Sorry for the beat down. You're decent after all," Shade grinned.
"Well, my boys and I did come on pretty strong. I'd say we got what we deserved. If we'd known who you both were, we would've toasted you rather than figuring you were in the skin trade," Yorik confessed.
"Never assume," Mudd told him, "Pops left me alone on the streets when I was twelve. I avoided the skin trade and take offers like your crew gave me personally."
"I just took it personally," Shade told him.
"We know better now," Yorik admitted. There were grunts and nods of assent from the battered smugglers.
"Yeah, well, it was good exercise," Mudd chuckled, "And maybe we can be friendly now."
"You were holding back, weren't you?" Yorik belatedly realized.
"To be honest, your crew injured each other more than us," Shade laughed.
"I guess we owe you then," Yorik said, "The intro will square me with Harry but my recommendation will square us. Deal?" Yorik offered.
"Doesn't get much fairer than that," Mudd agreed.
"Do you really think the violent rhetoric was limited to single Order on Golana?" Griff asked Wyn in a sidebar on the Razor's Edge's bridge.
"Neela is convinced so me moved on to Free Haven," Wyn whispered back.
"She's locked away with Katts in the temple she built aboard the ship," Griff complained, "What use is our Sensor Officer to her?"
"Katts and Wes are the most penitent of the crew," Wyn reminded him, "We need Wes to maintain a proper orbit but Katts can serve to meet Neela's needs while she beseeches the Prophets for guidance into how to deal with the outbreak of violence that just hit Free Haven."
"I can hear you," Ferris called across the bridge, "And Katts can provide food and liquids to Neela while she prays."
"If she's so in touch with the Prophets, why haven't they told her already?" Griff snapped back.
"The Prophets move mysteriously. Neela describes it as based on how they perceive our needs rather than answering us when we beckon them to," Wes explained to Griff.
"Odon and the other deputies are looking into the outbreak on the ground. When Neela feels prepared, we'll join them," Wyn shared, "I hate waiting too but this what the deputies do for a living. We need investigators not soldiers."
The turbolift doors opened and a wan looking Neela emerged followed by the attendant Katts, "We need to beam down. Odon and the others are in danger."
"So the Prophets spoke to you?" Gruiff asked, "They told you whose responsible?"
"Not so much," Neela replied, "Instead they asked me a riddle. We solve the riddle and we solve the case."
"You've got to be kidding," Griff snapped, "We're solving riddles instead of crimes?"
"The riddle speaks to the heart's intent," Neela answered, "Those responsible hold the answer to the riddle."
"Do we at least know how many Orthodox Orders are represented on Free Haven?" Wyn asked.
"There are five. Three have had temples bombed or burned out," Neela told her, "But just because an Order's temple has been spared so far doesn't prove guilt or innocence. Rather a lack of planning to this point. There were seven temples in the colony. Five have been destroyed or desecrated. We need to speak with the leading vedeks of each Order so I can present the riddle to them."
"And if they answer it?" Griff wanted to know.
"That's why the Constabulary will be aware of our movements and intentions. Odon, Varis, and Maru have presented their credentials with Free Haven's Supervisor. When the head vedeks answer correctly, they'll be arrested and their flock investigated," Neela told him.
"So guilt by association?" Ferris felt uneasy.
"These people have listened to a turning away from faith to political violence. Of course they've aided and abetted," Neela challenged his question, "A faithful believer in the Prophets would've challenged the vedek's false teaching or gone to a different temple."
"And if they're all guilty?" Wes asked.
"Then I fear for our people," Neela answered honestly.
The team materialized near the capital's Constabulary building. Odon, Varis, and Maru awaited them. Odon reported their findings, "Special Supervisor Kell on Bajor already informed the colonial Supervisors to take a deep dive into the theology of the colony's vedeks. Two have raised red flags while a third is a probable."
"I still need to meet with them all individually," Neela told them, "In private."
"You left that part out aboard the ship," Griff challenged her.
"They won't be honest with you there," Neela countered, "Whereas they'll want to persuade me of the veracity of their teachings."
"Are you going to shoot anyone?" Wyn asked.
"No," Neela answered back.
"Good enough for me," Wyn conceded, "We make the arrangements. Where's the closest vedek?"
"The temple here in the capital was the first to be destroyed," Odon explained, "The vedek survived the blast and is in the infirmary under protective custody."
"Do we have a plan?" Varis asked.
"We have a riddle for them to answer," Griff sneered.
"A riddle from the Prophets is a gift to be treasured, not taken lightly," Neela chided him, "Your pagh struggles with the purity of faith. But fact and faith go hand in hand not countered against one another."
"We'll see, won't we?" Griff calmed but remained skeptical.
"Are we expected at the infirmary?" Neela asked.
"I made the arrangements and the Constabulary is locating all the leading vedeks," Odon told her, "We'll be able to find them all."
"Then let's begin with the one already in custody," Neela approvved.
"Protective custody," Odon clarified.
"Being in confinement is still being in confinement, regarded as being protective or not," Neela advised him, "Let's go."
"Tell me Vedek Horis, what is the bellringer of true faith?" Neela asked the surprised vedek.
"Earning the public trust," Horis replied.
Neela stood, "Thank you for that answer."
She stepped out and spoke with the deputies assigned to the wounded vedek, "Arrest that man and begin researching his every teaching, both public and private."
"Ma'am?" the senior deputy was puzzled.
"That man is an apostate and a harbinger of destruction. A rival struck him before he could lash out first. The fact that he was taken by surprise doesn't mitigate his guilt," Neela told them, "Inform your Supervisor that you have your first real suspect."
"I'd heed the Colonel on this," Odon recommended.
"Shall we move on?" Neela asked. Three more vedeks gave the same response and were arrested on Neela's accusation. The final three vedek leaders replied with a singular response. They all agreed that the love of the Prophets was the bellringer of true faith. Neela commended them and wished them well.
"It's been a long day," Neela told her team, "Let's rest here in orbit tonight and move on to Dreon VIII in the morning."
"Why are we bothering with the colonies?" Griff was even more irritable than beofre, "Bajor is the heart of the problem."
"And the movements will simply regrow from the colonies if we don't deal with them," Neela was losing patience with Griff's doubts, "Once we deal with the heresies on Dreon VIII, Valo II, Valo III, and Prophets Landing, we'll go into the Gamma Quadrant and investigate the rot on those colonies."
Griff barely winced from the verbal slap. But he bit his tongue. Neela's assessment was a correct one. While the SID team dealt directly with the Vedek Assembly, the Razor's Edge was ideally suited to probe the corruption at the colonial level. In fact, they could use one or more ships to assist them.
"What about Bajor VIIII?" Wyn asked.
"Our very last stop before proceeding on to Bajor itself," Neela promised, "Now, we could all use the rest we've earned after Golana and Free Haven. We're only mortal after all," Neela told them, "And the crew needs an update on our progress. They're as invested in Bajor's future as we are."
Wyn contacted Wills and had them beamed aboard in sequence. Neela called a collective briefing and told the crew of their progress so far and their plans for future stops. Some were excited to visit the Gamma Quadrant for the first time. Ferris expressed some concern.
"Is anyone else worried about our Colonial Defense Forces defending Cardassia Prime?" he inquired, "We shouldn't need Ascendant ships here in the Alpha or Gamma Quadrants to defend our own colonies."
"The Cardassians helped defend us from the Federation while they fought their war against them," Wyn reminded him, "They've become the ally we always thought the Federation would be. But we learned differently. If we defend their capital planet, then they'll be indebted us and our mutual defense pact will be strengthened."
"And if Gul Maret wipes Colonel Anara's forces out?" Griff asked.
"Then their memory will endure in the hearts and minds of Cardassians yearning to be free of Maret's yoke," Neela said. But she too worried for her friend.
"Sir!" a glinn assuming the Communications post after multiple torpedo strikes from Cardassia Prime's automated defense grid and the Bajoran Colonial Defense Forces had severely damaged Maret's Galor-class cruiser yelled at him for his attention, "Our pursuit forces report Legate Ocett redirected the border defenses against them. The cowards that only joined us when she fled have surrendered. The Bajorans and Cardassia Prime's auto defenses have crippled nearly two-thirds of our forces. All of our Keldon-class cruisers are either destroyed or in ruins."
Maret violently cursed. Without the troops aboard those Keldon-class cruiser/troop transports, he couldn't take Cardassia Prime by force without bombarding the planet from orbit. And his remaining forces were insufficient to break through the Bajoran line.
"Order a withdrawal. All warp capable vessels with pull out and regather with any who survive and escape Ocett in the Fenglor system," Maret ordered them to the Cardassian Farside border where he'd drawn great support. But all of their patrol ships had followed him into this disaster. But Fenglor boasted an orbital shipyard capable of repairing his damaged cruisers.
"Sir?" the glinn paused.
"Do it! While we still have ships that can withdraw," Maret snarled. The blow to his ego at being repelled by Bajorans was massive. He couldn't concede defeat. They'd cheated him out of his victory with Cardassian assistance. No Bajoran force could stand on its own against true sons of Cardassia. Therefore the loss was to the genius of the Cardassian defense network rather than the Bajoran starships that were picking off his cruisers while his idiot glinn hesitated, "Give the order!"
Several tense minutes passed before the Acting XO informed him, "Thirteen Galor-class cruisers escaped with us. The rest were left behind and no Keldon-class cruiser made it out of the system. The Bajorans aren't pursuing."
"Of course not. They're all cowards that can only fight from a position of ambush," Maret told the dalin, Spread the word across our forces that Cardassia's defense forces repelled us while the Bajorans hide behind them."
"The officers and crew of our forces here will know the truth," the dalin protested.
"The truth is what I make of it!" Maret snarled, "History will record that we were not defeated by Bajorans. Rather, they cowered behind domestically produced Cardassian defenses and hid while traitors on Cardassia Prime directed those same defenses against the true patriots of the Cardassian Union. Anyone that says otherwise will be executed for treason."
"Yes, sir," the dalin said wearily as he went to spread the order. The glinn at Communications transmitted the new narrative to the surrounding ships. Then he contacted the other fleet to spread the lie amongst them as well. His news was dismal.
"Sir, Legate Ocett has disabled or destroyed all of our fleet in the Dorvan Sector," he reported with a cringe.
"What?" Maret roared as he left his seat.
"Our remaining informants among the Cardassian Guard report that Ocett is making way to Cardassia Prime with her Damar-class dreadnoughts while leaving her damaged and undamaged Galor-class cruisers behind to affect repairs. Ocett has ordered the Bajorans to prepare a pursuit course after us and she will rendezvous with them en route," the glinn nervously told him.
"Bajorans? Pursuing me?" Maret continued to roar, "Are they suicidal?"
"Sir, the Bajorans may be using older model starships but they outnumber us three-to-one. And every one of our ships is severely damaged. Two have already dropped out of warp because of drive failures," the dalin informed him.
Maret drew his phaser and killed the last command officer remaining aboard, "No one tells me that I can't defeat Bajoran rabble!"
"Sir, what do we do?" the glinn asked.
"Order all ships too drop out of warp, reverse course, and rendezvous with our ships that have been left behind. We'll face and defeat these Bajoran voles. No Bajoran can successfully defeat a Cardassian face to face. They won't have the planetary defenses to hide behind now," Maret cackled.
The glinn knew the stories of how Dal Maret had been posted to Terok Nor during the Occupation of Bajor. He also knew that Maret had never faced the Resistance directly. He'd been a staff officer aboard the station directing ground troops fighting terrorists. The Colonial Defense Forces had soundly defeated the bulk of Maret's fleet without the aid of the planetary defense network. Yet Maret would kill anyone who failed to support his insistence that the very opposite was true.
What had seemed like a harkening to Cardassia's glory days now seemed like the vision of a madman. Without Gul Macet present to tether Maret to reality, the Gul had become unhinged. Even if Maret's remaining forces defied numerical superiority and defeated the Bajorans, Ocett's dreadnoughts were on their way. The glinn could only hope for survival at this point rather than an improbable victory against impossible odds. Maret was no strategist or even a mere tactician. He was simply bluster and guile. And the glinn and his fellow rebels had fallen for his snake oil sales routine.
"The vedek and his prylars are headed for the monastery run by their Order," Kell reported to Macen. Chief Inspector Fel and Detective Rockford's teams are monitoring them."
"This new site belonged to a different Order?" Macen surveyed the destroyed temple.
"It was the second struck and within hours of the first bombing. There were three consecutive bombings on the first day. Each of the three days since has brought new death and destruction of the faithful," Kell told him, "We had two destroyed before your arrival and four yesterday. Mostly provincial villages and townships but this one, like the first, happened in a major city," Kell described the timeline, "We're still trying to determine why provincial temples were struck."
"A greater concentration of those politicized by one particular Order versus in a city where there are several temples run by separate Orders available to the public," Macen explained the rationale, "How many differing Orders have had temples destroyed?"
"Five," Kell informed him, "But the vedeks in charge of each Order have reacted with outrage and sermons promising the Prophets' vengeance upon the godless. Since the first hint that vedek Orders themselves could be responsible I've had deputies attending temple worship calls. But every Order has condemned the attacks and preached that those responsible would be held accountable before the law and the Prophets."
"Think back, of the five affected Orders, did your deputies report that same exact message being preached by every Order?" Macen asked.
"Seven Orders neglected mentioning accountability before the law," Kell frowned as she recalled.
"So two Orders have bene spared attacks so far?" Macen furthered his inquiry.
"So far," Kell grew worried, "You think they'll be struck as well."
"I think you need to coordinate with your colonial counterparts to determine which Orders have had their temples destroyed across the Bajoran diaspora," Macen told her.
"I'll get on it," Kell told him, "In the meantime, what will your people do?"
"Celeste's Detective Squad is with Chief Inspector Fel. My team will inspect the ruins for anything you may have missed during your initial investigation but I doubt we'll turn up any new evidence. But fresh eyes on existing evidence may yield something after all," Macen told her, "Two of my team will secure the site will your constables and the Special Forces hold back the crowds that will gather to protest," Macen answered.
"You think they will?" Kell asked.
"I know they will," he promised her.
"Well, we've crossed over two continents and three cities in a relay to reach this Order's monasterial headquarters," Rockford observed, "It's as though they're afraid of being followed."
"I think they are. But not by us," Chief Inspector Fel finally began to believe the operating theory that vedek Orders were at war with one another, "I never thought I'd live to see these days arrive. Not after the Occupation and Kai Opaka uniting the Orders."
"Kai Winn's legacy stretches on," Rockford sighed.
"What do you know of Winn's tenure as kai?" Fel asked.
"Only what Neela has shared with us of what her orders were from Winn and how she actually carried them out," Rockford told him.
"Neela?" Fel was curious. It wasn't a common family name any more after the ravages of the Occupation.
"Your vedeks refer to her as the Hand of the Prophets," Rockford told him.
"Colonel Neela? You know her?" Fel grew interested in Rockford at last.
"She's a resident of our space station. And I consider her a friend," Rockford explained, "She's investigating the violence in the colonies and trusting us to help find the culprits on Bajor."
"I'm sorry that I misjudged you and your comrades," Fel confessed, "I won't make that mistake again."
"You saw us as godless interlopers. It's an easy assumption to make of non-Bajorans," Rockford forgave him, "I know Neela is touched by your gods in a way I'll never understand. But I trust in her and through her I trust in their intentions. I even owe my life to them."
"You have a strange form of faith. But I accept it for what it is," Fel told her. That acceptance told her which side Fel would fall on concerning apostate vedeks. He would view the violence as apostasy rather than piety. She'd needed to know that.
"Are your monitors established?" Rockford asked.
"Unless they meet in the catacombs, we'll hear every word they utter," Fel promised her, "But if they feel insecure, they may descend to the catacombs and we'll have to rely on a drone to try and get close enough to overhear them."
"Then let's prepare for that option as a needed pursuit rather than a contingency. These people had one of their own and their flock blown to bits. They have a right to be paranoid. People are out to get them," Rockford requested.
"I'll have the drone set to deploy at a moment's notice," Fel moved of to leave Rockford with Lee and Forte.
"We need this to be successful so we'll a justifiable reason to breach the monastery." Rockford told her detectives, "Any word on Shade and Harri?"
"The Constabulary established their identities after arresting them in the course of a bar fight," Lee sighed, "Supervisor Kell ordered them to abide by whatever the local Chief Constable doled out as jail time."
"I'm betting Harri and Shade identified an element feeding the Bajorans explosives and small arms and took action to to ingratiate themselves with them," Forte theorized.
"By beating them up?" Lee wondered.
"By gaining the smugglers' respect," Forte explained, "Gangs on my world operated the same way. You fought yourself to be the leader. I've found it's pretty universal."
"Harri and Shade will be out long before their sentence is up," Rockford predicted, "If they've made good with operators supplying the sectarians then those vedeks and prylars will apply religious pressure on the Chief Constable to get them all released. Mudd and Shade included."
"That was their job," Forte reminded Lee, "To gain access to an Order through its criminal connections."
"For all the anti-alien hate speech these Orders propagate, they need foreigners to acquire weaponry denied them by the laws on Bajor," Rockford stated, "After Bajor joined the Federation they disarmed the general public. Those laws are still effect even though Bajor was ejected from the Federation."
"Which is also why we needed dispensation from General Kira and Brigadier Joran to carry weapons," Lee understood now.
"The traces of the explosives that the Constabulary found at the temple sites are all antimatter based rather than chemical explosives the locals could produce. Which means they can get the same yield from infinitely smaller devices," Forte pointed out.
"Which leads back to off-world suppliers," Lee replied, "Since those are military grade munitions."
"Detectives, we have a problem," Fel reported as he approached them, "They went underground upon arrival. We deployed the drone but lost contact with it when it entered the monastery itself. They have comms scramblers in operation. Comm badges and other subspace transceivers are useless inside that complex."
"So we go inside," Rockford said.
"I don't have jurisdiction inside unless a crime has been or is being committed," Fel advised her, "However, you're military operatives and have universal jurisdiction."
"So we'll go," Rockford told him.
"May the Prophets watch over you," Fel asked of his gods.
"So far they have," Forte said brightly as the detectives made to enter the spiritual sanctuary.
Chapter Three
"It's already getting ugly," Kell warned Macen as he, Tessa, Kerber, and Smith surveyed the damage.
"These were modern mining explosives. A type not used by Bajoran interests," Kerber reported.
"We detected military grade munitions," Kell admitted.
"They're military and used by several neutral worlds to mine with," Kerber explained to her.
Kerber was in reality an Ardanan Troglyte born in the shadow of the zenite mines and raised as Smith's companion and handmaiden. Smith herself was Maarta, a Stratosian that had been third in line for control of the sky city of Stratos. Her uncle had eliminated her father and mother, leaving her in line to inherit the role. But, Smith had become involved with the Troglyte Resistance alongside Kerber.
Given death sentences for terrorism in absentia, the duo had been removed from Ardana IV to assume their new lives and Kerber and Smith. That was when Macen had found them and offered them a new purpose. Macen chuckled.
"I wouldn't debate her on mining tools," Macen advised Kell, "If she says certain worlds use military explosives in mining operation then they do."
"So these explosives would be easy to come by?" Kell asked.
"Not in the Federation but they could be obtained in the Orion black markets in the Kalendra Sector and beyond in various neutral sectors. The Ferengi are also pretty liberal in who the supply the bombs to," Kerber explained.
"Which means a smuggling operation," Kell understood.
"Several," Smith interrupted, "Each vedek Order would have their own chain of suppliers so as to not alert their rivals that they were arming themselves. Trolling the Data Nets we've discovered that your seven Orders espousing anti-alien rhetoric are also highly political. They publish more material on restructuring the government under spiritual leadership than even Winn Adami had espoused during her time as First Minister and Kai simultaneously."
"Winn certainly pitched the idea through official channels and the media," Kell remembered, "Her draconian actions led to her resounding electoral defeat when the public demanded she allow the elections to go forward."
"The proposals made by each of the monitored Orders are vaster and far more autocratic in the draconian natures," Smith advised Kell, "They would establish a theocracy with their own head of their order made supreme leader even over the Kai and the Emissary."
"How could we have missed that?" Kell wondered in shock.
"You have an illegal Data Net operating within the public Data Nets. It's quite the propagator of subversive material and proposals," Smith explained.
"If this hidden net is hidden, how many people can actually be viewing it?" Kell inquired.
"The net itself has a traffic report that records a regular usage of over one billion users a day. It's widespread and covertly hidden from law enforcement and the military," Smith told her, "Its influence is vast and the sheer volume of disinformation on it shapes people's perceptions of events."
"You've prepared a full report and included how to access this covert Data Net?" Kell asked.
"Angelique sent our report directly to General Kira hours ago," Smith told her.
"I want a copy and one for Brigadier Joran," Kell insisted.
"Of course," Smith returned to the armored transport where she and Kerber had set up a remote computing center. They would so at every stop along the inspection tour.
"I've collected traces of DNA within the area of explosion," Tess reported, "One sample wasn't Bajoran. It was human."
"Prophets! Just what we need, a Federation casualty," Kell groaned.
"There are human and Federation member races represented in converts to both the worship of the Prophets and the Cult of the Pah-wraiths," Douglas reminded her, "Several crewmen assigned to Deep Space Nine and the Defiant never returned from Bajor. Hence my inclusion in this investigation."
"I'll investigate further to ascertain how many humans were present," Tessa went back to work.
"Was this temple maintained by one of your suspect Orders?" Macen asked.
"No, it was an outlier. We can't explain why it was included in the attacks," Kell told him.
"I think the DNA presents your answer. All of the anti-alien rhetoric from the suspect Orders found expression here. Humans worshiping the Prophets would be an abomination to these Orders. One of them took action," Macen assessed.
"It would explain why the crowds aren't getting riled up like you thought they would," Kell stated.
"My belief was that this one of the suspect temple sites for a sectarian Order. But you can strike this one from your list of potential suspects," Macen told her, "Tessa will collect her samples and we'll move on to the next bombing site."
"We'll have to beam in by using a starship transporter. It's a remote village on a different continent," Kell told him, "Fortunately, General Kira has the Shield of the Prophets in orbit standing by to move us about."
"That ship is the lone Interceptor-class the Iotians provided you?" Macen asked.
"And the flagship for the System Defense Force," Kell mentioned, "Why?"
"Just curious. I've never been aboard one," Macen told her, "But the Iotian Starfleet is ready to sell me half a dozen upon request. Perhaps we could take a look at her sometime during a break in our investigation."
"I'm certain General Kira would indulge you," Kell told him.
"Could I use a comm array to contact Captain Vaughn to tell him we may have discovered the remains of our missing crewmen?" Douglas inquired.
"There's comm network linked array in the transport your agents have set up their computing center in," Kell advised her.
"Thank you," Douglas went to join Smith in the transport.
"I'm useless here now," Kerber told Macen.
"Join Bailey then and check in with Tracy to see how Parva's project is coming along," Macen excused her.
"Got it," the Ardanan moved on.
"Tessa should be wrapping up in a few minutes," Macen told Kell, "Then I'll need to speak with Kira about placing Kerber and Smith in a more secure arena."
"Of course," Kell said, "As soon as Commander Douglas finishes her report. Afterwards, "I'll contact the Shield of the Prophets."
"Of course," Macen agreed.
"Where is everyone?" Forte whispered.
"In the catacombs, most likely," Lee whispered back, "Right where we're headed."
"Shut it," Rockford hissed, "I can't hear anyone coming if you're whispering back and forth."
The entrance to the underground passageways was left open. The trio entered with phasers drawn. Soon, voices filled the passageway. Rockford kept vigil while Lee and Forte recorded the conversations on their tricorders.
"The Militia and the Constabulary have called in alien investigators," the vedek from the bomb site reported, "We stirred up the relatives of the fallen but the deputies had assistance from the Special Forces and held the line."
"The Constabulary still has no idea of who committed this sacrilege?" a commanding voice inquired.
"No, and they have no idea that we struck out against the Lysok and Sirian Orders," another voice stated.
"Even they do, they have no authority over us unless Kai Tila grants them it. We'll remove her from her position before then," the commanding voice gloated, "The Cadmen Order is calling for her removal as kai."
"On what grounds?" a third voice asked.
"The failure to unite the Vedek Assembly, of course," the commanding voice chuckled, "They're doing our work for us. Once Tila is removed, then we can unseat First Minister Astris and the Ministry on charges of apostasy. We will assume leadership and deal a crushing blow against our rivals. Once they're all executed, we can cleanse Bajor of impurity and only our followers will have positions of power."
Rockford motioned for them to withdraw. Once they were clear, hiding from a set of prylars on their way out, they stealthily reported back to Fel. They played the recording.
"By the Prophets, they're planning treason as well as murder," Fel was aghast.
"We need to report this," Rockford told him, "How soon can we get back to Militia headquarters?"
"I can have us transported directly there from orbit," Fel told her, "General Kira and Brigadier Joran made arrangements."
"Then do it. This can't wait," Rockford insisted.
Fel contacted the Shield of the Prophets and they were put into a transport queue as Macen and Kell moved their personnel across Bajor through the starship's transporter room. Then Fel and the detectives were beamed to Militia headquarters where the Chief Inspector was granted immediate access to the Brigadier. Joran was as stunned as anyone else.
"No one has planned such treason since Jaro and the Circle nearly captured Bajor," Joran said as he summoned Kira.
"They mentioned rival Orders planning the same things," Rockford noted.
"Yes, Supervisor Kell informed me of the vedek Order complicity theory. It seems you've confirmed that part. But we have three Orders named in these recordings. How many others are there involved in this brand of sectarian violence?" Joran had to ask.
"That's why we're here," Rockford told him, "And why Colonel Neela is scouring the colonies."
"They've had time to make some repairs," Wyn Meru reminded her.
"So have we," Anara said grimly, "Ocett is due to join us in ten minutes. If the battle is still waging at that point, it'll end then."
The Fist of the Prophets led the Colonial Defense Forces against Maret's modern Galor-class cruisers. But even though less advanced, the Bajoran fleet vastly outnumbered the damaged Cardassian cruisers. The Bajorans could afford to concentrate firepower on single ships and still engage them all. One by one, the Cardassian rebel ships were crippled.
"Damar-class dreadnoughts dropping out of warp in this system," the glinn, now XO, reported.
"Order all ships to engage Ocett!" Maret shouted.
"There is no one left to fight her. We're barely capable of warp speed ourselves," the glinn explained to him.
"Then carry out my orders!" Maret raged, "I will not be returned to the Lazon II labor camp."
"Sir! The Bajorans have cut us off. We have no escape vector except to confront Legate Ocett's forces," a gil at the helm reported.
"This isn't my destiny!" Maret blubbered.
"Gul Maret, I'm relieving you of command. Sadal, inform the Supreme Legate that we surrender and are handing over Maret," the glinn began issuing orders.
Maret drew his weapon, "The first officer to defy my command dies."
The guards on the bridge leveled their phaser rifles and stunned Maret. The glinn repeated himself, "Sadal, contact Ocett while we still can."
Ocett toured the Fist of the Prophets, "I was told Iotians couldn't generate a single original design. Yet they have blended two starship classes admirably. Colonel Anara, Cardassia is in your debt."
"Just repaying your efforts to help secure Bajor against Starfleet," Anara shrugged, "You proved yourselves trustworthy allies. It's only fair we return the gesture. What will happen to Maret?"
"The Ministry of Justice has arranged for a trial and the guilty verdict guarantees a death sentence. Now we're searching for Gul Macet," Ocett told her.
"And the rebel forces?" Anara wondered.
"The commanding officers will be found guilty and serve life sentences at labor camps. The lower ranking officers and enlisted will swear oaths of loyalty in exchange for parole. If they attempt mutiny or defy orders again, they will be summarily executed. I doubt they will under those terms," Ocett told her, "Will you be heading back to Bajoran space now?"
"I have to relieve the Ascendant forces taking up our customary patrols. And I have a friend in need," Anara told her.
"May you walk with your Prophets then," Ocett stepped onto the transporter pad when they reached the appropriate station.
Anarra tapped her comm badge, "Supreme Legate Ocett is back aboard her flagship. This is a Cardassian problem again. Order all commands to return to the Bajor Sector and resume their usual patrols."
"Informing all commands," Wyn Meru replied, "What warp factor should we set?"
"Warp 6. That's a comfortable cruising speed for most of our ships," Anara answered, "Our Asia-class light cruisers can catch up. "
"What destination should we plot?" Captain Wyn asked.
"Set course for Free Haven Port," Anara instructed, "I assume I have paperwork and duty rosters to authorize waiting for me there."
"Yes, Colonel," Wyn Meru signed off.
"And now I can check in with Neela," Anara said to herself as she moved through the Fist of the Prophets' corridors.
Macen and Kell's teams were summoned to Militia headquarters for a debriefing. There, they heard the recordings made in the catacombs beneath a peaceful looking monastery. Jolan reported that Kai Tila had authorized raids on the Order Monasteries of the Lysok, Sirian, Cadmen Orders as well as that of the Borean Order where the recordings were made. Kell's constables found caches of weapons and explosives that the startled vedeks and prylars didn't have time to conceal.
"That still leaves us with two suspect renegade Orders," Kell reported the raids' successes.
"They'll feel confident because we didn't unearth them yet," Rockford predicted, "That will embolden them."
"Whichever Orders are remaining, they don't have a Data Net presence," Smith warned them, "It goes back to old fashioned investigative work to draw them out."
"So we go back to provoking them. It worked with the Boreans," Daggit mentioned.
"Kia Tila has called a session of the Vedek Assembly to sound out the remaining vedeks and the heads of the Orders left unaffected," Kira told them, "That meeting is set for tomorrow morning. There's nothing else you can do until then."
"Then we rest up and begin again at dawn at the first site of the second day of violence," Macen told Kell.
"I'll alert my deputies and our Special Forces assistants. I'll contact the Shield of the Prophets to have them standing by to begin transporting us at that time," Kell told him and excused herself.
"I take it we're staying here?" Kerber asked Macen.
"I need you focused on uncovering any clue whatsoever of a post or even a mention of anything suspicious from civilians as well as the religious authorities," Macen told them.
"That's a big ask," Smith mentioned.
"You're up for it," Macen was assured.
"It'll be fun," Kerber looked forward to the challenge of it.
"We have the perfect facility for to employ. Starfleet set it up before they invaded," Kira told the pair, "Your equipment is perfectly compatible and we have personnel you can employ to assist you. I'll make it their top priority."
"So we'll be working with the fabled Bajoran Intelligence," Kerber gloated.
"That'll work," Smith conceded.
We still have time before the watch change so I can introduce you to the first watch before they're relieved and similarly task the second watch to meeting your needs," Kira offered.
"Thank you, General," Smith picked up her portable computer case, "We're ready whenever you are."
"No time like the present," Kira motioned for them to follow her.
"The rest of us will be getting up in the middle of the local night, so get some rest while you can," Macen informed the others.
Tessa transferred her DNA readings to Douglas, "Here is the evidence of every human and one Bolian that I detected in the temple ruins."
"I'll send them along to Captain Vaughn," Douglas regretted having to do.
Kell returned, "I've made arrangements with the local Constabulary and the nearest major office. They'll be sending along deputies to secure the village. I'd expect your hostile welcome will finally be fully realized."
"I hate to hope for it," Rockford told her.
"The region is filled with ex-Resistance folks. So this could get very ugly very fast," Kell warned them, "Are you certain you want to risk it?"
"We have to," Macen replied, "Each temple belonged to a separate Order and we have three seemingly indiscriminate targets to weed out as actual rivals to those already arrested. We also need to locate the vedeks and prylars from the Orders that avoided arrest."
Kell blanched, "How did you know that happened?"
"It always does," Rockford promised her, "And as it was previously observed, it's a big planet with lots of spiritual leaders spread across it. The Constabulary and Militia can't be expected to arrest every member of the suspect Orders on the first try."
"The media outlets have already begun reporting on the arrests but we've kept the details secret for now. Until the charges become public, we won't be confirming or denying speculation in the media," Kell told them, "That should generate enough irate posts for your teammates to track down with Bajoran Intelligence's help."
Douglas looked uncomfortable, "The raw volume of disinformation will be enormous. You may generate an unprecedented backlash."
"This has become a grassroots problem. So it needs to be dealt with at a grassroots level," Rockford put forth, "Are your constables and deputies up for it?"
"They'll have to be," Kell said, "And if they don't prepare or respond to the threat, then we'll know they're complicit as well. Brigadier Joran is issuing the orders now. The Militia is also looking inward for conspirators. Someone warned the escaped vedeks and prylars, after all. Constabulary Internal Affairs is standing by to open investigations into our ranks. The Militia General Staff has opened its own internal affairs investigations."
"Plural?" Douglas asked.
"Colonel Anara's Colonial Defense Forces are returning from Cardassian space. They've been tasked with assisting Colonel Neela. Some of those same crews were recently firing on you, her, and the Ascendant. The General Staff believes that they were motivated by more than a threat of excommunication," Kell shared.
"Anara has probably already warned Neela by now," Macen realized, "We have to trust in the system for now."
"For now?" Kell was apprehensive about that wording.
"If the system is too broken, we'll have to act unilaterally to bring the guilty to justice," Rockford clarified, "Are you prepared for that?"
"I'm prepared to protect and serve my people. No matter where that leads," Kell promised.
"We'll see how willing your fellow constables are to follow that example," Macen warned.
"I've kept Captain Vaughn from deploying a further response to the murder of our Starfleet crewmen," Douglas advised Kell, "But if more Federation citizens get killed, Starfleet will be pressured by Starfleet Command to join the investigation further."
"Thank you for that warning," Kell said, "But we consider this an internal matter. The alliance with the Federation may have been renewed but was restructured and is very strained in public opinion. The majority of Bajoran citizens believe Federation membership was a mistake to begin with. A large minority believe we should cut ties altogether."
"Understandable considering what happened," Douglas replied, "But I was one of the officers that sided with Bajor against the Federation."
"I looked up the Constabulary's file on you, Commander. That choice is why I've allowed you to continue with this investigative effort. But further intended Starfleet participation would have a negative impact on the Bajoran Republic's relations with the Federation in the court of public opinion."
"I'll pass that along as well," Douglas promised.
"Good. Now, I'll see you again in seven hours," Kell departed.
"You heard her," Macen told the team, "We have seven hours to refresh ourselves and rest up before we begin again."
"Commander, this facility has a commissary. I think mingling with the officers and enlisted there would have a profound psychological impact on the Militia officers based here," Tessa recommended, "And you all need to eat."
"Thank you for that," Rockford told her.
"You heard our doctor. It's time to eat and mingle with the locals," Macen ordered.
"How's it coming?" Ebert asked Parva as the engineer took a break to examine her computer model of her project.
"Slowly," Parva complained, "I can't believe Macen asked for this."
"What is it anyway?" Ebert wondered.
"A neurological inhibitor. Basically a medium sized bomb that will paralyze everyone in its blast radius. I understand the concept. They build small, anti-personnel versions of these things. But our dear Commander Macen asked for a large scale version," Parva explained, "But he wants a small portable version of it."
"How large of a scale are we talking about?" Ebert was curious and a little worried.
"This design will take out every living soul in a medium size city. Basically a 'nerve blast them all and let God sort them out later' version," Parva explained, "I've managed to reduce the size to that of a portable comm array. With the power requirements, that's as small as I can make it."
"The Captain thinks the situation will get that bad?" Ebert asked.
"I guess so," Parva told her, "He left me behind for this very reason."
"And I'm here to deliver it," Ebert realized.
"If Macen and Rockford have to call in starship support we'll know the shuk has hit the fan," Parva groused.
"The Bajoran System Defense Force keeps starships in orbit as well as patrolling the system. If they can't rely on the local Bajoran forces, then I'd say the situation has gone to hell," Ebert commiserated.
"The worst of it is since we're here at the Militia's request, we're agents acting on their behalf. Which means Starfleet will be restricted by the Prime Directive from running to our rescue," Parva told her.
"The Militia barely tolerates Starfleet these days," Ebert noted, "You'd see that if you walked the station's Promenade. The Militia allows Starfleet a limited presence on the station these days but they don't trust them. It's like when Sisko first came here back in 2369 all over again."
"It's the Federation's own fault," Parva snorted.
"True, but the officers still assigned here supported Bajor during the war and sided against Starfleet. That should buy them some goodwill," Ebert was frustrated.
"The Bajorans see the uniform, not the people in it," Parva warned her, "Rab has called in a few times. The Bajoran public is strongly in favor of pushing the Federation and Starfleet out of the system. The Militia officers he's serving with feel they can defend themselves well enough without Starfleet's presence on Deep Space Nine."
"How did things get so bad?" Ebert wondered.
"The war started it, the Federation's internment camps for Bajorans in their borders, nailed the lid on that coffin, and the fact that the Bajorans established a war crimes tribunal over that Waypoint fiasco and petitioned Starfleet to remand the officers involved over for trial and were denied burned the coffin. Then Starfleet simply put a reprimand in those officers' files and put them back on duty in their old posts erected the headstone," Parva explained, "So the situation was created by Starfleet and the Federation. The Bajorans are just responding to the obvious regard the Federation has for Bajor and Bajorans in general."
"Starfleet has been a bunch of bastards since the DMZ was established," Ebert growled, "They abandoned us and then made us criminals."
"I won't go there," Parva said, "I was busy escaping being a sex slave when all of that was going on. But meeting all you ex-Maquis types, I can't condone Starfleet's decisions regarding you."
"Thanks for that," Ebert replied, "Think it's time to take a break?"
"Yes," Parva sighed, "I'm about to fabricate the parts and put this sucker together. But I could seriously use a meal and a shower right about now."
"Time to get off the ship then," Ebert grinned, "DS9 is the same as Serenity and completely different at the same time."
"As long as I can get a meal and some coffee, I'll be fine with it," Parva told her.
"Since we aren't wearing Starfleet uniforms, no one will notice us," Ebert promised.
"That's so sad," Parva sighed again.
"Estimate arrival at Dreon VII in six hours," Wes reported to Wyn, "Once we skirt the Rolor Nebula, we'll be on approach for the colony."
"The Ascendant didn't waste any time leaving Bajoran space," Griff noted.
"Still, almost half of the Colonial Defense Forces ships need yard time," Ferris had observed, "Even those ships resuming patrols have made repairs on te fly. Whatever happened in Cardassian space, they've seen some major combat recently."
"Meru told me about some of it," Wyn referred to her sister aboard the Fist of the Prophets, "It got pretty ugly. But the Cardies have decided to finally execute Maret."
"That took long enough," Javi commented.
"They were afraid of martyring him in the eyes of his potential followers. I guess that isn't as big of a concern now that the civil war has occurred and ended with a victory for the Detepa Council," Wyn stated.
"Maret certainly would've executed them starting with Castellan Garan," Griff snorted.
"Major, we've picked a shadow," Katts interrupted, "It's the Mystery of the Prophets but that ship is listed as one of those that fired on the Solstice and Ascendant ships during the Orb crisis," Katts had looked the Miranda-class starship up in the Militia registry, "The Major in command suppressed a mutiny but later joined their cause."
"Keep a watch on her. I want to know if she accelerates to overtake us," Wyn ordered.
"Her warp drive is damaged. They won't be able to do that. But they are pacing us," Katts told her.
"Are we on their assigned patrol route?" Griff asked.
"We left it twenty minutes ago," Ferris had looked up the assigned patrols, "And she's still with us."
"I don't think that's a coincidence," Wyn unhappily admitted, "Word has to have gotten out about what we've done on Golana and Free Haven. The command and crew of the Mystery have already proven receptive to extremist policies. They may be attempting to stop us when we reach Dreon VII."
"Javi, report the deviation to Free Haven Port. Colonel Anara needs to know there's a gap in her patrols," Griff ordered.
"On it," the Communications Officer went to work.
"I don't like this," Wes complained, "Since when are under threat from our own?"
"Consider them collaborators if they make a move," Wyn had been a teen during the Occupation's end and still remembered the antipathy her people had for those that cooperated with the Cardassians. Few of her crew had been alive during the Occupation. Only Odon and Neela had been Resistance members. And Neela was still artificially as young as she'd been during the Dominion War. The rest had been born during the last days of the Occupation or were too young to have remembered it except in the vaguest terms.
"Major, I'm getting a transmission from the Temple of the Prophets," Javi reported, "Her commander says they'll meet us in the Dreon system and to keep them posted as to the Mystery of the Prophets' movements."
"Data on the Temple?" Wyn asked Ferris.
"Constitution-class. She backed Colonel Anara during the Orb crisis," Ferris told her, "Her current patrol is shared by two Asia-class ships, the Faith in the Prophets and the Security in the Prophets. A Constitution Phase II-class, the Prophets Aspirations, is in drydock. She's listed as being on an accelerated repair schedule."
"Potential friends or foes?" Griff wanted to know.
"The Faith and Security also backed Colonel Anara," Ferris read off their commendations, "The Aspirations wasn't part of the Orb crisis but she earned a commendation during the recent mission in Cardassian space."
"Major, a second Militia ship has joined in the Mystery's pursuit of us. The Spear of the Prophets seems to be collaborating with the Mystery," Javi reported, "They're in communication with one another on a coded frequency. They aren't using a Militia encryption."
"She's another Miranda-class," Ferris informed everyone.
"Katts?" Wyn asked her Sensor Officer.
"She's damaged but she could overtake us if she wanted to do so. But her warp drive is showing some fluctuations so until they lock their mains down they probably won't attempt an intercept," Katts told her in reply.
"They've signaled a third ship," Javi frowned, "A Sword of the Prophets? The identification marker is solid but they're still using their unofficial encryption."
"The Sword is an Excelsior-class and she's not on this patrol route," Ferris told everyone, "She's assigned to Prophets Landing Port."
"So her leaving her patrol will be noticed," Griff decided.
"If the station reports her missing," Ferris countered.
"Deep Space Nine will notice if a ship leaves the Cardassian border patrol,' Wyn told him, "Colonel Cenn will make certain Militia Headquarters hears of it."
"And they'll report any Militia ships returning through the Wormhole from the Gamma Quadrant."
"I'm picking up official chatter about the Sword of the Prophets leaving her patrol," Javi announced, "A ship is being pulled from the Valo system to cover it. Colonel Anara is trying to reach the ships out of their patrols but they aren't responding. The active patrol in the Dreon system is being called in to intercept them."
"How long until they can intercept?" Wyn asked.
"Realistically? They can be here in sixty minutes," Ferris informed everyone, "But the Sword of the Prophets can also join us in five hours at maximum warp."
"The Fist of the Prophets has deployed from Free Haven Port. They'll arrive in four hours," Javi announced, "Colonel Anara recommends we continue on to Dreon VII while the Dreon patrol intercepts the Mystery and the Spear. The Fist will collect available units en route and intercept the Sword of the Prophets. The Prophets Aspirations is being released out of drydock to protect us at Dreon VII in case of new Militia units going rogue and reaching us from other patrols."
"Any word on System Defense Forces ships moving out of the Bajor system?" Griff inquired.
"None reported," Javi told him, "But they aren't moving to intercept the Sword either."
"There's a mixed message," Wes grumbled.
"So we don't know how we'll be received when we enter the system to transit the Wormhole," Wyn assessed, "Right now we worry about the obvious threats. Colonel Anara can help decide how to proceed from Dreon VII."
"You think Neela will listen to her?" Griff, "Or anyone?"
"Anara is one of the few people Neela does listen to," Wyn told him.
Chapter Four
"Are you out of your frinxing mind?" Anara demanded to know from Neela over subspace comms.
"I'm doing the will of the Prophets," Neela replied calmly.
"That's what these maniacs say too," Anara retorted.
"These 'maniacs' are as confused about the truth of the Prophets as I was. But their delusion is mixing religion with politics rather than just a distorted theology," Neela told her, "They're listening to spiritual leadership claiming to be messianic. That only that particular leader can save Bajor from its depraved corruption. And people are willing to follow them."
"Which reminds you of Winn. So you feel personally responsible," Anara understood now.
"Commander Macen and Detective Rockford are dealing with the rot on Bajor. But it will continue to flourish in the colonies unless it's exposed and dealt with," Neela explained her position.
"General Kira briefed me. I'm to insure your safety while you tour the colonies," Anara informed her, "I thought I could just assign a ship to attach to you but I see I have to personally lead an escort because we don't know who, when, or where you'll be ambushed by our own people."
"The commanders of the Mystery of the Prophets and the Spear of the Prophets previously defied your orders and fired on the Ascendant without provocation. That began somewhere and now we know where. Leaving their crews intact was a strategic error," Neela told her friend.
"They were being disciplined but the crisis at Cardassia Prime interrupted their reviews," Anara sighed, "So they were allowed back into full service."
"Shooting at Cardassians was probably a vicarious thrill for them," Neela snorted, "I've been reading different Orders propagating anti-alien and particularly anti-Cardassian and anti-Federation rhetoric. It's the Circle all over again but instead of a mad politician craving power it's different leaders of vedek sects trying to assume the role of ultimate arbiter of Bajoran life and death."
"If the Spear of the Prophets attempts an intercept, run like hell," Anara told Neela, "Kira told me a little of what you said your ship is capable of. The Spear's warp drive is functional but damaged She can't maintain speeds over Warp 6 for any duration. The Mystery is pushing herself now just to pace you."
"How badly damaged is your fleet?" Neela asked.
"A few ships require immediate yard time. The rest have made repairs to restore functionality to a serviceable point en route back to the Bajor Sector. Thankfully our casualties were light. Everyone needing more extensive medical care has already been transferred to a ground based infirmary," Anara explained, "So none of our ships are at peak performance but we'll rotate everyone through the yards to get fully repaired."
"And the Gamma Quadrant patrols?" Neela asked.
"The Ascendant are maintaining a presence with us as we rotate ships through the yards," Anara told her, "The First Minister wanted to them removed from the Alpha Quadrant to project a vision of Bajoran power remaining intact after aiding the Cardassian Guard. It was political decision I disagreed with but had to concede to."
"This is why I resisted having oversight for so long," Neela told her dearest friend, "But the Prophets moved and now I have help and observers rolled into one package."
"Good for the Prophets. And good for you to heed their call," Anara praised her friend.
"They're already questioning my methods but the Prophets are guiding all of us towards understanding," Neela told her, "But it's a painful process watching them doubt the Prophets' guidance. Watching them doubt whether or not I'm truly heeding the Prophets' call or just imagining things and acting out on my own accord. You went through the same process but now it's a group think effort. That's tedious to break through."
