Subject: SO: Fearless/Ready to Leave for Risa

Captain Sortha
Bridge
Stardate 9708.18

  "Risa!" Sortha snorted to himself in disgust.  Risa was a useless hedonism
planet as far as he was concerned.   Well, orders were orders he thought,
resigned to his fate.
   Well, he could always run some of his favorite holodeck programs on the
Fearless, and... there was still much of the ship to explore- at least in the
sense of small details.
    Hmmm, Sortha thought, perhaps he could arrange a match between himself and a suitable opponent who might be visiting Risa.  Sortha went back to work.
=============================================================
Lt. Commander Kalahna Jarnell
Holodeck
Stardate 9708.18

  Kalahna ran up to the holodeck door, slightly out of breath since she ran there from deck three.  Her timeshare was starting now, and she didn't want to miss a minute of her program.
   What the hell, she thought as her isolinear chip wouldnt fit into the holodeck computer slot.  Looking in she saw another chip that had been left there.   Hmmm, she thought, as she entered the simulation.  It was a pretty strange program Kalahna decided after a moment.  Some kind of gladiatorial combat.  Combat programs were not unusual, but ones with obnoxious fans were.
 
 	Kalahna said: "Computer, end program." With that the holodeck returned to
the black and yellow grid. She then exited the small room and pulled the IOC from the slot.
     Pocketing it, she saw that it was Lieutenant Regnigh's.  She hadn't had
time to get to know him yet, he seemed like a loner.  Kalahna made sure the
holodeck was properly secured and then ran her holodeck program.
   She'd be embarassed if anyone caught her in this holosimulation.  It definitely didn't fit her tough on-duty personality.  After her time was up she exited and remembered the chip in her pocket.  Then, she was off to return it.

   A few moments later, Kalahna was at Regnigh's door, sounding the chime...

END TRANSMISSION
 
Subject: SO: Fearless/Leaving Bolinar

Lt. Sholek
Fearless
Stardate 9708.18

	Sholek approached Ensign Jefferson's quarters. He had done some research on romance and had decided to bring Kim a bouquet of flowers.
	He pressed the door chime.
	"Sholek?" Kim said when she opened the door. He handed her the flowers. She smiled and said, "Flowers? How sweet. Thank you. Come in. I was just about to make dinner. Would you care to join me?"
	"I would like that," he said.

	After dinner he said, "I've decided to explore my Romulan emotional side.
I.." he couldn't think of how to put it.
	"It's OK, Sholek," she said. "I think I understand what you're trying to
say."
	"What do people who are in love do together?"
	"Stand up," she told him.
	She pressed a few buttons on a nearby console. Music began to play.
	She went up to him and got close. "Do you know how to dance?" she asked.
	"No."
	"It's easy. I show you." And they dance the night away.
	At 23:24 hrs. he left her. At the door he turned to her and asked a question, "I don't believe I have heard that style of music before. What is it?"
	"It's and older style that my dad liked. It's called Country."
	"I'll see you later then."
	Before he left she said, "I love you."
	He turned back and said, "M-me too," then he headed back to his quarters.
=============================================================
Lt. Jonathan Regnigh
USS Fearless
Stardate 9708.19

	Regnigh walked up the corridor to his quarters. He really wanted a shower
now. He got to his quarters got the shower. Ordered dinner from the replicator and punched up a few technical files on his desk terminal. Same things he usually does, but this time....
	He was bored out of his mind.
     Damnit, he thought slamming his hand on the desktop, what is it about this ship that suddenly has me wanting.... companionship? His face twisted at the thought. Ever since Victoria died he had kept to himself. He had decided that if he cut himself off from everyone else, he would never have to worry about being upset when a friend died.
     So he had never  tried to make friends and had never really noticed when
someone had tried to be friends with him. His steely grey eyes could be daunting and emotionless at times. He was ready to make friends now. Sighing he put a nice sweater on over his shirt and cleared up some things before deciding to head off to explore the ship. Then his door chimed, his head spun towards it instantly. What in God's name...? Who could want me? He punched the button to open the door and was greeted by the face of Lt. Commander Kalahna Jarnell. He brushed a hand through his flat top and examined her with for a moment before finally speaking.
	"What can I do for you...?"
=============================================================
Lt. Commander Vehakra Rhikal
Security Office/Brig
Stardate 9708.19