"Any particular hard nosed individuals in the group?" Anara asked.
"One severe skeptic and one constable who is former Resistance but clearly constrained by Bajoran law now. I'm having difficulty stretching both of them in their faith in the Prophets before strict facts or interpretation of the law when we're operating outside of Bajoran space. Now that we're in Bajoran territory, the doubts are greater than ever," Neela explained, "But the Prophets are winning out and they're not openly defiant any more. But they still harbor their own doubts."
"If the Prophets could convince me, they can convince anyone," Anara chuckled, "Keep the faith. And keep your head down while we deal with who or what is driving ships to abandon their patrols to shadow you."
"Understood. I'd best brief the crew now," Neela told the Colonel, "It was good hearing from you."
"I'll see you soon. That's a promise I intend to keep," Anara signed off.
Neela moved from her quarters to the bridge. She ordered the intercom to go live to carry the conversation throughout the ship. The medical team was in their research lab. The engineers tending the drive and the constables were watching over their vedek prisoner that Neela still wouldn't release. Nor had she interrogated him. Odon and the others had tried to but he'd adopted a martyr complex and pointedly maintained a rigid silence.
"This is going out to all hands," Neela informed everyone, "As you may or may not know, two Militia Colonial Defense Forces starships have broken from their assigned patrols to shadow us on our way to Dreon VII. I've been in contact with Colonel Anara and learned neither ship can exceed Warp 6 for any length of time. So they're simply pacing us while herding us towards the colony on Dreon VII. Another heavy cruiser has abandoned its posting at Prophets Landing Port to make way towards Dreon VII. It will arrive four hours after we do. The patrol assigned to Dreon VII has split up. Three starships are moving to intercept our tail while the fourth is staying in the system to slow the encroaching heavy cruiser. Colonel Anara herself is at high warp to reach Dreon VII and meet the potentially renegade ship," Neela described their situation, "The Colonel feels its best we stay out of harm's way but continue our mission on the colony. We don't understand the nature of the threat these starships pose. If they are duped into believing the heresies were combating, then they've shown that have no issues with taking fellow Bajoran lives if the target is perceived as a threat to their belief structure. Which we've proven ourselves to be to three vedek Orders. News from Bajor includes the arrest of the leaders of four Orders but three Orders are still suspect though there is little evidence to support that suspicion yet except for the mere fact that temples maintained by the Order were targeted in bombings and arson campaigns. We've encountered representatives from three of the four confirmed treasonous Orders plotting to remove the Kai from office and assassinate First Minister Astris and assume a dictatorship over Bajor in the name of the Prophets. While the roots of these Orders and their campaigns are being dealt with on Bajor itself, that leaves the task to make certain they do not remain in fertile ground to regrow on the colonies and re-infest Bajoran society. So the stakes we are facing are immense. But remember, we overcame the Pah-wraith threat working together and trusting one another. If we can maintain our own unity, then we can overcome this cancer blighting Bajoran beliefs and culture. Out."
"You knew that's what the Orders planned, didn't you?" Wyn asked after the intercom deactivated, "That's what the Prophets showed you on Golana."
"They showed me that there were many voices using the Prophets name to justify their own messianic ambitions to save Bajor from a perceived decaying of culture and spirituality. They will in turn remove the Kai, the First Minister and then reject the Emissary," Neela told them.
"And then you," Griff pointed out.
"I never asked be revered by the Vedek Assembly. It's why I left Bajor to begin with," Neela told him, "Working alone, I didn't have to worry about people confusing the tool with the handlers of the tool."
"I don't think you have to worry about us confusing you for a Prophet or an Emissary," Wyn smirked.
"Duly noted," Neela smiled back.
"Do you really think these Militia commanders would fire on us or some of their own?" Wes asked.
"I don't know the answer to that. I have to be cautious and assume they would," Neela told him.
"That's our working theory as well. You don't stalk someone across light years unless you're actually hunting them," Wyn told her.
"Fortunately for us and unfortunately for their casualties, they took enough damage in the Cardassia Sector to limit how fast they can go. So if the Spear of the Prophets accelerates to overtake us, we can still outrun it," Neela told them.
"There's a relief," Wes decided.
"But their weapons systems are repaired?" Ferris had to ask.
"Anara said the ships were serviceable. So again I assume they are," Neela told him.
"What do we do if the patrol coming out of the Dreon system turns against us?" Griff asked.
"I have faith that they won't," Neela told him, "Colonel Anara trusts in them. So I choose to as well."
"We don't have much other choice," Griff grumbled, "We're no match for any of these starships, damaged or not."
"We aren't meant to be a warship," Neela chided him, "We can protect ourselves from average threats but not against a modern military. We shouldn't have to. These are extraordinary circumstances. I'm praying the starships in question settle their differences without resorting to combat."
"That's an outcome we all desire," Wyn pledged on everyone's behalf, "Bajorans shouldn't fight other Bajorans."
"Major, there's uptick in comm traffic between our pursuers and the Sword of the Prophets," Javi interrupted, "Now they're transmitting to a reception ID on Bajor."
"Forward that ID to Militia Headquarters," Neela spoke up, "They may be able to trace its user's location."
"It's a burner ID. The comm device will discardable," Javi complained as she transmitted the report to the Militia.
"But like Neela said, it'll narrow down a search window," Wyn supported Neela's directive.
"Major! The Spear of the Prophets has accelerated to Warp 7 and is trying to close to torpedo range," Katts announced over the conversation.
"Wes, take us to Warp 7 and maintain that speed indefinitely. We can long haul it to Dreon VII without taxing our warp drive. Can they?" Wyn instructed.
"Not according to Colonel Anara and the damage report the Spear's own engineering team submitted to Free Haven Port," Neela told her.
"We're now at Warp 7, our maximum threshold," Wes told her.
"And we're still clear of the Spear of the Prophets' torpedo range. They can volley a few but their guidance systems and fuel will be expended before they reach us. Sheer kinetic momentum may get them nearer to us before they drop out of subspace," Ferris reported.
"Revised time to Dreon VII is three hours around the Rolor Nebula," Wes recalculated.
"Time until we meet the Dreon patrol?" Wyn inquired.
"Given their last reported speed and location, less than five minutes," Ferris did his own calculations.
"I have them on sensors," Katts told Wyn, "One Constitution-class and two Asia-class starships in-bound at Warp 5. They had to have been outside the Dreon system and on patrol when they got the call to intercept."
"The Spear of the Prophets and the Mystery of the Prophets have both dropped out of warp. The Temple of the Prophets, the Faith in the Prophets and the Security in the Prophets are also slowing to impulse to interdict our pursuers," Ferris stated for everyone to know.
"Maintain course and speed," Wyn told them, "Send our thanks to the friendly commands and wish them luck."
"Major, Colonel, the two pursuers are raising shields and arming weapons," Katts said dismally.
"Their odds of success depend on how badly they're already damaged versus how damaged are the Dreon patrol ships," Ferris analyzed the effort, "They may be calculating better odds given the fact that the three patrol ships have also been kept out of the yards and affected their own repairs."
"The pursuers are transmitting a set of demands to the patrol," Javi told them, "The patrol is denying their request."
"Which was?" Griff wanted to know.
"To join them in destroying us," Javi told him, "They claim we're an existential threat to the Prophets on a scale unseen since the Pah-wraiths invaded the Celestial Temple."
"It's nice to be so loved," Wes said ruefully.
"They're transmitting to Bajor again," Javi said.
"They're speaking with a vedek. They want spiritual advice on how to proceed," Neela suddenly realized.
"How do you conclude that?" Griff inquired sharply.
"Follow the logic," Neela told him, "They're operating completely out of their military chain of command on a spiritual quest to save the Prophets from a threat akin tto the Pah-wraiths themselves. Now they're confronted by fellow Militia crews so they require the advice or blessing of a vedek to know how to proceed."
"That makes a chilling amount of sense," Wyn said, "And given the fact that we've been arresting vedeks and prylars that ordered the deaths of rival Orders that believed slightly differently, the vedek is going to tell them to stop at nothing to end our chances of clearing out the colonies."
"Major, you were right. The Spear and Mystery of the Prophets have opened fire," Katts reported, "We'll be out of sensor range in a few more seconds."
The Shield of the Prophets sent the investigators to a quiet village on the other side of Bajor from Militia Headquarters. They'd been diverted from the bombing site to the traced location of the burner comm gear. The deputy constables and Special Forces spread out and searched every home, tool shed, and business. They found the deactivated comm array in a home on outskirts of town next to a temple.
"Very clever," Macen remarked.
"How so?" Kell asked.
"Whoever set up the array here didn't live here," Macen observed.
"No one's lived here for some time," Rockford reported in after questioning some locals.
"And the temple is run by an Order the Kai cleared," Macen noted the Order's symbol on the door frame, "This is a ruse to entrap the vedek. But they had local help. Help we'll never find because they'll all band together in silence to protect whoever is the helper."
"Basic Resistance policy," Kell agreed, "Where do we go from here?"
"Order up two armored transports and an armored vehicle from the closest equipped Constabulary," Macen instructed her, "Meanwhile, we wait and see how restive they get."
"We'll be here for hours," Kell complained, "While the culprit makes their getaway."
"Have the Militia monitor comm traffic in and around this village. They have authority to do with the First Minister, the Ministry, and the Vedek Assembly under threat," Macen had made certain of the legal codes by contacting the First Minister's wife and asking the Finance Minister what the Militia was empowered to do when she and her wife were threatened. Kara Gena was quite informative.
Kerber and Smith narrowed the focus of small Bajoran Intelligence unit to the task. The dark Data Net was being filled with stories of Constabulary overreach. So it was obvious the village was tied into the shadow network beneath the public Data Nets. Despite having a moderate vedek tending to their village, the locals received their news from the underground network. It was a shadowy network of criminal conspiracies and a skewed worldview of Bajor.
Despite the officials and soldiers' attempts to ingratiate themselves with the locals, the dark net was filled with news of the hypocrisy of those "occupying" their village by force of arms. The spun tales of the godlessness of the Militia and Constabulary conspiring with Prophets hating aliens. Kerber and Smith kept Macen and Rockford's padds filled with the streaming content as it spun out across the net.
"You'd think they'd actually try to speak with us before condemning us," Rockford mused.
"It's easier to assume the worst about stereotypes rather than let them break the mold they've been placed in," Kell noted.
The local vedek was brought to them. He brightened at seeing the law enforcement officers and military attached guardians. A few well phrased questions answered many other questions.
"No, I'm afraid my temple services are poorly attended. Most people leave before sunset before to attend the temple services in Vorsash. It's about twenty kilometers from here. I understand the young vedek teaching there is a firebrand of sorts. Far more agreeable to the locals than my lessons of lives filled with love and moderation, I suppose," the vedek explained.
"Thank you. You've been very helpful," Kell escorted him out of the tavern they were frequenting.
"Now, we have a suspect," Macen grinned.
"I'd like to hear one of these services," Rockford admitted.
"They'll tear you apart if you attend," Kell warned.
Chief Inspector Fel joined them, "The local citizens aren't speaking. But I further interviewed the vedek and discovered that the neighboring vedek in question frequently visits his congregants here. He was in the village earlier this morning. The home next to the temple has been vacant since the death of its owner. A local does some basic care taking of the property whose inheritor lives in Jalandra Province. We're currently in Hedrickspool Province on a separate continent."
"So the owner has no idea of what occurs on their property of if its being used by the caretaker for covert purposes," Rockford mused, "I'd like Tessa to run some thorough scans of the house and the abandoned comm array."
"We did get a banking account registry off of the burner comm," Fel informed them, "Apparently the caretaker used his retainer to purchase the burner under the property owner's expense account. The unit and prepaid service cost 3,000 litas."
"That's a hefty sum," Kell mulled it over, "Have Brigadier Jolan authorize a pull of the owner's accounts so we can determine if they actually paid for it or if outside monies were deposited in their account,"
"You doubt the owner has the sum?" Fel asked.
"Look around, Chief Inspector. The owner barely pays for property maintenance. Yet they can afford a burner comm array at a cost of an average month's salary?" Rockford asked, "When you assess their expenses versus their income I'm wagering you'll find someone else deposited money into the maintenance account."
"I agree," Kell stated, "Which is why we have to examine the financials to be certain."
"We can use the armored vehicles to get in approximate range of the village and suspect temple and deploy surveillance drones to monitor the evening service," Macen recommended, "Our presence will be seen, of course. Let's see if it inspires our described, 'young firebrand' into speaking a particularly incendiary service sermon."
"While your team working with Bajoran Intelligence monitors our dark net," Kell approved of the idea, "I like it."
"Our Special Forces detachment alongside our deputies can secure our perimeter when we park the armored support transports," Fel realized.
"And Daggit and Burrows will be certain to be seen as well to further incite the mob," Macen advised him, "The rest of us will be recording the evening service and the congregants' reaction to it. I wouldn't be surprised if there's a push to remove is from the area afterwards."
"This Order hasn't been cleared by Kai Tila yet but neither have they been identified as a suspect rogue Order," Kell warned Macen, "This may be a useless pursuit."
"There are too many coincidental factors here to ignore or excuse this vedek," Rockford insisted, "Despite initial appearances, Tessa and Commander Douglas will return with findings of recent occupation in the supposedly 'abandoned' home nest to the temple site. We're meant to find this equipment and indict the local vedek and pursue his Order. Entrapment was a common theme amongst the Resistance, wasn't it?"
"It made the Cardassians dole out their own twisted 'justice' against collaborators so the cells didn't have to expend the effort," Kell agreed.
"The rhetoric floating on the dark net is that Bajor is being occupied by its own elected government. If that sentiment is taking hold in grass roots movements like this village is displaying, then a real threat is developing against the Ministry at local levels," Macen warned Kell.
Rockford was studying her padd as well as Macen, "They finally identified us as the ones that defied the Vedek Assembly edict and destroyed the Orb of the Kosst Amojan."
"Opinion seems divided on that," Macen read Kerber and Smith's summaries, "Half of the Bajoran users feel we struck a necessary blow against the Cult of the Pah-wraiths while the other half are condemning us for defying the Vedek Assembly."
"There are new posts about our 'godless ways' and our support of the 'godless government'," Rockford read the next summary.
Macen began typing on the padd, "Just a reminder of how we've supported Bajor throughout the war with the Federation and since. Let's see how that affects the conversation."
They waited several minutes and then Rockford whistled, "Wow! That certainly made the divide a gulf. Opinions are becoming more entrenched and people are getting more riled up about their preferred opinions."
Tessa and Douglas reported in. Tessa made the verbal report while Douglas uploaded the scan data to the Constabulary, "Two people frequent that home. We could cross check the DNA of the locals but Sarina thinks its simply the caretaker and our mysterious comm array user."
"That's probably true," Kell admitted, "Testing everyone for a DNA match would simply rile up the village. We'll just wait it out while our transports and armored support arrive."
"I wonder how Harri and Shade are doing," Forte and Lee checked in after their examination of the comm array itself.
"Probably neck deep into trouble by now," Rockford admitted, "Any news?"
"It's a commercially available unit. We sent its subspace link code to Kerber and Smith. They can look into the comm buoy and planetary network logs to see who it was talking to," Lee told her.
"It would be interesting to know exactly how far along their plan Harri and Shade are," Macen confessed, "The criminal side of this needs exposure too. And proof that the anti-alien espousing vedek Orders are collaborating with foreign smugglers will derail some of their support the way it undermined Jarro and the Circle."
"I could query the Chief Constable holding them about their well being," Kell offered.
"The less everyone knows about their connection to us at this point the better," Rockford opined, "They need to infiltrate the smuggling rings, not get special favors from the Constabulary."
"Being treated as common criminals is the best thing for them right now," Macen grinned.
"You're being released,"a deputy constable released Mudd and Shade hours after Yorik and his crew were released early.
"Nice detention cell," Mudd grinned, "Remind me to visit again someday."
"Just get out," the deputy grated, "You have a vedek on your side or the Chief would still be holding you."
"Good to know," Shade smirked.
They exited the Constabulary Security Office and made their way to a cafe. There they drank coffee and ate breakfast. They also quitely conferred. Mudd pointed out the obvious.
"It seems Yorik's vedek friend befriended us as well," she stated.
"It's a catch and release ploy. We have two prylars watching us from across the cafe," Shade mentioned, "I miss Roberta and Nicholas' coffee right now."
"Yeah, me too," the Coffee Spot aboard Serenity was staffed by the two best and brightest baristas Macen's corporate contacts could bring to the station. The franchise was a hit with station dwellers, travelers, and even commuter between Barrinor and Odin. The pair actually cared for their customers and developed personal relationships with them.
"I tagged the prylars as soon as we exited the Security Office," Mudd admitted, "It seems we'll be joined on our morning constitutional."
"We need to contact Tracy and have her move the Solstice into orbit," Shade recommended, "That way when we're asked about our ship..."
"We'll have one on standby," Mudd agreed, "Times like these are why I keep the Freehold."
"If our role would've been planned for in advance, I'm sure Rockford would've placed us aboard her. Right now we work with what we've got," Shade took another bite of food, "One thing about lockup. It clears the head."
"Those hypos they spread us with contained counter agents to the alcohol. Bajorans like their prisoners to stay quiet," Mudd chuckled.
"I thought you'd never been detained on Bajor before," Shade reminded her.
"I haven't but Pops had. I should've realized he had another family here considering all the time he spent on Bajor and in the DMZ," Mudd thought of her half-sister, Mudd Kenra, also locked away in a Bajoran detention center awaiting trial now that the Cardassians had gotten her testimony out of her, "Kenra's in for a religious show trial before being sentenced to a life term in prison."
"What do you think will happen to your father and brother?" Shade quietly inquired.
"Pops will get life on a penal colony. Okona and Harry Junior will get lighter sentences since Pops has outstanding warrants pre-dating the DMZ. At least he won't be facing his Cardassian charges," Mudd told her, "The Federation may tout 'innocent until proven guilty' but some criminals are tried and convicted before they reach a public court."
"How?" Shade had heard rumors to that effect.
"It started with the DMZ and the Maquis. The Federation Security Agency set up 'shadow courts' that tried and convicted terrorists and those aiding and abetting terrorism to lengthy sentences without any jurors present. Pops will get a shadow trial before he's charged publicly for violating the Prime Directive. And he's as guilty as sin for that one. Okona and my idiot brother too. Even Baroness Grimes would've been convicted over that charge. Instead the Iotians have her and the Federation courts appointed an overseer to run Grimes Armaments. I guess it was a 'too big to fail' industry partner," Mudd explained, "The shadow courts are processing the Cell 51 defendants. They'll fill up black site prisons."
"One of the prylars is speaking to a comm badge. He obviously doesn't realize all he has to do is activate and speak normally," Shade snickered.
"We'd better call Tracy and have her move the ship into orbit," Mudd polished off her meal. She picked up the coffee mug and stared at it, "Damn you, Roberta Rolands. You've ruined my taste for swill coffee."
"I'll drink to that," Shade clinked her mud against Mudd's and they forced down the last of their detested coffee. Then they left to find a public comm unit.
Ebert was delighted to hear from them and the chance to do something, "Of course we're coming. Parva finished her hush project anyway."
"Any idea what it is?" Shade asked.
"I can't say over open comms. But it'll level the playing field across an entire city," Ebert did share.
"Macen thought ahead," Mudd smirked, "A weapon or bomb like that is the perfect pitch to make to these rogue vedeks. It'll start a bidding war."
"That's my Captain," Ebert grinned.
"He's an Acting Captain at best," Mudd rolled her eyes.
"Not aboard the Solstice or the Eclipse. He'll only step down to Captain Ro on those," Ebert explained, "It goes back to the Maquis."
"Now Ro's in on your fantasy?" Shade asked.
"The Skipper will always be a captain to me," Ebert stated strongly, "Just like Macen."
"Well, Captain Forger would have words for you if she were here," Mudd chided her friend.
"Captain Forger knows Macen stepped aside to make her captain of the Obsidian. He tried that with Captain Riker but they both couldn't play well with each other until Riker took command of Serenity," Ebert gave them a history lesson.
"Riker's an effective Fleet Admiral now. It's only because of his twin that he won't accept the title," Mudd replied, "You people and your loyalties confuse the hell outta me."
"While we've been talking, I disengaged the docking clamps and have received clearance from Deep Space Nine and Bajoran Traffic Control to enter Bajoran orbit," Ebert told them, "We'll be there in three hours."
"That beats a commercial shuttle," Shade noted.
"We could be their faster but Traffic Control will only us to transit at half impulse. Seems they're afraid of high speed collisions closing in on Bajor," Ebert told them, "That and half the System Defense Force is in orbit."
"For all the religious nonsense regarding 'godless aliens', Bajor's become a modern exchange planet," Mudd had noticed, "They'll never be able to change that, dogma or not."
"You two just keep up being typical 'godless aliens' and we'll be there in time to help you sell yourselves," Ebert promised.
"How many slips of latinum do you have aboard?" Mudd inquired.
"Enough. Why?" Ebert wondered at the turn of the conversation.
"We owe Captain Yorik for his recommendation that got us out of jail early and starting into the inside track here. He deserves compensation," Mudd told her.
"We also have Cardassian and Bajoran leks aboard and Bajoran litas," Ebert told them, "As well as a dozen other currencies."
"Macen keeps a stockpile of cash on his ships?" Mudd asked.
"Always has," Ebert told her.
"Good to know," Mudd smirked.
"I'm the thief and even I'm not thinking that," Shade warned her.
"C'mon, we're all thinking it," Mudd rejoined back at her, "Even Tracy. She did her time as a smuggler. It has be a temptation."
"One I'm smart enough to resist," Ebert told her, "You don't want to cross the Captain. He'll make it a mission to end you."
"So will Celeste for breaking her trust," Shade advised Mudd.
"Fine. I won't steal the cash from any ships," Mudd relented.
"Macen and Rockford set you up with an expense account for your undercover operations," Shade reminded her, "And you get to skim off the top in addition to your salary."
"How do you know about that?" Mudd was startled.
"I'm a detective now. I always was. That's why I'm such a good thief," Shade chuckled, "Rockford saw that part of me and gave me a way out before I was actually caught."
"Our prylar friends are taking extreme notice of us now," Mudd warned Shade, "Tracy, contact us when you reach orbit. I think our religious friends are about to make contact."
"Good luck," Ebert signed off.
"Now, let's see what our radicals have to say for themselves, shall we?" Shade mused.
"Then we track down Yorik," Mudd urged.
"We'll play it your way," Shade told her, "But he already said we're squared."
"Call it incentivizing him for further help. He won't turn the latinum down and we need contacts with everyone involved, not just these two pryler idiots," Mudd told her.
"Remember, act surprised when they reach out to us," Shade reminded her.
"You're talking to a professional confidence artist. I know the game," Mudd smirked again.
"The Militia reports the Temple of the Prophets and her escorts have subdued the Mystery of the Prophets and the Spear of the Prophets but everyone's currently a standstill," Javi reported to Wyn, "Colonel Anara has redirected other patrol elements to move in on them."
"That'll mean moving support ships from Free Haven and Golana as well as Prophets Landing and the Valo system," Griff stated, "But we'll still encounter the Sword of the Prophets before they reach Dreon territory."
"Anara is pulling forces from the Gamma Quadrant to take up their patrols," Javi explained.
"How?" Ferris asked.
"The Ascendant are still support positions in the Gamma Quadrant," Javi told him, "They're covering the Gamma patrols while Anara re-positions the entire Colonial Defense Forces back into the Alpha Quadrant."
"That'll mean they'll be crossing paths with the System Defense Force," Wyn mentioned, "What if some of those crews are radicalized too and we don't know it?"
"They certainly stood by while the Sword broke free of Prophets Landing Port," Griff complained.
"So did Starfleet," Ferris did his complaining.
"It's an internal Bajoran matter. Starfleet shouldn't play a role in it," Katts heatedly replied.
"And that's what they're doing," Wes remarked.
"The days of Bajoran dependence on the Federation are truly dead," Wyn promised Katts, "Captain Vaughn is smart enough to realize that. He'll only support any positions General Kira allows him to take."
"Bajor is of strategic value but we've also become a commercial player in the quadrants," Griff reminded everyone, "Our market shares in agriculture and ship building exceed most of our rivals. Especially the ship building right now. Only the Iotians outstrip us in that but we're focused on merchant vessels while they build starships like the one we're sitting in."
"A little known fact is the Iotian Federation swings business our way. As they help develop lower warp technology worlds, they recommend Bajoran freighters to handle those world's commercial aspirations," Wyn explained to the crew.
"How come no one ever told us about that?" Ferris complained.
"You weren't Special Forces," Griff shrugged, "We received economic briefings from the offices of the Finance Minister in relation to our strategic briefs on interstellar diplomacy and security concerns."
"Does Starfleet know?" Wes asked.
"The Ministry excludes those reports from our diplomatic and security pact briefings with Starfleet," Wyn told them, "Starfleet Intelligence probably has it figured out but the Federation Diplomatic Corps hasn't brought it up. The Federation knows better than to try and come between us and the Iotians considering the respective roles they've each played recently."
"That has to irritate the Federation," Katts realized.
"It's probably an issue but they need access to the Wormhole so they'll cut us slack," Javi pointed out, "We've also received an update from the Constabulary and Militia headquarters. They found the comm array on Bajor. It contacted five starships altogether. The encryption is still hiding which ships but we know for certain who three of them were."
"Alert Neela," Wyn told Javi.
"The good Colonel is currently getting a personal briefing from Commander Macen and Detective Rockford as well as Colonel Anara," Javi informed them, "So I'm guessing she knows even more than we do at this point."
"I wonder how much she'll be willing to share with us," Griff mentioned.
"We'll find out," Wyn replied, "Time to the Dreon system?"
"One hour twenty-three minutes," Wes told her.
"Plenty of time for Neela to decide what she'll share," Wyn pointed out.
"The Prophets Aspirations reports she's out of drydock and has most of her systems restored," Javi said next, "They're standing by for our arrival and that of the Sword of the Prophets. Bajoran Intelligence reports the Sword has dropped out of warp to affect repairs to their drive. Considering the damage report they submitted upon return ti the Bajor Sector, Intelligence estimates put the Sword at another five hours out."
"Meaning Neela will go ahead with her plan to touch down on Dreon soil," Wyn estimated.
"How many temple sites have been destroyed on Dreon VII?" Griff inquired.
"The same number as the last time you asked," Ferris told him, "None."
"Yet Neela wants to commit time to the colony when there's no sign of trouble?" Javi scoffed.
The turbolift doors opened and Neela stepped, "Put me shipwide."
Javi hit the controls, "You're on."
"Attention everyone, four heads of vedek Orders and many of their members have been arrested on Bajor and across the colonies. But three suspect Orders remain inferred by activities directed against them but not by direct evidence of their complicity yet," Neela informed the crew, "A false flag operation was discovered in Hedrikspool where the burner comm array we detected earlier was located. The attempt to implicate a vetted Order failed but Kai Tila authorized an investigation into the vedek of a nearby village and his Order is being discreetly looked at by the Constabulary and the Militia. That Order is represented on Dreon VII as well as two others that the Kai has personally vouched for. We'll be investigating this third Order while the Bajoran based investigative team does the same. That still leaves two Orders who need to be investigated. We'll encounter representatives of all three suspected Orders across the colonies as we extend ourselves further. Our mission to root out these cancers to our faith continues."
"Please keep the comms open," Neela told Javi, "Does anyone have questions?"
"Who is putting these rogue vedeks to trial?" Doctor Lens called in.
"First they face an excommunication trial before the Vedek Assembly and then they'll be remanded over to the civilian courts on trials of treason based upon materials they've published and their spoken plans to overthrow both the Kai and the Ministry," Neela answered.
"How certain are convictions?" Gren asked from Engineering.
"From the report I was given by Brigadier Joran of the Constabulary, many of the vedeks are boasting of their plans and condemning the Bajoran government as apostate," Neela answered him, "They proudly declare their full intention of overthrowing the Ministry and creating new governments and Vedek Assemblies under their exclusive control."
"You're using a plural," Wills pointed out also from Engineering.
"Each Order planned for complete dominance and subjugation of the spiritual and temporal bodies politic," Neela told her.
"Yet you say three Orders implicated by acts of violence perpetrated against them rather than ascertained facts?" Nurse Kenji inquired.
"One of the three implicated Orders is under a complete investigation," Neela answered, "We'll encounter a representative of that Order even as the Special Supervisor in the case on Bajor is set to record a temple service from the alleged user of the burner comm array."
"How many implicated Orders have been cleared?" Odon wanted to know from the Armory.
"Three, not including the false flag operation," Neela told him.
"How were they cleared?" Ferris asked.
"The Kai herself spoke directly with their leadership and representatives within the Vedek Assembly. All condemned the actions taken and the rhetoric used to inflame the passions of the congregants. Mostly, they expressed their love of the Prophets, the Bajoran people, and their continued loyalty to the government as elected by the people," Neela answered.
"Wouldn't they say that anyway to lower suspicion?" Varis asked from the brig.
"These vedeks are trying to be both bold and subtle. Bold when directly confronted and subtle when acting upon those same convictions. Remember this first, they lashed out at perceived heretical Orders rather than the government first to establish dominance amongst the Vedek Assembly. From that dominance and replacing the Kai, they could sway the people towards their opinion of the government and then incite a mass revolution to overthrow the Ministry," Neela explained, "Denial under direct questioning, if discovered by the people, would undercut the leaders' assertions of conviction and absolute certainty of their cause."
"Would the civilian courts actually convict a vedek?" Wes asked.
"I served in prison with a vedek who had killed several people without duress," Neela answered, "She served a life sentence rather than be put to death because of her status as a religious leader."
"So these vedeks aren't facing the death penalty?" Maru wanted to know from the Armory.
"These vedeks have planned a committed mass murders as well as planned insurrection and treason. Their sentencing will be more severe than that of a single vedek who committed five murders during a hostile theological argument," Neela described the difference, "Our current guest is facing thirty-three counts of murder as well as sedition and treason charges."
"What happens to the congregants?" Katts worried.
"They're investigated as to the depth of their participation in the bombings and murders," Neela told her, "Charges will be applied where appropriate. The Vedek Assembly is offering to dispatch spiritual guidance counselors to the temples maintained by these Orders to show their congregants the true path of the Prophets. They must acknowledge spiritual truth before they'll acknowledge a secular government's right to govern."
"And what happens to those that won't listen?" Javi asked.
"The Vedek Assembly is convening now to discuss that possibility. Kai Tila has recommended exile from the Bajoran Republic if they refuse to acknowledge the basic truth of the faith in the Prophets," Neela told her.
"And what is this truth?" Griff demanded to know.
"The riddle I asked the vedeks on Free Haven," Neela replied, "The riddle is: what is the bell ringer of faith in the Prophets? The answer is the absolute love of the Prophets. From that love, the believer emulates the love the Prophets have for the Bajoran people and loves them in the same manner. The heretics always get that answer wrong."
"That's the riddle you received from the Prophets themselves," Wyn understood now.
"Yes, and the renegade Orders always have a different answer than the correct one. It shows the corruption of their theology and in their dogma," Neela stated, "Even now, our prisoner, knowing the true answer, would deny it in the strength of his conviction in a lie."
"You have that right," Varis reported, "You should hear our vedek guest's ranting against your answer."
"Because he knows a singular, but different, answer that has become his version of the truth. A truth which denies the Prophets and elevates his Order's leader to messianic proportions and he himself as an agent of the messiah," Neela said sadly, "They seek to replace the Prophets with themselves. Even the Cult of the Pah-wraiths isn't so bold. They at least believe in fallen Prophets."
"I'm recording our vedek friend's confession," Varis told everyone, "You really set him off."
"He won't even care that he's indicting himself," Neela predicted, "He'll boast and revel in his lies and conceits."
"How do we fight such disbelief?" Lens asked.
"By walking in the path the Prophets have laid out for us," Neela told him, "We're exposing the cancer within the faithful body. The Constabulary will root out the insurrectionists after we expose the three remaining hidden Orders. Unless our good friend in the brig is willing to name them?"
"I can't repeat his answer," Varis chuckled.
"It's recorded if I ever long to hear an insult of that depth," Neela replied, "Any other questions regarding our purpose?"
"How do we deal with the Sword of the Prophets?" Ferris asked, "The Prophets Aspirations will slow her down but the Sword will cripple her in record time."
"Colonel Anara is assuming full responsibility for our safety while we conduct our investigation," Neela assured him, "The Fist of the Prophets will be joining us alongside the Temple of the Prophets well before the Sword of the Prophets arrives in the Dreon system. Her commander and crews' convictions will be tested as will those aboard our protectors' ships."
"They have completed repairs and are guarding the Spear of the Prophets and the Mystery of the Prophets as those ships are still undergoing repairs but have refused to surrender. The additional support vessels Colonel Anara has summoned with support the two Asia-class light cruisers in containing the two Miranda-class cruisers in an effort to obtain their peaceful surrender after their brief excursion into violent rebellion. If they surrender, it will be noted in their court-martials. If they have to be taken by force, that too shall be considered when they are tried by military tribunal," Neela reported to the crew, "Everything is about options now. We have to give the unfaithful the option to be held willingly accountable or forcibly held accountable."
"You and the Colonel have done a lot of discussing these matters," Griff noted.
"The Colonel and I have been friends since our days together in the Resistance and working together before and during the Dominion War," Neela told him, "And those answers she gave are the ones that you sought."
"She has you there," Wyn said mirthfully.
"How could Militia officers and enlisted swear oath of allegiance to the Bajoran Republic just to break that oath for a religious revolt?" Wes wondered.
"Why did General Krim and other Militia officers support Jarro Essa and the Circle?" Neela asked him, "Why did Winn Adami while she was still a vedek. She only turned on him when it was revealed he was arming his supporters through Cardassian means. Jarro didn't know he was a Cardassian dupe but his plans would've launched a second invasion and Cardassian Occupation. Jarro, like the different leaders of these Orders, placed himself above the Prophets and assigned himself the role of savior. Cults of personality are still cults."
"So you're suggesting these Orders have devolved into cults of personality?" Griff asked.
"How else can you explain swaying devoted vedeks to abandon the purer faith for a flimsy substitute built on the ambitions of their spiritual leader?" Neela asked, "Each leader has proven to be charismatic and hold sway over tens of thousands of congregants. When did it become necessary to build a Bajor for the Prophets to inherit when the Prophets dwell in the Celestial Temple because they can't exist for any true length of time outside of it without a host body or dwelling within an Orb?"
"The Prophets are of Bajor but they can't dwell on Bajor. That's why they send their Tears and Emissaries," Katts told Griff, "To communicate their message for every Bajoran without leaving the Celestial Temple."
"Even an Orb will not communicate without the choosing of the Prophets. They guide its experience," Neela told him, "Winn had never had an Orb experience though she lied and said the Prophets personally led her. She'd followed her own ambition and was willing to kill to become kai. So how hard is it to imagine that these leaders, young vedeks when Winn was Kai, became enamored with her style of leadership and her teachings? Because they are following her footsteps exactly. Those footsteps lead to betrayal of the Prophets and even to the worship of the Pah-wraiths. How else can you explain these Orders swaying the Vedek Assembly into desiring to capture the Orb of the Kisst Amojan when there was a clear path to its destruction and that of the Pah-wraiths that dwelt within it?"
"I can't," Griff admitted, "You make sense but how can we truly know?"
"Through faith in the Prophets' guidance," Neela answered his question directly, "They guided all of you to me. Then they guided us to this course of action. They chose Commander Macen and Detective Rockford to carry out their will on Bajor itself while we were chosen to root out the offspring of the heresies on the colony worlds. We arrogantly had a plan of action. The Prophets intervened to change that action. We are doing their will and as long as we stay true to them and our purpose, then we have their blessing and their protection provided through their faithful."
"You make it sound so easy," Griff complained.
"It truly is," Neela told him, "But you have to surrender your doubts."
"It's a leap yet the smallest step," Katts encouraged Griff.
"You can do it," Wes also encouraged his choice.
"Let's say I accept everything you've said and theorized as fact. Where do we go from here and how do we do it?" Griff asked in reply.
"I have no idea. That's the journey. I'm just willing to be led. Are you as well?" Neela wondered.
"I'll go along with whatever happens next and that will be my answer to my questions," Griff offered.
"And I thank the Prophets that you're choosing them over your doubts," Neela told him.
"I'm not wholly convinced we're doing the right thing but I'm willing to gamble on it," Griff clarified.
"And that is the first step towards a leap of faith," Neela clarified for him.
"So where do we go once we reach Dreon VII?" Griff asked.
"To ask a vedek a riddle," Neela said simply, "Then we listen to his answer. How he answers will reflect his personal faith but also the dogma of his Order. Afterwards, we alert the Constabulary of the results of his answer. They will either arrest him and investigate his activities and we report to Special Supervisor Kell that his Order is corrupt or the vedek clears himself and his Order's activities on Dreon VII. Meanwhile Supervisor Kell with Macen and Rockford's assistance will investigate the Order itself as it exists on Bajor. The Prophets will guide them to truth and that truth will condemn that Order or set it free."
"It's that simple?" Griff asked.
"Faith is that simple. You just have to believe the Prophets at their word," Neela told him, "Faith and fact don't disagree. They harmonize together."
"Like I said, we'll see," Griff closed himself off again.
"That we shall," Neela agreed, "End shipwide."
Javi cut the circuit, "Now we just live long enough to reach Dreon VII."
"You said the burner comm had contacted five starships," Wyn pointed out.
"So its logs said. But the IDs and communications themselves were wiped," Neela told her, "And as we encountered, the transmissions are coded outside of standard Militia practices. Until we intercept another transmission like it, our experts at Bajoran Intelligence can't break the code without examining it first."
"So the other two starships are still out there, undetected," Javi relaized, "Any Militia ship could fire on us and we've no warning."
"We'd have warning," Ferric corrected her, "We'd detect their targeting sensors and weapons locks. The question would be could help arrive before we were destroyed?"
"Colonel Anara herself will escort us and Colonial Derfense Forces starships will be monitored at all times," Neela explained the situation.
"But what about the System Defense Force?" Katts asked,"Has anyone looked at them?"
"They could be a weapon of last resort to engage us while we attempt to transit to the Gamma Quadrant," Wyn told Neela.
"Time will tell all things," Neela promised.
Wyn didn't like that answer. It was hard to plan for. It required a leap of faith akin to that which Griff faced. They all faced it. Neela made it seem so easy yet they all had to be struggling with it. Even the devout Katts and Wes.
Three hours passed. In that time the prylars had approached Mudd and Shade. Their questions had been basic and so had the SID investigators' answers. But the prylars were intrigued enough to invite the pair to meet with a local vedek. The meeting was set to occur at the same cafe they'd eaten at before in four hours' time. Which gave Parva an hour to explain her mystery weapon that Macen had her build.
Mudd's comm badge chirped and she tapped it, "Mudd, go."
"We're in orbit and Parva has a transporter lock on you. Is now a good time?" Ebert asked
"Now is an excellent time," Mudd told the pilot. The familiar whiteout and re-association occurred to find them facing the Orion manning the transporter controls.
"You two look like you have a thousand questions," Parva observed.
Ebert arrived, "I have our orbit locked in the CONN and the computer will alert us to any sudden unexpected scans."
"Follow me," Parva motioned for everyone to comply. She'd moved the neuro-bomb into the armory. Mudd was unimpressed.
"You built a new comm array?" she asked in a derisive tone.
"It's a neuro-bomb. Like a stun grenade but with a range to take out everyone in a medium sized city," Parva told her.
"Like the capital," Ebert added.
"You nasty bitch," Mudd crowed, "We'll have every one of them eating out of our hand bidding on this sucker."
"You have the latinum?" Shade asked Ebert.
The pilot handed over a small purse filled with strips rather than slips, "That should be enough to pay off whomever you're paying off."
"I downloaded the schematics and yield capability onto this padd. Show that around but don't ever let them have it without paying up front. The neuro-bomb also a tracker that isn't on the specs but Macen has the code to activate the tracker and locate it," Parva explained, "It was all in his instructions before they left for Bajor."
"Macen's even more clever than I thought he was. This is exactly what these morons would need to pull off their little coup," Mudd said. Parva and Ebert had briefed the pair en route to the armory.
"He was Maquis," Ebert reminded her of how she'd met Macen in the first place when she was still a teen.
Mudd had started out as a pickpocket at the age of eight. At fifteen, Ebert had been the pilot of another Blackbird-class starship for the Maquis. Of course, Mudd had avoided the vicious gang rape Ebert survived when similar actions had killed her mother and sisters. The Cardassians has simply executed her father and brother. Ebert was in a state of shock afterwards and direly wounded but she'd instinctively activated the freighter's distress beacon. The Starfleet starship that found her took her away from the border region for treatment. Two years later, at age fifteen, Ebert returned.
Her extended family had sold the business. Ebert had money but nowhere to go. She applied for piloting jobs at the guilds but was turned down because of her age and lack of formal ratings. Macen, who'd acquired a freshly decommissioned scoutship, was on the lookout for a pilot. He asked Ebert to undergo a test of her ability to pilot a starship. She'd excelled at it so he brought her aboard the SS Odyssey and confided in her afterwards that they were going to be helping the Maquis gather intelligence. Ebert swore to follow him anywhere.
Time and circumstances separated them after the Dominion War closed. But ten years later, he came looking for her and found her working as a smuggler for hire. He offered the chance to something greater and once again, she followed him. She knew he knew what she'd been doing over those ten years since he'd found her with seeming ease. He paid off her debts and freed her from a death mark in five different solar systems. Then he offered her a chance at adventure. And people wondered why she still considered him her Captain.
"I'd like you two to come down to Bajor with us," Shade told them both, "Operating as a crew will look better than if Mudd and I shop this thing alone. They'll have technical questions Parva can answer and you know the game as well as we do."
"True," Ebert admitted.
"This is perfect," Mudd agreed, "You steal things. You smuggle things. You build shuk. And I'm the mistress of the art of the deal. They'll never know what hit them."
"We have less than an hour before we make the meet with the first mark," Shade reminded Mudd.
"Ladies, time to let the computer man the ship. Set anti-intrusion. I don't want someone trying to steal our valuable item," Mudd instructed, "And have the transporter on constant standby to pull us out at the tap of a comm badge."
"What do you say if someone traces us back to an Outbound Ventures starship?" Parva wondered.
"We stole it," Mudd laughed.
Chapter Five
The transports had arrived and relocated the investigative team on Bajor. They were set up in a wooded glen that the armored units just fit between the trees. The drones had been deployed and were discreetly placed at different angles of approach. They'd all fired listening devices to the outer walls of the temple. Then they were withdrawn to covert hiding spots to help boost the listening devices' signals.
Congregants were gathering from every direction except from the woods. Everyone doubted they'd gone unnoticed. They driven through the village twice. Once to collect the team and the second time to stage the surveillance effort. They'd left the road behind to secure their location in the woods. But attendees would report that the transports never passed by again after a certain point.
The question remained of how the young vedek assigned to the temple would react to the news. Would he tame his usual approach or would it heighten his passions knowing that the Constabulary and Militia were nearby somewhere? He'd know by now how the team beamed into the original village but took transports to leave it. He'd also have realized by now that the false flag operation had failed because the neighboring vedek was still a free man. So, how would he respond?
The answer was thunderous diatribe against the Kai, the Vedek Assembly as it was currently constituted, and the government itself for its conspiring with godless aliens. The government had even allied itself with the Cardassian Union. Bajorans had fought to defend the Cardassian government from their own civil war rebels. Was that not a sign from the Prophets that the Ministry was too corrupt to be allowed to continue in power? His answer was a resound, "Yes!"
"He's definitely charismatic," Rockford mused.
"He has almost the populations of every village within a day's walk of here," Douglas pointed out.
"We have enough to arrest him," Kell said angrily.
"We have his sermon on file to use against him in court," Macen told her, "What we need is to confirm that his entire Order is in league with his positions. He'll need to contact his superiors in order for us to determine that. He can use standard comm networks for that because he's a simple vedek, beloved by those in every village within a day's walk, and he's operating without Constabulary interference or suspicion because the closest constable and deputies are a two-hour drive away. They get called in to settle disputes and people breaking the law. Usually though, villagers decide what is the law around here."
"You seem to know a lot about Bajoran customs," Fel admitted.
"I'm friends with a lot of Bajorans," Macen replied, "And I listen to what they have to say about Bajor and its people."
"His people are called Listeners for a reason," Rockford said ruefully.
"The government sending in the Constabulary and the Militia into these type of regions is an effort in futility. It'll just confirm everything he just said to these people. But, have the Vedek Assembly send their counselors like they've decided on after you arrest the vedek, then you have a chance to change hearts and minds," Macen counseled Kell and Fel, "If the Federation had followed that example rather than bow to the Cardassian demand to try and forcibly evict colonists from the Dorvan Sector and the DMZ, twice as many people would've left. But it became an existential crisis of home and hearth. So people stayed rather than be persuaded."
"You were Maquis?" Fel suddenly realized.
"Still is," Rockford told him, "Just like you'll always be Resistance."
"I keep underestimating you people. You'd think I would've learned by now," Fel said regretfully.
"My parents decided to have me genetically enhanced. It was a failure and I was institutionalized until I was in my twenties when Doctor Bashir corrected the mistake made in my enhancement procedure. So I understand captivity," Douglas told Kell and Fel, "I understand the judgment that comes just because of who you simply are and the viewers is prejudiced against you or fears you because they think you're an existential threat."
"Like Cardassians that followed Guls Maret and Macet view Bajorans," Fel understood Douglas better now.
"Yet Starfleet accepted you," Kell stated, "I thought that was illegal."
"They made and exception for Doctor Bashir," Douglas told them, "Later, after Starfleet Intelligence recruited me, they made one for me too."
She left out the fact that James Fowler, the last Director of Section 31, had made the suggestion to Vice Admiral Alynna Nechayev. It was enough to share the connection with Starfleet Intelligence. It hinted at her further obligations to Starfleet as Agent 0212.
"I appreciate your efforts so far, Commander Douglas. And for sharing those details," Kell told her.
"The service is ending," Lee refocused the investigative leaders, "The vedek has encouraged his congregation to standby while final preparations are made to oust the kai and then the government."
"Are they armed?" Fel asked.
"The vedek promised them that small arms and transports would be arriving tomorrow," Forte recapped the end of the sermon, "He claims it's their duty to the Prophets to stage a coup."
"These people live hard lives and lives of extreme faith. It's no wonder they fell victim to these lies," Kell empathized.
"Hopefully, he'll finalize details with his superiors in the Order now," Macen grew intense.
"The details sound finalized already," Fel said, "We should swoop in on him now before he goes to ground. These people will shelter him forever."
"Not yet, Chief Inspector. We need verbal confirmation of his superiors being in on it so Brigadier Joran can order the arrest of the Order's leadership," Rockford warned him, "Without it this vedek goes down as a lone gunman. We need the conspiracy. Not just a single conspirator."
"She's right. But this vedek is much more involved in an active plot to overthrow the Kai and the government then the other Orders were prepped for action," Kell said, "We need to question him so I'm sending our forces to contain the temple and make an arrest as soon as he contacts his superiors and supplies that confirmation."
"Why so intent on this one man?" Lee asked.
"Because this vedek communicated with starships and is organizing armed rebels," Macen explained, "He also created the false flag operation we dismissed earlier. It stands to reason he knows who all of the players in this game are. If he talks then we can identify the other missing complicit Orders."
"So you see, Supervisor, we understand the stakes but we're also looking at a global scale. How many associated vedeks gave that same sermon tonight with plans to move in tomorrow?" Rockford asked, "And how soon will the competition take up this opportunity if this Order fails to complete their coup tomorrow?"
"My men will hold until I give the order," Kell relented, "But we are taking him into custody tonight."
"Of course," Rockford consented.
"You're Harriet Fedora Mudd?" a vedek introducing himself as Lorin asked.
"Harri to my business associates. Will you be one, I wonder," Mudd replied.
"Captain Yorik suggested that I make contact. But our plans are in motion. We have little use for a smuggler, even one of your reputation, just now," Lorin replied.
"But I have a weapon that can greatly aid any cause," Mudd told him, "And it's for sale."
"What kind of weapon?" Lorin asked.
"You're familiar with the Constabulary and Militia's stun grenades?" Parva asked.
"I am," Lorin stated, "But we've already procured some."
"I built a stun grenade that take out a city's population," Parva told him, "Here's the specifics."
Lorin received the padd and looked over the details, "All right, I'm interested. What are you asking for?"
"What are you offering?" Mudd asked, "Because other interested parties are lining up to make offers."
Lorin looked pained as Parva collected the padd from him, "Our resources are rather strained at the moment."
"I accept promissory notes," Mudd grinned, "With this at your disposal, you could take over the planetary treasury and the capital in one swoop."
"You're assuming we would do so," Lorin stiffened.
"Puh-leeze, with the arms you've been collecting and the explosives you've purchased and the sectarian violence breaking out across temples on Bajor, you're eliminating the competition to score big. There isn't anything bigger than the Ministry itself," Mudd outlined, "Or have I misread your data net posts? Clever publishing them as private citizens espousing political and religious views rather than as a vedek Order. But that's what you represent."
"How much and how soon?" Lorin wanted to know.
"How soon is as soon as we beam it down from orbit. How much is up to your imagination," Mudd countered, "Because if you leave it up to mine, I have a big imagination. Impress me with your imagination and we'll see if we can strike a deal."
"How much have you been offered already?" Lorin asked.
"Now that's telling," Mudd smirked, "Just name a figure. Make it sound enticing. Make me want to to sell to you right now."
"The others aren't ready to move yet. So they can't have offered you much," Lorin guessed.
"Now that isn't strictly true," Mudd told him, "Having a bomb like this one can motivate people to advance their plans."
"I need time," Lorin told Mudd.
"You have an hour than I accept the highest offer so far," Mudd countered again, "I'll be here until then. After that, we beam back to our shiip and beam down the bomb to the specified coordinates we've been given."
"An hour then," Lorin removed himself.
"Tracy, take Parva back to the ship," Mudd instructed, "He's planning something desperate."
The pair transported back to the Solstice leaving Shade and Mudd behind. Shade asked the obvious, "What do you think he's planning?"
"If it were me, I'd eliminate the competition right about now," Mudd told her, "So watch the news feeds."
"What am I looking for?" Shade asked.
"Sectarian violence in a major way," Mudd replied.
"All units standby for the 'go'' order," Kell sent over her comm badge.
"Supervisor, you need to see this," Fel brought Kell back into the transport repurposed as a command vehicle. There, the SID team and Douglas were monitoring news feeds. Jake Sisko was text feeding reports from the capital about an explosion that destroyed a vedek monastery. The Federation News Service's Anna Shaw and Clarice Starr were at the site and another monastery similarly destroyed by an explosive detonation. Local reports were already running down leads as the Constabulary made initial reports as rescue services fought the blazes and set rescuers in to search for survivors.
Starr took over the broadcast, "Thank you Anna, this is Clarice Starr in Hedrikspool. The Darian Monastery, also a headquarters of sort for the Darian Order of vedeks and prylars has been destroyed as well. Chief Inspector Del Jerris of the Militia Constabulary initially reported that incendiary devices were employed alongside antimatter explosives. The devastation is total. No life signs have registered on sensors yet officials also report that the scans are inconclusive and that they are sending in teams to search for potential survivors as the blazes are contained. We'll bring you live updates as they come in."
"I'd say we just learned who the missing two suspect Orders were," Macen said grimly.
"What could have pushed the Caldraen Order to do this?" Fel asked in horror.
"You heard the vedek, they're ready to strike tomorrow. We had additional agents proposing a weapons to the affiliated Orders. They were to present the weapon to any and all interested parties. With the Caldraen Order ready to strike, they obviously decided to eliminate the competition for the weapon," Douglas observed.
"Commander, Detective, you'll want to hear this," Lee told them. The surveillance taps were still attached to the temple. Inside the vedek could be heard speaking with a superior from his Order.
"I'm watching the news," the vedek said, "What caused you to purge the heretics so soon? I thought the plan was to take the Vedek Assembly and the Ministry tomorrow and then purge the Assembly's ranks."
"Shut up, Galdon. We need you to contact your Militia collaborators and track down a ship in orbit. It possesses a stun bomb we desire but the seller is demanding a share of the planetary treasury as payment. We can't afford that. Have your contacts seek out and board this ship and simply take this 'neuro bomb'," Vedek Galdon's superior ordered.
"And the sellers?" Galdon asked.
"No witnesses. They're simply alien scum. No one will miss them," the superior ordered.
"And what type of ship are they looking for?" Galdon inquired.
"They're the System Defense Force for Prophets' sake. They should know already. Just get it done," the superior signed.
"Give the order," Macen told Kell, "That's my ship in orbit that they're looking for."
"We can sweat out the info on which Militia ships are treasonous from him when he's in custody," Rockford promised.
Kell tapped the transport's comm array activation control, "Attention all units, you are cleared to proceed. We want the target alive."
"Vedek Galdon has activated a comm array. It's another burner," Forte frowned, "It's using the same encryption."
"Can you ID the ships he's connecting with?" Rockford asked.
"No, the IDs are scrambled along with the rest of the broadcast.," Lee scowled.
The sound of deputies entering the temple and demanding Galdon's surrender came over the listening devices. Phaser fire could be heard next. The deputy leading the capture reported in, "We have him."
"There was phaser fire," Kell replied.
"He had a weapon but he used it to shoot a portable comm array," the deputy informed her, "It's pretty badly damaged."
"Tag it for transport to Bajoran Intelligence," Kell ordered. Then she contacted the Shield of the Prophets and apprised them of the transporter needs, "We require an isolinear tagged device be beamed to Bajoran Intelligence's Tech Services. Then we'll require the transport of the Outbound Ventures team members, Commander Douglas, Chief Inspector Fel, and myself to Militia headquarters."
"Standby," Major Jaron Gelt, the ship's XO, replied, "Transporter room has been informed. Transports will be underway in two minutes."
"Can your duo decrypt the ships' IDs in time?" Kell asked Macen.
"If anyone can, it will be them," he assured her.
"Whoever wrote this encryption is frinxing genius," Kerber admired the coding displayed on her screen.
"That isn't helpful," Macen complained.
"It's simply a language," Smith told him, "All languages can be translated. We just need time."
"Time is a luxury we don't have," Macen told her, "As my uncle said once, 'Time is the fire in which we burn'. He sought blissful immortality in the Nexus but for us it means violent revolution. And the longer it takes, the more danger Harri, Shade, Tracy, and Parva are in."
"We understand that," Kerber grated, "But whoever wrote this used a holomatrix encryption. It has AI subroutines and an evolving response to attempts to decipher it," Kerber said, "The cipher has to be encoded or the program adapts to ward off exploratory attempts to examine it. It literally is a thinking adaptive program."
"Like a sentient hologram," Macen understood now.
"Let me see that," Douglas requested. She examined the scrolling code, "This is Felix's work."
"Felix?" Smith asked.
"The holoprogrammer responsible for creations like Vic Fontaine. Your EMH shares core programming with Vic. Lewis Zimmerman subcontracted Felix to develop the personality algorithms for the latest EMH programs," Douglas explained, "He does commercial work as well as custom work for Julian and select clients."
"And he'd adapt a holo program to an encryption defense?" Kerber asked.
"If it was challenging enough," Douglas said, "He'd never suspect a vedek Order of being malicious. Felix is about as apolitical as they get. He lives for the challenges his work provides."
"Can you contact him?" Smith requested, "It will save immeasurable time if he can simply provide the cipher."
"I can try," Douglas frowned, "Felix moves around a lot. He was on Jupiter Station working with Zimmerman but he probably has moved on since then. Julian may have his current contact info. But their arrangement is that Felix generally establishes contact."
"Awfully paranoid for a simple holoprogrammer," Kerber observed.
"He wasn't until the Synthetics Ban was expanded to include sentient holoprograms," Douglas explained, "Those are Felix's specialty. He's on Federation Security's watch list."
"Why is it never easy?" Kerber groaned.
"You'd get bored if it was," Smith advised her.
Kerber grew pensive, "True."
"I'll reach out and see if Julian has Felix's latest contact info," Douglas went off to another station to open a channel to Deep Space Nine.
"Stay on this," Macen requested, "Neela will be coming through here soon and she's undoubtedly a target."
"If this Caldraen Order are confirmed bad guys, why not undergo the same mass arrests the other Orders endured?" Smith asked.
"Brigadier Joran already deployed the Constabulary with Militia support. The head of the Order and her closest advisors have already gone underground. Vedeks belonging to the Order across the Sector have been detained but the leadership is missing," Macen informed them, "So their plans may still be underway. I've contacted Tracy and Parva aboard the Solstice and advised them that a System Defense Force starship or two may come hunting them. They're alert but Harri and Shade's sting operation still seems to be underway. So the grass roots aspects of the Order's plans are probably too well along to avoid at this point."
"There has been a marked increase in public transporter network activity in the capital," Smith reported.
"General Kira and Brigadier Joran are diverting as many personnel to the capital as they can spare from the search for Vedek Boran and her advisors," Macen told them.
"Why have all these revolutionaries been men?" Kerber complained.
"Boran Rili is a woman," Macen chuckled, "Don't worry. Women have been well represented amongst the vedeks arrested so far from all the Orders."
"Good," Kerber huffed.
Vedek Lorin met with Mudd and Shade again, "I see you're monitoring the news. It should be obvious that we're the only customer left. So I will set the terms for this transaction."
"That's not how this plays out," Mudd smirked, "No latinum, no sale. And no promissory notes now. You've managed to piss me off so it's either cash up front or no deal."
Lorin smiled, "I see."
He snapped his fingers and armed prylars emerged from alleyways and nearby shops, "You'll have the neuro bomb beamed to these coordinates or I'll simply have you killed and your ship searched and all aboard killed. Is your lives compensation enough?"
Mudd blew him a raspberry as she tapped the comm badge on her belt twice. Parva locked the transporter onto her and Shade and initiated its sequence. Mudd and Shade reappeared aboard the Solstice, "Expect local trouble."
"I'll get Engineering prepped for emergency power," Parva hurried off.
"Ever fired a ship's phaser before?" Mudd asked Shade.
"No," Shade sounded incredulous, "I was simply in and out. Weapons weren't part of the deal."
"Yet you're a fair shot with a hand phaser," Mudd pointed out, "This is easier. It's tap and tap. Once to lock the phaser banks on the target. The second is to fire. I'll handle the torpedo launchers from OPS."
"Or you could beam Burrows or Daggit back aboard and send me to the ground," Shade counter offered.
"Hmm, good plan," Mudd used the transporter room comms to contact Rockford and explain the situation.
"Send Shade down," Rockford replied, "You'll be beaming Brin, Rab, and Tony aboard."
"Better plan," Mudd agreed. The transports went underway.
"I'll check in with Parva before reporting to Tactical on the bridge," Daggit hurried out.
"I'll be manning what?" Burrows asked.
"Sensors," Macen told him "We need eyes on every ship in this system."
"I can do that," Burrows agreed.
"We're gonna do some seriously crazy shuk again, aren't we?" Mudd asked.
"Hopefully not," Macen replied.
"Well, Tracy will be thrilled to have you aboard again," Mudd conceded.
"General Kira reports that all Orders have been identified," Javi reported to Neela and Wyn, "She requests that we move directly to the Gamma Quadrant."
"I wonder why the big switch?" Wyn wondered.
"Anara said the Caldraen Order has eliminated the remaining competing vedek Orders," Neela explained. The Fist of the Prophets and Temple of the Prophets had joined them in the Dreon system and established ties with the Razor's Edge, "As the recent spate of violence on Dreon VII and the Alpha Quadrant colonies attests to. The Gamma colonies have remained dormant throughout these episodes. The Militia and Constabulary are on alert in the Gamma Quadrant but the guilty Orders have meekly been arrested, playing the martyrs for their congregants. Public furor is on the rise."
"There has to be more to it," Wyn said.
"Vedek Boran Rili and the leaders of the Caldraen Order are missing and presumed to have fled to the Gamma Quadrant colonies before the orders to revolt were given," Neela told Wyn, "Our new task is to locate them."
"And what happened to the Sword of the Prophets?" Griff asked.
"En route to Bajor," Neela said, "Whether to surrender or further bolster the Caldraen cause is unknown."
"But the System Defense Force was implicated in the coup attempt," Wyn reminded Neela.
"Two starships were contacted by the vedek in charge of communicating with Militia assets. Their identities are still unknown," Neela admitted.
"So two out of a dozen starships will be gunning for us," Ferris scowled, "And we don't know who is friend or foe."
"Don't forget the Sword," Wes reminded them all, "She'll reach Bajor and the Wormhole terminus before we can."
"Her reception by the System Defense Force will foreshadow our own," Neela stated.
"In other words, if they don't stop her and detain her crew then we can expect a rough greeting," Griff explained to Wes.
"Here's what we know about the System Defense Force, they're all Excelsior(refit)-class starships except for the Interceptor-class Shield of the Prophets, the flagship and General Kira's flag command. That makes thirteen starships. The Sword of the Prophets is one of two Excelsior (refit)-class starships in the Colonial Defense Forces. So far only it and the two Miranda-classes, the Spear of the Prophets and the Mystery of the Prophets, have gone renegade. But Bajoran Intelligence is warning us that a rogue vedek contacted two additional starships in the Bajor system. So any of those ships can be a potential hostile," Ferris read down his list.
"Which is why the Fist of the Prophets and Temple of the Prophets are currently escorting us and Colonel Anara has promised two more Constitution-class starships will join us before we reach the Bajor system," Wyn explained to him.
"I have them listed as the Triumph of the Prophets and the Tales of the Prophets," Ferris read the report he'd received from the Fist's Tactical Officer.
"Anara has subspace radioed ahead to the Ascendant ships in the Gamma Quadrant to attend to the Wormhole terminus in case opposition forces attempt to transit and ambush us in the Gamma Quadrant," Neela told everyone.
"I feel like we're still missing something," Wyn frowned, "I have a gut feeling that the opposition has other surprises in store for us."
"That could be a warning from the Prophets," Neela told her, "I share the apprehension. The Caldraen Order has invested too much into us to simply rely on three renegade starships while they attempt a coup on Bajor. The remaining colonies are too important to them to rebuild their Order and their following. They don't want our presence there."
"Major, I have our support coming into sensor range. They're slowing for maximum warp to join our cruising speed," Katts reported.
"They must've come from the Valo system," Javi guessed, "We're at the perfect sector juncture for an intercept from there."
"We'll reach Deep Space Nine in thirty-nine minutes present speed," Wes announced, "Then we'll see what kind of reception we'll be receiving."
"Anara told me Starfleet has additional starships at Deep Space Nine ready to transit to the Gamma Quadrant to join Commodore Saavik's exploration efforts. She also told me our four Archer-class scoutships are also probing deeper into the Gamma Quadrant," Neela told them all.
"They replaced the Kremlin-class ships with the Archer-class?" Wes asked, "That's not much of an advancement."
"The Archer-class only requires a fourteen man crew so it saves on personnel and is more capable," Ferris told him.
"But it's still duotronic while the rest of the fleets are isolinear," Wes wouldn't let it go.
"You were obviously never Colonial Defense Forces," Griff noted.
"I was Starfleet before I immigrated to Free Haven and joined the Militia," Wes told him.
"You aren't the only one," Katts assured him, "I was in the pipeline to join an Archer-class crew after a rotation on DS9. But I volunteered after being selected for the Razor's Edge mission. So here I am instead of scouting."
"We're glad to have both of you. It's Starfleet's stupidity and loss to lose you both," Wyn told them.
"The Prophets brought you here and I'm grateful to them for it," Neela confessed.
That brought smiles to Katts and Wes. Griff asked the next question, "So Starfleet is sitting this out?"
"It's an internal matter. Their Prime Directive forbids them from interfering unless the government asks for an intervention," Katts explained to him, "Which, obviously First Minister Astris and General Kira don't feel is necessary."
"Screw Starfleet and the Federation," Wes grumbled.
"I'm picking additional starships approaching," Katts suddenly reported, "Over a dozen. They're registered as civilian yet four of them are Starfleet type vessels. I'd say they're decommissioned starships repurposed by someone. The rest are civilian model warships."
"Warships?" Ferris checked his own sensors, "Pincer-class according to the computer. Manufactured by Grimes Armaments."
"Colonel Anara is hailing them and not receiving a reply," Javi was monitoring subspace signals.
"They'll overtake us in five minutes," Wes calculated.
"They're not slowing. In fact, they're accelerating," Katts said.
"They'll never get an accurate target lock that way," Ferris concluded.
"They don't appear to be hostile," Katts reported further.
"I'm running their ID transponders," Ferris stated, "They're all registered to Solarian Security Systems. Intelligence says their Federation operating license has been revoked."
"What are they doing in Bajoran space then?" Griff asked aloud.
"They're headed for the Wormhole," Neela understood now, "They'll make a high speed approach before slowing to enter the terminus so Starfleet can't mount a response in time."
"Now we know who is who," Ferris snarked.
"Colonel Anara dispatched a warning to the Ascendant ships," Javi stated next, "The Ascendant are reporting back that the three ships transited and moved on without hostile action being taken."
"Warn Colonel Anara that the Solarian vessels are also heading for the Gamma Quadrant," Wyn instructed.
"She stands so advised and is relaying the information to the Ascendant," Javi confirmed, "Colonel Anara is instructing us to wait before we enter the terminus. She wants to confer with General Kira and Captain Vaughn."
"Starfleet?" Wyn asked, "Why?"
"Four of the Solarian ships are wanted for crimes in the Federation. The charges include violating the Prime Directive and engaging Starfleet assets," Ferris read off the screen display he'd pulled up.
"Starfleet assets?" Griff was confused.
"Outbound Ventures," Neela explained, 'Those are the Solarian starships that engaged Special Investigation Division contractors."
"When?" Ferris asked.
"While we were dealing with the Pah-wraith threat," Neela explained, "Commander Macen and several of his contractors were simultaneously guarding a civilization and seeking a Bajoran criminal."
"Now I'm picking up three Iotian Starfleet vessels on fast approach," Katts warned.
"The Iotians are friendlies," Griff replied.
Neela frowned, "What are their IDs?"
"They're not friendlies," Neela advised them, "Inform Colonel Anara that those Iotian ships are potential hostiles."
"What's the situation?" Wyn asked.
"They're the equivalent of Outbound Ventures for the Iotians. They're from a human colony in Iotian space and are freelance contractors to the highest bidder. They simply don't engage in activities counter-intuitive to the Iotian Starfleet's program," Neela explained.
"They're passing by now," Wes told them.
"They're also headed to the Gamma Quadrant," Wyn realized, "Someone is collecting a lot of mercenaries."
"But why?" Javi asked, "There are no Federation colonies in the Gamma Quadrant yet. Every Gammaa Quadrant colony there is Bajoran."
"It would be a marvelous defense force for a colony declaring independence. Say led by the Caldraen Order," Neela estimated.
"That's a scary prospect," Wyn said.
"But perfect for the Order's faithful. They could immigrate to the colony and build a new society as they plotted the takeover of neighboring colonies and eventually Bajor itself and its colonies in the Alpha Quadrant," Neela saw it happening, "Those contractors are intended to shelter them while they gather their flock and plan towards the future."
"So our mission just quadrupled in difficulty," Wyn sighed.
"It's no longer just our mission," Neela told her, "This involves all Bajorans."
Chapter Six
"This was a close call, First Minister," Brigadier Joran told Astris Beru.
"The Vedek Assembly has excommunicated the rebel vedeks and prylars and remanded them to our custody for processing and to stand trial,' Joran continued.
Kira stepped out of Astris' office as an attache grabbed her. She returned with grave news, "First Minister, dozens of renegade security contractors went through the Wormhole. Colonel Anara has raised the prospect of a revolution on a colony and a declaration of domination by the Caldraen Order."
"Why the hell would they do that?" Astris asked, "It clusters them on a single world."
"But the contractors will defend them," Kira warned her leader, "It also gives them a home to establish their vision of how a planet should be run. Their faithful on Bajor and the colonies could immigrate there."
"It was also give them a foothold in Bajoran territory from which to espouse their viewpoint," Joran warned.
"Two of our System Defense Force starships and one Colonial Defense Forces ship have joined them as well," Kira explained, "So even after the contractors are dismissed, they'll retain the starships as their protection."
"They can't simply steal starships," Astris fumed, "Nor can they simply claim a sovereign colony."
"Colonel Anara is re-assembling her Gamma Quadrant patrols in order to set out to determine which colony the Caldraen Order is claiming," Kira told her, "She has Ascendant support. Starfleet also has an interest in capturing four of the starships."
"How could vedeks finance a revolt?" Astris was bewildered.
"If I may," Finance Minister Kara Gina entered, "The Caldraen Order took out a capital loan of one hundred thousand litas before this plot was revealed. They converted the currency into Bajoran leks by which they could pay foreigners for weapons and protective services."
"How was that approved?" Astris was stunned.
"It was to build temples across Gamma Quadrant colonies and a Monastery on Plantation III," Kara answered, "The Order demonstrated their increasing congregations and their average donations. They met the repayment terms and government loans to vedek Orders is common practice."
"So we financed our own destruction," Astris said in disbelief.
"Like you asked earlier, how could vedeks lead a revolution?" Joran asked as well.
"Except that they don't truly worship the Prophets. They worship themselves. Vedek Boran has them convinced she's a messianic figure to replace Winn Adami," Kira explained the intelligence she'd received from interrogations of the vedeks in custody.
"So they'll end up worshiping the Pah-wraiths?" Astris asked.
"They'd certainly be in a position to send an envoy to Empok Nor to contact the Cult of the Pah-wraiths and reach an agreement," Kira stated, "The Cult is centered on the station but has spread across Federation and neutral space. Even Cardassians have joined it."
"How is any of this possible?" Astris asked.
"We badly underestimated the Cult's reach," Kira admitted, "But we have a very special agent dealing with it."
"Who?" Astris asked.
"Colonel Neela and her agents," Kira told her directly.
"Beru, that's good. Neela is the perfect actor to move against the Cult of the Pah-wraiths. Look at what she's already accomplished acting against them," Kara said with some enthusiasm.
"But you have Neela addressing the rogues on the colonies," Astris recalled, "I want her and her team retasked to preventing the Caldraen Order from allying themselves with the Cult of the Pah-wraiths."
"She's in the system now. It will be easy to give her new orders while Colonel Anara assembles her forces. I'm coordinating with Captain Vaughn on this. Starfleet wants those Solarian crews rather badly," Kira told her, "The question now is: do we assemble our own contractors to deal with Solarian and the Iotian freelancers?"
"You mean hire Commander Macen and an Outbound Ventures task force?" Astris asked.
"They work for us at cost," Kara reminded Astris, "They're among our truest friends."
"I want to speak with Oxmyx and Kracko and see if they authorized these agents to work against our interests," Astris announced, "Hire Macen and a force he can assemble. Meanwhile I'll deal with the Iotian aspects. Continue working with Starfleet so long as they don't interfere in our reclaiming our own starships and colony."
"First Minister, you're receiving a subspace communique from the Gamma Quadrant. It's Vedek Boran," an aide entered to tell her.
"Everyone stay here as witnesses. I fear this will be historic," Astris activated her comm, "Vedek Boran, I assume?"
"I'll make this short and simple," Boran announced haughtily, "The Plantation colonies are seceding from Bajoran control. We're establishing ourselves as a new theocratic entity. Surely you've noted our protective detail. Stay away from us and allow pilgrims to join us and we'll have no quarrel with you. Defy me and you'll pay a heavy toll."
Boran switched off her comm. Astris heaved a heavy sigh, "So she's claiming control over all three Plantation colonies."
"Those three colonies practically feed every colony we have," Kara was horrified, "They could extort us forever."
"General, I want those colonies reclaimed," Astris ordered.
"And if the colonists choose otherwise?" Kira had to ask.
"Then we recruit new colonists that are loyal to our Republic. The dissenting colonists can move to that new planet we just started a colony on...what's its name?" Astris asked after her declaration.
"Deto II," Kara told her.
"It needs agricultural workers and has no native space flight capabilities," Astris continued her summation, "The transfer would be performed by the Colonial Defense Forces."
"We have hundreds of volunteers looking to settle on the Plantation colonies," Kara informed everyone, "Until now we haven't had native capacity to house them. This would provide an opening for them to fill."
"I want the shipyards to halt all civilian construction and the Colonial Defense Forces starship repairs to be prioritized," Astris decided, "That will provide the time required for Commander Macen's colleagues to assemble."
"I'll draw up the budget approval drafts," Kara offered, "Outbound Ventures will forward their standard contract and adjust the pay rate."
"Our shipyards can repair any damages for free," Astris added the contract incentive.
"I'll inform them," Kara left.
"I'll contact Macen and then contact Captain Riker to get the task force assembled," Kira told Astris.
"Dismissed, General," Astris was former Starfleet herself.
"The Security Offices detaining our vedek and prylar prisoners have demonstrators outside of them," Brigadier Joran warned Astris.
"Maintain a security perimeter but do not engage the protesters except in self defense and to prevent a break out attempt. You're authorized to arrest any protester under those circumstances. I'll arrange for General Kira to bolster your lines with Militia forces," Astris told him, "We have to take those traitors to trial so that the people see that the Ministry is being fair to them. Continue your investigative efforts."
"Detective Rockford and her squad are being exceptionally helpful. Commander Douglas has returned to Deep Space Nine. The agents Macen assigned to work with Bajoran Intelligence are breaking every encryption we throw at them. They've even made progress against the Caldraen encryption which they say is the most advanced cipher they've ever encountered. I think they rather enjoy engaging its AI," Joran further reported.
"Have Macen and Rockford maintain their positions," Astris instructed, "Their assisting Supervisor Kell and Chief Inspector Fel was priceless. They helped ward off a coup attempt without bloodshed. Now we just have to deal with the root cause behind this all."
"Macen has docked his starship at Deep Space Nine and is awaiting further reinforcements," Joran told her, "It seems he anticipated your authorization to engage his company for the attempt to pursue Vedek Boran in the Gamma Quadrant."
"Tom, it's good to see you," Kira told Captain Tom Riker, who was presiding not only over Serenity Station but the SID deployments, "What news can you give me?"
"I spoke with Kathy Tyrol regarding non-SID assets and she authorized me to free up a dozen starships for reinforcing the Colonial Defense Forces' patrols in the Alpha Quadrant so it can redeploy," Riker told her, "Getting ships for the Gamma Quadrant deployment is a little trickier. But I have four SID ships coming off of contracts with Starfleet I can send your way as well. They would authorized to enter the Gamma Quadrant in support of the Colonial Defense Forces' action against these rebel vedeks."
"It isn't just vedeks and prylars. Three of our Militia crews took starships with them to join this coup," Kira vented.
"And Solarian is involved as well Ishtashra Yar. All of whom we have history with," Riker told her, "That's why we need our most capable crews that are available to sort out the situation."
"The three ships they took are Excelsior (refit)-class ships. The Solarian forces have over a dozen Pincer-class cruisers as well as four decommissioned Starfleet vessels. You sound like you already know that as well as what the Iotians brought to the table," Kira noted.
"Like I said. We have history," Riker chuckled.
"It seems you found your place in the galaxy at last," Kira observed, "You're much more restive than when we first met. My official chats with you have always shown you to be at peace with yourself. I'm glad."
"I made peace with my twin as well. Will and Deanna just suffered a mind and heartbreaking loss. Lisea and I am trying to support them as best we can and still fulfill our responsibilities," Riker told her.
"I'd like to meet your wife someday," Kira confessed, "I understand she's a Joined Trill. And an ex-Maquis."
"Something the Symbiosis Commission is willing to forgive since Starfleet asked her to enlist with Macen," Riker confided, "Otherwise they would have removed the Danan symbiot."
"I served with two Dax hosts so I understand the Commission's hesitancy to keep symbiots within those branded criminals," Kira told him, "I'm glad they could make an exception."
"Well, Lees puts up with me so I guess the Danan symbiot's wisdom and her collective lifetime experiences do make one exceptional. But I think Lees was exceptional before she was joined. She had to be because the symbiot brought out the best parts of her and they're staggering," Riker gushed, "But I could go on for days. I'll have those ships to you in three days. Is that soon enough?"
"We'll just be completing the last of the battle damage our ships took in Cardassian space," Kira told him, "So the timing will be perfect. Colonel Anara will command the mission. I hope your captains can accept that."
"They will or they'll be replaced," Riker promised.
"Thank you, Tom," Kira said with heartfelt emotion.
"Thank Brin. He's made Bajor's security a corporate priority," Riker told her, "I wish I could tell you why but that's up to him to divulge if he's so inclined."
"I just might ask him someday. Right now Bajor and the Militia just appreciate the largess," Kira confided.
"Three days. You have my guarantee," Riker signed off.
Kira then ordered Anara to Deep Space Nine to confer with Vaughn and Macen. As she understood it, Macen wouldn't command the SID squadron. He'd be acting independently. She wondered how much help he could truly provide in a eighty year-old scoutship that Starfleet had decommissioned twenty years ago. But Kira knew Macen from his days with the Maquis and he'd tricked and fought Cardassian Galor-class cruisers in a ship of the same class then. Then he'd fought the Dominion with that same ship. So she knew it was a versatile design.
"I have a scoutship. So I'm going to scout," Macen told her again.
"They'll detect you," Anara protested, "You'll never escape the solar system alive."
"I don't have to escape. I'll be transmitting you the exact whereabouts of every defender in the system. I just need to stay alive long enough for you and Elias to sail in," Macen replied.
"It's just stupid enough to work," Vaughn told her, "They definitely won't expect it."
"They'll definitely expect it. It's the oldest trick in the book," Anara continued to protest.
"But because it is, no expects anyone to actually use it anymore," Vaughn countered.
"Colonel, how can I make this more palatable for you?" Macen asked her.
"I have an Archer-class scout, the Prophets Scout, on standby to pass by the system. Let them make a visible show of it while you do your idiotic comet routine," Anara replied.
"That would work even better. It increases the distraction factor," Vaughn agreed.
"Let me work out the details of what I need with the commander of the Prophets Scout and we'll see what we can arrange," Macen conceded.
"I'll have Major Haru contact you," Anara relented.
"The repairs on your ships will be completed on time?" Vaughn asked.
"The work is on schedule," Anara promised, "What I need to know is are your Starfleet officers and ships ready to deploy and when can we expect Outbound Ventures ships to arrive?"
"It would help me to know what kind of starships are you bringing to the table?" Vaughn admitted, "I have the Defiant, the Nebula-class USS Farragut, and two Obena-classes, the USS Dublin and the USS Belfast. Commodore Saavik loaned me a California-class, the USS Riverside, and she's ready to assist in the distraction while you infiltrate the system."
"Riker freed up two Himalaya-classes, the Alps and the Andes, a Buenos Aires-class called the Anchorage, and an Enterprise-class christened the Electromagnetic. Captain Kelly Liu is the senior officer and commander of the Andes," Macen told them, "She'll be in command of the task force under Colonel Anara's overall command."
"Those ships are recent additions to your corporate fleet, aren't they?" Vaughn looked worried.
"The captains and senior officers as well as the non-commissioned officers are all ex-Starfleet. The captains were command-level officers until the mass resignations occurred during the last Federation wars. They've just found themselves happier working for the company than the idea of returning to Starfleet," Macen told Vaughn, "They face more challenging assignments this way."
"And they're commanding outdated capital ships," Vaughn pointed out.
"So is every commanding officer employed by the Caldraen Order," Macen excused Vaughn's hesitancy, "Or the Bajoran Militia for that matter yet you're not questioning her competence or the capabilities of her fleet."
"You're right. But I've fought beside most of the Militia's fleets," Vaughn told him, "I don't know your officers or crews. But I do know the starship types. Marko Vilnius will be contacting us on Solarian Security Systems behalf. He replaced Pytor Boromov as CEO and was vetted by Starfleet Security and Federation Security. So we're aware of his credentials and politics. He'll be briefing us on the commanders of note on the Solarian side. Why don't you bring us up to speed on the Iotians that seem to have gone astray of official Iotian Starfleet policy regarding the Bajoran Republic."
"The other two captains are survivors from the DeVos Security company's attempt to destroy Outbound Ventures. They were captured and remanded to Starfleet Security's custody. 'Mysteriously' they ended up in Cardassian custody," Macen told them, "You know most of what happened next."
"Commander Sam Lavelle 'liberated' the prisoners from Cardassian custody and started the wars between the Federation and Bajor and Cardassia," Vaughn said with obvious distaste, "But Lavelle was a dupe for Cell 51. And we don't know what happened to the prisoners. They boarded Java-class cargo ships whose containers had been converted into troop transport modules and disappeared. Lavelle released them without verifying who owned and operated the freighters. He assumed they were still Starfleet."
"They were. Just they were Iotian Starfleet," Macen explained, "They dropped the liberated prisoners off on Turkanis. There, two former DeVos captains took control of a Renaissance-class registered as the ISS Barrows and an Apollo-class starship registered as the ISS Dillinger and began to follow Yar. One captain is a Caitian named M'retz. The other captain is a Sindarin named Yalera. Both are on file with Federation and Starfleet Security. They're still wanted on charges of piracy, aggravated assault, attempted murder, and murder."
"How far does their protection from the Iotian Starfleet extend?" Anara asked.
"That's a question for First Minister Astris to discover," Macen told her.
"Captain Yar and her confederates are monitored by your representative, Sean Patrick Mason. How is it he neglected to steer Yar and the others away from a contract that pits Iotian Starfleet assets against the Bajoran Republic?" Oxmyx bluntly asked.
"You coddle these Bajorans too much," Boss Jako accused, "It's bad for business. Let Yar and her cronies fight the Bajorans, destroy a few of their starships and we can sell them replacements."
"We show too much favoritism towards the Bajorans," Boss Dezo stated and then she said, "It's interfering in our efforts to force them into our Federation."
"No one is forcing the Bajorans into the Federation," Oxmyx growled, "The Bajoran Republic was a member of the United federation of Planets before they were forced out. That burn hasn't healed. Frankly, they don't fully trust us. And asinine moves like this underscore why."
"Yar won't back down now. The money's too good. And our cut of it is too valuable to try and force her too," Boss Gige said.
Oxmyx pitied the other woman's limited vision. This was why the Familias didn't manage interstellar business decisions. She should never have allowed them to manage Yar and her cronies.
"There is more latinum to be made courting the Bajorans than by burning them," Oxmyx made one last attempt to reason with them, "They bought two generations of fleets from us, we built them three starbases, and we built them three shipyards."
"Taking away our contracts to service their vessels," Dezik was spoiling for a fight. Fello's presence attested to that.
"Have you turned pussy or do you only eat Oxmyx's?" Jako demanded to know, "We should be steering threats their way so they sign on with us for protection."
"It's time for new management," Dezik pulled a pistol and so did Fello.
Dezo stopped playing billiards and Gige backed away from Dezik's position. Only Jako seemed pleased by the turn of events. Jaza, Hilde, and Kija had their weapons drawn. Oxmyx simply smiled.
"Better be sure," she said calmly.
Dezik hesitated. Kracko had a phaser drawn and Oxmyx's Gun Molls were all armed with them as well. He and Fello could kill Oxmyx and Kracko but Jaza's team would disintegrate him and Fello. He certainly wasn't getting any help from Jako, Dezo, or Gige.
Dezo decocked his firearm and so did Fello. Oxmyx shook her head, "You should've tried to take the shot."
Jaza, Hilde, and Kija fired their phasers and vaporized the Familias Boss and his Gun Moll. Oxmyx eyed the other Bosses, "Dezik made the mistake of not having an heir. I claim his territories. Anyone want to disagree?"
"Let's keep our heads," Dezo implored, "No one else tried to muscle you out."
"Yar is no longer your problem," Kracko announced, "I'm taking over her contract. I've already told Ishara Yar and she signed the new deal."
"You were never going to negotiate," Gige accused.
"I don't need to," Oxmyx nodded. Jaza vaporized Jako, "I guess I'll just have to rub out his entire family as I claim his territories too."
"Let's be reasonable here," Dezo was nervous now.
"You don't work with me anymore," Oxmyx told the two remaining Familias Bosses, "You work for me. You'll give me control of your territories and you can stay on as capos."
"If we refuse?" Gige dared ask.
Jaza, Hilde, and Kija took aim at her and Kracko asked, "Do you really think you can start a gang war? I control Starfleet and you have what?"
"Kiss my ring and swear loyalty or you won't leave this room. If I find you've been disloyal, I'll rub you and your entire families out. Capisce?" Oxmyx asked.
Dezo went first and bent to kiss Oxmyx's ring, "I swear by my life, I'll be your faithful and loyal capo."
It was harder for Gige to swallow her pride but she knelt and took the oath. Oxmyx had them escorted to the door of her majestic office on Sigma Iotia II, "You've both made wise choices. My people will step in to assume control of your interests. They'll deliver your orders to you."
Dezo and Gige still looked stunned as Kija and Hilde escorted them to the manor's transporter room. Oxmyx turned to Kracko, "I've waited my whole life for this."
"Will you be returning to the manor then?" Kracko asked. Oxmyx had been living aboard the orbital J-class starbase with Kracko while a Douglas-class station was being constructed to replace Fleet Base 1.
Oxmyx smiled, "I could never leave you."
Kracko sighed in relief, "Good. I hated having to commute before just to see you."
"I know, my sweet. I'll still run day-to-day operations from my offices aboard Fleet Base 1. But I will have managerial and ceremonial duties that can only be performed here," Oxmyx reminded her. Kracko was a good ten years younger than Oxmyx and had inherited the Fleet Boss position as a teen just a few short years ago.
"We need to accelerate the cloning if we're to keep our family's grip on power," Kracko reminded Oxmyx of the project to produce two clones from mixed genetic material from the pair of them.
"It's never far from my mind, my love," Oxmyx looked at her with unadorned affection, "The samples have been harvested. Now we just have to rely on our scientists to conceive our daughters."
"Will you give Mason his orders to demand that Yar abandon the rebel Bajoran vedek?" Kracko asked.
"I'm afraid they were right. Yar will never abandon that much latinum to be earned," Oxmyx's sighed, "We need a military solution. I've promised First Minister Astris our support in whatever decision she makes in confronting Yar. But I'd like to have eyes, ears, and a voice in what happens to her and her counterparts."
"Our ambassador reports that Macen and Outbound Ventures are getting involved," Kracko told her.
"Captain Mirita?" Oxmyx asked.
"Owes Macen for the bounty she collected on Baroness Grimes but she's with Admiral Brisen's task force in the Deeper Beta Quadrant cultivating customers," Kracko told her, "But we have a starship negotiating with Kalendra III and IV for protective services."
"Who?" Oxmyx knew that where Kalendra went its entire sector went.
"A newly promoted captain, Mara. She's of a...new breed of captains. She has a unique style to her. Her crew set out with the proposed new uniforms. We're field testing their impact on potential client,." Kracko explained.
"Is she loyal?" Oxmyx directly asked.
"To the Starfleet and us personally," Kracko promised her.
"Then send her," Oxmyx directed, "I'll inform Astris that we're sending an envoy to accompany her operation to reclaim her lost worlds."
"And Captain Mara's orders should Yar resist the Bajorans?" Kracko wanted clarification.
"The Bajoran Militia is a valued customer. Tell Captain Mara to support any action the Bajorans take up to and including active cooperation with the operation. Yar and her fellow captains will finally be broken and built back up as loyal to the Starfleet and our Federation or they die."
"Their starships are valuable," Kracko advised her Godfather.
"Take the ships if possible, destroy them if necessary," Oxmyx told her, "I'm tired of cleaning up Yar's disasters. She obeys the Starfleet from now on or she doesn't see another day."
"I'll let Captain Mara know," Kracko promised.
"Later tonight, we celebrate today's victory...privately," Oxmyx said slyly.
"I'll look forward to it," Kracko dismissed herself to the transporter room to return to Fleet Base 1.
"Now, to get this over with," Oxmyx muttered as she sat behind her neglected desk and activated the comm system to contact First Minister Astris.
"We need information on your forces in the Gamma Quadrant," Vaughn told him while Anara and Macen stood by.
"I believe you're already familiar with my predecessor, Pytor Boromov?" Vilnius asked.
"Unfortunately, I am," Vaughn told him.
"The real threats to anyone you send against him are Captain Moira Taggert and Commodore Crawford Benton," Vilnius shared, "Benton controls the Pincer-class cruisers he stole from the company. He's loyal to Boromov's vision for the company and wishes to stage a corporate coup establishing a parallel Solarian Security Systems outside of Federation space while I restructure the Federation side of things according to te stipulations handed down by Starfleet Security and the Federation Security Service."
"Competing companies with the same name or an extension of the home office with separate leadership?" Vaughn asked.
"The latter," Vilnius said with distaste, "I believe you're also familiar with Benton."
"I testified at his court martial," Vaughn replied.
"He certainly remembers you," Vilnius warned him, "That will color his attitude and actions. Boromov has a hard on to destroy every one of you. The colonel just because she's on friendly terms with you and Commander Macen. The presence of Outbound Ventures ships in this operation is going to make Boromov committed but reckless."
"We already know he's no strategist," Vaughn stated, "He's a pitch man with delusions of grandeur."
"Unfortunately he's also currently in control of the bulk of Solarian's starships," Vilnius advised them, "I accept that you may have to damage the ships but I'd like them returned along with the bulk of their crews. You can have the officer corps but the rank and file are just following orders like they're paid to."
"The Militia has generously offered up the Solarian forces to Starfleet. So we'll conduct our own investigations into the crews' culpability in the charges leveled against them. But prize crews will deliver them to you if they're able to get underway," Vaughn told him, "You can retrieve them from Deep Space Nine."
"Thank you, Captain. I can further warn you that Benton and Taggert have honed their skills over the years. Taggert is a natural leader and strategist when not bogged down by Boromov. Benton was a gifted Starfleet officer until he ordered the massacre in response to the Cardassian slaughter of the colonists on Setlick III. He's only improved his skills and talents since then. But I must caution you that Benton fully embraces the concept of unrestricted warfare," Vilius told them.
"Taggert is a human name but I'm not familiar with hearing her name in Starfleet circles," Vaughn admitted.
"You wouldn't have," Vilnius replied, "Taggert was a Federation Security officer with a flair for starship operations with cutters and destroyers that Federation Security operated. She resigned to join Solarian for her chance to command a capital ship."
"Thank you, Director Vilnius. We won't take up any more of your time," Vaughn signed off, "We need to talk to someone at Federation Security for Taggert's record and background."
"I know just the agent," Macen grinned.
"We need information regarding Moira Taggert," Macen told her.
"Why am I not surprised?" Darque sighed, "Taggert was brilliant and ambitious. She was also bitter that she was refused acceptance into Starfleet Academy. She was talented enough but her psych profile showed she was pretty amoral. That can be an asset for a certain type of Federation Security agent so she thriivved with the agency. But she found her true home with Solarian. Lucky for her, she was always under assignment when Solarian clashed with your people until the Algona Sector incident. It seems Taggert is further gone than anyone here thought she'd go."
"Can you forward her agency files and vetting profile that she underwent to get her Solarian licenses?" Vaughn asked.
"Already have," Darque smirked, "Your Strategic Operations Officer should've received them by now."
"I have them here," Douglas reported.
"Tell me, Commander, how's Harri Mudd?" Darque inquired.
"Bored stiff and getting into trouble to entertain herself," Macen grinned.
"Sounds like Harri," Darque admitted, "Tell her not to get caught committing a felony in Bajoran territory."
Darque signed off. Vaughn looked at Macen, "Is there a history I should know about?"
"Not one that concerns this mission or Mudd's activities on the station," Macen replied.
"Her voice reminded me of Captain Forger's," Anara admitted, "It was deeper than most Bajoran women's."
"Britney Darque was born Brian Donahue and changed her name when she transitioned from male to female just like Sean Forger became Shannon Forger," Macen explained what Anara hadn't identified.
"Changing sexes isn't a Bajoran practice. We believe the Prophets made us who we were meant to be," Anara slightly frowned, "This human practice confuses the average Bajoran. Why do you embrace it?"
"Since I'm human and Brin isn't, I'll field that question," Vaughn told her, "We've discovered that certain human beings suffer from gender dysphoria. Their minds and certain body parts are of the opposite gender so we surgically alter them to match the two identities."