   The Fearless was still in orbit around Bolinar IX and Vehakra Rhikal was on duty in security. Things had been relatively uneventful since the mission had ended. There were several security officers on duty in the brig area because of the special guest...the Marute Changeling secured in his special cell.
    Vehakra was finishing up some reports, planning to visit the holodeck before returning to her quarters, when a security officer appeared outside her office.
     It was Ensign James Harcow, one of the officers who had participated in the action on Bolinar. He cleared his throat to get Veh's attention.
    "What is it, ensign?" she asked.
    "The Changeling. He wishes to speak with my commanding officer," Harcow said. "Since you're here, I thought I'd come an get you instead of Lt.
Commander Ki'lal."
    Vehakra frowned. "What's wrong with him?"
   "He just said he needs to talk to you," Harcow said, shrugging. "Damn thing is giving me the creeps. He changes shape everytime I pass by his cell. He's always in a different form."
   Vehakra got up and followed Harcow out of her office and into the detention area. They passed by a few cells and finally arrived at the one configured for the Changeling. She looked in and saw that the cell was empty.
    "Where in the hell is he?" Harcow blurted out, reaching for the door opening control.
    Veh's hand shot out and seized Harcow's hand before he could open the cell. She then turned to him and shook her head. "He's in there. He's playing games with you ensign. You don't open that force field for anything.
Understand?"
    Harcow nodded, still staring into the cell. "But where is he?"
    "He's in there. Perhaps I'll have to flood the cell with polaron radiation. That would make him lose his shape," Rhikal said, her voice loud enough so if the Changeling was truly there, he would hear her. "Make him a nice puddle on the floor."
    The far wall of the cell suddenly sagged and then poured to the floor,
revealing the real wall behind it. It was the Changeling. Once he was pooled on the floor, his body rose from the puddle and took the shape of a humanoid being with light brown hair, slicked back, and a featureless face. She's seen a face similar to this on a Changeling before...it was similar to Constable Odo's on Deep Space Nine.
    "You are quite perceptive, my dear," the Changeling said as he took form and stood smiling at her and Harcow.
    "What do you want?" Veh asked, folding her arms across her chest.
    The Changeling looked her up and down and shook his head approvingly. "An
Orion female. I wasn't aware there were any of your kind serving in Starfleet. How pleasant. I've never visited your homeworld, but I read much about it. They say there is nothing quite like an Orion slave woman when it comes to the ultimate sexual experience. Of course, as a Changeling I have little use for such things...you solids are all so driven by your emotions and physical wants."
    "Again, Marute. What in the hell do you want?" Vehakra snapped, becoming
impatient with the shapeshifter.
    "I'd like to speak with Lt. Sholek," he said, his fake smile wider than ever. "He and I have unfinished business to discuss."
    "In case you haven't noticed, but you are imprisoned," Veh said. "Your
business is finished."
    The Changeling smirked and paced his cell. "You don't know about Sholek and I, do you? We go way back, he and I. Did he ever tell you how he killed one of his own men because he thought I had assumed the form of that Centurion? Quite a undisciplined and violent fellow, isn't he?"
    "I have spoken very little with Sholek since I came aboard this ship,"
Vehakra said. "I'm sure what ever happened back then was of no consequence. If Sholek killed one of his own officers by mistake, I'd have to say it was your doing, not his."
    The Changeling laughed. "He is a killer, my dear. A cold blooded and evil
solid. He's done terrible things, unspeakable things. Why, with a woman like you there is no telling what Commander Sholek of the Romulan Imperial Fleet would have done."
    Vehakra gritted her teeth and glared at the Changeling. "That's enough. I do not intend to bother Lt. Sholek with your annoying lies."
    "Lie? Hardly Lt. Commander," the Changeling said. "Has Sholek ever told you about his Gorn campaign? It was many years ago, before he and I crossed paths. Sholek and his Romulan Warbirds were raiding Gorn settlements. He killed many Gorn, in fact, he even skinned one alive during an interrogation."
    "I've heard about enough!" Veh snapped. 
    "Isn't your captain a Gorn?" the Changeling asked. "Why, I'll bet he'd like to hear this story. Hear how Lt. Sholek, a loyal officer of Starfleet, once butchered scores of his people. I'll bet he'd enjoy that tail very much."
    Vehakra continued to glare and the Changeling, then turned to Harcow, "Don't let him get to you again. If he asks for me or anyone else, tell him to shut his mouth and wait. When we have time for him we'll see to his needs."
    As she started to walk away, the Changeling held up his hand to halt her,
"Please, if you see Lt. Sholek, do send him my way. We have things to discuss."
    Veh shook her head and returned to the office. Once she arrived and sat down, the Changeling's words stuck with her and she couldn't shake what he'd said. She finally tapped her comm-badge, "Rhikal to Sholek. I need to speak with you when you get a few minutes."
=============================================================
USS Fearless
Bridge
Stardate 9708.19

    "The relief camp has signalled that everything on the surface is progressing well," Lt. Commander Ki'lal reported from tactical. "The relief ships in orbit also are reporting all clear."
    Sortha nodded, "Good. Helm, lay in a coursse for Risssa. Proceed from orbit at impulsse sspeed and then take uss to warp 8 when we are beyond the ssolar ssysstem."
    "Aye sir," Lt. Nash said, laying in the proper coordinates.
    Shortly thereafter, the Fearless left Bolinar and was off to rendezvous with the USS Monitor for the transfer of the Changeling prisoner, then it was on to Risa.