"Humans can be very strange," Anara confessed her opinion, "I'm returning to the Fist of the Prophets to oversee the last of her repairs and take her out of drydock. I should be back within twenty-six hours. Your ships will be here by then?"
"They're less than two hours away," Macen informed her.
"Captain Vaughn, can you brief them on the operational plans we've made so far. I'd value their input on any changes they'd suggest to improve their participation to a maximize effectiveness," Anara told him.
"I'll let them know," Vaughn promised.
"Good, my shuttle flight leaves in twenty minutes. I'll see you both tomorrow," Anara left Ops
"So what are Celeste and her squad up to anyway?" Vaughn asked.
"She and her detectives are investigating individual's participation in the planning of Vedek Boran's coup attempt. It wasn't staged by religious fanatics alone. Some of the sectarian violence was committed by lay people," Macen told him, "Angelique and Bailey are still delving into the Caldraen AI cipher to allow us to intercept their communications that are still being received from the Plantation colonies."
"Someday you'll tell me where you found them," Vaughn predicted.
"No, I really won't," Macen promised him.
The Alps, Andes, Anchorage, and the Electromagnetic couldn't find docking space with the station so they simply beamed their senior officers aboard. Each captain brought their execs, chief medical officers, and chief engineers. Bashir prepped the doctors with additional medical supplies in case of combat. O'Brien checked in with the engineers to save designs specs for the Bajoran yards to follow in case of the necessity of repairs. Meanwhile, the Command teams met with Vaughn and Macen.
"Commander Macen, we've never met but I've heard so much about your exploits," Captain Liu shared in the briefing room. Beside her sat her XO, Commander Marcus Schneider. Captain Margot Robinson had brought Commander Bryan Reynolds. Captain Rosamund Pine attended with Commander Mary MacTaggert. Both Vaughn and Macen noted the similarity between her last name and Taggert's. Finally Captain William Smith brought Commander Barbara Krytios.
Macen conducted the intelligence briefing concerning the major players on the Caldraen side. This included a biography of Vedek Boran, "Vedek Boran Rili was apprenticed to Vedek Winn Adami before Winn ascended to being the Kai of Bajor. She remained disciple of Winn's teachings and methods until Winn's death and the revelation of her abandonment of the traditional Bajoran faith. Winn had been a political animal and Boran maneuvered her way through her Order to assume control of it two years ago. Since that period, she radicalized it. Planetary politics became more important than religious teaching. She preached and led a doctrine of political change through violent revolution. She strove to establish a theocracy with herself as the living embodiment of her supposed gods."
"Boran enjoyed less official and military support than Minister Jarro Essa had when the Circle attempted a coup against the Provisional government that preceded the Bajoran Republic. But she carried greater religious and popular support. She even inspired rivals for the role of a savior figure. Her coup would have been at least partially successful if one of the rival Orders hadn't staged a first strike bombing against another renegade faction of vedeks to launch a sequence of sectarian violence. Boran's military followers seemed to have carefully consolidated themselves aboard five Militia starships," Macen continued his briefing, "Three of those starships swallowed their anti-alien and isolationist rhetoric to assist the Cardassian Guard in defending the Detepa Council from Gul Maret's rebel forces. Gul Macet, his co-conspirator, is still missing. I cannot downplay the fact that Boran was able to coordinate her forces to a more effective and discreet degree than any of her rivals. They stood on religious principles, misguided as they were. Boran abandoned conviction for ambition and her followers followed her example."
"Which brings us to the operation getting underway," Vaughn took over, "Colonel Anara leads the Militia Colonial Defense Forces. She'll be the theater commander in this mission. Starfleet is specifically tasked with dealing with Solarian Security. You four will assist us in that objective assisted by Militia forces. We will also be receiving the aid and assistance of the Ascendancy starships that are currently patrolling Bajoran space in the Gamma Quadrant on the Militia's behalf."
"Do we have any available intelligence on the oppositions defensive deployments?" Robinson asked.
"That's where Commander Macen comes in," Vaughn told them, "He'll be entering the solar system ahead of our forces and relay live updates as to the opposition's defensive posture. To aid in distracting the enemy from detecting Macen's scoutship, the Militia will deploy a scoutship and Starfleet will deploy a ship to skirt the outer system before making runs out of the colonies' territorial solar system."
"They won't be. The ship is still undergoing a refit. I'll be commanding a Blackbird-class scout while we penetrate the Plantation system," Macen explained.
"That's either brilliant or suicidal," Reynolds remarked.
"I have vast experience with the ship class. So does my crew. We'll be fine," Macen promised them.
"You'll understand if we're reluctant to risk the life of the company's founder," MacTaggert stated.
"I've been doing this since before your parents entered secondary school. I know what I'm doing and my crew does as well," Macen ended the discussion.
"We understood your SID team doesn't fill any shipboard duty roles," MacTaggert pressed the issue anyway.
"Not for a lack of capability," Macen was losing patience, "The discussion is over. Colonel Anara voiced her dissent initially as well. I quelled her doubts and since she's the operations commanding officer, I suggest you follow her lead. I'm going."
"If we don't know the enemies' positions, how can we plan for an assault?" Liu asked a pertinent question.
"We have charts outlining the system and real time orbital plots to go from. There only so many strategic defensive postures they can take. We've planned for all the likeliest ones. You're here to learn your roles in them," Vaughn informed them, "Starfleet and the Militia have already been briefed. The Ascendant are currently being briefed by Colonel Anara. So if we can proceed?"
"We're listening and absorbing," Liu promised.
"Colonel Anara would like your recommendations on how to maximize your potential performance based upon your knowledge of your ships and crews in light of the available options," Vaughn softened his tone.
"So she is reasonable," Pine was appreciative.
"The Colonel grew up fighting the Cardassian Occupation. She joined the Militia Forces from the Engineers and learned starship command by doing rather than formal training. She's very open to new ideas and methods," Vaughn told them, "She isn't moribund or stuck in a routine. It's what makes her such an effective leader."
"Has she fought anyone besides the Cardassians and Starfleet?" Captain Smith inquired.
"The Colonel served alongside Commander Ro Laren and I in deep cover behind enemy lines operations during the Dominion War," Macen revealed.
"I didn't realize the Bajorans fielded combat officers during that war," Pine admitted.
"They didn't officially but at the very end of the war, Bajoran complicity in Alliance actions was revealed at a very great cost," Macen recalled the events, "It was after the war that the Militia began purchasing starships to render their own defense rather than be reliant upon Starfleet. The lessons learned during the Dominion War fueled that ambition."
"Now, to present Plan Alpha..." Vaughn pulled up tactical displays with presumed orbital tracks and starship deployments. The SID officers studied each plan carefully and made their personalized recommendations that Vaughn took notes on and ran simulations of.
"It could have been far worse," Rockford told Brigadier Joran, "Most of the congregants queuing up to depart for the Plantation system are innocent of the sectarian violence that preceded the Caldraen coup attempt. Even then, your courts have released most of the civilian that arrived at the capital armed and ready. They didn't actually go through with the plan owing to a lack of leadership."
"But with your assistance we've uncovered the identities of most of those involved in the bombings and arson. Your reviews oif the colonial case files proved invaluable to our investigators on the colonies. Even our Gamma Quadrant colonies learned what to look for in a suspect before the sectarian violence could reach there," Joran replied.
"I hate terrorism as much as a planet filled with ex-terrorists. Bajoran are awfully lawfully minded considering the general lawlessness you endured fighting the Cardassians on your home soil," Rockford had observed.
"We fought to restore Bajoran laws and our own sense of order rather than be ground under the Cardassians' sense of entitlement and dominion," Joran recalled those days, "But there is a generation of Bajorans now that have only vague memories of refugee camps. They remember the rebuilding process. Now we have children that have been born into a prosperous Bajor and self-sufficient colonies."
"I have my own memories of seemingly endless combat," Rockford confided.
"I thought you were human," Joran was puzzled.
Rockford chuckled good naturedly, "This persona was born to make people think so. I was born on Angosia IV as Annika Ryst. She volunteered for the Augmentation program during the Tarsis War. They created an Augment Infiltrator, basically an assassin that created completely new personalities n order to get close to high value targets and kill them. It was a pretty bleak life for all those personalities. Most of whom were buried by Annika," Rockford described the situation, "You're looking at me wondering why I describe Annika Ryst as a different person than myself. It's because in every fundamental way except the body we shared, she and the others were different people no less real than the original Annika. But those personalities sacrificed themselves in order that I might absorb their memories without absorbing their traits. Which was a good thing, because most of the personalities were of deeply damaged people. I still have nightmares because of their memories."
"But you seem so calm and collected. Happy even," Joran had observed.
"That's why I'm the survivor. Everyone else wanted my life and personality. So now, in a way, they do," Rockford finished her description of herself.
"I've understood that Angosian Augments are capable of impressive physical feats," Joran was curious now.
"I am. You never want to face me in combat, armed or disarmed. I'm not like Rab Daggit, still partially trapped in the 'kill or be killed' mode but I retain all of the skills they programmed into Annika," Rockford told him.
"Daggit was the soldier with the scars?" Joran recalled.
"Don't ever ask how he earned them. You'll be sleepless too," Rockford warned him.
"Where did you assemble your detectives from? One seems like a constable. The young one seems young and yet aged all the same. The new one has a shifty look about her. Like she's estimating the worth of every room's items?" Joarn asked.
"Lee was a former constable. Forte is older than my husband and he's over four hundred years old. She'll outlive us all. And Shade is...Shade," Rockford didn't delve into their pasts to reveal that Lee had been ousted from Chung Kuo's police force on corruption charges. Forte had been a half-savage only a hundred years ago. And Shade had been, and still thought like, a professional thief her entire life. Some things were better left unsaid.
"Detective?" an aide entered Joran's office, "General Kira would like you to report to Bajoran Intelligence. Your associates made a breakthrough."
"On my way," Rockford told her, "Have my detectives meet me there."
"Sir, General Kira also requested Supervisor Kell and Chief Inspector Fel's presence as well. I already alerted them," the aide told Joran.
"Now you have me worried," Joran admitted.
"What have you got for us?" Rockford asked Kerber and Smith as she and her squad arrived at their borrowed stations. Kell and Fel were already present. The digital duo looked distressed.
"I'm afraid your work here isn't done yet," Smith informed them, "The coded messages coming out of the Plantation system are urging Vedek Boran's followers here on Bajor to storm the capital and seize the First Minister and her Cabinet."
"We disarmed them," Kell scowled.
"It seems you disarmed them of their initial cache of weapons," Kerber told her, "More have arrived and are distributed as the true believers exit the city. They're setting encampments in the surrounding forested areas. You didn't stop them. You just slowed them down."
"This is expensive," Shade admitted, "Where are they getting all the litas to pay for all of this?"
"Not to mention litas aren't readily accepted off of Bajor. Our interstellar exchange currency is the lek," Kell admitted, "It's even more highly valuated than the Cardassian original right now. There aren't enough bars of latinum on the planet to fund this scale of operation."
"The Bajoran government loaned the Caldraen Order one hundred thousand leks for building a monastery on Plantation III and temples across the Gamma Quadrant colonies," Rockford sighed, "Kara Gena did an admirable job of trying to hide that in the budget but the loan still appears as a deficit."
"You reviewed the government budget?" Fel didn't know whether to be impressed or insulted.
"They had to get the currency from somewhere. It was either the government or criminal enterprises. They seem to be supporting criminals rather than profiteering off of them," Rockford stated.
"They certainly have the local smugglers gainfully employed," Shade confirmed, "I know from first hand experience."
"Finance Minister Kara thought she could bury this?" Kell was angry.
"It doesn't look good to your constituents to know your government loaned money to the very people trying to overthrow that same government," Rockford shrugged, "Fortunately, the budget surplus from the war reparations covered the loss and the loss of the expected interest. But your surplus is gone."
"Where did the rest of it go?" Fel had to wonder, "That was tens of thousands of bars of latinum."
"Mainly military expansion, colonial development, and pensions for the veteran's widowers, widows, and orphans fund. That was put into annuities so the money was invested the interest payments go to those qualified by their losses from the war. So the Federation has effectively paid pensions of the people they took husbands and wives from," Rockford explained, "It was all very frugal in a sense in that there was massive returns for the expenditures. The usual planetary budget will meet the demands to maintain everything and the Alpha Quadrant colonies are almost all self-sufficient now. The only home planet expenditures are the rebuilding of the Valo colonies."
"How did they expect a religious order to repay a loan of that magnitude?" Fel asked.
"The Caldraen Order had the resources from its yearly donations to meet the interest payments and pay on the principle. That was without any growth of the number of congregants. But the Order's temples were drawing increasing crowds," Rockford explained, "So the Finance Ministry felt it was a safe investment. After all, you don't expect a vedek to steal from you."
"But of they defaulted on the debt?" Kell had to wonder.
"Boran would simply erase the debt once she had control over Bajor and then she would assimilate the colonies and have them pay tribute. It's in their manifesto. I flagged it for your reading," Rockford shared, "The curious portion was her embrace of allowing the Cult of the Pah-wraiths back onto Bajor dependent upon their paying religious taxes and peacefully co-existing. They were to be given areas to settle surrounding the Fire Caves."
"Boran reached out to the Cult?" Kell was horrified.
"Winn did in essence. Why wouldn't her prize disciple?" Rockford asked, "But an agent and her team have been dispatched to prevent a union between the Cult and Caldraen Order."
"How?" Fel asked.
"I have no idea. But Neela is very resourceful," Rockford boasted with pride in her friend.
Chapter Seven
"How many times did we send them away?" Wes asked.
"That shuttle?" Ferris asked in reply, "Four times. It's the sixth attempt by a group from Bajor to link up with the Cult on Empok Nor."
The turbolift doors opened and Neela brusquely walked out, "Get ready to set a new course. We have a new mission objective."
"What about this one?" Wyn asked, "The Caldraens are still sending people."
"We're being relieved by an Outbound Ventures starship. They'll maintain a vigil and they'll have even better sensors," Neela told them, "Bajoran Intelligence discovered a new attempt to reach the Cult of the Pah-wraiths through their presence on Volon III."
"Isn't that now a Cardassian world?" Wes asked.
"Castellan Garan is grateful to the Militia for its efforts to suppress the rebellion and capture Gul Maret. She instantly granted our passage through the Cardassia and Dorvan Sectors to reach the colony there," Neela explained the particulars.
"We're Bajoran. We'll stand out in a Cardassian colony," Griff pointed out the obvious.
"The Cult settlement is outside traditional colonial settlements and has Bajorans as well humans and other Federation races living there," Neela told, "They have shuttles and small craft so they can reach Empok Nor from Federation space after crossing the border."
"And the Federation ended their blockade of the station's solar system when the civil war ended," Wyn recalled.
"Precisely. Making it a perfect approach for the Caldraen Order," Neela explained.
"Why not simply put a starship in the system next to the station and save everyone a lot of travel and effort?" Griff wondered.
"The Cult reactivated the station's defense systems. She has shields, phasers, and torpedo launchers operating again," Neela told them, "And they have torpedoes that they bought from the Ferengi. No one reaches the station unless they have the access codes provided by the Cult itself and their imminent approach verified by a Cult worship team on another world."
"So that still rules us out," Katts mentioned.
"True, but Empok Nor isn't our mission. Our mission is to prevent Vedek Boran offering safe haven to the Cult and having them evacuate the station to settle in the Plantation system alongside the Caldraen Order," Neela saw their looks of shock and dismay, "Boran was a disciple of Winn Adami. Winn's acceptance of the Pah-wraiths and recanting her Orthodox faith to worship them impacted Boran differently than the other vedeks. She saw it as something to emulate and employ towards her own ambitions."
"How can you know any of this?" Griff asked.
"Detective Rockford forwarded a captured copy of their manifesto discovered in their monastery on Bajor. I've read it. It's quite enlightening to see how Boran lost her faith in the Prophets after taking up with Winn. She believes in temporal power through politics and the use of force. Nothing more and nothing less," Neela explained her discoveries.
"So that's what you've been up to," Wyn chuckled, "We thought you were lost in prayer or some such given how you've avoided the bridge for the last three days."
"The Caldraens aren't hiding behind a facade of worshiping the Prophets," Neela described them, "That was quite refreshing. Their simply apostates who to carve out a Bajoran Empire of sorts."
"You can't mean they want to attack the Federation or Cardassia," Javi was certain.
"No, their ambitions lie in the Gamma Quadrant. They'd begin with Ascendant and then any race they thought could militarily overcome," Neela described their ambitions, "For all their vitriol against the Cardassians, they have quite the Cardassian perspective towards the Ascendant."
"How did they expect to get this passed the Kai and the Emissary?" Katts asked, "Surely they knew they'd speak out against it to the common people."
"They simply planned to assassinate the Emissary and strip the Kai from office and enslave her as a bond servant to Vedek Boran herself. Every dissenting vedek and prylar would be enslaved," Neela quoted from passages found in the manifesto, "It really is an ambitious plan. And it's still underway on Bajor and in the Gamma Quadrant."
"You've been in contact with Colonel Anara again," Javi knew from the comm logs.
"Today, Anara sets out with the entire Colonial Defense Forces, a squadron of Outbound Ventures starships, a squadron of Starfleet ships, and is joing a squadron of Ascendant ships to retake the Plantation colonies and detain Vedek Boran," Neela told them, "Meantime, the capital is under threat again., This time the laity, remotely guided by Boran, will storm the capital and attempt to kill the Ministers. After that's accomplished, the Emissary, the Kai, and the Vedek Assembly will be given a chance to bow down before Boran's unseen image or either be executed or enslaved, dependent upon who they are and the influence that they wield."
"And we're going to Volon III?" Griff was angry.
"It will happen before we reach Bajor," Neela explained to diffuse his anger, "Meanwhile, the Cult of the Pah-wraith cannot be allowed to return to the Vedek Assembly on Bajor. The Assembly has captured and stored Cult texts and objects for millennia. They might find a way to liberate the Pah-wraiths from the Fire Caves that no one is aware of yet. So their threat is as great as that of the Caldraens."
"What about your oath to the Bajoran Republic?" Griff was still simmering.
"I've never taken one!" Neela snapped at him, "My oath is to the Prophets. Everything else is secondary. Boran wins or she loses, Bajor will always have a Resistance. That Resistance will always overcome because it will have true faith in the Prophets."
"You're just as much an extremist as the Caldraens," Griff realized at long last.
"I never claimed otherwise," Neela told him.
"You're just now figuring this out?" Wyn asked, "It was obvious from our very first mission. She thought our effort to launch the Pah-wraith idols into the star was going to get us all killed and she demanded we do it anyway. The idea didn't bother her."
"We're all expendable in the name of the Prophets," Neela said flatly, "To serve them is why we exist. Can you still live that?"
"We finish this and I'll let you know," Griff said curtly.
"Wes?" Wyn asked, noting from the view screen that they at warp.
"Someone asked me to set a course and get underway," Wes sniffed.
"She didn't exactly tell us to get underway," Wyn smirked.
"It was implied," Wes huffed.
"Time is of the essence, Major. Not protocol," Katts defended him.
"I'm only messing with his head. I'm actually glad one of us wasn't distracted," Wyn admitted, "Ferris, you have the bridge. Lieutenant, can I have a word in my Ready Room?"
"Yes, ma'am," he said formally.
"Cut the shuk!" Wyn snapped at him when the door closed, "You knew as well as anyone that Neela will sacrifice anyone to serve the Prophets. Herself first."
"I didn't think we'd be abandoning Bajor," Griff complained.
"We aren't," Wyn cuffed him upside the head, "We're serving in a different way. The Militia and the Constabulary have enough people to put down rioters. They can beam the Ministers to starships in orbit. Once they raise shields, even if the rioters somehow managed to pilot the impulse craft on the planet into orbit, they don't stand a chance against the System Defense Force. Think with your head not your wounded pride. Yes, Kira sent us away. She also diverted us to this new mission. If she thought our presence on Bajor was vital, she'd have recalled us. You were never this proud or arrogant in the Special Forces. I need you thinking and thinking proactively not just reacting to the news from home. We agreed this was our chance to do something real for Bajor we weren't allowed to otherwise do. This is the job. Suck it up or get left behind."
"Well, you certainly didn't pull any punches," Griff said in a humbler fashion.
"You didn't deserve my having to," Wyn told him, "And frankly I didn't want to. We knew what kind of animal Neela was when we conspired to get Command to allow us to stay on with her. You don't have the right to regret that decision now. Especially when our first mission, as it turns out, is unfinished."
"Neela isn't going to stop until there aren't any Cultists left," Griff predicted.
"Good," Wyn said, "I agree with that assessment and her sentiment. They're a blight. Now, what comes after will be interesting to see."
"What do you mean?" Griff wondered.
"Neela, since before her disappearance and after her reappearance, has traveled space looking for threats to Bajoran security. I pulled the files Bajoran Intelligence kept on her activities both with Colonel Anara before and during the Dominion War and again before the Colonel assumed command of the Colonial Defense Forces. You know what I found out?"
"I have no clue," Griff admitted.
"Neither do I. The files were so redacted there were barely even any connective words left," Wyn told him, "This woman has seen action. The type of action we joined the Militia for. Don't give up on that. This is a dream opportunity. Look at where we've gone and what she's finally letting the two of us in on. Look at what she's made our law enforcement team do. They stole relics from a half a dozen Federation museums and private collectors. She got constables to do that! She did it like a practiced professional. Can you imagine the places she's broken into and the threats she's dealt with? Threats so compromising Bajoran Intelligence can't keep a record of it. I don't know about you, but I'd sign on again if I had to."
"We really are outside the law and the chain of command," Griff mused, "Neela certainly doesn't recognize them despite her reserve commission."
"General Kira reactivated her commission and promoted her three ranks to cover her ass with the Federation when she was spying on humans. Starfleet and Federation Security wouldn't hold a Militia officer, especially not a senior one," Wyn told him, "That much I got out of Bajoran Intelligence. That and Kira had a fantasy that maybe Neela would report in with the Militia if she held a rank. Given what Cultists taken prisoner trying to sneak back onto Bajor have said, Neela uses the uniform as a tool and ignores everything in the Officer's Handbook to get the job done. She wants to destroy the Cult. The Cultists had a death marker out on her even before she destroyed the vessels and the Orb of the Kosst Amojan. She infiltrated two different Cult enclaves and assassinated their vedeks and prylars."
"She didn't cover her tracks?" Griff found that highly unprofessional.
"She was sending them a message that she was hunting them and they couldn't hide from her," Wyn smirked, "Prophets I love this woman!"
"Don't join the official fan club yet," Griff counseled her, "She's still reckless. You saw her on Golana. She was ready to kill those people."
"Now that you know what people like them are about, wouldn't you if you had the chance now?" Wyn asked, "That was the basis of your entire debate with her. You want the opportunity to shoot the bastards and make certain their dead."
"Okay, you've got me," Griff confided.
"Stop pretending you're all that different from Neela. We're all like her to a degree or two. Even Doctor Lens and Nurse Kenji. You saw their reaction to the apostates," Wyn challenged his thinking.
"Okay already. You can browbeating me," Griff sighed, "I get it. I really do. I just feel useless."
"Wait until we hit the ground running on Volon III," Wyn was gleeful, "Then we can do what we trained to do and serve Bajor to the best of our abilities."
"If she lets us off this ship," Griff hedged.
"I'll make certain we included in the landing party if we have to beam down after she's left the ship," Wyn promised.
"I am so in," Griff enthused, "I always wanted to infiltrate a Cardassian outpost."
"This is even better," Wyn's glistened with excitement, "These are frinxing Cultists."
"Much improved. Good work people. Now saddle up and get ready to queue up to transit the Wormhole," Anara took a copy of the notes and went to beam back aboard her command.
"That was abrupt," Reynolds coughed.
"Woman has a lot on her mind," Krytios said.
"Suck up," Reynolds teasingly accused.
"At least I don't swallow, unlike some," Krytios exited the briefing room.
"She phasered your ass to the wall," Schneider chuckled as he pushed passed the speechless Reynolds.
"Get a grip," Robinson told him, "Get your head back into the mission. You can flirt on downtime."
"Yes Captain, my captain," Reynolds followed her out so they could beam back aboard the Electromagnetic.
The Starfleet vessels all detached from Deep Space Nine and moved into the procession of starships. As the Colonial Forces finished gathering, Anara gave the order and all the commands were instructed to move forward at half impulse. The Wormhole opened and those that had never crossed through it before marveled at its complexity and beauty.
"Maybe the aliens that built this and live in it really are gods," MacTaggert commented aboard the Alps.
"Stow it, commander," Pine replied, "There's no such thing as gods. Otherwise we'd worship the Q. But we understand they're just a higher life form...with bad taste in representatives."
They dropped out of warp ninety minutes later one light year from the Plantation system. Anara contacted Macen, "You can still back down, Commander."
"You need the intelligence feed," Macen countered, "We're going in."
Anara ordered the Prophets Scout and the USS Riverside to accompany the Solstice as they approached the system at Warp 1.
They dropped out of warp beyond the system's Oort cloud. Macen watched everyone steady themselves. He commed Parva, "Everything set?"
"We're ready to give them hell," the Orion replied.
"Tessa, what's your status?" Macen inquired.
"I'm ready to reach any deck for any emergency. I have the transporter room relayed through my comms to transport me and any I select to Sickbay," the EMH reported.
"Hopefully you'll have a boring day," Macen replied, "Tracy?"
"I found us a proto-cometary mass. It's nearly a dwarf planet. It'll definitely give us cover once we push it through the cloud towards the primary star."
"Harri? Do we have the power?" Macen wanted to know if Parva delivered on her promise. He'd expected no less from her. But there was always a first for everything.
"Emergency and auxiliary power are locked into the tractor beam and the navigational deflector," Mudd read off her OPS screens, "I'd say we're ready as we ever were."
"Love the enthusiasm, Harri. Never lose it," Macen swung his chair to face Daggit behind him, "Rab?"
"I've got every weapons systems calibrated and recalibrated. I can shoot the eye out of a fly with the phaser banks and take out a small city with the torpedo launcher.
"Overkill on the fly and we don't have cities on our target list," Macen told him, "Tony, how are sensors going to hold up?"
"The upgrades you've spent on this ship were worth it. The sensors will paint an accurate picture. But they'll be active sensors. So they'll be able to track the sweeps back to us," Burrows warned.
"Which why we have an invasion fleet standing by," Macen sighed, "Every time I think we're done with these stunts we do another one."
"You'd be bored otherwise," Daggit muttered but everyone heard him.
"We haven't done this since we did a flyby on Intok Nor," Ebert enthused.
"How'd that turn out?" Mudd asked.
"Lisea got the data but they detected us and we had to spend three days down to emergency power in the Oort cloud until three Galor-class cruisers gave up looking for us."
"Oh, sounds fun," Mudd complained.
"It was cold," Ebert recalled, "Our breath froze to the bulkheads."
"Oh, for the luvva God. Count me out," Mudd groaned.
"It's a little late to abandon ship now," Macen chided her.
"I told everyone this was a bad idea but you wouldn't listen. And you two! You've done and had it blow up in your faces yet here you are again," Mudd was incredulous.
"Do you have the plot?" Macen ignored Mudd's tirade.
"Laid in," Ebert was still enthusiastic.
""Activate the tractor beam and overdrive the nav deflector array," Macen ordereed.
"Absolutely not!" Mudd protested.
"Harri," he chided her.
"I'm going to haunt you in the afterlife," she sullenly activated the systems, "There! Are you happy now?"
"Ecstatic," Macen grinned, "Tracy, make a comet."
"Firing impulse engines," Ebert announced, "We're experiencing inertia."
"Systems are being strained," Mudd read her situation updates.
"We're starting to move," Ebert happily reported.
"Harri, Contact the Prophets Scout and the Riverside and have them commence their runs as soon we clear the outer planets," Macen instructed.
"And why couldn't they do this instead?" Mudd asked.
"I rather doubt either commander has done this before," Macen told her.
"There are good reasons for that," Mudd huffed in resignation.
"Tony, launch the comm buoy. I don't want us losing contact with the fleet," Macen told him, "We need their intervention to stay alive"
Mudd glared at Ebert until the pilot finally looked over at her, "Oh, stop being such a drama queen. This works."
"The comm buoy is placed, "Burrows reported.
"I have a torpedo loaded in the aft launcher now," Daggit added.
"I hate you all," Mudd decided.
"Harri, you want to bear Tony's children. And the rest of us are ready to it, so we stick around," Macen replied.
"I do not bear children!" Mudd yelped.
"But you'd like to continue on with the reproductive process that could ultimately create them," Macen said, "In other words, you enjoy frinxing Tony and the rest of us are your new family. So don't pretend you couldn't have stayed behind on the station after I explained the plan to you. You came out of concern that we might die and you'd know that there might've been something you could have done to prevent that. That sense of loss and guilt would've haunted you every time you looked at Celeste but you would stay with her because she'd be the last of your newfound family."
"I absolutely hate frinxing El-Aurians!" Mudd chafed.
"Hearing you say that I know from listening to it carefully that the exact opposite is true. You hate most El-Aurians. You just hate being read like a book. You don't have to act tough and try and project a persona that you don't need anyone. Ever since your father left you, you hated him and wanted to replace the idea of the family you'd lost. Reuniting with your biological family always brought out those feelings of rejection," Macen went on, "But with us, you found acceptance and even love. You're just scared you'll lose us all the way your father dumped on a planet and left you behind as he went his merry way."
"You can stop now," Mudd said in quietly subdued voice, "You're right. About it all. I came because I couldn't live with myself when you all got killed and I wasn't here to maybe change things. And maybe I do consider you all family. But family destroys as well as helps. So I don't want to accept that you're my family now but at the same time I can't keep denying it."
"You just made a breakthrough in emotional honesty, Harri. How does it feel?" Macen asked.
"Scary," Mudd confessed, "I've never been so scared in my life. And not this lame ass idea on sneaking into a solar system when we know we we're going to get caught. It's the idea that maybe now you won't accept me anymore because I'm not that fem that can hold up mountains and ride solo for the rest of her life."
"Meeting your sister really jolted you," Ebert confided with Mudd, "Knowing your dad spent time he should have spent with you with a sister you should've known you had. He made you compete with your brother for his scraps of approval. And all along you were competing with a mystery sister as well. Harri, you don't have to be anything but yourself and you have our approval."
"It's true," Burrows confirmed it, "Just be Harri. That's enough for us."
"Life would be boring without you screwing it up," Daggit offered.
"For Rab, that's high praise. Celeste saw through you the moment you saved her from that dungeon. You could've simply escaped on your own. But you went back for a stranger that had threatened to arrest you. That was the real Harri Mudd, not the pretend pirate queen," Macen told her, "When we found you floating alone in wrecked ship in a new place, you're gratitude wasn't that you were rescued. It was that we found you and you weren't alone without us anymore," Macen shared, "We've all seen that. You can drop all the acts because we see through them to the real Harri Mudd. And we love her. The pretend won't change that and the reality confirms it."
"I think I'm gonna bawl now," Mudd sniffled, "You choose the damndest places to have a heart to heart, Brin Macen."
"We've cleared the first orbital track of the outermost full sized planet and no enemy contact," Burrows reported.
"My guess is that they're forming a defensive ring around the fourth planet's orbital track to prevent traffic from ever reaching Plantation I through Plantation III," Macen told him, "They won't work together well enough to coordinate a staggered defense."
"You could've told Anara that," Mudd wiped tears away.
"I did. She wanted proof. So here we are," Macen replied, "For what it's worth, I'm glad you came along. You're a survivor, Harri Mudd. You'll help find us a way out if things get dicey."
"We're a team, Harri. Don't go breaking up the band," Ebert told her, "I need my sidekick."
"Your sidekick? If anything, you're my sidekick," Mudd argued.
"You can have that discussion after we win the day," Burrows noted.
"You just wanna get laid later," Mudd accused him.
"True. But I'd still love you even we didn't frinx around together," Burrows confessed.
"Oh. My. God. Did you just say you love me?" Mudd caught that wording.
"Harri..." Burrows couldn't finish the sentence.
"You love me, you cheeky bastard. You just admitted it," Mudd called him out, "I have witnesses."
"She has you by the balls, Tony," Ebert chuckled.
"I definitely heard it," Macen stated.
"And he's a frinxing Listener!" Mudd leaped on that fact.
"Take a lesson from someone that's been down this exact road. Just stop frinxing around and admit how you feel about each other. We've known it for months now," Daggit grated.
"Watching him and Parva get together was torture itself," Macen confessed, "Don't go down their road. I doubt I could survive a second round."
"Tony!" Ebert demanded that he speak.
"I love you, Harriet Fedora Mudd. I have for months now. But you just wanted to have fun and play it cool and easy. Meanwhile I'm head over heels in love and lost in it," Burrows said everything the felt aloud for the first time.
"Ahem. Harri?" Ebert prompted her.
"What?" Mudd was seriously delirious.
"Don't you have a response for a man that just confessed that he's in love with you?" Ebert prodded along.
"No," Mudd said dreamily.
"Harri!" Ebert snapped at her.
"I don't know what to say. I've never been here before. Tony, I can tell you, you completely unnerve me. I don't what I'm feeling when I'm with you. But I know how I feel when I'm not with you. When I wake up in the morning, I think of you. When I go to bed at night, you're my last thought. The happiest parts of my day are spent with you in them. I don't know if that's love or not," Mudd explained her confusion.
"Harri, I think you just defined being in love," Macen told her.
"But you also aggravate me beyond any reasoning. You annoy me to the point I want to rip your head off and use it as a football. Is that love?" Mudd asked.
"That's a big part of it," Daggit shared, "No one can get under your skin and irritate the hell out of you like a lover."
"Then I'm in love," Mudd decided, "Good to know."
"We're past the next planet's orbital track and still no enemy contact or sensor buoys of any kind. I'm not detecting any early warning systems at all," Burrows continued his scan reports.
"Amateurs," Ebert snorted, "The Cardies would've laced the system with sensor buoys."
"We're surviving this," Mudd declared, "Just so I can sort the hell out of what I'm feeling."
"This'll be fun to watch," Daggit managed a chuckle.
"You lived it. Offer some sage wisdom or something," Macen cajoled him.
"No matter how tempting it gets, never kill him," Daggit offered, "Happy now?"
"Ecstatic," Macen rolled his eyes.
"I think my work here is done. The student has become the master," Ebert chuckled.
"Student? What the hell did you teach me?" Mudd asked, "And don't mention the five orgasms in a row. Though that was amazing."
"We've come close," Burrows reminded her.
"That we have. In fact I believe we'll be breaking that record very soon," Mudd urged him on.
"You. Bearing your soul. I helped with that," Ebert boasted.
"And when are you going to do the same damn thing?" Mudd turned back at Ebert.
"I told you, I always fall for abusive men and women. I'm done," Ebert said defensively
"Have you tried anyone new? A different type of person maybe?" Mudd cajoled her back.
"I haven't been looking," Ebert admitted.
"And therein lies your problem," Mudd dished it out, "You can talk a big game but now you're afraid to play. Wake up, honey. There's a brave new world of men and women out there. You choose differently next time."
"A little help?" Ebert asked Macen.
"Aric Tulley just got his head out of his ass after fifteen years and is dating Annabeth Frinks. If that can finally happen, then there's hope for you yet," Macen consoled her, "Take a look at Ro and Captain Reyes. She never thought she'd fall in love again. She finally fell in love with the guy she was supposed to do so with back in her Academy days. That's a lot of misspent years and emotions on the wrong guys. But she cleared her head and heart and made that connection."
"That wasn't the help I was looking for," Ebert scowled.
"It's the help you need. I don't do wishes and fairy tales," Macen shrugged.
"Seventh planetary track is still clear," Burrows announced.
"Don't look at me like that," Ebert told Mudd.
"Just listen to yourself and give yourself the same advice you would have given me and try to actually act upon it," Mudd challenged her.
"My God! I was introduced to sex by a gang rape. My whole world involving sex has been violent. It's a nasty spin that I can't seem to break. And I'm trying to goddammit!" Ebert's dam suddenly broke.
"That only took fifteen years," Macen said softly.
"I'm sorry I can't seem to manage a normal relationship," Ebert told Mudd.
"I never had a relationship to manage. It was always two ships passing by. Then I fell in with you crazy people and I saw relationships working in action. They weren't perfect but at least people were trying. You've given up when it's time to try harder," Mudd counseled Ebert.
"Harri, I'm so frinxed up. I don't know how to love someone that way. I only know how to take a beating or be choked nearly to death. I've got weird fetishes that I can't seem to find anyone safe to explore them with," Mudd gushed now.
"We'll find that person. I'll help. Tony will too. And you've got your guardian El-Aurian that's killed people for hurting you like that," Mudd told he.
"Really?" Ebert looked towards Macen. He sat in stony silence.
"The man enlisted Angelique and Bailey and they hunted down every man and woman that ever beat you, abused, or raped you. That includes Cardassians," Mudd confided what Macen held on to, "They took private jaunts across borders and into countless sectors and visited lawless worlds to dispense justice justice for you."
"How do you know any of this?" Ebert asked her.
"I was their pilot aboard the Freehold. It's one of the reasons he let's me keep my ship. Because they go off and do horribly righteous things to people that don't deserve to live another day or hour. He keeps Rockford out of the vigilante crap because it would damage her agency. But they've avenged you. There's no one left that hurt you. Ever. You can finally move on if you want to. But you have to want it bad enough to change like I did," Mudd told her.
"Angelique and Bailey helped you do this?" Ebert asked Macen.
"They volunteered when they realized what I was going to do," Macen said quietly, "They erased every record of it and wiped clean any investigations. Which were few and far between considering the places we visited. The places you'd lived in. I'm so sorry I left you to do that."
"You thought I'd be safe. But I didn't know how to live a safe life after the Maquis and the war. It's what I grew up in. I'd forgotten how to be a citizen. I only knew how to be an outlaw," Ebert shared, "You didn't know that and they were taking you as far from Eckles, Darcy, Lacey and I as they could. The way they locked away T'Kir and transferred Lees half a galaxy away. They threw you away the way the threw us all away," Ebert had decided, "They created the SID to control you and use you for what you did best. And even then, they tossed you away. They put you in a penal colony for a twenty-year sentence. They only released you when they discovered it was mistrial because they convicted of killing someone that was actually still alive. You do what you do best and the galaxy shakes because of it. But Starfleet judges you and calls you a sociopath. But Nechayev and Forger don't know how to succeed without you being a sociopath. So they call on you when they need chaos as a solution and toss aside in between their needs."
"Very true," Macen said soberly, "That's why Nechayev assigned me to infiltrate the Maquis and join them in the fight. Because they deemed me too damaged and unfit for regular duties. But she wanted to hurt the Cardassians so I became a useful tool. Then the Dominion War began and they found a use for Ro and I. We made devil's bargains to get our people's pardons. But Starfleet betrayed that as well. Most of you weren't welcomed back into the Federation. So you had to make lives however you could."
"None of that was your fault. You acted in good faith," Ebert tod him, "I would have gone to a penal colony if it hadn't been for your bargaining. There they would've analyzed me and put me in the same psycho prison they held T'Kir in."
"You call what you lived a life?" Macen wondered.
"It was a sort of life. I wouldn't choose to repeat it. That's why when you showed up when you did and offered me a chance to get out, I took it. I earned five death marks because of it but I took it," Ebert told him.
"That's been settled," Macen told her, "There's no one left to try and collect on it."
"Wait! You, Bailey, and Angelique wiped out the whole Grindo Cartel?" Ebert was astonished.
"They'd merged with the Lindel Syndicate. So we took care of them as well," Macen shrugged.
"That's no small feat, Captain! That was hundreds of hardened killers and other criminals" Ebert was stunned.
"They were easier to take down than locating, regrouping, and isolating the Cardassians that gang raped you," Macen told her, "The Cardassian Guard came looking for them at the place where we'd forged orders for them to report to. Not everything from that was successfully erased. Cardassian data rods can't be overwritten. Agent Delain had to step in and bury the investigation."
"Ziva got involved?" Ebert didn't think she could be any more stunned yet the revelations were pushing her ability to comprehend.
"Delain doesn't know the particulars of the why. She just knows what we did. I explained to her it was personal matter involving a debt. She accepted that. But the incident revealed more about myself, Bailey, and Angelique's skill set than Delain had imagined we had," Macen shared.
"I lost my transit privileges through Cardassian space over it," Mudd told her, "The Freehold doesn't need to go back to Cardie space anyway."
"Passing the sixth planet itself. No ship's detected in its vicinity," Burrows was amazed at how easy it had been so far. The comet's tail had begin boiling off of the mass' surface. So he was banging away with active sensors but there was no one out there to detect them.
"I don't know how to respond," Ebert admitted, "No one has ever gone to such great lengths to repay my debts, personal and private, before."
"It was our honor to serve," Macen spoke for Kerber and Smith as well, "They consider you their true friend. So they opted to help me. It something they both understand the need to do it."
"Coming up on the fifth planetary orbital track and we're still clear," Burrows noted, wondering if anyone was still paying attention.
"Commander, we're still on mission," Daggit spoke up.
"It's about get very real, so brace yourselves and continue transmitting our sensor data," Macen instructed.
"Colonel Anara and the rest are receiving. I'm detecting the Prophets Scout and the Riverside in the outer system. Let's see if they break formation for that," Burrows announced.
Several tense seconds went by before Burrows spoke again, "Three Pincer-class cruisers are taking up pursuit of the Militia and Starfleet ships."
"They'll make it out," Macen predicted, "The cruisers will be recalled to avoid long range detection. They'll be bracing for an invasion now. Let's finally see how they're prepared for one."
"Coming up on the fourth planet's orbital track," Burrows suddenly lost his professionalism, "Holy shuk! Everyone of them is out there,. They're converging on this attack vector."
"Because that's the vector Starfleet and the Militia withdrew on. So they'll be expecting the attack to come from there," Macen explained, "They fell for it."
"Fell for what?" Mudd was suddenly alarmed.
"I didn't reveal all the details of the plan," Macen told them, "It was in case they were deployed everywhere and we were captured."
"I'm detecting...the Ascendant ships emerging from the Oort cloud?" Burrows was confused, "Where the hell is the cavalry?"
"They're coming. But from a different attack angle," Macen shared.
"Who have I been transmitting to?" Burrows asked.
"The Ascendant. And they been daisy chaining a relay network to get the data to the real positioning of the fleet," Macen told him, "Sorry."
"I think there's a lot you haven't been sharing lately," Ebert accused.
"It was Anara's twist on the plan. I wasn't supposed to share so that none of you could give away the fleet's real position," Macen told them.
"Like we'd crack under pressure?" Mudd was indignant.
"Harri, you'd sell the info to the highest bidder to get out of it," Ebert chided her.
"Maybe I would, maybe I wouldn't. I'm a new Harri Mudd," she replied.
"They've detected us," Burrows warned, "They're deploying to intercept us now."
"Tracy, roll us clear and go to maximum warp," Macen ordered.
"They'll still follow us," she doubted for a second.
"That's the idea," Macen told her, "Just do it and you'll see."
Ebert barrel rolled them clear of the comet and went to Warp 8. The Solarian ships pursued.
"They're in pursuit," Burrows noted, "And gaining on us."
"Any second now," Macen muttered.
"I'm detecting massive warp signatures coming across the solar system on fast approach," Burrows announced.
"Drop out of warp!" Macen almost shouted the order.
Ebert instinctively obeyed, "Now what?"
"Our pursuit dropped out of warp but the whole frinxing fleet just dropped out in front of us!" Burrows cheered. The viewer filled with the sight of capital ships slowing to impulse and passing by the Solstice.
"I present the cavalry to you," Macen smirked.
"The enemy fleet is attempting to come about to engage but they're taking heavy torpedo strike amidships," Burrows ran a play by play.
"So what do we do?" Ebert wondered.
"We find safe harbor," Macen told her, "This is Anara's show now."
"Are you certain you want to do this?" Rockford asked again. The assembled Joint Chiefs, including Kira and Joran, were in an Operations Command Center within Militia headquarters. The Detective Squad and the Data Team were present as courtesy. The Joint Chiefs, having received the intelligence provided by Kerber and Smith, decided to act upon it. Kira was reluctant to dispatch troops against fellow Bajorans but Joran had already committed the Constabulary.
The Shield of the Prophets and other System Defense Force ships in orbit had used their cargo transporters to move armored troop transports and armored vehicles to the surrounding areas encompassing the wooded glens the would-be rioters had encamped in. The trees were too thick to roll the vehicles through them. So the Constabulary, under Supervisor Kell and Chief Inspector Fel, were going in on foot.
The Joint Chiefs had united in their petition to authorize regular Militia ground troops and Special Forces in supporting the constables involved in the effort. Kira had given in to the united front and authorized the troop movements and operation plans the other generals presented. Militia interceptors and assault ships were in the air alongside sub-impulse raiders in patrolling the skies above. The Militia had introduced a new sub-impulse raider as well. The R-4 was making its operational debut.
The riot was scheduled for dawn. So the united Militia was acting in the afternoon beforehand. They received their taste of what the renegades possessed when the offloaded troop transports and armored vehicles came under fire from isomagnetic disintegrators. The vehicles, damaged an undamaged, opened fire with their main batteries. The troops and deputies scrambled to find cover behind trees as phaser fire erupted from the woods. General Jira Nell ordered the assault ships and R-4 raiders to provide cover fire.
Kira watched in grim realization that the fight would be bloodier than even she'd expected. The anti-armor weapons had been reloaded since a second volley spewed forth. The armor was moving in evasive patterns while spewing forth suppressive fire that blew trees apart. The strafing runs also blew trees apart and shredded the terrain. Fires were breaking out at the encampments as shelters were caught in particle beam streams. The shrapnel from exploding tree trunks did more damage than phaser fire.
An assault ship exploded in mid-air as the first anti-air missile was fired. Flaming wreckage fell, starting new fires. General Jiri ordered return fire with every weapon at the air forces' disposal.
The R-4's launched micro photon torpedoes at the resistance below. Antimatter explosions did far more damage than anything else employed in the rising conflict so far. Jiri was well pleased, "Air groups report the missile launchers have been destroyed."
"Then call off the torpedo strikes," Kira grated, "Those are Bajorans down there."
"Those are collaborators," the elderly General Krinz coughed up phlegm. The presumptive general in command of the Colonial Defense Forces had been surprised to learn they were in the Gamma Quadrant engaging the Caldraen Order's hired forces. He'd been even more alarmed to learn that Starfleet, the Ascendancy, and Outbound Ventures were supporting the effort. While the general slept his days away in his office, Colonel Anara ran the daily operations of the fleet. Krinz had been surprised to learn that the Colonial Defense Forces now comprised the largest starship fleet that the Militia possessed.
Of course, as Kira's main opposition, he'd made noises trying to pretend he was fully briefed and cognizant of the matters at hand. He'd been stunned to learn of the vedek revolts and the scope of the Caldraen threat. For now, Krinz merely wanted to get back to his day long nap. If that took butchering rebellious Bajoran civilians, so be it.
"You can't speak to me like that," Krinz's voice quavered with apoplectic rage, "Why the First Minister appointed you Chairperson when I had seniority I'll never know. I've been with the Joint Chiefs since they were recreated. I'll be here after you're forced to resign."
"And that's the problem," Kira wasn't finished now that her temper had erupted, "No one will demand your resignation because you've been with the Militia since it was reconstituted. But for Prophets' sake, you never even now where your command is. Do you even know what your chain of command responsibilities are? How many colonies we have and how many people depend on the Colonial Defense Forces for safety and security every single day? No! Because you can't make it two hours in your office before you drift off to sleep. And those two hours you spend scheming up accusations to present at General Staff meetings to discredit me. Did you even know it was Colonel Anara shouldering your responsibilities?"
"Anara? Who the hell is Anara? What happened to what's her name? Ro something?" Krinz replied, "Wasn't there a Ro sometime?"
"Ro Laren rejoined Starfleet after the war with the Federation ended," Joran offered.
"War? I thought we were in the Federation," Krinz was getting more and more confused, "When the hell did we fight a war with the Federation? Aren't we still part of it? Wasn't that the whole point of what we were doing? To join the Federation?"
"General Krinz, do you know the current status of our Gamma Quadrant colonies?" Joran was worried.
"Gamma Quadrant? You're trying to trick me. I know we don't have any colonies in the Gamma Quadrant. The Dominion destroyed New Bajor and we never went back," Krinz touted his intimate knowledge, "Wouldn't have happened if we would have had starships. That's we don't go back. We don't have any warp capable ships to defend colonies in the Gamma Quadrant. Hell, we can't even defend our Alpha Quadrant colonies. That's Starfleet's job."
"Have you heard enough yet?" Kira asked.
A pall had come over First Minister Astris as she'd entered the room before Krinz's initial outburst and Kira's response.
"First Minister, now we can get somewhere. This so-called 'Chairperson' has no idea of what she's commanding. She thinks we've fought wars we haven't and that we have colonies in the Gamma Quadrant," Krinz scoffed.
"General Krinz, we have a dozen colonies in the Gamma Quadrant," Astris sadly told him, "You nominally command a large fleet of warp capable starships that patrol all of our colonial territories. Colonel Anara does your job far too well it seems. Since you have no comprehension of what it is you command or what current and recent past events are."
"You can't believe her fairy tales," Krinz demanded, "I was assigned a joke of a command but I stuck to it to placate useless figureheads like you so that I would eventually assume the Chairman's role. And you, you took that away from me when my time came at last," spittle flew from Krinz's lips. Wracking coughs doubled him over, "Now you'll want me to resign. I see it in your eyes. Well, I won't! I'm the last pioneer that rebuilt the Militia. Everyone else is gone. You owe me."
Bajor owes you a great debt and a peaceful retirement," Astris offered her thanks, "But you are relieved."
"Hah! No First Minister of the Provisional Government can relieve a general in the Militia. You people never thought to pass that as a law," Krinz crowed.
"General, what Federation year is it?" Astris cautiously asked.
"Don't you know?" Krinz cackled, "Everyone knows its 2373. We just signed a non-aggression pact with the Dominion. Smartest thing Kai Winn ever did. She should have your job still rather than that egg sucker, Shakaar. Trumped up nobody trying to lead Bajor into being a republic. It'll never happen."
"Brigadier Joran, please assign an escort to take the General home and assign a detail to make certain he doesn't leave. Then contact the Medical Corps and have him undergo a fitness test," Astris had Krinz taken out of headquarters, "It seems Colonel Anara just earned a well deserved promotion."
"She'll relocate her official offices to Free Haven Port," Kira predicted.
"It seems she already has," Astris nodded, distracted by Krinz's obvious deterioration, "I pitied him. I had no idea things had gotten so far out of hand."
"It's been an open secret. We just kept the public from knowing," Kira told her.
"When is the last time he underwent a yearly fitness test?" Astris asked.
"Krinz banned medical staff from his offices over fifteen years ago. Before the Dominion War, it seems," Kira answered, "He must have realized back then he was slipping."
"But his pride and ambition wouldn't let him leave. And I aided that," Astris sighed, "I've had a series of my shortcomings thrown in my face lately. General Jiri, I understand you ordered and advocated bombing my constituents. General Kira is right. These people are deluded and deceived. They deserve our mercy not our vengeance."
"If I may point out..." Jiri protested.
"You may not!" Astris shut her down, "Call off the airstrikes. I assume the phaser cannons on our armored support are set for stun level."
"You're correct, First Minister," Joran answered, "As is every small arm. We substituted stun grenades in place of the Militia's usual photon grenades. The Constabulary will need additional units and chargers when this is done. I anticipate civil unrest to last for many months to come."
"Thanks to our breakthrough intelligence provided by Outbound Ventures," Kira told her, "Even the followers of the Caldraens' rival Orders are uniting behind this protest surge."
"It's been a rough term," Astris sighed, "First the Federation war, then the Pah-wraith crisis, now religious strife unseen since before the Occupation."
"The rebels are still a distinct minority," Kira told her, "The Vedek Assembly's push to re-educate these people in the true faith in the Prophets is our best bet for reclaiming them as loyal citizens."
"I understand some of the ex-Resistance fighters joining in. Modern Bajor doesn't fit many of their expectations," Astris said, "But this is a clearly apostate movement. Where did all the unbelievers come from?"
"The population surge from the Federation worlds brought with it a lot of angry people. People that resent the government for renewing ties with the Federation and strengthening ties with the Cardassians," Kira explained what Rockford's group had uncovered, "It seems those immigrants that settled in the colonies are more satisfied with the Ministry than those that settled on Bajor."
"They've had a hard welcome," Astris admitted, "We were thrust back into a monetary currency exchange system and there was a shortage of wage paying jobs."
"And as an agrarian world, we haven't widely distributed replicator technology," Kira added, "The Federation raised newcomers were used to free food and clothing. Having to deal with fixed market pricing and earning a living wage caught them by surprise. Vedek Boran promised a replicator in every home and a bolstered power grid to handle the increase in consumption."
"I can see the appeal," Astris confessed.
"Add to that Boran's message was completely secular with the Prophets removed from it and the agnostic and atheist Bajorans coming out of the Federation felt at home going to the expected temple services. Which turned out to be nothing but political propaganda," Kira added.
"Generals, the deputies and troops have made close quarters contact with the opposition," a monitor updating the generals announced.
"Now we see how well our mandate holds up," Kira grimaced.
Chapter Eight
"Colonel, Captain Vaughn and Starfleet have led Outbound Ventures and the Gamma Quadrant patrol group against the Solarian Security forces," Captain Wyn Meru reported, "The Iotians are standing firm with the renegade Militia ships."
"Tech Sergeant Triss, wide band hails. Order them to stand down or we will open fire." Anara instructed, "Tell them that includes nominal Iotian Starfleet assets as well."
"Let them chew on that for sixty seconds," Wyn Meru clarified.
"Captain Yar, a word," Sean Patrick Mason exited the turbolift still clutching his usual sifter of whiskey.
"What do you want, you fossil?" Yar was impatient, "The Familias authorized this contract. You told me so yourself."
"There's been a change of leadership on Sigma Iotia II," Mason told her, "Oxmyx rubbed out Devic and Jako. She took their territories as well as those of Bosses Dexo and Gige. Dexo and Gige have sworn personal loyalty and been made capos. Oxmyx and took their territories as well."
"Devic didn't have a son or daughter but Jako had both," Yar was impressed.
"She killed them all," Mason told her, "Their extended families were hit."
"I didn't know Oxmyx had it in her," Yar was openly impressed now, "What's that have to do with us?"
'No," Yar replied succinctly.
"She's not offering a choice," Mason warned her.
"She'll thank us when it drums up business for the Iotian Starfleet to replace lost Bajoran ships. That and she gets the cut from our latinum," Yar countered, "Now get off my bridge."
"I don't think you grasp the severity of your situation," Mason leaned in close to lower his voice to a whisper, "Oxmyx just rubbed out the Five Familias in one braod stroke. What makes you think she'll tolerate you disobeying her?"
"She's not here, is she?" Yar laughed derisively, "Call me when Fleet Boss Kracko sends ships to stop us. Otherwise, get the hell of my bridge. Now that's not an option."
Her XO, Bradley Benford, took hold of Mason and roughly pulled the older man to the turbolift and shoved him in it, "Pick any deck but this one."
"Cooper, target that lead Bajoran ship with full phasers and a torpedo spread. Let's send this bitch to hell. Ahmadaht, prepare evasive maneuvers," Yar issued orders to Wes Cooper at Tactical and Suri Ahmadaht at the CONN.
"Weapons locked," Cooper reported.
"CONN standing by," Ahmadaht said.
"Fire!" Yar yelled in excitement.
"Incoming!" Sergeant Bol Ferrin warned from Tactical.
"Evasive maneuvers, lock all weapons on the Iotian targets and fire," Anara responded calmly.
Lieutenant Crispus Alva at the helm repositioned the starship at the last second so that the torpedoes' guidance systems couldn't compensate. Bol fired weapons locked onto not only the ISS Kelly, but also the ISS Barrows, and ISS Dillinger. The Fist of the Prophets' escorts also opened fire on every target. The three Constitution (refit)-classes with Anara each targeted a specific Iotian ship. The Temple of the Prophets focused on the Capo while the Triumph of the Prophets exclusively targeted the Dillinger, and the Tales of the Prophets unloaded on the Barrows.
The remainder of the Alpha Quadrant patrol ships bore down on the Sword of the Prophets, the Shadow of the Prophets, and the Salvation of the Prophets. Yet neither side opened fire. The Excelsior-class refits had an extensive advantage in firepower faced against Miranda (refit)- and Asia (refit)- class vessels as well as two other Constitution-class refits. Their commanders and crews had been promised that the Militia wouldn't attempt an open invasion and pitch them into battle against their former comrades. They desperately sought guidance from the vedeks on the planets but the orders were contradictory. Adding to the rebels' confusion was the simple fact the Militia hadn't engaged them yet despite their obvious intentions earlier to destroy the Hand of the Prophets and the threat she had posed to exposing the Caldraen Order's plans.
But Neela's ship was nowhere to be found. Instead, the three heavy cruisers faced a dozen of their own. Together, Anara's task force could inflict heavy damages upon the three rogues. But they weren't doing so. When Colonel Anara hailed them, they listened.
"Attention Militia vessels. You may believe you've irrevocably chosen a side. But look at what that side has been telling you and compare it with actual history. Our vessels will not open fire unless you prove to be hostile. Then we're authorized to defend ourselves to any degree required. I leave that choice to you as individual commanders and crews," Anara signed off, "How are we doing so far?"
"Considering that we're facing a Himalaya-class, an Apollo-class, and a Renaissance-class and seem to be holding our own, I'd say pretty good," Wyn Meru reported.
"How did you identify the vessel types so quickly?" Anara was impressed.
"Like almost every ship built by the Iotians, they simply copied older Starfleet vessels. They were all in our database as decommissioned ship types. All circa the same the same technical level as the Fist herself," Wyn Meru explained.
"They seem overwhelmed," Anara noted, "I don't think they actually thought we'd shoot back at them."
"Why would they think that?" Wyn Meru wondered.
"According to Macen's profiling, Yar feels invincible because she's defied Iotian Starfleet orders before and gotten a slap on the wrist. She defies Iotian Federation set policies and ambitions on a whim and always been absolved. But this time Sigma Iotia II's leader promised First Minister Astris that she would order them to stand down or there would finally be consequences for defying her," Anara explained.
"Well, either she lied or they ignored her completely," Wyn Meru commented.
"The Iotian Starfleet is sending a representative starship to deal with them. I don't think this will look good for them," Anara estimated.
"So where is this representative starship now?" Wyn Meru asked.
"She was coming from Kalendra so she'll be here at any time. Militia Command gave them the system coordinates. Their long range sensors will detect the battle. They'll probably make a cautious approach to avoid battle damage," Anara guessed.
"Holy frinx!" Bol yelped, "An Iotian starship just dropped out of warp on top of us!"
"What the hell?" Crispus remarked, "Do you know how risky that was? Coming through a war zone at maximum warp could be suicide."
"I'd say they were in a hurry to keep us from further damaging their property," Anara mused.
"Colonel, a Captain Mara of the ISS Bonnie & Clyde is ordering all parties to stand down," Triss told her, "They're tight beaming a subspace coded signal directly at the ISS Capo."
"Yar's ship. Where she goes the others follow," Anara stated, "Cease fire and let's give Captain Mara an opening to work with."
"The Iotians are maintaining weapons locks but they've ceased fire," Bol reported.
"Let's respond in kind so they know we're not playing," Anara ordered and Triss relayed the instructions to the other ships.
"Any chance of eavesdropping on their little chat?" Wyn Meru asked Triss.
"Not a chance. It would take the computer hours to chew through this encryption," Triss predicted, "Not that it recognizes that there's a signal at all."
"What are you saying?" Anara grew concerned.
"The communications system registers a subspace anomaly being directed back and forth between the Iotian ships. But a lockout the Iotians must put in it denies its a comm signal. I backdoored my way into riding atop the signals to verify their existence and ran into their encryption," Triss explained, "I'd have to reprogram the computer and delete the built-in, preinstalled lockout to even get a chance at decypting their signals."
"Son of a bitch," Anara grated, "The Iotians booby trapped all of our ships so we couldn't eavesdrop on them."
"It is rude. Both things I mean. They should've trusted us like we trusted them and they shouldn't have put in a lockout," Wyn Meru grew philosophical.
"Your sister would chewing deuterium by now," Anara noted.
"That is why she's Special Forces and I'm a fleet officer," Wyn Meru explained, "Mesa's an action junkie. I just want to get my job done and keep every Bajoran safe."
"Our gambit with our lost siblings seems to be paying off. No one's opened fire yet," Anara noted.
"They're probably asking the Caldraen Order for instructions and the vedeks are probably panicky and contradicting each other. They may be revolutionaries but they aren't soldiers. They make everyone else fight for them," Wyn Meru opined.
"Very insightful, Captain. I'm glad I put in for your promotion,"Anara grinned.
"Finally," Wyn Meru sighed, "Now Mesa can't rub her higher rank in my face. She always uses that as cudgel to make a point that advancement can happen quicker in the Ground Forces."
"All I know is you deserve to be a Major. I hope you won't request a command of your own and stay on with us instead," Anara confessed.
"Who says I won't take command of the Fist instead?" Wyn Meru chuckled, "They'll promote you for certain after this is resolved."
"That all depends on how it's resolved," Anara replied, "We manged to all work together despite hidden political gulfs to assist the Cardassian Guard. I'm betting we can put our differences aside and rejoin everyone back into the fleets."
"Gul Maret's anti-Bajoran rants would be enough to unify anyone," Wyn Meru pointed out.
"Triss, hail the Sword, Shadow, and Salvation again. I want a word," Anara instructed.
Yar studied the image on her viewer. It was all she could do. Her bridge had been locked down and auxiliary control had sealed itself shut. Engineering was locked out as well so there was no overriding the systems from there. And the woman with the rainbow hued hair smiling at her like she'd swallowed a canary wasn't helping things.
"You are not Iotian," Yar accused.
"True. I'm the first Betan to assume command of an Iotian Starfleet ship," the strangely garbed woman told her.
"And that isn't an Iotian Starfleet uniform," Yar stated next.
"But could be soon. We're test marketing it to see how potential clients and member worlds react to it versus the standard duty uniform now," the strange captain from Beta III told her.
"Who the hell are you anyway? How dare you lock me out of my ship's controls? And isn't Beta III pre-industrial? How the hell did you become a non-Iotian starship commander?" Yar rattled off.
"I'm Captain Mara. Beta III built Landru remember? We were a warp capable culture once before our leaders at the time built Landru to stop a civil war. The computer forbade technology besides itself. When they repaired and reactivated Landru, I was one of the refugees the Iotians took in and I joined the Starfleet as a conscript. I earned a commission and served aboard two starships. Eventually an exception was made to open a pilot program to allow non-Iotians command ranks. I'm the first from the program to achieve having my own command. I locked out your systems so you wouldn't do anything stupid," the Captain explained, "And don't deny your first impulse was to fire on me so I couldn't report you defying Oxmyx's order. I have complete control over all three of your ships. You seriously didn't think the Iotians would start handing out starships to aliens without same safety measures built into them, did you?"
"Which means they did the same to you," Yar angrily replied.
"Except I was smart enough to find out my prefix code and change it so only I know what it is," Mara was still smiling, "If you'd been brought up through the Starfleet ranks rather than simply given a ship and told to play pirate, you'd know about these things. Now, you're coming back to Iotian Federation space where you will face an inquiry and a decision will be made on whether or not you continue in command of the Capo."
"The deal struck with my mother was that Turkanis could have three starships to run as the Famlias saw fit to let us," Yar countered.
"And the Familias put a political officer aboard your ship and you've constantly gone against his instructions as he received from them," Mara continued, "That track record ends now. You all will remain locked aboard your starships while my people control them remotely through our own consoles. Even the escape pods are locked down and inoperable. The Familias are dead or reduced to serving Oxmyx. You want to stay alive? I suggest you swear the oath of loyalty as well. But remember, if you break it and disobey the Big Boss herself or one of her capos, you'll be put to death. So sit back and enjoy the ride and contemplate life or the lack of it."
The screen showed the starship beginning to accelerate. Yar turned to Ahmadaht, "Suri? Are you doing this?"
"I'm locked out like everyone else," the young Persian told her, "But they've allowed us to have systems displays. So I know we've set course for the Wormhole."
"Yar, the computer still established communications through the Federation and Bajoran subspace relays. It's contacted the Governor directly," Benton warned her.
"How the hell do I explain this to my mother?" Yar whined.
"I think that's the point of the exercise," Benton replied, "Captain Mara is enjoying herself to the fullest."
Ishara Yar's image appeared on the main viewer. She looked the same way she had fighting the opposing gang on Tarkana IV before her side prevailed, "Ishtashra, what the frinx have you done now?"
"I was following through on a contract the Familias authorized," Yar replied.
"Oxmyx killed half of the Bosses for that and made the other two her loyal terriers," Ishara Yar scolded her daughter, "She told you to break the contract to avoid entanglements with the Bajorans and you wnet and fired on them anyway."
"They fired on me!" Yar protested.
"Bullshit! They downloaded their logs up until the point they reached you. I've seen your ship's logs. You blatantly disregarded Oxmyx's express order and then fired on one of the Starfleet's prized customers. They're courting the Bajorans to join their Federation and you just did your damned best to frinx it up for them, I can't make this go away this time," Ishara warned Yar, "Do you have any scope of how important those ships are to our economy? We avoid most of the Iotian Federation's taxes and conscription requirements by having crews already out there earning latinum that the Federation takes a hefty cut of. Then the rest of the latinum floats our economy as we buy things from other member worlds and traders that come to Turkanis. I had a choice to hand you over and lose the ships or hand you to Oxmyx for whatever revenge she has in mind. Guess which choice I had to make?"
"Call my cousin. She can get me out of this," Yar requested.
"Ishtashra, Sela is half-Romulan and Director of the Tal Shiar. Any favor she does comes at a heavy price. I can't pay that bill," Ishara warned her, "I can contact her and negotiate on your behalf but you'll have to pay whatever price she asks of you yourself. Whatever it is will be debasing and petty. It may also cost you your life. Are ready to make that kind of bargain?"
"Tell her I'll meet any demand she makes. I just need to stay alive to do it. I'll also be in a better position to meet her price of I still command the Capo," Yar told her mother.
"You're a fool," Ishara damned her daughter, "Sela will use you and then recycle you like so much trash."
"Just make a deal happen," Yar demanded.
"This is all on you," Ishara warned her daughter, "Remember that when the time comes to pay up."
Ishara Yar closed the connection. The computer cycled the comm station and Captain Mara reappeared on the screen, "Did you enjoy your chat with your mother? She's far more cooperative than you've ever been. She at least understands how things work. Good luck with cousin, Director Sela. I'll be curious to learn what she asks of you in exchange for pleading your case to Big Boss Oxmyx and Fleet Boss Kracko."
The screen shifted back to the streaming stars of being at warp. Yar exploded, "That arrogant bitch thinks she's beaten me?"
"For now she has," Benton tried to calm her, "But we grease the wheels of Iotian justice and get back to our business model and all will be forgiven in exchange for the bulk of our earnings for a specified amount of time. Oxmyx understands business. Make it worth her while and she'll not only spare you but let you retain command. Then you'll be in position to dela with Captain Mara. Remember this, she's the first in a pilot program. She fails and they'll make her a conscript again."
"I'll make certain to sabotage her career," Yar vowed.
"Now that's the captain I know," Benton smirked.
Under Starfleet's alliance with the Militia, Bajoran officer were allowed to serve aboard Starfleet ships at the captain's discretion. Vaughn had a mixed crew and he'd made a special exemption for the Cardassian Guard exchange officer serving with the Militia. Zivan Slaine held the rank of dalin in the Guard which made her equivalent to a lt. commander. Slaine served as DS9's Tactical Officer and was manning the post aboard the station's outrigger.
"Slaine, wide band hail, I want to speak with Benton Crawford," Vaughn insisted.
"Yes, Captain," Slaine activated her controls and sent the voice message. It took time, but she she received a reply, "Commodore Crawford is hailing us."
"Let's see how the 'Commodore' defends his actions today," Vaughn said grimly, "Put him on screen."
Smoke filled Crawford's bridge but it seemed the fires had been put out, "What do you want, Vaughn?"
"I want your surrender. Marko Vilnius wants his ships back," Vaughn told him, "This could have gone down without the fighting."
"Vilnius can go to hell and you can join him," Crawford snarled, "I won't surrender. You'll have to destroy my ships to stop us."
"It doesn't have to be this way," Vaughn insisted.
"Look, 'Captain', my ships are under repair. Two of your ships are affecting major repairs as well. The fighting effectiveness of the Farragut has been halved. Your own ship is having its shield emitters repaired and your ablative armor has been sheared at strategic points. I'd say we stand a decent chance after all," Crawford declared his defiance and signed off.
"They're jamming communications. We have to approach a friendly ship to get close enough to burn through jamming," Slaine told Vaughn.
"Tenmei, move us in closer to the Farragut. I need to speak with her captain about covering the Dublin and Belfast's flanks while they undergo repairs," Vaughn instructed the CONN/OPS Officer, his own daughter and ship's XO, Lt. Commander Prynn Tenmei.
"Maneuvering, aye," Tenmei said crisply.
"This isn't going to end well for any of us," Vaughn unhappily predicted.
"Sir, our Militia escorts have disengaged from the other fighting alongside Outbound Ventures and are moving in on the damaged Solarian vessels," Slaine reported.
"Hail their commander," Vaughn ordered.
A stocky Bajoran major appeared on the screen. Given his age and facial scarring, he'd served with the Resistance as a youth, "Captain Vaughn, can we assist you?"
"Major, what are your intentions regarding the Solarian cruisers we engaged?" Vaughn asked.
"It's Major Bolo, and I'm insuring that they pose no further threat," the Bajoran officer stated.
"Major Bolo, the corporation that owns those cruisers wishes to reclaim them," Vaughn didn't like where this was headed.
"We'll grant them salvage rights. For now, Colonel Anara's orders are to neutralize the threat posed by any and all vessels contracted to and by the Caldraen Order," Bolo argued.
"I can't allow you to fire on them unless they initiate hostilities," Vaughn pressed the issue.
"Captain, I believe you agreed to cede operational control to Colonel Anara. Her express orders at the beginning of this operation were to render all fighting forces inoperable," Bolo challenged Vaughn, "We're going to accomplish that task, with your acceptance of that fact or not."
"He's signed off," Slaine explained the termination of communications, "And the Militia ships are furthering their approach."
"Dalin Slaine, if I ordered you to fire on a Militia ship, would you?" Vaughn had to know.
"No, I wouldn't. I'm a Militia Exchange Officer and my loyalties are to the Cardassian Guard and through them, the Bajoran Militia. The Militia saved the Detepa Council and Castellan Garan from Gul Maret's forces and enabled his capture. I will not fire on them under any circumstances."
"Thank you for your honesty," Vaughn told her, "But I may have to relieve you of your post if things go sideways."
"Solarian ships are firing on the Milita!" Tenmei announced. It was visible the viewer as well as her sensors.
"Good God, Crawford must be suicidal," Vaughn said, "The Militia ships are relatively undamaged in comparison."
"Major Bolo is engaging the Solarian forces," Slaine informed him.
"I can see that," Vaughn was irritable.
"He's targeting their power and drive systems," Slaine told him, "It's a precision response. The Solarian ships will left intact relying solely on their battery capacity."
"Forcing them to surrender," Vaughn appreciated the subtlety of the approach, "Contact Major Bolo and thank him for his restraint. We'll collect the prisoners."
"Sir, the Militia starships have dropped their shields and activated transporters. Life signs are disappearing from the crippled Solarian vessels and reappearing aboard the Militia starships," Slaine informed him.
"Another of Colonel Anara's directives, no doubt," Vaughn was bitter.
"Sir, this is a Bajoran matter. Crawford and his crews should face Bajoran justice," Slaine offered her opinion.
"Duly noted, Dalin," Vaughn wasn't satisfied though.
The Outbound Ventures ships had engaged Boromov's renegades. Captain Liu led the four starships against the four Solarian ships. The Militia starships were ordered to standby for support roles while the SID crews dealt with Solarian. But Boromov had learned from his experiences in the Algona Sector in the Deeper Beta Quadrant. This time he gave Captain Taggert free rein. And Liu, Robinson, Smith, and Pine were receiving lessons in humility. Pine especially dealt with a dedicated foe in Taggert.
"Damage reports coming in from all decks," MacTaggert reported to her captain.
"Bridge to Engineering," Pine commed, "Status report Chief Stewart?"
"She'd better Mister," Pine signed off, "Bridge to Sickbay, what's your status Doctor Chen?"
Chen Mulan didn't have the best news but at least it wasn't all bad, "Twenty-three casualties and counting. No fatalities yet."
"I appreciate the morbid optimism, Doctor," Pine signed off again, "Lieutenant Kraken, can't you shake these bastards?"
"What's her registration again?" Pine wondered.
"The SS Fatality," the OPS Officer, De'ara, answered.
"How are our fellow ships doing?" Pine asked.
"The Andes has the SS Precision down to auxiliary power. The Anchorage is holding her own against the SS Bombardment. And the Electromagnetic has the SS Counterstrike on batteries," De'ara made the report.
"Hail Captain Robinson and request assistance," Pine swallowed her pride, "If we need help then we need help."
"What about the Militia forces standing by?" MacTaggert asked.
"I'd prefer to keep this in-house. The Bajorans will take Boromov and the crews prisoner. Starfleet wants them and we were instructed by Captain Riker to deliver them," Pine reminded her XO.
"The Electromagnetic has joined us. The Fatality is diverting weapons to deal with Captain Robinson," Kraken reported.
"Can you position us to strike the Fatality's drive section?" Pine inquired.
"Now that we aren't the only target? It'll be easy," Kraken boasted.
"Robinson is certainly playing out the role of distraction," MacTaggert noted, "She's taking heavy fire."
"We'll be relieving her shortly," Pine told her, "I want all weapons brought to bear on the Fatality's drive systems and warp core. I need them crippled."
She received an affirmative from the Tactical Officer. Kraken her announcement, "We're in position."
"Fire everything we've got and keep going until her power systems are down," Pine ordered.
It took several volleys but De'ara made the official pronouncement, "She's dead in the water."
"Signal Captain Robinson and express our profound thanks," Pine instructed De'ara.
"We're being hailed by the Fatality," De'ara announced.
"Curious. Put it on screen," Pine instructed.
Taggert was visibly shaken but relatively unharmed. Her bridge showed battle damage though, "Well played. I missed you after your other ship came in guns blazing. I'd thought you were too damaged to sustain a credible burst of firepower. Congratulations."
"So this is your official surrender?" Pine asked.
Taggert chuckled, "We've nothing left but hand phasers to fight with. So yes, this is me surrendering. Pytor Boromov is headed for the escape pods. So you might to keep your tractor beam and transporter ready."
"I mark one escape pod ejecting from the Fatality," De'ara reported.
"And there he goes. My hero," Taggert said wearily.
"The Electromagnetic picked him up," De'ara stated, "Should I alert the Security detachment to prepare to receive prisoners?"
"You understand we have to arrest you?" Pine worried.
"It's better than staying aboard here and wait to asphyxiate or freeze to death," Taggert admitted, "We'll come peacefully and gratefully. I'd appreciate if you tended to our wounded first, They're triaged in Sickbay."
"You should've stayed with Federation Security, Captain Taggert," Pine regretted what had to happen next.
"And miss this glorious life?" Taggert said with gallows humor, "Who knows? Maybe Solarian or someone else will hire me back on after I'm released from the penal colony I get sentenced to."
"I look forward to actually meeting you, Captain," Pine confessed.
"I look forward to meeting the crew that beat me," Taggert was immensely curious.
"All Solarian vessels have been neutralized," De'ara reported to her captain, "The Militia ships are moving off to join Starfleet."
"Let them," Pine sighed wearily, "We kept them out of this fight. Maybe Captain Vaughn will let them see some action. The Bajorans want some payback. I hope they get it."
"Colonel, I have Major Gelt from the Sword of the Prophets on the channel," Triss announced.
"Put her on screen," Anara was angry. Gelt's image appeared and Anara spoke before her subordinate could say anything, "What's it going to be, Major? Your fellow mutineers aboard the Mystery of the Prophets and the Spear of the Prophets made the mistake of firing in their own. The officers and select enlisted are facing the death penalty for the fatalities they inflicted upon the Security in the Prophets and the Faith in the Prophets. Will you join them are will you simply stand a tribunal for mutiny?"
"We'll surrender, Colonel. But we don't recognize the Militia's authority to condemn us. You're all corrupt and puppets of a godless government," Gelt spouted off like mantra.
"Spare the shuk sermon," Anara snorted "I've read Vedek Boran's manifesto. She's the one that lost all faith in the Prophets. You're simply a weapon she can aim to further her ambitions. You want to read it? I'll transmit it to every crewman aboard your ships. You can enjoy its philosophies of obtaining political power through violence as prize crews return your stolen starships back to Bajor. Boran isn't a savior or messiah. She's simply an overly ambitious political actor with a god complex."
Gelt turned angry, "Don't sully her name! Vedek Boran is the only one that recognizes and teaches the truth. The Prophets abandoned us so we need to abandon them and create a new world order. Religion is the opiate of the masses that will be used to steer the populace towards accepting Vedek Boran as our absolute leader."
"And finally the truth shall set you free," Anara retorted, "Or in your case, twenty-five to life in a prison."
"Colonel, I hate to interrupt but the Solstice is on approach to Plantation III," Bol informed her.
"You're already too late," Gelt choked back welling tears, "Vedek Boran and her followers will never be taken alive."
"What has she done?" Anara demanded to know.
"If we can't have our utopia. You can't have your food," Gelt bitterly laughed.
"Colonel, I'm detecting antimatter blasts across Plantation I through III," Bol was horrified, "Every power station is breaching."
"The released isotopes will force you to spend years reclaimating the atmosphere and soils," Gelt managed a feeble laugh, "You've lost."
"Then why are you all still alive?" Anara snarled.
"Boran wanted witnesses to continue teaching her truth. We can do that even from prison," Gelt wore a fanatical expression, "You'll have to kill every one of us to stop the message from getting out again."
"Don't tempt me," Anara warned her. She hadn't felt hate like that since the Cardassians withdrew from Bajor.
"Colonel, I'm receiving a transmission from the Solstice. Commander Macen wishes to speak with you," Triss told her.
"Standby to receive boarding parties. They will be armed and prepared to kill if necessary," Anara warned Gelt.
"We're already destined be martyrs for the cause. Our deaths will live on in legend," Gelt sounded gleeful over the prospect.
"What the hell are we going to do with them?" Wyn Meru asked, "We can't take them back to Bajor."
"Put Macen on screen," Anara angrily instructed, "Commander, this isn't a good time."
"Boran is still alive," Macen told her.
"Where?" Anara gripped her seat and leaned forward inch closer to the screen.
"There's a shelter built on Plantation III. Using the cipher our Data Team broke we intercepted several transmissions from Boran to a freighter at Waypoint Station. The plan is to wait until all forces have left the system and then the freighter will come in and transport Boran and her closest advisors to the ship and relocate her to a location yet to be determined. Apparently that will be decided based upon the Caldraen Order's negotiations with the Cult of the Pah-wraiths getting underway in Cardassian space," Macen told her.
"Commander, this very important: did you or your crew intercept any indications that the Order was going to sabotage the planetary power grids?" Anara asked.
"Sadly, No. We merely intercepted Boran's transmission and received her coordinates. Checking them even after the blasts we detected a bomb shelter capable of withstanding the blasts and maintaining a life support support system. Ironically, it's powered by a small warp core," Macen explained the events that transpired and the current situation.
"I need those coordinates," Anara demanded.
"Sending them now. We'll standby in case of any further transmissions that reveal the identity of the freighter and its crew," Macen offered.
Triss nodded at Anara, "We've received them. We'll be joining you. Out."
"Triss, alert Waypoint Security to lock down all traffic in and out of the station and to track down which freighter recently received a transmission originating from this solar system," Wyn Meru stepped in.
"On it," Triss was excited.
"Now we have her," Anara grated, "Inform Command Sergeant Tryllis to stand by to detain prisoners that we will be transporting aboard."
Tryllis Tilya was the Company Platoon Commander aboard the Fist of the Prophets.
Anara continued, "Have Chief Constable Orm attend as well to insure Vedek Boran's civil rights are maintained."
Orm Telos was their lead investigator assigned to the ship by the Constabulary.
"I wonder if the brig's cells are big enough to contain them all," Wyn Meru admitted
"I don't care if they're crushed into there. They're criminals and will be treated as such," Anara told her, "Boran's manifesto counts as a confession. So we already know she's guilty."
"Triss, inform Command as soon as Vedek Boran and her fellow vedeks are secured," Anara ordered.
"That's the thing, Colonel. I've been attempting to update them as to the disposition of the colonies and the massacre of the colonists. They aren't responding or acknowledging signal," Triss explained.
"Maybe a comm buoy went down?" Wyn Meru guessed.
"The new buoy Macen set in place should compensate for a failure close to the system," Anara told her, "I'm afraid they're too busy to respond."
The General Staff had broken down into a squabbling voles' nest. Kira and Astris were assaulted with dozens of questions all at once. Following each question came conflicting counsel. Kira had seen the Provisional Government at each throats like this but never the Militia's General Staff. Then again, General Krim had run an orderly house.
"Shut up!" Kira shouted to be heard, "Or I'll have the next unappointed speaker stunned and detained."
"I'll do it," Shade volunteered from the intelligence station where Kerber and Smith were volleying information back and forth with both Macen and Neela.
"You have the job," Kira decided, "She's non-partisan so you can only blame yourself if you wake up in a cell."
The generals and colonels that were supposedly running the operation to arrest the would-be overthrowers of the government had left the troops to their own devices for several minutes now as the situation in the Operations Center devolved faster than the plan in the field was falling apart.
"Brigadier Joran, please contact Supervisor Kell and Chief Inspector Fel and get a status report on the Constabulary's progress. General Haldon, Get a troop update. General Jiri, have our aerial units scan for rebels attempting to escape the cordon and route troops to intercept them. Pull yourselves together. They're lives on the line, military, law enforcement, and civilian," Kira reasserted control.
"Thank you for that," Astris whispered to her.
"I thought we'd actually have to stun a few to get the point across," Kira shrugged.
"Fortunately they saw sense," Astris conceded, "How many casualties has each side taken so far?"
"Too many already," Kira said unhappily, "The strafing runs were unacceptable. General Jiri needs disciplinary action for that. This isn't warfare."
"Isn't it?" Astris wondered, "Many of the rebels are former Resistance fighters. They know that terrain better than most of our troops. And they seem willing to kill for their cause while we're constrained to taking prisoners. They're aware of that and it emboldens them because they can wake up in a detention cell and try again after they're released."
"What are you suggesting we do then?" Kira was cautious in asking.
"I don't know yet. It has to be humane but we can't rehabilitate them all. The hardened core of this rebellion needs to leave Bajor. Permanently," Astris suggested.
"We haven't exiled Bajorans for a century," Kira was aghast at the suggestion, "And even then, where would we send them?"
"One problem at a time, General. First we need to capture them all and process them through the courts," Astris replied.
"Will someone answer the Fist of the Prophets?" Kerber yelled across the center, "She's been signaling for twenty minutes."
"Send it to my screen," Kira instructed, "Colonel, I hope you have good news."
"I have the worst news imaginable," Anara told her and Astris. After she finished describing the warp core breaches and the environmental catastrophes coupled with loss of lives, she added, "But we've detained Vedek Boran and her cabal of fellow vedeks."
"I want Vedek Boran brought here immediately," Astris' voice shook with rage.
"Three starships are still filled with her loyalists," Anara explained, "I have prize crews aboard but the mutineers vastly outnumber and they believe Boran martyred herself. If they learn she's alive, they might attempt to retake the ships and stage an attack to rescue her. I have an alternate delivery suggestion. Captain Vaughn is intent on watching the Militia's handling of Federation prisoners and our mutineers. He's unaware that e have Boran in custody. I suggest we allow Commander Macen and the Outbound Ventures crews return to Bajor and beyond to deliver both Boran and their own Federation prisoners to the proper authorities before anyone here not aboard my ship realizes that Boran survived the massacre."
"However you get it done with the least loss of life, get it done," Astris was still enraged, "Boran has to answer for killing two million people."
"I'll arrange the transfer," Anara said, "Vaughn and my own fleet won't know what happened."
Macen agreed to Anara's terms. He had to return to Bajor anyway. Captain Liu and her squadron would proceed directly to Deep Space Nine to deliver Boromov and his crews. Lt. Commander Jefferson Blackmer was apprised of the impending prisoner transfer. Starfleet Security and the Constabulary aboard the station readied a cargo bay as a holding cell. The SID crews would then depart the Bajor Sector to be reassigned new duties.
Kira briefed Joran but they kept Boran's imminent arrival a secret from the General Staff as the effort to arrest the rebels continued in a downward spiral. As Astris had predicted, the ex-Resistance fighters were willing to wage total warfare against the Militia and the deputy constables involved.
Anara was pleased that Vaughn barely mentioned Macen's abrupt departure when he beamed over to protest the Militia taking the Solarian agents and Benton Crawford prisoner. Anara dutifully listened to his impassioned arguments without a comment.
Afterwards he asked her, "So we're in agreement?"
"No," was all she said in reply.
"Colonel, your government is under threat here and domestically. How can you guarantee me these people will receive a fair trial?" Vaughn wanted to know.
"You've never questioned the fairness or validity of the Bajoran court system before, Captain. This has more to do with your personal connection to Benton Crawford than concern over civil rights and due process," Anara clamped down on him, "So drop the act."
"Crawford attacked Starfleet vessels. He needs to answer for that," Vaughn co9ntinued to argue.
"We can extradite the prisoner after he serves his sentence on Bajor," Anara offered him some solace, "Crawford and his crews aided and abetted the takeover and then annihilation of three Bajoran colonies. Two million colonists died because of the woman he was hired to defend. He himself ordered the deaths of every constable and rival vedek on the planets. He is guilty of murders in the hundreds and he will be held accountable and we have jurisdiction to try him first.."
"But murder carries the death penalty in most cases on Bajor," Vaughn was grasping at any straw, "How can you extradite a dead man?"
"By delivering his corpse to you for delivery to his family," Anara said coldly, "Now if you're done wasting my time on this, Bajoran Intelligence learned that the Caldraen Order was attempting to form an alliance with the Cult of the Pah-wraiths and possibly seek shelter on Empok Nor. I need to find out what's been done in response to this threat."
"You're in the Gamma Quadrant," Vaughn was equally cold back, "Whatever emissaries the Order dispatched to the Alpha Quadrant to seek a deal will already be meeting the cultists by now. Face facts, Colonel. You have too much to do already. You don't stand a chance of stopping them."
Vaughn exited the conversation on that note. She summoned Wyn Meru. Thc newly minted Major placed a box on Anara's desk, "Orders came to give this to you."
Anara opened it, devoid of any real curiosity. Inside it was the collar tab of a general, "They can't be serious."
"You're the official head of the Colonial Defense Forces in name as well as practice. You're even a member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. But General Kira understands that you'll be keeping your offices aboard Free Haven Port rather than reporting to Bajor," Wyn Meru gushed.
"My worst nightmares have all come true today," Anara sighed, "Any news on the Order meeting with the Cult situation?"
"Bajoran Intelligence actually knew about that days ago," Wyn Meru told her, "An agent has been dispatched to deal with the situation."
"This had better be one hell of an agent," Anara said in disbelief.
"It's Neela and her team," Wyn Meru was thrilled, "So Mesa is involved in this as well."
"Prophets, it'll be slaughter," Anara realized.
"Say what?" Wyn Meru was taken by surprise.
"There's nothing Neela hates more than the Cult of the Pah-wraiths. They tend to have short life spans upon meeting her," Anara explained, "When will they make contact?"
"Mesa's last report indicated they'd make contact today. Within a few hours," Wyn Meru told her.
"Have Triss page Neela. I need to talk her down," Anara fretted, "She needs to know the scope of what the Order has done so she'll know that they have to answer to Bajor for their association with Boran."
"With all due respect, General, I can't obey that order," Wyn Meru replied, "They're in the Dorvan Sector inside Cardassian space on a Cardassian colony world where the Cult has set up a temple. If we send a signal now, it'll be detected and traced to its recipient. The Cardassian Guard is still sorting out who is in command of the Dorvan Sector in the absence of Gul Maret. And Maret still has loyalists in the region that have been rehabilitated in name only. They discover a Bajoran crew on a Cardassian world, and there will hell to pay. I'm not risking my sister's life so you can have a crisis of conscience because we failed to stop Boran's plans for the Plantation worlds. We all feel responsible and we'll have to deal with that. But for now, you need to accept promotion and get the Colonial Defense Forces and its prisoners home to Bajor."
"That was a very stirring speech, Major. How would you like to command the Fist of the Prophets as my flag commander?" Anara asked, "If I'm going to be a general then the ship needs a real commanding officer. It'll still be the flagship so I'll still assume command in dire circumstance but for everyday duties, it'll be you."
"I'd love to!" Wyn Meru enthused.
"I can't think of a better replacement," Anara confided, "You'll need to contact Command and get a list of potential executive officers and pick one."
Anara rose and came around the desk, "This space is yours now. Congratulations, Major. Let's inform the crew."
Anara hoped the news would lighten the burden the crew carried. And she prayed it would take her mind off of Neela's probable response to being in proximity to cultists. By now, Neela's team had undoubtedly discovered just how far Neela would go to defend the Prophets and because of them she'd defend Bajor. But Neela's methods would still be considered extremist by the average Militia officer. So she could only hope Neela had known what she was doing when she let the others volunteer to stay by her side. Others that were Militia and Constabulary officers.
Chapter Nine
"We've watched them and going for twenty hours now," Griff studied the Cult encampment on Valon III, "There are plenty of Bajorans and aliens joined with the Cardassians but no new Bajoran arrivals."
"They may have already arrived before we did," Odon mentioned the possibility again.
"We need to get in there," Varis adjusted his binoculars.
"So we will," Neela told them, "The Cult regularly sends representatives to greet newcomers at the mag lev train station. They also receive additional supplies through freight cars."
"So we pretend to be the Order's new delegation?" Maru wondered.
"Never work," Wyn replied, "This meet was pre-arranged. They know who to expect."
"We approach as penitents seeking the true gods of Bajor," Neela told them, "The Cult can't resist converting the Orthodox who struggle with their faith in the Prophets."
"You've done this before," Odon realized.
"On occasion," Neela admitted.
"So how did it end?" Griff asked, "You're obviously in one piece."
"On every prior occasion that I infiltrated the cult, they quickly identified me," Neela told them, "The Cult assembly near Starbase 47 was the first successful duping of the Cult members. But that was because they weren't from Bajor. They were primarily Cardassians and Bajorans raised in the Federation. They served the Cult's interest but they served Gul Maret's even more."
"So how have you survived discovery by the Cult in the past?" Griff narrowed the question down.
"I killed them," Neela said simply.
"How many cultists are we talking about?" Varis was fascinated.
"Individual temples or collectively?" Neela asked, "Because I don't know the collective answer."
"Then try answering how many at once at a single temple?" Griff was losing patience again.
"Twenty-seven adults," Neela said, "I spared the children. They were too young to have been thoroughly indoctrinated."
"You walked into a Cult enclave and killed twnety-seven adults because they recognized you?" Griff didn't know whether to be impressed or scared.
"They planned to kill me," Neela told them, "It was more than the work of the Prophets at stake. It was also my life."
"I thought you said you'd die for the Prophets," Maru pointed out the seeming contradiction.
"I'll die for them if they so choose. But my mission wasn't done. So I fought for the Prophets and earned my life back," Neela explained.
"How did you manage to kill twenty-seven adults, presumably armed, in one setting?" Wyn had to know.
"I didn't say I killed them all at once. They were clustered together in small groups. I took the groups individually. Then I tracked the survivors that had run away down and finished them off as well," Neela described the situation.
"And no one investigated this while it occurred?" Odon was puzzled.
"The Cult pays for privacy so it can perform its profane rituals unseen by outsiders that would judge them," Neela told them, "So no one bothered to come looking for them until the bribes for the next month were due. I was long gone by then."
"So you're saying the Cardassians won't intervene if we get into a firefight with these Cultists?" Griff asked.
"Precisely. They're well paid to ignore the unusual that happens around a Cult temple," Neela told them.
"So we could just walk in there now and kill them all and no one will notice?" Griff asked.
"Essentially. Until the mother temple on Empok Nor summons them or the colonial officials come to collect their stipend," Neela told them, "But doing so would defeat our purpose here. We need the Cult to identify the Order's representatives versus the curious that have come to learn more about the Pah-wraiths. To do that, we need to enter their enclave peacefully as the curious and wait for contact to be made. Afterwards is up for discussion."
"Discussion?" Odon asked, "Why?"
"I thought you all 'kill them all and let the Prophets sort them out'," Griff admitted.
"General Kira and First Minister Astris want the Order's members taken alive. Which greatly complicates our situation," Neela explained, "We aren't exactly set up for detaining an unknown number of vedeks."
"And the Cult will notice us kidnapping the Order's reps," Maru noted for everyone's displeasure.
"So the Cult will be hostile?" Wyn asked.
"They preach the love of the Pah-wraiths but the seek the destruction of the Orthodox. Love and hate do not blend well together," Neela said, "Which begs the question, why is the Cult meeting with vedeks? Even of an apostate order? That apostasy extends to the Pah-wraiths. So extend a friendly hand?"
"They're getting something they want out of it, certainly," Wyn agreed, "But the only thing the Cult claims to want is to return to Bajor and settle their 'in peace'."
"Then that has to be on the table," Odon deduced, "It's the only card the Order has left now that they're exposed."
"And running," Griff said with satisfaction.
"The news from Bajor was unsettling," Neela pointed out. They'd been out of communications for twenty hours now. Just when the operation to arrest the rebels had begun to turn violent. No word had reached them yet from the Gamma Quadrant.
"They're sending out a wheeled vehicle big enough to seat twenty," Odon told them, "I think its time to reposition if we're going to appear to get off of a train."
Neela contacted Wills aboard the Razor's Edge in orbit and described the targeting factors. It took two transports to move them all but she placed them in a luggage car attached to the passenger portion of the train. Griff was celebratory.
"Good for Wills. I didn't know she had it in her to hit a moving target," he confessed.
"When the train slows to stop, we move into the passenger cars and exit the train and look bewildered," Neela explained, "The Cult is always very helpful to the lost."
"And we're all lacking our earrings, so that should draw them in as well," Varis concluded.
"And we're armed," Maru noted, "The Cult will always be looking for defenders in case people like us show up."
"Good insight," Wyn told her, "The hunted always want more protection from their hunters. But it'll also make them more cautious around us at first."
"I noted over a dozen races represented in the enclave. The cult is definitely spreading the word," Odon had dismally noted.
"Just as the Prophets are being worshiped by Federation members now, so too will the Pah-wraiths attract the disaffected and rejected from other, different worlds," Neela explained, "The Cult isn't rejected in the Federation so it has taken root there. Cardassians who are dejected and lost now that the Dominion War and Reconstruction have ended also end up in the cult."
"It's still hard to imagine Cardassian Cultists after the way they mocked our fear of the Fire Caves," Odon complained.
"Everyone can reach a point where they realize there is a world beyond what we see," Neela expressed her conviction, "Some just need a catastrophe to learn that."
"Train's slowing," Griff returned their focus.
"Head for the exits but don't regroup until after the platform empties,' Neela told them, 'The Cultists are expecting passengers. But they'll take us in once they realize we are lost and searching."
"You make them sound benevolent one minute and the scourge of the universe next," Griff said,
"They aren't mutually exclusive things. Most scourges first appear to be benefactors. Look at Vedek Boran," Neela replied as she entered the passenger car first.
"I guess she schooled you," Wyn chuckled as she went next after waiting twenty seconds.
Griff was the last to exit the train. He'd wondered how he would find the others. He hadn't expected so many aliens to be on a Cardassian colony world. But Volon III had begun as a Federation colony before it was placed inside the Demilitarized Zone and administrated by Cardassian authorities through appointed human colonial governors. The Maquis had begun as an underground movement on Volon III and it was here that the Colonial Council of all the Federation colonists that had remained under Cardassian control were represented to both a Cardassian Guard officer and a Starfleet officer as representatives of the Cardassian Union and the United Federation of Planets.
As people filtered across the town, Griff saw that his crewmates were spaced out across the station yard. They finally gathered together after the passengers had all disembarked on gone their way. Or so it seemed. A group of Bajoran vedeks appeared from an alcove and were greeted by several Cult envoys.
"Are you lost?" a helpful sounding Cultist, identified by the red earring hanging from his left ear, asked them.
"We're pilgrims of a sort," Neela told him, "We were told the truth about Bajor's history could be found here."
"It can be found in many places. Who sent you here?" the Cultist, a Bolian, asked.
"It came as vision. Many faces that I recognized speaking words that I barely understood. But they showed us our path led to Volon III," Neela said, "Was it just a dream after all? It seemed so real at the time."
"Let me feel your pagh," the Bolian insisted.
"If you must," Neela condescended, "But we've abandoned Bajor's false gods."
The Bolian gripped her left ear and shuddered, "You've been touched by them! Wait here! I'll get our vedek!"
The Bolian returned with a Cardassian with a similar earring, "Chez tells me you may have bene touched by the gods. Let me feel your pagh."
"I thought we escaping that nonsense," Neela complained.
"Just trust me," the vedek took hold of her ear and shook like a current ran through him, "I'm sorry doubting you, Chez. Child, Chez told me you had a vision."
"It seemed real at the time l but I think it was just the strangest dream I ever had. But the people I recognized but they spoke a message of hope and directed me here. Something the real people would never do," Neela spun her story she'd told the others to follow, "We came on a pilgrimage to discover the truth behind the dream. Why do you feel my pagh when you block yours with your strange earring? Surely you don't believe in that nonsense. Bajor's gods are a myth."
"No, they're real," the Cardassian promised her, "But you've been lied to about who and what they truly are."
"More fairy tales," Neela snorted.
"But if I could prove to that the true gods of Bajor touched you, would you believe then?" the Cardassian asked.
"Maybe," Neela sounded skeptical.
"Then join us. It seems we've found our path expanded this evening," the vedek told them, "I'm Vedek Geralt. Please, join our other guests."
"Bajoran vedeks? Here? On a Cardassian world?" Neela sounded doubtful, "I thought you said we'd told about the true gods. Not listen to these hypocrites."
"Please, I beg you. Come with us and we'll explain everything. These vedeks are on a quest for truth as well. Walk with us as we take a tour through what you never imagined was the truth before, "Vedek Geralt pleaded.
"Let me talk it over with my fellow travelers," Neela hesitated.
"As you wish," Vedek Geralt conceded.
"What is this?" a Bajoran vedek demanded to know, "What's the hold up?"
"It seems our destinies have all intertwined these evening. They'll be joining us at the compound. Don't worry, it won't distract from our negotiations. The prylars will teach them what they need to know," Geralt promised his other guests.
"Woman, you are frightening. I almost believed your story," Griff whispered.
"Shake your head like you disagree with what I'm saying," Neela instructed, "There's always a skeptic. It's a natural role for you to play out."
They pretended to converse before Neela approached the Cardassian vedek, "We'll come with you. But some of us still have severe doubts that you have anything of value to share with us."
"My dear child, I felt your pagh. I think you have things to teach us. But please, we'll return to our enclave. We have quarters for pilgrims like yourselves. Eventually, maybe you'll join us permanently. But for now, be our guests," Geralt offered.
"You're very kind," Neela told him.
"For a Cardassian," Geralt said, "You didn't have to say it. I've heard it before from our Bajoran pilgrims. But the truth we share joins us all together and binds us in a way that can't be broken."
"That sounds...refreshing," Neela admitted.
The Caldraen vedeks didn't deign it necessary to speak with their fellow Bajorans. Instead they adopted a haughty mien and looked down on the misguided Bajorans seeking spiritual truth on a Cardassian world from the Pah-wraith Cult. For their part, the crew stared down the vedeks with open hostility they didn't have to pretend to feel. It just further irritated the vedeks and fed their air of superiority..
The multi-wheeled vehicle passed over rough terrain but the chassis flexed to allow the crawler to traverse the uneven soil. Vedek Geralt moved in back with his sullen guests, "I apologize for the terrain. But it was the only land grant we could get from the Colonial Governor. Even the Maquis didn't develop this stretch of terrain."
"Did you say the Maquis?" a vedek sniffed, "This world once belonged to the Federation?"
"Before the peace treaty between the Cardassia Union and the Federation," Geralt wondered where the vedek had been hiding all these years, "The Federation continued to honor the territorial concessions made in the treaty despite the Dominion's defeat."
"Wretched business that," the vedek sniffed again.
If the crew hadn't been incensed before, their passions were inflamed now. They had to remind themselves the First Minister wanted the vedeks alive. Though their party was large enough to strain the capacity of the very small brig. At that point, the Razor's Edge crew didn't care if the vedeks were crushed into the two cells so tightly they couldn't breathe. Most Bajorans had supported the Maquis' efforts and empathized with their plight. It was the Occupation spread across dozens of habitable worlds. It was also Bajor's first taste of the Federation's distasteful political side.
Yet the Caldraen Order vedeks barely acknowledged living beings had barely existed much less been persecuted by the Cardassians and the Federation. They all watched Neela stay in character and it helped them do the same. But at least they weren't asked to not be visibly angered.
"It seems your fellow Bajoran travelers find you rather heartless," Vedek Geralt pointed out.
"They are of no concern to us," the eldest vedek stated plainly, "Let us conclude our our necessary business and be far from here."
The youngest vedek in the vehicle studied Neela though for uncomfortably long periods of time. There was a sense of recognition there but he obviously couldn't place it. The Vedek Assembly had tried and failed to exploit Nee;a's reappearance for religious and propaganda purposes. She had barely cooperated before returning to her shadow world. Neela had met with the Kai, the Emissary, and the leader of each Order. She hadn't mingled with the average vedek or prylar.
"We're home," Chez announced as he brought the crawler to a halt. Now the crew was inside the enclave they'd monitored throughout the night and most of the solar day. Cultists swarmed the vehicle to attend to the vedeks' every need as they offloaded their baggage. Which there was plenty of. Geralt assigned Chez to attending to the crew's disposition.
"If you'll follow me, we have a hostel set up for newcomers. It has male and female dormitories. You don't have any luggage, unless you count those phasers you're wearing,"Chez chuckled, "I'm guessing the Bajoran Constabulary or Militia would like to have words with you. I know our colonial Customs agents are quite understanding of the need to carry weapons for the right price."
"You sound as though this a common practice on Volon III," Odon pointed out.
"We shelter others sought by either the Federation, Bajoran Republic, or the Cardassian Union. They assist our security needs and we simply ask that they attend temple services when they aren't on duty and listen to the truth. We don't force them to believe it, of course. That's for them to accept," Chez explained, "But our prayers go out for them."
"But you have converts here as well?" Maru asked.
"Many have seen the light we offer. Many seekers of the truths that you yourselves seek. Those that have rejected the Prophets or are dissatisfied with the Federation and Cardassian system of absolute belief and worship of science. They know there's more to our universe than simple science. Unexplained mysteries that only a faith in truth can provide the answers for," Chez told them.
"You were one of those," Wyn ventured.
"Yes, and I discovered the truth here. So I stayed on to help the faith community," Chez happily answered, "I run the local tavern. You should drop by tonight and meet some of our faithful as well as our protectors."
"I've never heard of a faith community having a tavern," Varis admitted.
"Our gods teach that excesses can be as holy as moderation," Chez chuckled, "But you'll see. Tonight there will a moonlit worship service. You'll be forbidden to join in but it will show you the value of worshipful excess."
"Thank you," Neela said, "Are we confined to these dormitories?"
"No!" Chez told them, "We believe in real freedom. You'll be free to walk around and talk to anyone you choose too. A prylar will find you to begin your preliminary education."
"How does a Cardassian become a vedek?" Griff asked.
"Geralt traveled to Empok Nor and studied under the vedeks trained by the Emissary himself. They guard the Emissary's son there. He's half-Bajoran. Geralt was anointed a vedek and then he traveled and established this enclave.," Chez explained.
"How do you become a prylar?" Varis wondered.
"Prylars devote themselves to the service of the vedek and the faithful. They receive extra spiritual instruction from the vedek. It is a life of deep commitment and passion," Chez explained, "Unlike the Orthodox, women can become prylars in our faith. The prylars will be serving the needs of the faithful in the worship service tonight."
"You speak of gods, vedeks, and prylars yet you aren't Orthodox. You're talking about the Cult of the Pah-wraiths," Neela confronted him with his truth.
"Contrary to what the Orthodox teach, the Prophets are the enemies of Bajor. They've abandoned it and imprisoned the Pah-wraiths for trying to dwell with the ancient Bajora," Chez was fully convicted, "The Emissary constantly spoke of the love the Pah-wraiths feel for all peoples. He himself had been a vessel for a Pah-wraith."
"By which you mean Dukat," Odon said with distaste coloring his words.
"The Emissary regretted what had happened while he Prefect of Bajor. But he did shield the people from the better part of the Central Command's wrath," Chez truly believed.
"A Pah-wraith showed Dukat this?" Wyn was incredulous, "I'd like to meet one."
"Sadly, the majority of the Pah-wraiths and the Emissary are sealed away in the Fire Caves. The Book of the Kosst Amojan lost with them," Chez was truly disheartened, "Recently the Orb of the Kost Amojan in which several Pah-wraiths dwelt was destroyed by the apostate Brin Macen. Vessels containing individual Pah-wraiths were lost to us as well by the thievery of a pirate named Neela. Gul Macet is helping us find and deal with both of these godless murderers."
"I'd like to learn more," Neela told him.
"And you will," Chez promised, "The prylars are very enlightened. They will teach you of our gods. The true gods. And tonight you'll witness a special indulgence ceremony that we perform once every month in tribute to the lost teachings of the Pah-wraiths. Meanwhile, explore the enclave and speak with the faithful. Later, join me in my tavern. I'm off to open it now."
"How can you celebrate lost teachings if they're lost to you," Griff asked before Chez could reach the door.
"Because not all scripture scrolls and books have been lost. We've collected fragments of books and scrolls and gathered them at Empok Nor," Chez smiled, "What worship services were lost we recreated in honor of what we have."
"Thank you. You've been most helpful," Neela released Chez to perform his cultural duties at the tavern.
"This has been revealing," Maru admitted.
"So they made up worship services?" Griff was irritated.
"All of the ceremonies and meditative exercises practiced by the Orthodox were created by vedeks and prylars to remind us of the Prophets, to meditate on their prophecies, and to honor them with our devotion and lives. Why should the Cult be any different?" Neela asked.
"They must copy the fragments and pass them on to every enclave," Wyn deduced, "Which makes Empok Nor a greater threat than previously realized."
"They have to do more than that," Odon realized, "They're reaching aliens across the Federation and Cardassian worlds across the Union. They must send teams of teachers out to reach out and recruit new believers who are directed to enclaves like this one."
"Very astute," Neela smiled.
"You knew?" Varis was disturbed.
"How do you think I find enclaves?" Neela wondered, "Now let's mingle with the faithful and learn who their protectors are."
The group stayed together and asked general questions of Cultists busy at their routine tasks. Neela felt all the eyes watching them back. But disturbingly, some eyes felt familiar. She lifted a prayer that she would find the source of awareness before the crew was exposed as the frauds they were.
They entered the tavern to eat and even grab a drink. They had a supply of Cardassian leks that Outbound Ventures supplied the ship with. So they were able to pay for real meals rather then the generic replicated fare most pilgrims received. Neela was disturbed by the sense that her identifier had followed them into the tavern. And that person had been joined by other knowledgeable associates.
So when a Vulcan approached them and Neela recognized her, she knew her prayers had been answered, "Sakonna! What are you doing here?"
"Apparently the same thing you are doing," Sakonna replied, "May we join you?"
"There's an empty table nearby," Neela had noted, "Bring it over before it's occupied."
"Most logical," Sakonna moved away to gather her associates and collect the table.
"Who the hell was that?" Griff was worried.
"An ex-Maquis that now works as an agent for Outbound Ventures," Neela explained in hushed tones, "She's obviously undercover."
Three survivors from Dorvan V also joined Sakonna. Neela didn't recognize them. She found it odd tha all three Native Americans bleached their hair blonde. She assumed it had to do with their cover story. The Bajorans learned all three were from different tribal groups that had been represented on Dorvan V. Sonja Red Raven was Navajo. Saryana was Cherokee and Incan. And finally, Sarina Littlebird was Comanche. These distinctions didn't mean much to the Bajorans but the three women took pride in it.
Red Raven and Sarayana had been members of the Maquis in their youth. Littlebird had been a pre-teen when the Cardassians massacred the bulk of the colonists, and those that could, escaped. All three were dressed in various types of leather clothing. Sakonna stayed true to her ancestral styles of dresses.
"How is it you came upon us?" Sakonna asked.
"We're here to collect rogue vedeks wanted for treason and murder," Neela explained, "They happened to meeting with the Cult so we simply infiltrated them to reach our targets."
"Our assignment is to use the cult's connection to Gul Macet to locate him," Sakonna explained.
"How is it they let you stay?" Odon inquired.
"We're ex-Maquis fugitives looking for shelter from Federation and Cardassian charges," Red Raven told them, "We provide security services in exchange for a hiding place. There are many disreputable types doing the same. They rotate in and out as official searches for them cool off and they return to piracy or smuggling."
"We came in as pilgrims seeking a new truth," Wyn told them, "Apparently Neela is something of an expert in this exercise."
"She has alos posed as a seller of Kosst Amojan artifacts," Sakonna recalled, "Both gambits have proven successful in the past. How do you plan to exfiltrate with your prisoners?"
"We have a ship in orbit and will use the transporter to haul everyone aboard and lock them in the brig and then make our way back to Bajor," Wyn told them of the plan.
"We learned how the enclave contacts Gul Macet weeks ago but have been stuck here ever since," Littlebird explained.
"Of course we'll extract you," Neela decided, "You can come with us back to Serenity Station."
"Then it is only logical that we assist you in obtaining your targets," Sakonna replied, "We have access to the Vedek's residence. Every patrolman and woman does tours guarding it. Tonight it shall be emptied in favor of attending the orgy."
Maru choked on her drink, "Orgy?"
"That's why women also serve as prylars," Sarayana told them, "Though most of the faithful indulge in homosexuality outside of their usual preferences."
"No wonder Chez called it a service in excess," Varis mused.
"The worship service will continue all night and into the morning when Vedek Geralt will conclude the service by having sexual relations with all of the prylars at once," Sakonna said neutrally.
"You've witnessed this," Griff was appalled.
"Right after we first arrived," Littlebird was embarrassed by the memory.
"Outsiders are forbidden to participate so you're safe," Sarayana assured them.
"Safe?" Varis wondered why it was described that way.
"The crowd here all has more than one venereal disease they don't have the medical resources to treat," Red Raven was amused, "So the newly converted join the club when they participate in their first worship service or just frinx a local."
"Participation is mandatory?" Griff asked.
"Every true believer has to participate every month when called upon," Red Raven shook her head, "It funds the Cult's activities outside of the trade work with the other colonial sites."
"Traders aren't allowed here so the Cultists make remote purchases and loading crews are sent to the train station and neighboring colony sites to collect the supplies and deliver purchased items and collect the fees for them. That's how the tradespeople make their real money. The agricultural hands sell their produce and meats," Littlebird added.
"We are provided basic food and shelter in exchange for our services," Sakonna stated, "It is adequate."
"Speak for yourself," Littlebird complained, "This food smells delicious."
Neela gave each of them several leks, "Enjoy yourselves."
"Won't you run of money if you keep giving it away?" Red Raven asked.
"We plan to be gone before that happens," Wyn told the undercover agents.
"Let's order up!" Sarayana enthused.
Later, after everyone had finished their meals and even a round of drinks to go with their coffees and teas, Neela got to business, "The locals looked primed to depart."
"The worship service begins in twenty minutes," Sakonna told them, "They are changing into their ceremonial robes to prepare to queue into several lines for the Vedek to bless them and the ceremony. Then the orgy shall begin."
"Won't they notice us moving about?" Griff asked.
"They gather at a worship site outside of town. Only the protective detail has elements that stay. There will be two guards posted at both the Temple and the Vedek's residence," Sarayana told everyone involved, "That's where the Cult's leks are stored."
"And pirates don't steal them?" Varis was incredulous again.
"The guards are searched after every duty rotation," Red Raven explained, "Down to major body cavity searches. They seriously need to invest in some tricorders."
"The prylars enjoy searching," Littlebird complained.
"We are to guard the western sphere tonight. But no one makes certain that we are on duty," Sakonna told them, "The next rotation will report on whether or not they relieved us. The off duty protectors will be gathered in the recreation center or in the barracks."
"We'll guide you through it," Red Raven assured them.
"Won't the visiting vedeks be required to witness this ceremony?" Wyn wondered.
"They'll be kept as far away from it as possible. The guards will be instructed to keep them in residence at all times," Littlebird told them.
"The faithful are gone. They'll walking to the site now. The Vedek and the prylars will already be present there," Sarayana explained the process, "The relieved guards will be locked out of every home, shop, and facility until the faithful return to unlock them. But tomorrow will be a day of rest where they keep everything closed while they sleep it off."
"Sleep what off?" Griff asked.
"They employ sensory enhancing narcotics to escalate the sexual release," Sakonna said blandly, "It takes several hours before the effects fade. Many of those that have performed their religious rites will then copulate with fellow believers that have also attended the prylars."
"Hence the term 'orgy'," Maru understood now.
"So none of them will definitely be visiting the enclave tonight," Wyn chuckled.
"And the guards will be too bored to wander around," Red Raven promised, "But we can draw attention by using phasers."
"That would alert the guards to our activities," Sakonna warned, "They have a vested interest in securing the residence and the Temple since the Vedek will dole out collective punishment."
"Odon, you Varis, and Maru will collect the leks from the Temple," Neela instructed.
"We're robbers now?" Odon asked.
"You didn't object when we were stealing Pah-wraith vessels," Neela reminded him, "I mean to deprive the Cult of resources."
"So we'll be stealing the Vedek's leks as well," Wyn smirked.
"Closing time," Chez and his cooks had left the bar and kitchen, "Time to attend the service."
"We'll escort the newcomers to the recreation center before reporting to our post," Sarayana promised Chez.
"Perfect!" Chez said, "Unless they want to bear witness?"
"Another time perhaps," Neela demurred.
"Perhaps next service you'll be participating," Chez sounded hopeful.
"A guard detail oversees the protection of the faithful during the orgy," Littlebird told them, "That was the first duty watch we pulled."
"Some things you can't unsee," Red Raven grumbled.
They went to the hostel and waited until the enclave emptied. Wyn used her tricorder to pinpoint the positions of the incoming guards, "They're all gathered at two locations. Except for the four life signs posted at specific sites."
Wyn frowned, "We're missing Bajoran life signs in the residence and the temple."
Sarayana sighed, "Geralt made an exception. He's making the visiting vedeks witness the worship service."
'There's no way we can grab them tonight," Griff groaned.
"And we can't keep the Razor's Edge in orbit for much longer before it raises local suspicions and they call in a Cardassian Guard cruiser to investigate," Wyn warned Neela.
"I have a solution," Neela told them, "But we still obtain the leks before we depart."
"Why?" Odon asked.
"As I said, we're depriving the Cult of its resources," Neela was adamant about this.
"The locals will be donating everything they have at the service tonight," Red Raven advised Neela, "That'll replenish the coffers."
"No, it locates the rest of the funding at a single location," Neela smiled, "Which'll work with my plan."
"If we're still doing this, now is the time," Wyn told them.
"Everyone takes your positions," Neela instructed.
Sakonna, Red Raven, Sarayana, and Littlebird struck up a conversation with the guards posted outside the Geralt's residence. Red Raven was the most outgoing of them, "How's it going guys?"
"I thought you were manning the western sphere tonight," a Boslic pirate replied.
"Can't a girl look a little fun before she goes to work?" Red Raven asked, "C'mon, you know the locals are all infected. It's been a month since we got here. The Cultists are going wild. No one's around. Why can't we?"
Neela and Wyn were moving behind the distracted pirate guards.
Wyn applied a chokehold while Neela broke the Boslic's neck. Wyn dropped her target to the ground, "A little excessive?"
"No one will miss him," Neela replied.
"Except for his crewmates," Littlebird predicted, "All hell will break loose tomorrow morning when the relief shows up."
"Maybe sooner," Neela told her, "Can we we get passed the lock?"
Griff was dismantling it, "I can jury rig it."
"Who needs engineers?" he boasted as the door slid open.
"Find the money and let's go," Wyn instructed.
They searched every room and found a safe. Griff scowled, "I can't break into that."
"Use one of the isolinear tags," Neela told him, "We'll beam it aboard after we return to the ship."
The crew had hidden their comm badges from sight until now. Neela's chirped and she tapped it, "Neela. Go."
"They locked everything away in a safe," Odon reported.
"The same here. Use one of your isolinear tags to mark it and we'll beam it aboard before we break orbit," Neela instructed.
"This is strangely important to you," Odon observed.
"Just mark the safe and contact Wills for a transport back to the ship," Neela stated.
"Copy that," Odon replied.
"It'll take our Engineer's Mate a few minutes to report to the transporter room," Wyn advised the undercover agents, "Then she'll transport our constables aboard. You'll be next. And then we'll pull out."
She handed isolinear tags and tapped her comm badge when it chirped. It was Wills, "Major, I've recovered the constables but I'm reading an active isolinear tag at their previous location."
"Take it up last," Wyn told her, "For now take up the life signs that have been tagged."
The agents were transported and Wyn told Wills, "We have another active tag at this location that you can beam up after you snag us."
"Copy that," Wills replied and they felt the transporter take effect. Their next reality was a crowded transporter room. They managed to clear the pads.
"Grab our two tagged items one by one," Wyn instructed. One safe appeared on a pad followed by the other on another. Wyn grinned at Wills, "Your and Gren's next job is getting those open."
"But..." Will didn't have time to debate the merits of her assignment as Wyn and the rest exited the transporter room.
"Lieutenant Griff will see you to guest quarters while we get out of orbit and out of Cardassian space," Wyn told the newcomers.
Wyn and Neela rode the turbolift to the bridge together. Wyn issued her first order as soon the doors opened, "Prepare to break orbit."
"Belay that," Neela halted the process.
"Excuse me?" Wyn was irked.
"Ferris, scan the enclave and then widen your search for a mass of life signs outside of the town," Neela instructed.
"I have them," Ferris told her.
"Target that location and fire two photon torpedoes at it. This is precision targeting. I want the enclave left unmolested," Neela ordered.
"Now wait just a damn minute!" Wyn shouted.
"I am the Mission Commander. I could instruct you to give these orders but I believed it was best not to force you to," Neela told her in reply, "Ferris, do you have weapons lock?"
"Yes," he confirmed it.
"Are you comfortable firing on the Cult of the Pah-wraiths?" Neela asked, "Because I can relieve you."
"Ready and willing," Ferri stold her.
"Then launch torpedoes," Neela instructed. The launchers cycled and two orange orbs descended through the atmosphere onto the worship ceremony.
"Total loss of life," Katts reported as she gazed into her sensor hood, "The enclave was shaken but unharmed.
"Excellent work," Neela congratulated Ferris, "Major, I believe you were getting us to Federation space?"
"I guess have to now," Wyn grumbled, "Wes, break orbit and make for Starbase 310."
"From there, we set course for Serenity Station," Neela told Wyn, "It should be a uncomplicated transit."
"What are you going to tell the First Minister?" Wyn wanted to know.
"That it was impossible to extract the Order's vedeks and that I dealt with Cultists and the Order simultaneously," Neela told as she entered the turbolift, "Mission accomplished."
On Bajor, the fighting was sporadic now. A few ex-Resistance hold outs were on the run but the vast bulk of people had been arrested and already arraigned before the courts and released to return home. The Vedek Assembly volunteers were already assuming posts in the abandoned temples across Bajor to begin teaching the true path of the Prophets to those that had lost their way and fomented revolution.
Boran had been delivered and was now held in Bajor's most secure prison facility. Her survival was kept secret while reports of the devastation she'd caused on Plantation I-III was beginning to widely reported by both Bajoran and Federation media. The Colonial Defense Forces were returned to their patrols lacking the Spear of the Prophets, the Mystery of the Prophets, and the Sword of the Prophets. Those commanders and crews were facing investigations and inquiries. From the System Defense Force, the commanders and crews of the Shadow of the Prophets and the Salvation of the Prophets faced similar charges. The starships were moved to individual drydocks to undergo repairs and await new crews. The Colonial Defense Forces had many qualified volunteers on waiting lists for opening aboard its starships and starbases. So General Anara authorized her Bureau of Personnel to begin candidate selection. Anara herself would choose the commanding officers. They in turn would assemble their senior staff from the candidate lists.
The System Defense Force had a harder time recruiting volunteers but there were still enough to crew the two starships. The fact that many of these crewmen would be able to commute from Bajor to their assignments appealed to those unwilling to deploy for long periods of time. The general in charge of the force would select two commanders and those would select their crews from a much shorter candidate list. Some Militia troops would be conscripted to serve aboard the ships and re-trained for that purpose. Though, there were those who'd applied to both services' candidate lists.
The SID ships under Captain Liu's guidance deposited their prisoners on Deep Space Nine and were redeployed. The Solstice, having delivered Boran, collected the Detective Squad and Data Team members. First Minister Astris and General Kira personally saw them off.
They came aboard the scoutship to offer their personal thanks for services rendered. Astris marveled at Macen and the corporation's loyalty to the Bajoran Republic, "You've always served Bajor's interests since leaving the Maquis. I wish we could adequately repay you."
"First Minister, it is our privilege to assist you," Macen told her.
"The Militia owes you yet another debt of gratitude," Kira admitted, "Brigadier Joran expresses the same feelings for the Constabulary."
"You'll have you hands full clearing your dockets while you prepare to try Boran," Rockford didn't envy anyone the task.
"It will be the trial of the century," Astris admitted, "But she must face justice before the people or they'll simply replace her and try again."
"And it gave us a gauge on public sentiment," Kira told them.
"And a window of opportunity to address those grievances," Astris agreed.
"What I don't understand is why you wanted a tour," Macen confessed, "This is our backup ship for when the Obsidian is under repair, like now, or when the mission profile requires a subtler hand, like with entering Cardassian space to look for the Orb of the Kosst Amojan."
"We also wanted to discuss Neela," Astris confessed, "We appreciate how you've assisted her. You provided a ship and upgraded it to modern standards."
"Actually, Harri Mudd gave Neela the ship. But I did arrange for stocking it and the upgrades," Macen told them, "But this isn't a simple thank you, is it?"
"We want you watch Neela. To see if she gets erratic," Astris told him, "We've learned how dangerous religious figures can be if left unchecked."
"Neela is the most devout believer in the Prophets I've ever encountered," Rockford told them, "And I've seen how they shape her life and guide in ways I can't explain."
"But she herself as admitted she'd distorted the faith in the Prophets when she killed Ensign Aquino, bombed the school aboard Deep Space Nine, and attempted to kill Vedek Bereil," Astris reminded them of Neela's own confession after her release from prison, "According to Bajor's legal system, she should have faced the death penalty for that murder. But the Federation intervened on her behalf and plead for her to receive imprisonment. Since it was their citizen that was killed, the courts obliged."
"And Neela was released by Shakaar and became a valued agent of Bajoran security working in conjunction with the Militia on Winn Adami's behalf," Kira pointed out, "She also served an invaluable role in the Dominion War."
"But that was before her disappearance and mysterious reappearance ten years later, unaged," Astris protested, "She claims that the Prophets themselves saved her and gave her special instruction and insight into past, present, and future events."
"Which the Emissary, Kai Tila, and the faithful amongst the Vedek Assembly all agree with," Kira defended Neela, "Her recent actions may seem extreme but she did Bajoran security a service."
"What actions?" Macen interrupted. The situation was explained to Macen and Rockford. Macen chided Astris, "First Minister, you know Neela's track record with the Cult of the Pah-wraiths. You knew sending her in she'd wipe out the entire enclave. Why not admit that your gripe is that she also killed the Caldraen Order vedeks?"
"And that eliminating Cult enclaves is a service to the Bajoran faith," Kira added.
"I'll admit that my own faith in the Prophets is shaky at best. I still think of them as Wormhole aliens first," Astris admitted, "Neela sees them as absolute gods. But even given that, she defied direct orders."
"And that was why Major Wyn and her team of volunteers was allowed to stay aboard the Razor's Edge with Neela. At least this way we get semi-regular reports on Neela's activities," Kira reminded her, "And while it's true Major Wyn and the others have no influence over Neela, no one, not even General Anara has been able to shake Neela from an action she feels the Prophets dictated. And in the case of serving Winn while she was Kai of Bajor, that meant she saved lives from Winn's petty wrath."
"Neela does serve the Prophets wholeheartedly and her actions are either directly guided by them or by her absolute faith in them," Macen said with conviction.
"You seem to be one of the few besides General Anara that she will take counsel from," Astris said, "Will you take up the mantle of overseeing Neela's mission? As a further service to Bajor?"
"I won't stop her unless it seems she's acting on her own behalf," Macen warned her.
"And eradicating a Cult encampment doesn't qualify?" Astris asked.
"It wouldn't be the first time," Kira told her.
"What?" Astris was startled to hear that, "Why haven't I been informed before now?"
"Neela operates as an independent agent for Bajor," Kira told her, "Beyond Bajoran jurisdiction and law. She had no accountability. By placing Militia officers and enlisted with her, she at least reports to us now."
"But she doesn't obey direct orders," Astris fumed.
"She does," Macen promised her, "But her orders come from a higher plane."
"You mean the Celestial Temple?" Astris was stunned an alien would be promoting absolute faith in her culture's gods.
"Whatever your leanings towards the Prophets are, you have to admit that they have watched over Bajor and the Bajoran people over millennia," Rockford told her, "I believe they're simply aliens. Brin believes a little differently. There's room for interpretation. But Neela is under the direct guidance of these beings however you want to classify them. And every action she takes, she takes in the name of protecting the Prophets and Bajor."
"In that order," Macen clarified, "So don't expect her not to eliminate an existential threat to the Orthodox faith and believers in the Prophets. I had agents in that enclave with no way out. Neela exfiltrated them and returned them to Serenity Station to report on their successful mission on discovering how the Cult communicates with Gul Macet."
"Their mission was a success?" Astris latched onto that, "That could be worth more than apprehending Caldraen vedeks after all."
"Neela certainly thought so," Kira told her.
"General, why wasn't I informed of this?" Astris was irritated.
"Commander Macen wished to finalize his report to both the Militia and the Cardassian Guard before I made any reports," Kira said stiffly.
"It's true," Macen told Astris, "I asked the General not to include you in the intelligence chain yet."
"And why is that?" Astris asked, rather angrily.
"Because I'm setting a trap for Gul Macet to fall into," Macen told her.
"That could've gone better," Rockford sighed after the transporter cycled and Astris and Kira were returned to Militia headquarters.
"It is what it is," Macen seemed nonchalant.
"Mind explaining this entrapment plant to me?" she asked.
"I don't have one yet," Macen told her, "I want to discuss matters with Tom and Sveta first."
"I hope we're bringing in a bigger starship or a dozen," Rockford wished beyond measure.
"That I can guarantee," Macen pledged.
Fanning walked with Macen, "Captain Riker and Korepanova are ready for you at Ops. Liu and Commander Danan will be in attendance of the strategy session as well."
"Understood," Macen nodded his approval, "Please tell them I'd like Elfi Hendryks in attendance as well."
"All right," Fanning agreed, "Can I give them an estimate of when you'll be reporting to Ops?"
"I need fifteen minutes to shower and change," Macen told her, "It's been a long day."
"Understood," his aide acknowledged. She went to Macen's office to handle the details. He returned to his rarely used quarters that he shared with Rockford. Her luggage was spread across the bed and the shower was still warn from the sonic vibrations. Macen stripped and took his own shower. Then he dressed in fresh clothing and strapped on his utility belt once more and rechecked the charge in his phaser pistol. He didn't expect to need it on Serenity but one could never be too prepared on a publicly accessible space station.
He and T'Kir had the station constructed as a headquarters for Outbound Ventures but it also served as a major transfer point for Odin, which it orbited, and Barrinor. The banking cartels that controlled the the independent former colony of Barrinor and its own colony didn't allow outside traffic to visit either world. Serenity was the transfer point for all cargo going to and from Barrinor and Odin. Gerrit Gren's Station Security worked closely with Customs to insure that the cargo was devoid of any surveillance or infiltration devices of any kind. Gren's Deputy Chiefs of Security, Radil Jenrya and Sito Jaxa, also took that responsibility seriously.
Macen hoped Riker's team had a plan prepared because he wanted to visit the Coffee Spot and get a fresh cup from Roberta Rolands or Nick Claus. Rockford was planning on visiting there for a spell while most of the team would head to Quark's. He checked the station's security logs for a specific name while he headed for Ops. As he'd hoped, the franchise's corporate manager, Miranda Wells, was aboard the station. Annabeth Frinks typically ran the bar but Wells' return meant there was chance to discover why Wells had been personally chosen by Quark to run the bar and why she didn't actually fill that role and was usually off of the station.
Gerrit Gren had assigned Aric Tulley to monitoring the bar. Tulley's presence would be innocuous enough since he was dating Frinks. He was a fixture at Quark's while he was off duty and she was there. Macen had pulled strings with Gerrit to get Tulley assigned to Beta Watch rather than the newcomer's usual Gamma Watch assignment. That way Tulley and Frinks shared their nights after the bar closed at 2AM station time. They could also share the mornings before either had to report to work.
Fanning met Macen at the turbolift access with a cup of coffee from the Coffee Spot, "You looked like you could use this."
"You're a godsend," Macen enthused as he took the cup and swig of freshly brewed, authentic coffee.
"Roberta passes on a 'hello'," Fanning told him, "She and Nick are in the middle of the mid-day slump in business and busy tidying up and restocking the pastry shelf."
"Was Celeste there?" he asked.
"She's meeting with Neela and some of her newfound friends," Fanning told him, "It seems the agents you had on Volon III and Neela's team bonded."
"Even Sakonna?" Macen marveled. Sakonna's only friend on the station seemed to be Hakatay.
"Sakonna must have a thing for Dorvan V survivors," Fanning shared, "She and that team have been basically inseparable until Sonja Red Raven and Sarayana went to Quark's rather than the Coffee Spot."
"You're quite the spy, Bryce," Macen chuckled as the turbolift doors opened.
"I care about people. So Roberta and I work together to watch out for them," Fanning told him.
"Well, I congratulate you and wish you to carry the same way I endorsed Roberta's efforts," Macen grinned before the doors sealed shut. Since Fanning had no duties to currently attend to, she returned to the Coffee Spot to watch people and encourage Klaus and Rolands in their work. It also gave her an opportunity to witness Rockford getting to know Littlebird and Sakonna.
Littlebird looked shy as Rockford joined her, Sakonna, and Neela at their table in the Coffee Spot, "Long mission?"
"We were unavoidably detained," Sakonna said blandly.
"The Cardassians impounded our shuttle," Littlebird explained, "So we were sitting on hot intelligence but couldn't find a way to get back here."
"It is imminently actionable," Sakonna agreed.
"I heard about your decision at Volon III from the First Minister herself," Rockford warned Neela, "She expressed many concerns concerning your future and how you guide your team on your missions."
"The First Minister's faith is shaky at best," Neela said in a subdued manner, "But she is the Prophets' chosen leader for Bajor. So I'll leave her to her work guiding the Ministry and I'll request that she let me mind my work as a defender of the Prophets and Bajoran safety."
"Well, at least Kira seems to be on your side," Rockford consoled her, "Now that Major Wyn makes the occasional report versus your infrequent communication at all."
Rolands approached with Rockford's coffee cup, "Did you notice our newest customers?"
"Roberta, I just got in here. I didn't even order yet," Rockford replied.
"You didn't have to. I brought you your favorite," Rolands set the cup down before Rockford. It was indeed her favorite drink.
"Now, who is it you're practically humming over?' Rockford asked.
"There. In the corner table," Rolands nodded in the proper direction.
Rockford turned and there were Smith and Kerber with Ebert and Mudd. Rockford smiled, "That's a healthy development."
"I know! Angelique and Bailey never set foot in here before. They always frequented the replimat across the way. They always sat alone unless Tracy joined them. But now Harri's in their circle," Rolands enthused.
Rockford tended, like most people, to either forget or not know that Rolands held multiple post-doctoral degees in History, Sociology and Anthropology. She worked as barista on a far flung space station outpost because she was a people person. From her vantage point inside the Coffee Spot, Rolands tended to address people's needs, even if they had yet to realize they had them. Rolands seemed to serve as an unofficial Counselor for the station's residents. A position otherwise unfilled. Rockford decided to have a word with Kathy Tyrol about that. Macen might have been leery about psychoanalysts and counselors but Rockford was willing to admit that they met the needs of many other people.
"You have that look," Rolands pointed out.
"What look?" Rockford was curious to what Rolands had deduced.
"You've made a major decision," Rolands seemed to know her too well after all.
"I have. I think there needs to be a new department aboard this station. I'm talking directly to Tyrol about it," Rockford told her.
"Good for you. Now, I need to get back to my other customers. The afternoon crowd is starting to arrive as the watch change is occurring," Rolands bustled off.
"So what will happen about Gul Macet?" Neela inquired.
"Brin's discussing that with the company's strategists right now," Rockford told her.
"Then I need to speak with them. It's urgent," Neela told her.
"I'll get you to Ops," Rockford decided.
Access to the stations Operations center was restricted to corporate employees with a certain clearance level. As co-owner of Outbound Ventures and the Rockford Detective Agencies, Rockford had access that she rarely used. But getting Neela to the strategy session seemed vital. Neela rarely requested anything of anyone so the ask was telling enough.
"Have you tried to get to the strategy team before this through regular channels?" Rockford asked.
"Lower echelon corporate officers denied my requests," Neela said simply. She bore no resentment. But it had been frustrating.
"The company employees are protective of the SID qualified officers," Rockford sighed, "Sometimes they go too far."
"Hold please!" a voice called out as Neela and Rockford gave the turbolift instructions to arrive at Ops. A thumbprint identification verified Rockford's access level. Christine Pike, the SID's liaison officer rushed into the lift.
"Thanks," Pike tried to compose herself, "I just got a call from Riker to report to Ops. I suppose you did too?
"Actually, no," Rockford admitted, "But Neela here has valuable information they need."
"I wasn't given any details so I have no idea what this is about," Pike admitted.
"It concerns Fendic and the nearby Starbase 47," Neela told her, "But the strategists are unaware of this just yet."
"And you're going to tell them that?" Pike asked.
"Chris, Brin and the others will listen very closely to what she has to say," Rockford advised Pike, "So keep an open mind."
"You're meant to hear this too," Neela told her, "Starfleet and Federation Security need to be advised of my plans."
"And your plans involve their proposed strategy?" Pike was uncertain.
"Directly," Neela ssured her.
The lift arrived at the open portal that led to Ops. At a table with multiple display screens built into its surface stood the strategists and commanding officers. Pike hurried over. Rockford escorted Neela.
"Neela has important information to share," Rockford advised them as the discussions halted to greet Pike's arrival, "I'll leave you all to it."
"Neela, please join us," Riker offered hospitably, "We were about to bring Chris up to speed as to our discussion so far. You can sit in as well."
"Sakonna and her team uncovered how the Cult of the Pah-wraiths contact Gul Macet. But we were in the middle of discussing how we could replicate that signal to lure Macet into a trap," Sveta Korepanova told them.
"Good thinking," Pike thought aloud.
"It won't work," Neela told them.
"Can you explain why?" Riker asked.
"The Cult enclave on Fendic is the contact point, but your plan requires the forced cooperation of the Cult's sole representative with Macet," Neela told them, "You can't persuade him to call for Macet but I can."
"How?" Macen was curious.
"The contact's name is Amon Tuz. I've had dealings with him," Neela told them, "Amon wants my head served up to Macet. So I'll present myself to him and he'll summon Macet for you."
"That's risky," Liu stated, "Why would Amon be dealing with Macet? Is he a Cultist?"
"He's the leader of the Cult's Fendic enclave," Neela explained, "He hired the Razor's Edge under the guise that we were pirates to collect the Pah-wraith vessels with entombed Pah-wraiths within them. We were expected to deliver them to Empok Nor. Instead we destroyed them at 495 IV and killed the Kosst Amojan within them. Macet took issue with our actions and our collecting a horde of Cardassian leks from Macet's war chest to retain our services. His ship was heavily damaged in pursuit of us and he was blocked by the Colonial Defense Forces as we crossed the border from the Kalendra Sector into the Bajor Sector," Neela explained.
"That's when you assembled your crew while we looked for Mudd Kenra in the Algona Sector," Macen understood now.
"Yes, and Amon still believes we're pirates. So pirates mutinying and handing me over to erase the death mark the Cult placed on them would be a natural development. Meanwhile, after Macet is summoned, my crew could deal with the Cult enclave," Neela explained her offer.
"Starfleet Security from Starbase 47 or the planet's Federation Security agents could assist," Pike offered.
"No," Neela said flatly, "This is an internal Bajoran matter. We'll deal with it and them. No outsiders."
"But the Bajoran Republic is no longer a Federation member state. A representative from either agnecy would have to be present to monitor yor actions on Federation soil," Pike argued.
"My crew is Bajoran. How would I explain the presence of an alien among them?" Neela asked, "Especially given how Bajor was expelled from the Federation before the Federation launched a war against us?"
"Chris, we'll take responsibility for Neela's team," Macen told her.
"Someone better," Pike said irritably.
"The Obsidian is still undergoing repairs so we're still reliant on the Solstice," Macen told the group, "We won't be able to damage a Galor-class cruiser to the point of their surrender."
"Macet's ship is still damaged," Neela stated.
"Intelligence reports came in from Kalendra," Korepanova told her, "Macet received repair services from Tom Eckles' former drydocks."
"I sold Eckles those facilities after having them built during the Dominion War," Riker reminded her, "So don't sound judgmental. Eckles works for the company now and is SID cleared."
"Tom Eckles sold the facilities to work for us. He didn't have many interested buyers. So you can't fault him for their actions," Macen chided Korepanova.
"Eckles worked with Heidi Darcy and Chris Lacey to enhance any ship that could pay the premium," Danan reminded everyone, "So the shipyard was already known for skirting interstellar law."
"And the Kalendra Sector is neutral territory," Riker put forth, "Eckles would never have repaired a Cardassian ship and you know it. But he had no control over the facility after it was sold. That's what's eating at you."
"This is all beside the point," Danan advised them, "We need a plan of what to do after Macet arrives in the shadow of Starbase 47."
"Starfleet has no current issues with allowing a Cardassian ship on business or diplomatic functions access to a Federation colony or member world," Pike reminded them, "You starting a shooting match next a starbase and it will carry consequences though."
"We won't be the ones initiating hostile action," Macen told her, "The basic idea is to push Macet back into Cardassian space where Supreme Legate Ocett will have forces ready to capture him."
"They'll execute him," Pike said coldly.
"Not our problem," Macen replied, "Nor is it Starfleet;'s. Macet is accused of capital crimes including treason."
"But they've already decided his sentence," Pike argued, "That's hardly fair."
"Re-read the Prime Directive," Riker suggested, "The Federation won't interfere in the affairs of foreign powers unless invited to by the sovereign government. Castellan Garan and the Detepa Council want Macet to hang? It's their legal system."
"You were a Cardassian prisoner, you know how the treat their prisoners," Pike was angry now.
"So I know a death sentence is getting off lightly," Riker was irritated with her as well.
"It's a rigged system," Pike protested.
"He's Cardassian and a traitor," Korepanova had had enough, "What is your issue?"
"Everyone deserves a fair trail by an impartial jury," Pike explained her stance.
"Even some Federation worlds don't guarantee that," Danan reminded her.
"I agree he's guilty but death sentences are barbaric," Pike continued to voice a counter position.
"Bajor retains the death penalty, Lieutenant. Do you consider us barbarians?" Neela asked softly.
"That's a trick question," Pike protested, "And Bajor suspended the death penalty while it was a member of the Federation."
"So we're less enlightened now?" Neela was slowly digging Pike's metaphorical grave.
"That custom is barbaric no matter who is practicing it," Pike stated boldly.
"So the Andorians are barbaric?" Riker wanted to know, "They're a Federation founding world and agreed that federal courts should remove the death penalty as an option but their Imperial courts retain it. Are you going to argue that they're barbarians as well?"
"This all been spun out of context," Pike was getting angry now.
"You chose your words yourself," Macen told her, "Words carry weight and reveal conviction."
"I'm not arguing with a Listener," Pike retorted.
"You're just full of hidden prejudices, aren't you?" Korepanova asked, "What's your opinion regarding the Maquis that received clemency?"
"That's a separate issue," Pike told her.
"It's critical to just about everyone at this table except for you and Neela," Riker warned her, "Neela was in the Resistance so she's an ideological cousin of us Maquis veterans."
"I don't have to answer that," Pike grew defiant.
"You'll answer the question or we request a new liaison officer," Macen warned her, "Although, your defensive strategy already revealed the answer. Can you admit to it?"
"I think terrorists and those aided terrorists should be confined to a penal colony for however long a court determines they be sentenced for," Pike finally admitted it.
"Yet none of us here served time on a penal colony nor were we ever arrested tried as terrorists," Liu pointed out, "That has to eat at you."
"You all broke the law of basic humanity yet a backdoor deal with Starfleet saved you from prison time," Pike accused.
"I served prison time," Riker reminded her, "Should I also be confined to a Federation penal colony?"
"I honestly don't know. But you went AWOL, impersonated another officer, and stole a starship besides being a terrorist. There should have been accountability for that," Pike rendered her verdict.
"Thank you for sharing," Macen told her, "That probably felt good."
"How can you stand to be our liaison officer?" Korepanova asked.
"Because although I think you cheated the justice system I also got to know every one of you. You're decent people that made a mistake. But it was still an illegal mistake," Pike answered, "Starfleet chose to bury the charges. I can live with that. I can also live here with you without trying to subvert your missions. Admiral Forger asked me to come here. I didn't know why. She knew my views on the matter."
"Because she thought you had a lesson to learn about judging people for who they are and not simply for what they have done," Macen told her, "It was a reality check for you."
"How can you know that?" Pike asked.
"Because she told me that when she assigned you here," Macen revealed.
"You've known? All this time?" Pike was incredulous.
"I'll repeat that question," Riker added.
"It was an object lesson for us as well. Amanda wanted to be certain we could work with a potentially hostile and obstinate Starfleet while Starfleet learned to look passed it's own preconceptions of who we are. It was a lesson that served us well under Fleet Admiral Clancy's tenure. Clancy asked Chris here to spy on us. She refused to. So I'd say she has learned part of her lesson in preconceptions."
"How do you know about that?" Pike wanted to know, "That was only ever in my personal logs."
"Which are subject to official scrutiny should the SID deem it necessary to review an officer's conduct. The station's comm logs registered Clancy contacting you. That was reported to Admiral Forger and she pulled her personal logs as well your official logs to look for discrepancies. Fortunately for you, the comm traffic was a one-time event and your logs revealed your true feelings regarding Clancy's overture," Macen explained, "Right now you feel your privacy was violated. Everyone in Starfleet Intelligence and Starfleet Security is subject to the review process. The SID is sanctioned by both and also retains that clause in its regulations. You should've examined your handbook more thoroughly while you were volunteering to serve in the division."
"But you obviously never shared any of this with anyone until now," Pike realized.
"I shared with Celeste. We agreed to keep it private unless the information proved necessary to prove a point to you," Macen told her, and by extension, the others.
"So can you work with unrepentant former terrorists?" Riker wanted to know.
"You had my answer when I refused Clancy," Pike told him.
"Lieutenant Pike, please advise Starfleet that we'll be conducting an operation on Fendic and in Starbase 47's periphery," Macen instructed.
"Can I tell them what kind of operation?" Pike asked directly.
"No," Macen's answer was just as direct, "Go tell them now."
"Liu, check the duty assignments and see which SID crews are available on short notice," Danan requested.
Liu searched her operations and logistics support reports, "The Guinevere and the Waylaid are in port and between assignments."
"Please summon Captains Wei and Gardner to Ops," Danan continued.
"The Waylaid is merely an Asia (refit)-class," Riker reminded Macen are you certain you don't want to wait to pull a larger ship?"
"Captain Wei and her crew have proven themselves in combat," Macen reminded him, "They're prepared to face Gul Macet."
"Captain Gardner's Lancelot-class is more advanced but still lighter weight than a fully functional Galor-class," Korepanova stated.
"We don't need to battle him, merely provoke him," Macen replied.
"Because if he opens fire in Federation space, especially next a starbase, Starfleet will respond," Korepanova understood now, "And he'll run for home to try hide from the Cardassian Guard in the Dorvan Sector."
"You do," Riker told the captains, "You'll be escorting Commander Macen in the Solstice to Fendic."
"Isn't that the home of Starbase 47?" Wei asked.
"Right on the Cardassian border," Hendryks replied, "One of the guardians of the Dorvan Sector."
"Elfi, I want you to alert these people to report for duty aboard the Solstice. You're coming with," Macen handed her a padd.
"This is your entire team except for Detective Rockford and her squad," Hendryks read the list.
"They don't know anything about starships so it's better not to involve them," Macen told her.
"Rockford will be pissed," Hendryks warned him.
"I'll deal with that after we conclude here," Macen told her, "I don't want this announced over comm badges. I need it done quietly. Most of the team is at Quark's."
"Because they're at Quark's and Miranda Wells is back on the station," Macen explained, "The less she knows about our movements, the less the chances that she'll sell our comings and goings to interested parties."
"So you want everyone out of Quark's without the manager noticing?" Hendryks sought clarification.
"Exactly," Macen confirmed it, "Annabeth will cover for us and clue Tulley in as well. He'll cooperate with however you pull this off."
"So it's a Maquis mission," Hendryks grinned, "I've got it covered."
While she departed Riker briefed Gardner and Wei as to the objectives and assets they had. Gardner wore a lopsioded smile, "I always appreciate a challenge."
"Forgive my doubts, but against the Waylaid and your own Solstice, it seems to be a one-sided affair in Gul Macet's favor," Wei pointed out.
"That lure will cause him to strike out at us. Which is the very last thing a Cardassian commander should do next to a starbase. Starbase 47 houses a fairly large patrol squadron. Macet will run and we'll hard and fast to the Cardassian border. Once he's inside the Dorvan Sector he'll head for sanctuary. Ocett's forces will be waiting for him," Macen described the objective, "Macet will only get one or two shots at each of us. We just have to endure that level of punishment while Starfleet deploys."
"The added presence of the Razor's Edge will also blind him to the stupidity of his actions," Neela informed them, "Our last encounter was an embarrassment to him and dealt a blow to his cause. Because of us he wasn't there to temper Maret's ambitions and Maret overreached and lost the war."
"And you and your crew are Bajoran?" Gardner asked.
"We are," Neela confirmed it.
"That'll rile him even more," Gardner gloated, "Macet won't be able to resist a chance to lash out at Bajorans that wounded his pride."
"So we'll form a protective detail around the Razor's Edge and force him to go through us to get at her," Macen liked how the plan was coming together. Now he had to face Rockford.
Hendryks ran into Kerber and Smith as they were leaving the Coffee Spot with Ebert and Mudd. She told them the news. Mudd looked pained but Ebert was reinvigorated.
"Finally! This is our chance to get Macet out of the picture!" she nearly babbled with excitement.
"This might be gung-ho Maquis stuff for you but I'm busy crapping my pants over the odds a scoutship has against a Cardassian cruiser," Mudd confessed, "It'd be bad enough aboard the Obsidian."
"And Commander Macen wants us along?" Kerber asked, "Intriguing."
"He knows what he's doing," Smith was confident, "I'm wondering what the ask will be."
"I'm coming with so there will definitely be cyber warfare involved," Hendryks promised, "Now I have to go collect the people at Quark's while you pack."
"We never had time to unpack," Mudd lamented.
"C'mon, Harri. It'll be fun," Ebert promised.
"You really do get off on violence, don't you?" Mudd groaned as Ebert dragged her to a crossover bridge.
"Hendryks' inclusion proves interesting," Smith concluded.
"It'll be good. I know it," Kerber enthused, "Let's grab our gear and report to Flight Operations to get a shuttle assigned to ferry us over."
"Apparently Tracy isn't the only one that gets off on violence," Smith said drolly.
"Me?" Kerber was wounded, "Have you watched yourself with a sniper's rifle? Its artistry."
"I doubt we'll be going to the ground," Smith opined.
"You never know with this group, do you?" Kerber was still excited.
"You have me there," Smith admitted.
Hendryks entered Quark's and took a long around as she headed for the bar Frinks was tending with Tulley in attendance. Wells was at a quiet table alone, surveying the mood in her assigned bar. Hendryks met up with Frinks and Tulley, "Annabeth, anyone from the old days in attendance today?"
"Just cover for us when we leave," Hendryks requested, "Aric, are you still on duty?"
"For another four hours. Why do you ask?" Tulley answered with a question of his own.
"I need you to make some arrests and a couple of catch and releases," Hendryks told him. I have a job for Sarayana and Red Raven. It's gonna light the bar on fire. You might need to call in backup."
"Radil will love this," Tulley said grimly.
"Just let Red Raven and Sarayana off with a warning, for officialdom's sake," Hendryks implored him, "This is definitely a Maquis mission that I'm on."
"You can't turn it down. Aric. Any more than I can," Frinks prodded him.
"How long do we want me to let it go on?" Tulley asked.
"Until it reaches Wells and I get away with a few people unnoticed," Hendryks told him.
"Make it quick," Tulley requested.
Hendryks first approached Red Raven as she stood leaned against the bar and pulled her to where Sarayana was doing the same further down the countertop, "I need you two to start a fight with that group of Caitian traders."
"Why am I committing suicide?" Red Raven asked.
"Macen needs a mission done but I need to get personnel out of here without the manager noticing," Hendryks explained, "That's her in the green jacket. If you could steer the fight in that direction, it'd be a big help."
"Is Tulley in on it?" Sarayana asked.
"Yes," Hendryks told them, "He'll let the fight break out and spread before he calls in Security. He'll personally arrest you and let you go before you reach lockup."
"We haven't done this routine in a while," Red Raven admitted.
"I'll make my approaches as soon as you get things going," Hendryks told them.
"We'd better start now. The manager is starting to notice us talking together," Sarayana warned Hendryks.
"Good luck," Hendryks told them.
"You too," Red Raven urged her.
The two Dorvan V survivors strode up to the cluster of Caitians. Red Raven began the insulting, "Why don't you pack up and find a litter box to play in?"
"Go away, human. Be ignorant somewhere else," the Caitian captain advised them.
"So you didn't bring your boxes?" Sarayana joined in, "So you just shit your pants and walk around in it?"
"Leave while you still can," a crewman growled.
"I think there's a reason they call you pussy cats," Red Raven doubled down.
The Caitians reacted all at once. They threw the table and chairs aside, into fellow patrons of the bar. This got everyone on their feet. The Caitian captain threw the first punch, which Red Raven blocked and she kneed him in the ball sack. Sarayana was fighting just as dirty and pushing fighters into Wells' table.
"What the hell?" Wells roared as her drink spilled in her lap, "Where the hell is Security?"
Tulley and Frinks were enjoying the show immensely. Hendryks in the meantime had made contact with Daggit, Parva, and Burrows. They got out while Wells had a tantrum. Tuulley hit his comm badge and called in Radil and backup. Then he waded in and arrested Red Raven and Sarayana. Radil and the deputies arrived armed and ready for action.
"These two started it," Tulley told Radil as he marched them out, "I'll take care of them."
"Everyone freeze and raise your hands!" Radil shouted over the crowd noise. She stunned a fighter across the room to make her point. Everyone complied after that.
"Chief, I want to file charges against the women that started this," Wells was in Radil's face.
"They've been taken away," Radil told her, "Report to the Security Office later today to file your charges. Now back away or I'll arrest you for obstruction,"
Wells glared as she stepped back and allowed the Security team to move in and make arrests. Radil approached Wells later as everyone was being marched off to the detention cells, "Bring supporting evidence against the woman and we'll use it in court against them."
By that time, Frinks had turned the security recorders back on. Wells got into Radil's face again, "I want them prosecuted today. They'll pay restitution for the business I've lost during and because of this fight."
"Back away. Now," Radil told her firmly.
"Do you understand me?" Wells shouted at Radil, "Or do I need friends in the Orion Syndicate to deal with them and you?"
"Turn around and place your hands behind your back," Radil ordered.
"What?" Wells was incredulous.
"You just threatened two civilians and a Security Officer. You're under arrest for threatening me specifically and we'll sort out the details concerning the other two later,". Radiul told her, "Now, are you going to resist?"
"You bet your ass, I'll resist. This preposterous! Do you know who my connections are?" Wells shouted at her.
Radil deftly spun Wells around and slammed her across the counter. Forcing the woman's hands behind her, she clamped binders on Wells' wrists and then jerked her up fro the countertop and pushed her towards the exit, "The Security Office is that way."
"I know where it is, you frinxing idiot. You're a dead woman now. I promise you that," Wells made yet another threat.
"I'll be sure to look into that and your connections you mentioned earlier," Radil pushed her along as Wells slowed to realize she'd said too much.
"I'll be certain to cooperate fully!" Frinks called after them.
Leighlah Travers ran up to Frinks, "They finally got her!"
"They'll be back with station warrants. It'll be interesting to find out just what they find in Wells' private office," Frinks gloated.
"Did the security recorders get your friends in action?" Travers worried for them.
"Sadly, the recorders glitched and went down while the fight was started. I guess we'll never know who actually started it," Frinks chuckled.
"You've all done this before," Travers realized.
"A few times at the Old Biddy to get key people out of the bar when the Cardies arrived to inspect the place," Frinks admitted, "We had a faulty security system there too. It's too bad management wouldn't invest in an upgraded system."
"The gawkers are coming in now," Travers advised Frinks.
"Get the tables and chairs set up and let's serving customers again!" Frinks cheered the staff on.
Chapter Ten
Tulley released Red Raven and Sarayana as promised, "I wouldn't go back there for a day or two. I'll hand deliver a bottle of aged Saurian brandy as a recompense."
"I wonder what Elfi is up to," Sarayana admitted.
"We haven't been asked to stage that in forever," Red Raven added.
"I don't know but she pulled members of Macen's personal team out. So something must be going down," Tulley told them.
"Gul Macet!" Sarayana guessed, "It has to be!"
"Good, that'll make up for the worst month of my life," Red Raven snorted.
"Let's find Sakonna and Littlebird and celebrate!" Sarayana enthused, "Tulley, you bring Frinks and drop by my quarters later."
"We'll be there and we'll bring the real booze," Tulley promised and moved on back to Quark's.
"Okay, let's find Sarina and Sakonna and bring them up to speed," Red Raven decided.
"Even Sakonna will be happy they're going after Gul Macet," Sarayana predicted.
"Let's see if Hakatay is back on the station," Red Raven suggested, "That'll crack Sakonna's facade."
"Definitely!" Sarayana agreed, "Let's go before someone at Security realizes we weren't brought in."
"First place to look is the Coffee Spot," Red Raven told Sarayana, "If anyone knows, it's Roberta and Nick.
They reached the coffee house to find two fellow ex-Maquis turned Outbound Ventures operatives. Chen Ziya and Sussa Many Hearts were of Chinese and Apache descent. Like Littlebird, Red Raven, and Sarayana, Many Hearts came from Dorvan V. Chen was from Setlick III and had survived the massacre there as a child.
"Staying or going?" Chen asked them in a jovial mood.
"Please stay," Many Hearts asked.
"Better idea, party. My quarters," Saryana counter offered, "Has anyone seen Sakonna or Littlebird?"
"They left as we were coming in," Chen told them.
"What about Hakatay?" Red Raven inquired.
"Last I heard, he was due back any day now," Many Hearts told them.
"My quarters, half an hour! Be there!": Sarayana turned to Red Raven, "Let's check out the runabout and shuttle pads and then the Docking Ring. If Hakatay is coming in then Sakonna will be there to greet him."
"Good thinking," Red Raven agreed, "See you in thirty."
"Why do I think those two are actually hiding from trouble," Chen asked Many Hearts as they rose to go prepare for a party.
Many Hearts nodded, "They're acting like it's old times. They didn't say we couldn't invite anyone."
"Who were you thinking about?" Chen wondered.
"Eckles, Darcy, and Thool should be getting off of their watches at the drydock," Many Hearts explained, "And Lacey is off duty."
"We have time to round them up," Chen agreed.
"And we need to find Elfi," Many Hearts insisted, "And Chris Noble."
"They're both on duty in Ops," Chen shook her head, "The only escaping that is being sent on a mission."
"Look, Security is doing a sweep," Many Hearts pointed out.
"Here they come," Chen grimaced.
"You two, have you seen Sonja Red Raven and Sarayana?" a deputy asked.
"Who?" Chen played stupid.
"You know them.. You even dress like them and have the same hair styles," the deputy badgered them.
"I haven't seen them since I came in," Many Hearts said.
"Nope. Me neither," Chen added to the lie.
"They already checked the Habitat Ring. Call it in and start looking in the Docking Ring," the deputy told his fellow officer.
"We have to get to the runabout pads and warn them," Many Hearts whispered to Chen.
"Why are you whispering? Let's just go!" Chen urged.
They nearly collided with Su Wen, another Maquis turned Outbound Ventures operative outside of a shuttle pad that she'd arrived in. Su held her hands up in surrender, "Whoa! What's the hurry?"
"Security is looking for Red Raven and Sarayana," Chen explained.
"Security is looking in the Docking Ring now but they're here in the Habitat Ring checking the shuttle and runabout pads looking for Sakonna and Littlebird," Many Hearts breathlessly explained.
"We're throwing a party and we're also trying to intercept Eckles, Darcy, and Thool as they got off duty and return to the station," Chen told her.
"You need my help," Su decided, "In exchange for an invite, we'll split up to cover more arrivals. Where is the party supposed to be held?"
"Sarayana's quarters," Many Hearts dismally answered, "Where they'll come back to look again."
"We're switching to my quarters, "Su offered, "Now let's find our people."
So the trio went different ways to cover sections of the Habitat Ring's landing pads.
At Runabout Pad C, The soon-to-be Solstice crew was gathering. Burrows looked around, "Where's Macen?"
"Surviving Celeste's wrath at being left behind," Parva told him, "So have a heart when he shows up."
Su hurried passed them to find Sakonna and Littlebird. After a discussion in hushed tones, they headed for another pad to await the engineering team's arrival. Chen came across Sarayana and Red Raven and ushered them off to Su's quarters. Many Hearts caught the engineers as they arrived and invited them to the gathering.
The SID team watching the secretive nature of Su's conversation with Sakonna and Littlebird, began to wonder what else was afoot.
"Between Security and so many ex-Maquis being involved, I'd say someone got into trouble," Ebert deduced, "And the gang is shielding them."
"That bar fight at Quark's was staged so I could get Daggit, Parva, and Burrows out of there without Miranda Wells noticing," Hendryks explained, "Tulley made a fake arrest of my conspirators and released them. Obviously, Radil isn't quite accepting that turn of events."
"Tulley will come clean to Radil and she'll smooth things over on the official report," Parva predicted.
Kerber was reviewing a padd, "Wells was arrested as well and is attempting to press charges against Sarayana and Sonja Red Raven."
"What charge was Wells brought in on?" Parva was delighted.
"Threatening a Security officer," Kerber read.
"Which means Radil will crawl up her official ass now," Daggit chuckled, "This will be revealing."
"And it might get Annabeth promoted," Ebert enthused.
Smith came out of the airlock, "The pilot is getting testy. Where's Macen?"
"What's left of him should be here any minute," Mudd mirthfully said.
"I understand you leaving my detectives behind, but me?" Rockford was incensed.
"Celeste, there won't be any investigative work to do. It's strictly shipboard duty time. You and your people will literally have nothing to do but become targets for Gul Macet," Macen explained a second time.
"All right," Rockford painfully conceded, "I need to talk to Kathy Tyrol anyway."
"Thank you for understanding," Macen was relieved.
"Don't get dead," Ro0ckford said grimly.
"I have Jennifer Gardner and Wei Ziya and their crews backing us up. We'll be fine. Neela and her crew will handle the ground work," Macen told her.
"Gardner and Wei have good crews," Rockford admitted, "They're experienced and dependable. But they're light on firepower versus Macet's ship."
"Which is why there's three of us and a starbase orbiting the same planet," Macen smirked.
"You should have led with that," Rockford accused.
"We provoke Macet into firing on Neela's ship and us protecting it and Starfleet chases Macet across the border where Ocett will be waiting for him." Macen described the planned scenario.
"How will you provoke Macet into making such an idiotic decision?" Rockford asked.
"Macet has a grudge against Neela," Macen stated.
Rockford rolled her eyes, "Half the quadrant has a grudge against Neela."
"Neela and her crew nearly crippled Macet's cruiser and got him forced back out of the Bajor Sector," Macen detailed it, "His pride won't allow him to accept that."
"Especially having a modern Cardassian cruiser and losing to the Razor's Edge," Rockford mulled it over, 'That will definitely send him over the tiop if he thinks he has a chance at revenge."
"The Razor's Edge will be in orbit over Fendic while Neela and a team on the ground. We'll be in higher orbits in support, shielding her ship," Macen explained.
"And Macet will fire on you all for no apparent reason in front of Starbase 47," Rockford got it, "Good plan. I just hope Starfleet responds quick enough before any of you get hurt."
"We'll manage," Macen promised.
"So, captain of the Solstice yet again. You're making this a habit here lately. Missing command duties?" Rockford wondered.
"Sometimes. But I trust in Shannon's abilities so I keep them the urge tamed aboard the Obsidian," Macen confessed.
"As I'm led to understand, the ship sustains a lot less damage with Shannon Forger as captain," Rockford laughed.
"I refuse to incriminate myself," Macen replied, "But I'm already late to catch a ride to the drydock."
Rockford pulled him in for a fervent kiss. When they separated again, she said, "Just come back again."
"That's always my goal," he admitted, "But I have to go now."
Rockford sighed as Macen his bag departed. She got to work scheduling a conference with Tyrol. As corporate CEO, Tyrol controlled the administrative side of both Outbound Ventures and the Rockford Detective Agencies. As co-owner of the company, Rockford was granted extraordinary access to Tyrol. So she found it to be no surprise when it was announced that Tyrol had cleared her schedule and could meet now.
She had her proposal to bring on counseling staff practiced in her head. At the meeting she found Tyrol receptive and even encouraging.
"This is long overdue," Tyrol agreed.
"I'm glad to hear you say that," Rockford admitted.
"I'm bringing Caity Floss into this," Tyrol paged the recruiting officer, "Her Starfleet contacts will provide us with people who are specifically trained to treat agents like ours."
"Can she find qualified applicants in short order?" Rockford asked.
Tyrol laughed, "Caity has a running list of officers and enlisted resigning from, retiring from, or otherwise coming out of Starfleet. She brought it to me that she had counseling contacts interested in changing careers. I was just too busy with other obligations to push it forward. But now I see it's time to authorize the expenditures."
"Thank you, Kathy," Rockford was relieved.
"Now, let's talk about your agency. I have a few ideas about it," Tyrol told her. Rockford was already intrigued.
"You owe me a slip of latinum," Ebert told Mudd.
"Yah, yah," Mudd groused.
"Captains Wei and Gardner report that the Waylaid and Guinevere have already departed drydock," Smith warned Macen, "Captain Riker is looking to authorize their departure."
"What about the Razor's Edge?" Macen grew concerned.
"Riker reports she departed twenty minutes ago," Smith told him, "Is that a bad thing?"
"Tell Riker to get the Waylaid and Guinevere underway at maximum warp to escort the Razor's Edge," Macen instructed, "We'll catch up while they slow to a cruising speed."
"You expect a problem?" Smith was curious.
"Once they reach Fendic? I expect Neela to kill every Cultist on the planet," Macen told her.
"Interesting," Smith mused, "And you're fine with that?"
"It's a Bajoran security matter. I'm not taking a side in it. You and Angelique are."
"I hear my name?" Kerber leaned in.
"I'll tell you both once we're underway," Macen promised them.
"Captain, the shuttle pilot is spewing vulgarities now," Ebert came out of the airlock.
"We're coming already," Macen sighed.
Hendryks found herself in the Solstice's Data Womb with Kerber and Smith. She'd never seen such a concentration of computing power aboard a starship. Learning it didn't even rival that aboard the Obsidian, Hendryks almost swooned.
"Think of the things I could've done on the Indomitable if it could've had the capacity to support this," Hendryks said in a whisper.
"Lucky for you, there's a third station," Kerber grinned.
"I'd always wondered what was behind this locked door when we went out," Hendryks confessed, "But I never imagined this."
"We've granted you limited access to the systems," Smith explained why Hendryks was there, "So when you deploy under Captain Noble's command, you'll have access to this equipment."
"Just not our private files," Kerber warned her.
"I understand completely," Hendryks agreed, "Operational needs always come first."
"I'm glad you understand," Smith was heartened.
"This center is tied into our main hub aboard the Obsidian. So you can reach out to us privately through here," Kerber told her, "If we're not aboard her, then we have a similar arrangement on the station we monitor."
"Your access is tied to your life signs. So if you're dead, no one can use your biometrics to access this space," Smith explained further.
"What if I'm a re-animated corpse?" Hendryks snickered.
"Trust me, the security sensors will know the difference," Kerber chuckled.
"Macen has a plan for us so that's why you've been brought aboard," Smith told Hendryks, "Your support role could include just about anything."
"What would you do instead?" Hendryks wondered.
"I have no idea. But I'm looking forward to finding out," Kerber told her, "You're meant not to know."
"I won't ask any further," Hendryks understood those kinds of missions, "So introduce me to your systems."
"Glad to," Kerber told her and began activating everything and showing her the equipment's capacities. Then Hendryks truly was awed.
"I must say, I'm surprised by your apparent lack of trust in me," Neela told Macen when he beamed aboard the Razor's Edge.
"We both know what's going to happen to the Cultists on Fendic," He said.
"Are you objecting to my intentions or my methods?" Neela wondered.
"Your methods," Macen tried to explain, "You'll have too many gaps in your coverage with such a small strike force. I have a pair of agents prepared to provide Overwatch support."
"And if I object?" Neela asked.
"I'm sending them regardless," Macen shrugged.
"It seems like I have little choice in this," Neela complained.
"Fendic is a mature colony with a starbase in orbit and an increased Federation Security presence because of its proximity to the Cardassian border," Macen explained his rationale, "You need to have the ability to prevent escapes and drawn out foot chases that will draw attention as well as early warnings of any security patrols responding to your presence."
"It's a good idea," Neela sighed, "I just hate involving non-Bajorans into a security matter."
"You worked with James Smart," Macen reminded her.
"Smart was already present at the auction house we cleared. Afterwards, I just couldn't get rid of him," Neela was still irritated by the memory of 0086.
"He has that effect," Macen grinned. He'd also objected to Smart's continued presence and orders during the campaign to deal with the Orb of the Kosst Amojan.
"Who were thinking about sending to Fendic?" Neela asked.
"Bailey Smith and Angelique Kerber. They have vast experience in urban combat and kill boxes," Macen shared, "They'll suit your needs."
"I'm well aware that Smith and Kerber aren't whom they seem to be," Neela confided, "I also recognize fellow former terrorists when I see them."
"Well, most of my team doesn't. Let's leave it at that," Macen requested.
"Is there another reason you requested coming aboard?' Neela asked.
"I'd like to meet the crew, if you don't mind," Macen admitted.
"They'd be delighted," Neela told him, "It'll give them a chance to show off."
They began with Engineering, moved to Medical, visited the Armory, and ended up on the bridge. Wyn swiveled her chair to observe Neela and Macen exiting the turbolift, "We're taking tours now?"
"This is Commander Brin Macen," \Neela told them, "He wanted to meet the crew."
"What have you thought of us so far?" Wyn was curious as everyone on the bridge was now hyper-aware of Macen's presence.
"I was curious as to who Neela would work with," Macen admitted to them, "So far I've been impressed."
"This is Major Wyn Mesa of the Militia Special Forces. She's the ship's commander," Neela said.
"I'm well aware of who Major Wyn is," Macen didn't elaborate as to why or how. Neela knew but that was a secret she wouldn't share with them.
"This is my Executive Officer, Lieutenant Griff Goring. Also of Militia Special Forces," Wyn was still dying to know why Macen seemed to regard her familiarly when they'd never met before now. She then introduced Katts, Javi, Ferris, and Wes, "Neela said we have you to thank for the ship's modernization and upgrades."
"It was necessary. I knew Neela would take advantage of the Razor's Edge eventually. So I wanted her ready for most anything in her class range," Macen told them, "It's a pleasure to be working with you. We'll do our best to keep you alive when Macet throws down. But I understand you already humiliated him once. We're here to make certain you don't have to a second time."
"If you'd transport me back to the Solstice now?' Macen asked Neela. They departed and Wyn made the first observation.
"Those two are as thick as thieves," she remarked.
"Meaning he knows what's going to happen on Fendic," Griff mentioned.
"But he doesn't care," Ferris had noted.
"What's our ETA to Fendic?" Wyn asked Wes.
"Twenty-six minutes," the helmsman answered.
"Get ready to drop out of warp," Wyn told him, "Contact Traffic Control when we reach the system and get us an orbital slot over Fendic's capital.
"This time we get to go down too," Griff looked forward to it.
"I've never been a mutineer before. This should refreshing," Wyn mused.
"Provided the Cult of the Pah-wraiths really does buy Neela from us," Griff stated.
"Oh, I think they will," Wyn replied, "Especially since we're throwing Odon and Maru in with her."
"Varis is also looking forward to playing the criminal that turned on his bosses," Griff chuckled, "He'd been rehearsing different lines until Maru and Odon banished him from the Armory."
"Is Wills looking forward to her part in this?" Wyn wondered.
"Ready and able. Doctor Lens and Nurse Kenji will inject the transponders. Wills will transport us back down with a cache of weapons as soon as our offloaded 'prisoners' settle into one spot," Griff replayed the plan.
"I wonder how Neela will convince this Amon Tuz to summon Gul Macet," Griff admitted.
"Very forcefully, I predict," Wyn laughed.
"Steady as she goes," Captain Wei monitored the feeling on the bridge.
"Phasers and shields on standby. Torpedo tubes already loaded," Bian Nguyen, Binh's sister, reported from the Navigation/Weapons station from beside the helm.
"Don't sound so eager," Wei cautioned her, "Engineering, how is everything , Chief Nhung?"
"Hopefully we need to be," Wei replied, "Doctor Linh, what's Sickbay's status?"
Canh Linh was more cautionary than Nhung, "We've prepared as best as we can. I'm hoping beyond hope our services won't be required."
"I do as well, Doctor," Wei agreed.
"Quyen, open a channel to the Solstice," Wei instructed.
"Can you manage to weed out the interference?" Wei asked as static splattered Macen's image.
"Radiation from the planet. It's classified as a brown dwarf," Quyen explained.
"A word of warning next time, Ping," Wei chided her Operations Officer manning the Science station.
Dian Ping was unruffled, "The planet is highly radioactive for its classification. It wasn't mentioned in the system's cartography."
"Quyen?" Wei hoped beyond hope.
"Still trying," Quyen was frustrated as well.
"Binh Nguyen, take us to a higher orbit," Wei sighed.
"We're now outside the gravity well," Binh Nguyen reported.
"Will this affect sensors?" Wei asked Ping.
"Negative, but it should keep us from being detected," Ping answered.
"Commander Macen, are receiving us now?" Wei inquired.
"Much clearer than a minute ago," Macen confided, "Is your crew ready?"
"Capable and prepared," Wei promised.
"Remember, follow Macet in when he makes his approach," Macen reminded her, "He'll consider you routine traffic and non-threatening."
"Why do you assume he'll approach from Federation space?" Wei wondered about that part of the planning.
"Cardassian border outposts have detected Macet's cruiser at extreme range," Macen explained now, "Starfleet wouldn't apprehend and extradite Macet. So we're forcing the issue."
"Is Captain Gardner aware of this as well?" Wei asked.
"Not yet," Macen told her, "I'll be contacting her shortly. The Guinevere will be putting in for Fendic orbital insertion next to the Razor's Edge. We'll be taking high orbital coverage of the Bajoran ship."
"This is a lot of protection for a single Bajoran craft," Wei noted, "And you're certain Macet will strike at them?"
"He won't be able to resist," Macen grinned.
Chapter Eleven
"Harri, put Captain Gardner on screen," Macen requested.
"A 'please' would be nice," Mudd retorted.
"How about 'now'?" Macen asked.
Mudd was grumbling as Gardner's image appeared, "Still out of uniform, I see."
"My team never wears the official uniform," Macen told her.
"Actually, I'm glad Starfleet insisted the rest of us wear one. The nostalgia effect makes it worth it," Gardner chuckled.
"The corporate uniform is based on Starfleet as well," Macen reminded her.
"The United Earth Starfleet. Not the same thing. This helps remind us that when we are serving the Special Investigation Division we're actually still a part of Starfleet," Gardner explained.
"Or at least represent them," Macen clarified.
"I heard the Iotians were updating their uniform as well," Gardner mentioned.
"They're 'test marketing' different options," Macen shook his head.
"You smooth things over with the Bajorans?" Gardner asked.
"Yes, they saw my point," Macen told her.
"Good. I'd hate to fight them as well," Gardner signed off.
"Never crossed my mind," Macen murmured.
"The Razor's Edge just used their transporter," Burrows announced from the Science station. He was far from a scientist but it had the best sensor displays and controls.
"Parva, is our team ready?" Macen commed the Orion engineer.
"Tessa just implanted the trackers," Parva replied, "You sure this is the best route to go? Starfleet will be pissed if they figure it out. Not to mention the odds of a conflict with Federation Security."
"I'm touched that you're worried," Macen scoffed.
"I just don't want to end up on a penal colony," Parva sniffed.
"You won't," Macen assured her, "Just stand by."
"Copy that," Parva told him, "I've got the transporter's targeting sensors tracking Neela's party."
"Rab will find you coordinates to set Angelique and Bailey down at," Macen reminded her.
"Yeah, yeah," Parva was dismissive.
"I do believe your wife just expressed doubts in your ability to locate adequate coordinates," Macen gibed Daggit.
"Only for your ears," Daggit replied, "But she does have doubts about Kerber and Smith's overall safety."
"Angelique and Bailey have gotten out of tighter security nets," Macen told him, "And without starship transporter support."
"You and your lost cause brigadoons," Daggit shook his head in disapproval.
"You were one of them once upon a time as well," Macen reminded him of their efforts in the Dominion War, "So don't be so judgmental."
"Yeah, Rab. You were one of us," Ebert reminded him.
"You just about slept with my entire platoon as part of your 'sexual awakening' so don't go there," Daggit said drolly.
"Excuse me?" Mudd perked up, "Why haven't I heard about these salient details?"
"It was a long time ago," Ebert said stiffly.
"But you have to remember the juicy bits," Mudd retorted.
"I was a kid serving with two shiploads of hard ass soldiers. So, yeah," Ebert said.
"You and your fetishes," Mudd chuckled.
"I told you," Ebert groaned.
"Shouldn't we be assuming orbit now?' Macen prodded Ebert into action.
"Right," Ebert got back to business.
"So, how long until Macet shows up?" Mudd asked the pertinent question.
"That all depends on how fast Neela can 'persuade' Amon into calling for him and how close Macet and his cruiser are right now," Macen told her.
"Grrrreeeaaatttt," Mudd groaned.
"I heard there was quite the party going on," Moonbow, also a Dorvan V survivor, stated, "Chris Noble told me about it as I reported in."
"Get in here!" Su ordered the Apache woman, "We're celebrating a successful Maquis mission."
"Do tell," Moonbow said conspiratorily as the door closed behind her.
Wen was drinking shots of whiskey after returning from a difficult mission, "What party?"
"Su Wen is throwing a Maquis party in her quarters and hiding Sonja Red Raven and Sarayana from Security until I can get Radil to call off the search," Tulley told her.
"Thanks for the tip," Wen said as she paid her tab and headed out of Quark's.
"A little business lost but for a good cause," Frinks smiled as she collected the latinum slips off of the counter.
"I love you," Tulley confessed.
"Why Aric, Maquis missions do you good," Frinks laughed, "I've always loved you, you big idiot."
"I'm so sorry it took me so long to realize that," Tulley said.
"At least we're finally together," Frinks held his hand, "Want to head for the party when I close up?"
"Think it'll still be going on?" Tulley asked.
"Oh, yeah," Frinks confided.
"If it's still going," Lacey wistfully admitted, "Eckles and Darcy are already there."
"Heidi's wife is on the station. She brought her along," Noble shared.
Lacey knew Darcy's wife, Selina Robinson, served as XO aboard a luxury liner and went out on alternating two week cruises. So every two weeks, for two weeks, she was aboard the station with Darcy. Lacey was glad for her friend that she'd found someone after the Maquis and the Dominion War. The two had met while Darcy as on vacation from the business she'd shared with Eckles and Lacey.
"Are you finally going to tell him?" Noble asked Lacey.
"What?" Lacey had been lost in thought.
"Tom Eckles," Noble said firmly, "Are you finally going to tell him or not?"
"I guess I need to finally know one way or the other so I can finally move forward or on," Lacey sighed.
"If Annabeth can finally land Tulley, then the impossible can happen," Noble tried to cheer Lacey up. It didn't work.
"We'll just sit here and wait," Wyn instructed her "prisoners" as they reached the outdoor cafe that had served as Neela's contact point with Amon. She, Griff, and Varis discreetly held Type I "Cricket" phasers on Neela, Odon, and Maru as they sat at the table and ordered coffees from the holographic waiter.
"They're already here," Neela spoke softly, as though petitioning Wyn for her freedom.
"You can't bribe me. The bounty on your head is bigger than any amount you can offer me," Wyn replied in acknowledgment to play up the act.
"Do my eyes deceive me?' Amon approached and he pulled up a chair, "Was this a mutiny?"
"I was always captain of the Razor's Edge. She just owned the ship and told us what to do," Wyn explained the arrangement, "I decided I'd rather have the ship and clear the blood debt so I can do what I want without looking over my shoulder."
"These three got us in enough trouble," Griff added.
"I see you came to your senses as well," Amon looked straight at Varis.
"She never should've screwed the deal. We lost our bonus for finishing the job early because of her," Varis accused Neela, "They went along with it."
"Yet you kept Gul Maret's leks," Amon chuckled, "You can have them. And we'll erase the blood debt on your crew and pay out the bounty on their heads."
"Generous enough," Wyn admitted.
"It's still Maret and Macet's money. Gul Macet put the bounty on your heads on our behalf. He'll be pleased to know we have Neela and the others in our custody," Amon told the "mutineers", "I'd advise you to be far away when he arrives though. Just in case he still bears a grudge."
"We appreciate the warning," Wyn told him, "I suppose you'll be contacting him right away?"
"As soon as we get these three secured in our enclave," Amon promised.
"Good to know," Wyn replied, "You have them then?"
Amon made a fist in the air and Cultists of various races surrounded the table, "I believe we can manage from here."
"Good enough," Wyn said as she, Griff, and Varis extricated themselves from the cluster. They watched dispassionately as the three Bajoran prisoners were led away. Knowing the were still under observation, Wyn merely tapped her comm badge, "Wills, three to transport."
After they were aboard the ship, Wyn tapped her badge again, "Wyn to Javi."
"Go head, Major," Javi replied.
"Contact the Solstice and inform them Neela and the constables have been delivered. Macet is on his way and our operation is going forward."
"Understood," Javi switched off to comply.
"Watch them closely," Wyn urged Wills.
"I have Katts scanning the ground," Wills told her, "Her sensors are even more powerful than the transporters limited range."
"Astute thinking," Griff congratulated her. Though, he was always quick to compliment Wills. The wait seemed to endure forever, then Katts contacted Wills.
"I'm relaying new coordinates to you," Katts informed her, "They moved across the continent using public transporters. But they've been stationary within a building setting for sometime now. Three life signs are nearby but there's a secluded space out of line of sight of three presumable guards."
"I have it," Wills replied, "Standing by."
"Katts, good job. Javi, relay Katts' coordinates and sensor data to the Solstice," Wyn instructed.
"Why are we doing that?" Griff wondered.
"Neela told me to," Wyn shrugged, "That's all I know. Wills prepare to transport."
Varis had prepared a tote filled with small arms from the armory, including stun and photon grenades. He moved the bag onto a transporter pad, "Ready, Major."
The three landing party members had strapped on their usual phaser pistols with spare power packs on the utility belts and clipped on some stun grenades. Wyn gave the order, "Wills, energize."
They reappeared in an alcove inside what appeared to be a private housing bloc. Griff slowly swept the area with his tricorder before clipping it back onto his belt. He held up three fingers and then flattened his palm and motioned towards their position. Wyn and Varis nodded and checked the settings on their phasers. Varis held a Militia issue rifle beside the phaser pistol on his hip. Neela had specified a "kill" setting. So they complied.
With Varis covering them from the alcove, Wyn and Griff moved down a short hallway to a corner. Varis advanced to their position. Griff carefully and slowly peered around the corner before turning back to his crewmates and nodded. Varis took up position on the corner with the rifle readied.
He spun around the corner as Griff and Wyn swiftly passed it. The three guards were seated. Two playing cards while the third read from a padd. The particle beams that lashed out killed them before they ever recognized the threat. Griff returned to the alcove to retrieve the tote while Varis covered Wyn as she approached the makeshift cell Neela, Odon, and Maru were held in. She deactivated the magnetic seal and the door opened.
Griff distributed the gear and Neela and the constables armed themselves. Odon used his newly delivered tricorder to pinpoint the Cultists' locations, "We have a cluster of five in a common room through that exit. Two more in a space just beyond that. Upstairs, there are six more. Four are in individual rooms. Two seem to be having sex."
"How many are Bajoran?" Wyn asked.
"None," Odon told her.
"Then where's Amon Tuz?" Neela asked.
"I'm detecting power usage in the neighboring building and subspace frequencies. They must have set up their comm gear next door. I can't get a solid reading through the outer walls," Odon frowned.
"Clear this building and then we'll advance on the next," Neela was forced into deciding.
"We'll have to move fast to get upstairs," Wyn warned Neela, "We're lucky no one responded to our phaser fire already."
"Constables, you take the upstairs while we clear out the lower floor," Griff instructed.
"Prep a stun grenade," Wyn told Griff, "Take out the main room while Neela and I rush the two next door."
"On it," Griff pulled a grenade and armed it.
"Follow us in," Wyn told Odon and his deputies.
"Ready?" Griff was at a manual blast door.
"Go!" Wyn instructed.
Griff lobbed the grenade and then sheltered behind the blast door as the neuro grande stunned the opposition.
"Now!" Wyn and Neela surged forward to reach the neighboring room. The two inside were on their feet and looking for weapons when they were cut down by phaser fire. The Major and Neela joined Griff. The sound of phasers firing could be heard upstairs.
"What about these?" Griff asked. Neela silently took aim and executed them all. Griff shrugged, "I guess that answers that."
Odon and the constables came back downstairs, "They got a message off."
Griff went the main entrance ducked back as phaser fire lanced his way, "And they're angry."
Amon had concluded his business with Macet when the call came in from the faithful in the neighboring building. It was their dormitory. The building he was in now served as their temple site and comm center. A Cultist reached Amon, "There's trouble in the dorms. Borocc called it in but was cut off."
"Neela," Amon growled, "They escaped."
"I told you that jury rigged cell wouldn't hold them," the other accused.
"Arm everyone and take both exits and storm both entrances," Amon ordered.
"There has to be a back exit we need to man," Odon grabbed Varis and Maru.
Griff ducked back from withering phaser fire, "They're going to storm us and we don't know their numbers."
"Fall back to defensive corners we shelter behind as we shoot," Wyn ordered, "Seal the door shut."
Griff manually locked the blast door amd found cover. The photon grenade blew the door in. The Bajorans braced for a surge of armed gunmen. Instead they heard selective phaser fire and cries of alarm and protest.
"What the frinx?" Wyn asked warily. She slowly approached the door and looked out. Instead of getting shot she observed four dead bodies littering the street. Each had half their head burned away. As she watched, another Cultist emerged with binoculars. A remote phaser shot blasted through the binoculars and fried his face away. He was still twitching after having fallen. Wyn finished him.
"We have tremendous help," Wyn motioned for Griff and Neela join her, "They're pinned inside by a sniper."
Her comm badge chirped and Wyn tapped it, "Go."
"Are you seeing this?" Odon had to wondered.
"We are," Wyn confirmed it. Three Cultists charged out of the building together. Three rapidly fired shots felled them, "I've never seen accuracy like this."
"We have someone else on our side. They miss as often as not," Odon and Wyn had to be careful what they said because a security alert, if issued, granted Federation Security the right to monitor local comms.
"You were expecting this?" Wyn asked Neela.
"I was expecting assistance. I wasn't sure what form it would come in," Neela confessed.
Wyn's comm badge chirped again and again she tapped it, "Go."
It was Javi, "Federation Security has been notified of a disturbance in your area. Estimated response time is six minutes."
"Copy that," Wyn looked to Neela, "We either go in now or never."
"Arm your photon grenades," Neela ordered, "I'll pass the word to Odon and the others. I'll signal you on when to deliver them. You'll have protective coverage it seems to make your advance."
Griff and Wyn holstered their phasers and activated the magnetic clamps on the grenades and fastened them together. Then they armed each of them and activated the mutual detonation sequencer. Wyn's comm badge chirped and she and Griff bolted out of the doorway and towards the temple building.
A Cultist leaned out but still met a similar fate as anyone else that attempted to exit. The Special Forces officers reached the opposing doorway. Wyn handed off her three connected grenades and drew her phaser. She did a three count with her fingers and then rounded the door shooting her phaser to cover Griff's tossing the grenades in. They each dove the ground as the detonation blew the foundation of the building. A second explosion could heard and the entire three story structure collapsed.
Wyn tapped her comm badge, "Immediate evac! Now!"
The transporter took them in two waves before Federation Security could arrive. Smith and Kerber were already back aboard the Solstice as soon as the building's support was destroyed. Federation Security locked all departing flights and began searching door to door. Agents manned the nearest transporter stations but the logs didn't show anything unusual, such as explosives or weapons of any kind. Not even bladed varieties.
The Agent-in-Charge issued an alert to Starbase 47 and asked if any traffic had recently left Fendic orbit. Since the answer was a negative, a request was put in for Starfleet to call in and inspect all orbital traffic. The Outbound Ventures ships were excused as was the Razor's Edge employing its Militia credentials.
Neela, Wyn, and Griff reported to the bridge. Ferris whooped, "Scratch one temple site for Cult of the Pah-wraiths!"
"I monitored your progress," Katts told them, "We saw everything."
"So we're leaving?" Wes hoped.
"We're still the bait for Gul Macet," Wyn told him, "So now we have to wait."
But they didn't wait for long.
"That was quick!" Mudd yelped as Macet's Galor-class cruiser dropped out of warp well inside the prohibited space. Traffic was supposed to exit warp speed in the outer system to avoid collision in the denser traffic near Fendic, "And Starbase 47 is pitching a fit."
"He'll ignore them," Macen predicted, "Raise shields, arm phaser, and load torpedo tubes but he has to fire first before we can respond."
"Guinevere and Razor's Edge have also raised shields and armed weapons systems," Burrows reported.
"Harri, tell Major Wyn to break orbit to give them some maneuvering room," Macen told Mudd, "Tracy, loosen our grip on the Razor's Edge."
"The Waylaid is now in the inner system and approaching at full impulse," Burrows reported next, "She's weapons hot as well."
"Captain Wei knows to give Macet space," Macen commented.
"Starfleet is challenging Macet and three starships are powering up in port," Mudd reported, "The station and remaining ships are on alert."
"Commercial traffic is clearing our position," Burrows confirmed, "Macet just went weapons hot."
"He's issuing a broadband hail," Mudd reported the change.
"On screen," Macen instructed.
Macet appeared looking as calm and arrogant as his cousin. But the rage could be seen simmering in his eyes, "Attention all vessels. My quarrel is not with you. You have five minutes to evacuate this area and leave the Bajoran vessel to me."
"Starfleet is actively deploying three starships and two more are powered up," Burrows read his scan data.
"Which rushes Macet's clock," Macen said softly.
"He's firing torpedoes," Daggit announced.
"Full evasive! Break opposite of the Razor's Edge," Macen ordered.
Ebert waited a half second before engaging thrusters to see where Wes would take his ship. Then she rolled opposite of him.
"Guinevere is moving to shield the Razor's Edge," Burrows couldn't believe it.
"Tracy, form up the wall beside the Guinevere," Macen told her.
"Waylaid has reached torpedo range," Daggit informed Macen.
"Tell Captain Wei to hold her fire just yet," Macen told Mudd.
"Why?" she protested the order.
"Just do it," he sighed.
"Captain, Commander Macen is instructing us to hold our fire," Quyen told Wei.
"Dammit!" Bian Nguyen complained, "I had a perfect shot at her aft section."
"Closing the range," Binh Nguyen reported.
"Starfleet has deployed," Ping announced, "They're moving to intercept. But two torpedoes have struck Fendic's surface."
"My god," Wei breathed, "Did they hit a populated zone?"
"Yes, they did," Ping said sadly.
Macet's ship went to maximum warp as Starfleet's vessels cleared the station. They began a pursuit course as he headed for the border. Ebert was in horror, "He just bombed civilians."
"I didn't think he was that stupidly obsessed," Macen admitted the error in the planning.
"We're being challenged by Starbase 47 now," Mudd warned him.
"They've deployed two ships moving to intercept," Burrows advised Macen.
"Stand down weapons and shields," Macen ordered.
"Guinevere and Waylaid complying as well," Burrows read his displays, "The Razor's Edge is blinking."
"Harri, inform Major Wyn I can only get them out of this if they stand down and don't run," Macen instructed.
"Message sent," Mudd hoped they'd be reasonable.
"They're standing down," Burrows sighed in relief.
"Harri, get me Admiral Forger's office," Macen was out his chair and headed for the rear of the bridge where the briefing room access door was, "I'll take it in private. Meanwhile, stall Starfleet."
"How? By stripping for them?" Mudd asked.
"I'd be distracted," Burrows teased.
"Shut it," Mudd growled.
"I take it by your being out of uniform and headed the exit that Vice Admiral Robert Tavar Johnson is on Earth and expecting you," Nechayev smirked.
"You know he is," Forger scowled.
"Have you two formalized things yet?" Nechayev asked.
"It's complicated," Forger's scowl deepened.
"How is it complicated?" Nechayev asked her former protege, "You're both admirals. You're both entrusted with vital positions. You share the same secrets and many of the same passions. You enjoy each other's company. How does that equal complications?"
Before Forger could answer, her aide, Lt. Commander Ambril Delori, paged her, "Admiral, Commodore Oh is on the line for two of you. There's been an incident involving Commander Macen."
"Put Oh through," Forger instructed, "Let's hear Starfleet Security's take on things."
"I didn't have to," Macen admitted, "He started launching torpedoes as soon as he was in range of the Razor's Edge."
"The who?" Forger wasn't familiar with the ship, "Is she one of yours?"
"Not precisely. She's secretly Bajoran Militia operating under my auspices. Macet had a personal score to settle with the crew and just went ballistic as soon as he was in range. He didn't even wait to close to phaser range," Macen explained.
"How is it a Bajoran Militia ship is operating under your authority?" Forger was not amused.
"It's Neela's ship and crew," Macen explained to her.
Forger's stern stance softened, "I see."
Nechayev interrupted, "Federation Security reported a series of murders just before Macet's arrival. What do you know about that?"
"None of my crew or ships were involved in that," Macen told her.
"Do you consider the Razor's Edge one of your ships?" Nechayev narrowed the field down, "Because there's evidence from neighboring citizens that the Cult of the Pah-wraith held a considerable presence in the buildings that were attacked."
"I can't help you with that," Macen confessed.
"That's the first statement that you've given to me that I believe," Nechayev made her own confession, "But Neela's involvement and that of the Militia's potentially operating on Federation soil complicates matters. It's best to sweep it all under a rug."
"Understood," Macen did at that.
"We'll contact Starbase 47 and get your ships released and exempted from investigation. We'll call it a counter-terrorist operation. Commander Ro has been running a side investigation into the cult's spread across Federation space. I'll have her assume responsibility for the investigation," Nechayev told him, "But for god's sake, rein Neela in next time."
"I can't promise anything," Macen warned them, "Neela doesn't answer to anyone or any organization. She's solely guided by the Prophets. Have Sisko take it up with them."
"Just vacate the system," Forger told him, "And make certain no evidence linking Neela or any other Bajoran to the crimes exists. That means telling Ro every nasty detail so she can bury it."
"I actually don't know the details. But I'll pass the word on to Neela. Whether she says anything to Ro is anyone's guess," Macen advised them.
"That isn't optional, Commander," Nechayev growled.
"I'll do my best to persuade her," Macen sighed and signed off. After exiting the briefing room, he ordered Outbound Ventures' ships out of the system, including the Razor's Edge. Starfleet unhappily complied with Nechayev's directive as Ro was given operational authority over the ensuing investigation. Federation Security in particular didn't appreciate Starfleet Intelligence assuming jurisdiction. Ro Laren could've cared less.
Chapter Twelve
Tulley and Frinks were joined by Lacey and Noble getting off duty early in the corridor outside of Su Wen's quarters. They could feel the vibration of the thumping music inside transmitting through the walls despite the soundproofing.
"I hear most of the Maquis are here," Frinks told them.
"Word spread far and wide," Noble laughed.
"I can tell them they don't have to keep hiding Red Raven and Sarayana anymore. I explained things to Radil and she called of the search. Sito is on duty and Nick is watching the kids so they can't make it," Tulley told them.
"Radil had to have known they were here all along," Lacey pointed out.
"She rerouted Security sweeps in order to further annoy Miranda Wells while Sito got into Wells' office," Tulley admitted, "And thanks to Annabeth, there's no security footage proving they started the fight. The Caitians won't admit to being beaten by two human women and Wells lost all credibility when she threatened to take out an Orion Syndicate contract on Radil's life."
"Which the bar's security monitors happened to be back up and running to record," Frinks laughed.
"Quark will serve Wells up to protect himself and his businesses," Noble predicted.
"Should we go in now?" Lacey asked.
"You're going in," Noble forced the issue.
It was Littlebird who was close enough to the door to hear the chime, "Hey! Glad you could join us. Everyone just got their second wind."
"I have the brandy I promised Red Raven and Sarayana," Tulley held the bottle up.
"He cashed in for top shelf," Frinks boasted.
"I'll lead you to them," Littlebird began navigating the dancing crowd.
"There's Tom," Noble pushed Lacey through the revelers towards Eckles who sitting it out with Darcy and Robinson.
When they arrived, Noble jerked her head towards the makeshift dance floor.
"They certainly evacuated," Eckles chuckled.
"They kind of all want me to talk to you about something," Lacey shared.
"Mine either," Lacey readily confessed.
"I know that," He chuckled, "We both like synthwave. Not Klingon death metal."
"Here's the thing, we've known each other for sixteen years," Lacey pointed.
"Has it been that long. I remember just meeting you like it was yesterday," Eckles told her.
"But aboard the Odyssey we basically just each other in the galley," Lacey lamented.
"True, again," Eckles agreed, "But then we worked closely together redesigning and modifying ships for ten years before coming here."
"I miss that. Working with you. We don't spend enough time together nowadays," Lacey told him.
"I could ask for a duty watch change so we'd be on the same watch," Eckles offered.
"Really?" Lacey was surprised by how this was going, "Tom, have you ever considered asking me out?"
"Constantly," Eckles confessed.
"Then why haven't you?" Lacey's frustration boiled over.
"Why didn't you ever ask me out?" Eckles countered.
"Because I didn't know if were even interested in dating anyone at all. Then I didn't know if were hetero-, bi-, or homosexual. Or if you'd date a transgender like me," Lacey gushed.
"And I had the same questions about you," Eckles confessed.
"Then why didn't you ever ask?" Lacey was desperate to know.
"Because I thought you were just being ultra private about your feelings about things. You were so open about everything else. I thought you'd tell me how felt if you wanted me to know," Eckles answered.
"This is me telling you," Lacey finally confessed.
"So, let's try going on a date. We have similar interests and tastes in everything," Eckles told her, "And we've talked about everything else. But we've never shared a word or two about our feelings towards romance or how we feel about each other."
"So you feel the same way about me?" Lacey wanted confirmation.
"I have for years. I just never thought you were interested back," Eckles admitted.
"I thought that about you," Lacey dismally said, "All these years we've wasted on doubts."
"But now we know. So let's move forward, together," Eckles suggested and urged, "Can we try that?"
"Of course we can!" Lacey enthused. Their conversation and confessions began haltingly but began a momentum. Across the room, in a conspiratorial corner, others watched.
"Finally!" Frinks cheered.
"We were just as bad," Tulley advised her.
"No, you were just as bad. I was plain as day," Frinks revised his statement.
"She has you, Tulley," Noble laughed.
Littlebird made her way to them, guiding Sakonna and Hakatay safely through the slam dancers. Darcy and Robinson also bowed out of the mosh pitting.
"That took forever to get them to open up to each other," Darcy sighed in relief, "Now I won't have to deal with all that pent up sexual frustration."
"It has been building forever," Robinson agreed with her wife.
"Let's duck out of here and relieve our own pent up sexual frustration," Darcy laughed.
"Who can resist the call of the wild? Later folks!" Robinson helped push their way to the door.
"So...you are well?" Sakonna asked Hakatay.
"I am, but it was trying assignment," Hakatay looked fatigued.
"Shall we find a quieter place to discuss our mutual recent endeavors in more detail?" Sakonna asked.
"I'd like that," Hakatay agreed.
"That has to the Vulcan equivalent of asking someone on a date," Tulley opined.
"Sakonna came close to an emotional meltdown when Hakatay showed up, " Littlebird confided, "She's been monitoring the shuttle arrivals all night."
Red Raven and Sarayana danced their way to Tulley. Red Raven asked the question on her mind, "I hear you paid up."
Tulley handed over the bottle, "And Security is no longer looking for you. Radil and Sito are burying the complaints against you."
"Then we need to open this bottle up," Sarayana enthused, "You and Annabeth get a share of it for covering for us."
"Hendryks got her wish," Frinks told them, "Wells was brought in, charged with threatening a Security officer. Sito opened her office. They're doing a deep dive into Wells' business affairs after she admitted to having Orion Syndicate connections."
"You mean Macen got his wish," Red Raven told her, "He was the one that had Hendryks recruit us."
"Macen ordered Gerrit to keep a close eye on Wells when she on the station," Tulley told them, "He suspected Quark had set up another Treir."
Treir's ouster from the bar was legendary on the station. Even those that hadn't been aboard then knew the details. Her becoming a top lieutenant in the Orion Syndicate afterwards spoke of her true allegiance rather than to Quark's ambitions. Gomer kept Treir in place after her resurgence as the Syndicate's leader. Which also revealed Treir's value to the Syndicate. But Macen and Rockford's pull with the Barrinoran banking cartels had gotten Treir banished from the solar system. So she couldn't return to avenge herself upon Outbound Ventures. Gomer had erased all blood debts against the company and its employees. That had been the price for helping Gomer overthrow the Blood Queen as leader.
The music stopped long enough for the dancers to catch their breath and grab food and drink.
"Wen Sulan, Jade Lee, Michelle Lin, Jamie Wang, and Jessica Wong just made it back to the station!" Littlebird announced after reviewing the padd Sakonna had used to review recent arrivals.
"Go get them!" Chen yelled out.
"They need to party with us," Su screamed.
"I'll go with you," Many Hearts offered.
"I forget, how long did our longest party last?" Tulley asked Noble.
"T'Kir kept one going for three days once," she replied, "Most of these people are operatives and don't have nay station side duties to perform. So they might try to break that record."
"As long as the replicator holds out," Frinks laughed.
"Chen already drank Thool under the table," Red Raven pointed out.
"Eckles and Lacey are checking out already," Noble observed, "They're looking for a quieter venue I'd guess."
"Hopefully they'll end up in bed together," Frinks opined, "What? We're all thinking it."
"They'll take it slow," Tulley predicted, "They've waited fifteen years for this moment."
"Which is why they need get the sleeping together underway immediately," Frinks told him, "How long did we wait before we had sex when I got to the station?"
"I didn't count the hours," Tulley admitted.
"We were in your quarters and stripping each other naked twenty minutes after I got off the shuttle," Frinks clarified for him, "They waited just as long as we did to get to this point. They'll be just as quick to monopolize on it."
"You really should mosh with us," Sarayana requested.
"When I body slam people it's to hospitalize them," Tulley pointed out.
Littlebird and Many Hearts returned with Lee, Wang, Lin, and Wong in tow. They were also punk adherents and dressed the part. The Klingon death metal resumed as Chen and Su shook off the effects of the alcohol they'd consumed. Littlebird, the only non-punk of the operative group, joined Tulley, Frinks, and Noble.
"Want to go somewhere else while they get nuts?" Noble asked over the thrashing music.
"Count me in," Littlebird sounded relieved.
"They'll never notice we've left," Noble opined.
"Let's go," Frinks told them, "We'll go to our place."
One the way down the corridor, they witnessed Eckles and Lacey tearing at each other's clothes while kissing as the door to her quarters opened. Frinks grinned victoriously at Tulley, "Care to change your mind?"
"Must be nice," Littlebird said wistfully.
"You're young yet. You have plenty of time," Noble reassured her.
"I still remember the elders and chief of our village on Dorvan V," Littlebird said, "We were the only Comanche tribe on the planet."
"Well, Sarayana is part-Navajo and part-Incan," Frinks recalled, "So some of the tribal groups started inter-marrying. Her father was part of Chakotay's tribe."
"Hakatay is also mixed Incan/Apache," Tulley knew, "Many Hearts is the only pure Apache aboard the station."
"Humanity lost a cultural treasure when the tribal groups from North and South America were slaughtered by the Cardassians," Noble was still angered by it, "We're lucky that any survivors remained."
"But only Hakatay still practices the old ways," Littlebird reminded them, "The rest of us adapted."
"I wouldn't call the others 'normalized'," Frinks said, "They identify with a very specific sub-culture."
"And Chen, Su and the other Han Chinese from Setlick III also joined in," Tulley said, "Security keeps an eye on them. Punk culture is renowned for its rebellious nature."
"It makes you wonder what they're off doing when they get sent out. It's not like they easily blend in," Frinks mused.
"I think that's the point," Littlebird told them, "We're sent but we aren't meant to blend in but I think our being so blatantly obvious discounts our presence in the eyes of the targets."
"Did you say 'targets'?" Frinks caught that casual reference.
"I think Sarina has said too much already," Noble interjected.
"This is us," Tulley announced when they reached the proper entrance, "Still coming in?"
"As long as we don't talk shop," Noble specified.
"I'd rather talk about Tony Burrows and Harri Mudd," Frinks told them, "And Tracy Ebert. I think Tony and Harri had a breakthrough and Tracy needs our help."
"Tracy needs help?" Littlebird was concerned.
"She has a major hangup in the romance department," Frinks told them, "She needs our help finding someone."
"That isn't our job," Tulley groaned. He knew Ebert better than any of them.
"Yes, it is," Frinks said sternly, "It's what friends do for friends."
"Ebert's definitely lonely," Noble admitted, "So what are we looking for? Male? Female? Non-binary?"
"Tracy's open to all of the above," Frinks told them, 'But she's drawn to abusive types. We need to steer her clear of those kinds of people."
"She spends a lot of off duty time at Quark's," Noble noted, 'Can we get some help?"
"I'll call in Leighlah Travers," Frinks said as they entered her shared quarters, "Leighlah will be happy to help."
"Where's Travers from anyway?" Tulley asked, "Her accent sounds familiar but I can't place it."
"She came from Marva IV in the DMZ," Frinks told him, "She worked a bar there until she got out just before the Dominion crackdown. Kilana had the ships searched for escaping Maquis but was letting civilian traffic go at that point. It wasn't until the war started that she enslaved the colonists left behind. That's how I got out."
"I was already in a penal colony by that point," Tulley said grimly, "Ro's deal with Starfleet got me pardoned."
"Same here," Noble confessed.
"My group were all in the Federation recruiting new Maquis when the Dominion butchered the others," Littlebird shared, "I was too young to fight so I was put on a transport and evacuated with children from across the colony. We were resettled on a Federation colony during the war. When I got old enough, I was contacted by Sussa and she told me Macen was recruiting ex-Maquis and DMZ survivors. So I joined up with Outbound Ventures. Sussa, Sonja, and Saryana took me under their wing and helped train me."
'Okay, too much commiserating," Frinks decided, "Time to gossip and scheme."
"I like the sound of that," Noble laughed.
"What about you, Chris? Any prospects?" Tulley unexpectedly asked Noble.
"I've got my eyes and ears open to someone special. I'll let you know more if things progress anywhere," Noble promised.
"You snuck this by me?" Frinks chided her, "Shame on you!"
"I'll tell you this much, he's part of my Gamma Watch Ops staff and serves aboard the Indomitable when called on," Noble shared.
"That's half your watch," Frinks complained.
"I can't give everything away, now can I?" Noble teased.
"I will figure this out," Frinks warned her.
"I'm betting you will. But after I seal the deal," Noble countered.
"You're all from the same colony, aren't you?" Littlebird had realized.
"Tulley came from a colony placed inside the Cardassian Dorvan Sector territory and came to the DMZ after the death of his wife and children," Noble shared, "But he joined our Maquis cell on Ronara Prime."
"I tended bar at the Old Biddy on Ronara Prime," Frinks told her.
"Don't let her fool you," Tulley advised Littlebird, "Annabeth was our best intelligence gathering asset on the planet."
"What makes you think Mudd and Burrows had a breakthrough?" Noble finally recalled the topic at hand.
"Well, Mudd did. I see it in her eyes and the way she looks at Tony now," Frinks told them, "She's in love for the first time in her life. And she doesn't have a clue as how to handle that."
"How can you be be so sure?" Littlebird asked.
"Never doubt Annabeth Frinks' ability to read people," Noble warned her, "She's practically El-Aurian."
"And Chris and Liam Kirk draw a crowd," Frinks laughed, "Half the women and a small share of the men in the corporate fleet and the station want a chance at them."
"Well, we know by that that Chris' mystery man isn't either of them," Littlebird noted, "They have their own commands."
"If I guess who it is, will you cop to it?" Frinks asked.
"I can neither confirm nor deny any guesses," Noble smirked.
"I'm beginning to hate you," Frinks warned her.
"You live for the challenge," Noble retorted.
"I'll find out for you," Littlebird offered, "This is what I do."
"You'll never guess," Noble adviused her.
"I won't have to guess," Littlebird accepted the thrown down gauntlet, "I'll have proof."
"So be it then," Noble agreed to the challenge.
"Does anyone want some coffee?" Tulley interjected and began taking drink orders.
Wei and Gardner met with Macen once the ships were docked and the crew were back aboard Serenity. Macen advised them of the situation, "Starfleet is burying our Bajoran friends' activities on Fendic. Macet is in Cardassian custody. The Ministry of Justice has sentenced him to death. The Federation asked for an extradition to charge him with the deaths he caused on Fendic but the Cardassians are refusing. No one will be asking either of you about the circumstances regarding Macet's arrival our why we were there. I've already discussed with the SID Director and the head of Starfleet Intelligence. Your parts in this affair are over and you're cleared from any officials looking into your presence in the system."
"That's a relief," Gardner admitted, "I hate Boards of Inquiry."
"I and my crew were civilians before joining with Outbound Ventures," Wei reminded them, "We've never sat under a Board of Inquiry."
"You'll hate it if it ever happens to you," Gardner predicted, "It's invasive."
"But under Federation law, we'd be presumed innocent," Wei asserted.
"Starfleet assumes guilt when they convene a board," Macen warned her, "They state otherwise but they wouldn't even investigate unless they assumed guilt."
"Duly noted," Wei acknowledged their words and warnings, "My Senior Staff is throwing a small gathering in Xian Manh's quarters. You're invited."
"My officers and I have plans as well," Gardner told her, "But we appreciate the invitation."
"You're free to go then," Macen dismissed them. They exited his station office where he wrapped up a situation report for Starfleet Intelligence. Fanning wasn't on duty at this time of the station's night. So he was surprised when the door opened. Rockford stood grinning in it.
"Surprised?" she asked.
"Delighted is more like it," Macen admitted.
"I may keep you after all," Rockford told him, "Paperwork? For Amanda or Alynna?"
"For Ro, actually. You heard about Fendic?" he asked.
"It was all over the news," Rockford nodded, "I was glad to hear from you afterwards. It saved me a lot of unnecessary worry."
"Couldn't have that, could I?" he smiled.
"I would've had to kill you when you got back otherwise," Rockford smiled back, "I'd being a widow at such a young age. So, how did Ro Laren get involved with your mission at Fendic?"
"Neela's handiwork got noticed before Macet fired and the torpedoes struck the colony," Macen said grimly, all humor lost, "Nechayev assumed jurisdiction since Starfleet Intelligence is looking into the Cult of the Pah-wraiths as a potential threat. Ro is assigned to oversee that investigation."
"So Nechayev handed the matter off to Ro," Rockford nodded her understanding, "I'm assuming there's been some official backlash from Federation Security."
"The Director approached the President himself. But Nechayev's argument that counter-terrorism was Starfleet's jurisdiction won the argument. So Ro is burying Neela and her crew's involvement."
"And Bailey and Angelique?" Rockford asked, "They told me about their part when I saw them at the replimat. They assumed you'd tell me anyway."
"They were right," Macen conceded, "But I had Elfi Hendryks in the Solstice's Data Womb. She stripped Macet's computer core clean."
"Meaning?" Rockford wanted the specific reasoning.
"Elfi captured all references to the Cult of the Pah-wraith and copied them," Macen told her, "We have names, locations, and contact information."
"Does Neela know?" Rockford asked as she took a seat.
"She'll be reporting to me to receive a copy of the data," Macen explained, "I told her we had it and were compiling it into a useful database en route to Serenity. Angelique and Bailey decided to adopt Elfi."
"They needed a pet project," Rockford smirked, "Hendryks is good but Bailey and Angelique will take her to a new level. Any new developments between Tony and Harri?"
"They're testing newly charted waters," Macen confided, "Harri has never been in love before so it's a thrill and a terror all at once."
"It is every time," Rockford reminded him.
"When you've lived as long as I have, some of the traditional surprises go away only to be replaced by new ones," Macen shared.
"Arianna is in for a rough ride as she ages slower than anyone else that isn't from Miri," Rockford was saddened by that, "There will be so much loss over the centuries."
"The losses make you embrace the lives around you even more,' Macen told her, "Which their losses embed themselves in your memories forever. Guinan was married twenty-three times."
"That's an impressive tally," Rockford had to admit.
"She embraced interracial marriage like no other El-Aurian I know."
"Except for you," Rockford pointed out, "T'Kir was Vulcan and I'm Angosian. You dated Lees, who's Trill. You had a fling with Lyoti Mariska, who is Cardassian. You even had a marriage to Arinae and a fling with Taryn Argus. Who are or were both El-Aurians."
Rockford practically spat out Argus' name, Macen noted, "Taryn isn't my favorite person in the world either."
"And now we have 'Doctor Else Schneider' running rampant from the station?" Rockford asked, "Does she look like a credible archaeologist to you?"
"You might be surprised," Macen told her.
"Radil and Sito called me in to investigate Wells. Her office was particularly well guarded. We were able to secure the data core before it could erase itself," Rockford told him, "The office itself was a trove of contraband. I have Lee, Shade and Arianna running and compiling the data on the core. It should make for a compelling prosecution to whoever we hand her over to."
"Radil informed Quark of her arrest. I can only presume he told Gomer or one of her underlings. The Orions have requested an extradition from Barrinoran custody to theirs," Macen sighed.
"They can't do that," Rockford protested.
"She was arrested inside of Barrinoran jurisdiction," Macen agreed with her sentiment but knew the legality was binding, "We agreed to that when we set up operations on Barrinor and then built the station in Odin's orbit."
"You and T'Kir did that," Rockford pointed out, "I have her stake in the company now and I disagree with that policy."
"We could fundamentally revisit that policy but we'd be ejected from the system," Macen told her, "Do you have any idea how hard it is to move two space stations through a warp bubble to relocate them in another solar system? First we'd have to find a hospitable system and we'd be opening ourselves up to territorial quarrels, attacks from vengeful parties, and possibly being drawn into simultaneously acting as a planet's defense force. All of which we're excused from in exchange for recognizing Barrinor's jurisdiction in their own solar system."
"Being in this system does spare us a lot of grief," Rockford tempered her outrage, "But would they really sell Wells to Gomer?"
"I think if the cartels were incentivized, they'd extradite Wells in a heartbeat. She's a minor criminal in their estimation and all of her crimes were committed on foreign soils. So everyone can try and get a piece of her from Orion," Macen told her, "And we don't have the legal authority to hand her over to anyone else before the extradition takes place."
"The Syndicate must find Wells useful or they'd never make the request," Rockford said, "Do we have anyone with contacts inside the Syndicate?"
"I have operatives on the Outbound Ventures side that are ex-Maquis and have dealt with the Orions since before the DMZ was created," Macen shared, "And there's Doctor Schneider."
"You're joking," Rockford was crestfallen.
"Schneider is well placed within Syndicate circles. If we convince her to work with our people, then they get an insider's look at Wells' new operations," Macen suggested, "I had words with Quark when Radil contacted me over Wells' arrest and threats. I persuaded him that in order to keep the franchise on the station, he needs to sell it as an actual franchise to Annabeth Frinks. Quark saw the latinum potential in the buyout and licensing fees now that he's lost a second middleman."
"Does Annabeth know?" Rockford was excited by that news.
"Quark said he'd make the offer after he closed up on Deep Space Nine. The bar is already closed here but I understand that there are a number of Maquis parties underway," Macen smirked, "A Security check in found Tulley and Frinks are still awake and hosting Sarina Littlebird and Chris Noble. Noble and Lacey persuaded Joel Osmont to take command for the rest of the watch."
"So where is Lacey?" Rockford asked.
"Internal monitors have Her and Eckles...getting interpersonal in the corridor before they moved into her quarters. Her neighbors have lodged a few noise complaints despite the soundproofing," Macen grinned, "Apparently it sounds like they're getting very interpersonal, repeatedly."
"I've seen the way they interact. It was painful to watch that much unrequited lust," Rockford joined his mirthful attitude.
"Not as bad as watching Frinks and Tulley during their days on Ronara Prime," Macen told her, "But that's finally a happy ending in the making. So maybe Lacey and Eckles will finally let go and be a happy couple."
"They've certainly had Heidi Darcy and Selina Robinson as an example to follow," Rockford pointed out, "Who's Sarina Littlebird?"
"One of the agents I mentioned earlier. Unlike the others, Littlebird was still a pre-teen when she was evacuated off of Dorvan V and then from Marva IV when the Dominion swept the colonies looking for Maquis," Macen explained, "She's the exception to the others' rule."
"Which is?" Rockford asked.
"I'll introduce you to them. They closely follow Doctor Schneider's mode of dress and tastes," Macen smirked.
"My god, it's a punk rebellion happening under our noses," Rockford groaned.
"Their anti-authoritarian streak only runs so far," Macen consoled her, "But they're here out of a sense of shared loyalty to the Maquis I've gathered together rather than any corporate or Starfleet ethos. If they knew they were being sent on SID related assignments, they'd refuse to take them."
"So what is it they they're doing?" Rockford asked.
"Destabilizing rival powers to the client they're assigned to protect," Macen stated, "They're marvelous at staging coups and rebellions. They also go deep undercover in various criminal cartels. They blend right in."
"Does Amanda know about these activities?" Rockford wondered.
"Not a chance," Macen laughed, "She'd think Starfleet would somehow be compromised if they're caught. But since they're not SID vetted, they aren't directly working for Starfleet. They just protect common interests."
The door opened owing to Macen's "open door" policy of allowing access to any petitioner. Neela was there. She looked troubled.
"Having a crisis of conscience?" Macen guessed.
"Those people died because Gul Macet was targeting us," Neela conceded the point.
"No, those people died because a renegade Cardassian Guard officer tried and condemned by his own government chose to risk targeting civilian to erase a blot on his ego's record," Macen told her, "Those deaths belong to Macet."
"I understand Legate Ocett captured him soon after he crossed the border," Neela found satisfaction in that at least.
"Ocett's forces were deployed to surround Macet and prevent him from any avenue of escape," Macen assured her, "That was the plan we devised when I gave her his access route and crossing point. She shadowed him to Ampok Nor, where he received a warm welcome. Ocett's fleet presented itself and captured Macet and his remaining collaborator's on Maret's former command post," Macen described what had happened, "They were all tried and condemned by the Ministry of Justice. The death penalty was invoked in every case."
"I never thought I'd be happy to see the Cardassian brand of justice in action," Neela admitted, "But Guls Maret and Macet posed a grave threat to my people."
"To all peoples," Rockford amended for her, "Their ambitions didn't end with Bajor."
"They financed the Cult of the Pah-wraith," Neela told them, "I collected vast sums ostensibly serving their interests on behalf of the Cult but the Cultists on Empok Nor were able to repair and restore the station's full capabilities thanks to them."
"Which means they have safe harbor for now," Macen made his own concession, "But that won't last. Commander Ro is actively investigating the Cult's threat to the Federation and exploring its presence throughout Federation worlds."
"She has the data you're giving me?" Neela asked.
"Yes, but a fair number of Cult activities and temples are located in neutral systems. You don't have an issue with jurisdiction. So they're your concern now," Macen handed over the padd from his desk.
"And we have your support in this?" Neela inquired.
"Whatever you need will be given to you. That includes asset support," Macen promised.
"I might need your personal support in matters as they come up," Neela clarified.
"You'll have my full attention unless I'm otherwise committed. But I'll bend any rule or role to get to you when you need me," Macen vowed.
"When you need 'us'," Rockford clarified for her. "We're a team."
"I thank you both for the work you do for the Prophets," Neela said humbly, "Where can I find Bailey Smith and Angelique Kerber? I and my team need to offer our personal thanks for their support on Fendic."
"They're probably in their quarters by now," Rockfor dtold her.
"They share quarters?" Neela asked, "Are they lovers?"
"No, imagine their relationship as the one you share with Anara. Tighter than family and closer than sisters but definitely not romantic," Macen explained to her.
"Then talking to them about these things will be easier than I thought. Thank you, Commander. And thank you, Detective," Neela bowed her head in respect that she generally reserved for vedeks and prylars, "My crew is anxious to meet Kerber and Smith. I'll go warn them now. Where are their quarters located?"
Rockford told her and Neela headed for the Habitat Ring on a mission. Rockford studied Macen, "This is why you chose Bailey and Angelique. It wasn't just their sniper skills. You could've chosen Rab and Tony for that, if that were simply it. You want Neela to make this connection with them."
"They need it and so does Neela in Anara's absence," Macen confirmed it, "Plus, Bailey really was the best for the job. Angelique is a below average sniper but I assumed Neela's crew could handle the threats she couldn't deal with. I was right."
"You also want Bailey and Angelique to counsel Neela's crew on how to deal with being chosen as an execution squad. That had to be especially difficult on her constables," Rockford mused, "And you planned this before ever leaving the station. That's why you brought Elfi Hendryks along."
"And to make another connection," Macen stated truthfully, "I was hoping they'd let Elfi into their world and they did. I saw sides of them they normally keep hidden and heard honest answers and opinions they generally keep to themselves on our little 'quest' to avenge Tracy. So I knew what they needed. It was just a matter of arranging the people needed into circumstances that weren't contrived. This plan allowed for all of that."
"Before you go congratulating yourself, two million people are suffering or dead because of actions taken by Macet in a situation you devised," Rockford said quietly.
"Neela was going to Fendic one day or another," Macen wearily sighed, "I tried to contain the situation but Macet went beyond reasonable actions."
"It was a good plan," Rockford admitted, "But you didn't factor in how deeply Macet hated Neela and her crew. I don't think anyone could have. But a better effort to do so needed to be done."
"You're right, of course," Macen agreed.
She noticed a detachment in him from the tragedy that had unfolded, "This really doesn't bother you anymore, does it?"
"You've read my unredacted psychological profile. You knew who you were marrying," Macen reminded her.
"That's a cold, hard fact used to answer an emotional question," Rockford told him, "The Starfleet counselors decided you lacked empathy towards anyone anymore. Making you a textbook case sociopath. But I've seen how you care for select individuals. The 'chosen few', shall we say. The rest of the galaxy could be damned and it wouldn't bother you. That's why you chose Angelique and Bailey to go with you on your avenging missions and not me."
"Your agency's activities in the Federation would've been threatened if you'd been caught with us," Macen explained again.
"It's a little deeper than that," Rockford had long surmied, "They're of the same mindset. You're more like your uncle than you want to admit. Soran would do anything to get back to the Nexus...including genocide. You'll do anything to protect the few people you care about...including murder. I get it. Coming from as many parts as I did and their perogatives, I understand the killing part. I worry about the casual acceptance of the deaths or near deaths of two million people. That wouldn't have happened before."
"Time's and places change. We changed with them," Macen replied softly, "Even you've been affected."
"True," Rockford admitted, "I'm more willing to delve into the inexplicable now and see the connectivity of everything. That's a big leap for someone that was as segmented as I was. I'm discovering how to enjoy certain mysteries rather than having to have an explanation for everything."
"Welcome to my paradigm," Macen smiled fondly.
"You and these Prophets are a bad influence," Rockford sighed, "Neela's the worst."
A chime sounded from the computer and Macen brightened, "Roberta and Nick are opening the Coffee Spot."
"You have an alarm set for that?" Rockford snickered, "You truly are an addict."
"We can drop in and say 'hello' before heading to Quark's to congratulate Annabeth," Macen suggested.
"This long night does seem to have bled into a new day," Rockford groaned.
"Let me finish up my report for Laren," Macen requested, "I''ll meet you there."
"I'll warn Rolands and Klaus their most fervent customer is on his way," Rockford leaned the desk to kiss him before exiting.
Fanning popped in, "You've been here since you got back?"
"Headed out to the Coffee Spot in a minute," Macen told her.
"Me too," she confessed, "I'm not officially on duty for another hour. I could wait."
"I already sent Celeste along to pave my way in," Macen chuckled, "You go along and I'll catch up."
Macen transmitted his report and then personally contacted Ro on Deep Space Three, "It's good to see you."
"I see your report came in," Ro mentioned but seemed apprehensive, "I have news."
"About the other matter?" Macen asked.
"The Changeling that entered the Alpha Quadrant posing as John Browder has been busy. He has Kilana and Eris with him as well a troupe of Jem'Hadar. They're definitely searching for someone or several someones," Ro told him, "It's connected to Section 31's research center aboard Daystrom Station. Nechayev won't give me access to what they were working on there. Even Forger's denying me access to the records. So I'm working half-blind."
"But Cell 51 had access," Macen reminded her, "And you're in charge of that investigation as well."
"Starfleet Intelligence performed a forensic sweep of Cell 51's records. What they left behind was missing several key files," Ro said sourly, "But I found a data search log on a 'Project: Proteus' that 'Browder' and 'Fowler' seemed obsessed about. But my internal inquiries into it are blocked at every avenue."
"The mythological reference might be a clue," Macen hoped.
"I'm checking into that as well," Ro assured him, "Dominion negotiators arrived to discuss 'Fowler's' fate. Their demands that he face justice in the Great Link seem pretty concrete and inflexible."
"We weren't getting anything out of him anyway," Macen grunted.
"We're still running down individual Cell 51 agents but we've cleared most of their bases of operation," Ro did feel good about that, "Sorbo and the other administrative officers aren't talking. But we've enough evidence to imprison them for life."
"You never know about those things," Macen confided, "Guls Macet and Maret managed to walk out of labor camps and resume their old commands without officialdom noticing."
"Something they'll never be able to do again," Ro snorted, "Garan took the easiest approach this time despite its political risks. The rebels will either have to conform or grow old and bitter on the fringes of the Cardassian Union."
"I'm worried about the Subject Worlds for that. If a Cardassian officer wanted to feel powerful, injecting himself or herself into the dominion of a Subject World would be the place to start.," Macen admitted.
"I'll make an official note of that to be passed on to Ambassador Garak. You have Agent Delain on Serenity as your contact with the Cardassian Information Bureau. Talk to her as well as me," Ro advised him.
"I'll apply some backdoor pressure to get the CIB to share files on the Pah-wraith Cult within Cardassian space with you. I can get the Militia to exert official pressure as well. They'll probably have to route it through Bajoran Intelligence to get it to you," Macen offered.
"At least I'm still on good terms with the Militia," Ro looked pained, "Half of these snot nosed commanding officers promoted during the war see Bajor as a puppet state to manipulate. They also took losing the war to them very seriously."
"Maybe they'll try it again, then," Macen snorted.
"I'm not supposed to know, but Commodore Oh had Starfleet Security draw up detailed plans for an occupation of Bajor and her colonies and starbases. It's pretty exhaustive. So the mindset is pretty far advanced among the certain members of Starfleet Command. Officially, these plans don't exist. But I've seen copies of them. That's why Starfleet demands a toehold at Deep Space Nine to justify and maintain a presence in the system," Ro explained.
"I'll unofficially pass that along as well," Macen promised, "Can you send me the plans?"
"Already transmitted," Ro smirked, "Be careful with those. Starfleet Security will launch an internal crackdown if they're openly revealed and I'll lose valuable assets within the Division."
"I thought Internal Affairs and the SID maintained informants inside of Starfleet Security. When did Intelligence begin doing it?" Macen asked.
"After Clancy and Oh were investigated. The charges may have been dropped or reduced but Nechayev wants a string of informants inside of Starfleet Security independent of Internal Affairs and the SID's whistle blowers," Ro told him, "That is classified 'need to know', by the way."
"When Angelique and Bailey get done with the occupation plans' origination coding it'll look like Oh herself transmitted the data to Kira," Macen grinned, "They've adopted Elfi Hendryks into their elite circle. So things are progressing here as everyone from the Maquis settles in."
"I'm glad you made a place for everyone that would accept it," Ro confessed, "Some of our old friends and other colonists haven't adapted well to Federation life. Look at the whole 'Confederacy of Worlds' debacle."
"I thought you supported the Confederates," Macen was surprised by her tone.
"The Federation Council wants them reintegrated into the Federation. They're still willing to use force to gain compliance. The Patriots don't stand a chance," Ro said grimly.
"The Confederacy will turn to the Iotians and they have to realize that," Macen warned her.
"They do. But the hawks in the Council actually want to provoke a conflict with the Iotians. They see them as a growing rival and they don't like it," Ro warned him, "So warn Oxmyx and Kracko off from supporting the Confederacy. They'll listen to you."
"They want territory in the Deeper Beta Quadrant and are willing to risk a war to earn the Confederacy's membership in their Federation," Macen said equally grimly, "Oxmyx and Kracko won't be talked down out of that. And wars generate profits because neighboring planets will get nervous about the Federation's intentions towards them and start buying protection plans and starships from the Iotians."
"I can't stop the rhetoric. I can only do my part to shape it. The Confederacy doesn't represent a security threat to the Federation. The Cult and the remnants of Cell 51 do. 'Browder' and his Vorta and Jem'Hadar pose real threats to Federation security. But Oh is feeding summaries and analyses to the Councilors demanding an invasion. I don't understand her conflict of interest in this," Ro admitted. A rare confession from her.
"Does Reyes have any thoughts?" Macen assumed Ro would discuss things with Captain Alfonso Reyes in his position a sCommanding Officer of Deep Space Three.
"Alfonso pointed out how the Romulans stand to gain from the Federation being weakened further by another senseless war," Ro stated, "It strengthens the Star Empire's presence in the Deeper Beta Quadrant and damages our military assets at a time when the Romulans are still rebuilding their fleet after the loss of Romulus, Remus, and a hundred nearby colonies."
"But, given DS3's proximity and purpose near the Border Zone, he's prone to think that," Macen saw her hesitancy, "But it's a sound argument."
"That's why I can't discount it," Ro replied, "But my purview is counter-terrorism. The Star Empire is only beginning to sponsor terrorists groups beyond its borders to threaten our interests and those of other stellar powers. So my perspective hasn't been asked for. I can only emphasize the immediate dangers of my target lists."
"And the investigation into the strike against the Cuit on Fendic?" Macen asked.
"Inconclusive," Ro told him what he wanted to hear, "Struck down by competitors or religious rivals. Which only points at the Bajorans but Starfleet and Federation Security will lodge an informal protest with the Bajoran Republic and let it go. Federation Security was already worried about the Cult's growing numbers and intentions after they made contact with the Cardassian rebels. They're willing to let it drop so long as we warn off the Bajorans from undertaking operations on Federation planets."
"Neela will never agree to that," Macen sighed, "But she'll return to being more discreet next time."
"I hope so. My being Bajoran will be seen as tainting the investigations if I bury any more of them. The next investigative officer won't be as lenient or kind," Ro warned him, "Pass that along."
"I will," Macen promised, "Now, I have people waiting for me. Take care and let me know how we can help."
"I will. Say 'hello' to Celeste for me," Ro signed off, getting back to her assigned duties.
Despite their recent victories against Cell 51 and the Cult of the Pah-wraiths, it seemed the Federation was hurling itself at new threats. Macen knew he and his company would be drawn in by the SID. He only wondered which side Starfleet would fall on and force him to choose sides. What would happen if he chose to side against Starfleet again? Forger had justified his backing the Bajorans during the Federation's war against them since the war was deemed "unjust" since Starfleet had provoked it rather than respond to aggression. How would Starfleet react if he committed his non-SID cleared ships to the Confederacy's defense? Would it slow the Federation Council's ambitions down and possibly return them to the negotiating table? There was only one way to be certain. He drafted a memo to Tyrol asking her to approach the Confederacy of Worlds and offer them protective services. That being done, he left his office to join Rockford at the Coffee Spot. It felt like an already long day returning to the station would only get longer. He would be disappointed in learning he was right.
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