END TRANSMISSION

Subject: SO: Fearless/Around the Ship

Lt. Commander Kalahna Jarnell
USS Fearless
Stardate 9708.19

     Kalahna craned her neck up to look at Regnigh.  He was a pretty tall human.  "I believe this is yours" Kalahna said handing him the chip.  Regnigh
looked puzzled, until he read the label on the side.  Then he turned pink, then red, and finally purple with embarassment.  
     "I, uh, I" he stammered.  Kalahna smiled, he was like a big terran teddy
bear.
     Kalahna smiled, "It was quite an interesting program Lieutenant" she said.  "Perhaps Lieutenant Commander Ki'lal would like to fight some of those opponents."   Kalahna said with innocent eyes, secretly knowing that Regnigh was near to death by embarassment. 
      "Well, I guess, I mean, well maybe not" Regnigh said.
     Kalahna took another look at Regnigh, somewhere in him he reminded her of some of the people from the Bajoran relief camps, kinda empty inside.
 Kalahna sympathized with him.  "We haven't talked since you came on board, perhaps you would like to have a cup of cafe mocha in the lounge?"
     Kalahna thought that he needed a friend, and he did seem like a nice guy
despite his strong appearance. And Kalahna needed some friends too.  Kalahna had been dealing with some feelings she had been developing for her Gorn
Commander.
    She knew they were impossible to act on, but she had developed a crush on the big guy.  They were physically incompetible but she admired him so much for his bravery against the Cardassians.  At the very least she knew she would follow him to hell and back.
     When he had ordered all the Stealth personnel off the Stealth and took it to  delay the incoming Cardassian force to save the Repulse, she had known 
then that he was a true warrior, ready to die for others so they could live.
 She had stayed by his side, the only one of his officers to do so and they had made it against all odds.  She knew she had a special bond with him.
     Her logical side told her emotional side that she was being foolish, but she had never had a chance to develop those emotion sides of her during the occupation.   She was like a teenage girl emotionally.  Coming back to the present, she grabbed Regnigh by the arm as he was just standing there staring at her.  "Come on, you'll love the cafe mocha" she said steering him to the lounge.  Maybe she could introduce him to some of the other old Stealth crew she knew.
=============================================================
Lt. Commander Tyrian M. Summers
Bridge of USS Fearless
Stardate 9708.19

     It was Tyrian's command shift on the bridge, Commander Dyer and Captain
Sortha were off elsewhere on the ship.  The Fearless was at warp going towards its rendevous with the USS Monitor for transfer of the changeling. 
     Tyrian's shoulder had fully healed from the blast he sufferered.  Dyer had not recovered fully from the multiple blasts he sustained and had been put on limited duty.  He watched the viewscreen blankly as the stars flew by, after they dropped off the changeling the ship was sceduled for Risa.
     A lot of good that would be for Tyrian, he was a newlywed and wanted nothing but to see his new wife.  He had contemplated transferring out of Shadow Operations to a safer ship while he was on the USS Stealth so that his wife and their soon to be born child could live with him onboard, but when he
had been transferred to the USS Fearless he could'nt resist serving on a ship
such as this.
     Plus promotions came fast in Shadow Ops, Tyrian felt he could make Commander in no time.  He went back to work and looked down at his PADD and went over the duty roster for his shift.
=============================================================
Lt. Commander Ki'lal
Fearless: Ki'lal's quarters
Stardate 9708.20

    "Dammit," thought Ki'lal, "of all the places to have shoreleave, Risa is
not where I want to be."  He sighed and began looking over personnel reports
and security reports.  He sighed again, and headed to the replicator where he
ordered a prune juice (the drink of warriors), and a plate of gagh (which he
personally programmed into the computer after his trip to Qo'noS).
    He continued to review security reports, when he came to Vehakra Rhikal's
report of the incident with Marute.  This, for some reason, upset Ki'lal,
something didn't settle right.  Why would Marute want to "talk" to Sholek?
 Sholek had explained some of the details to Ki'lal during the mission, but
there must be something more.
   Ki'lal, still upset, finished his meal, and headed down to the brig.
   He entered, went to Marute's cell, and didn't see him.  "Come out, Marute,
take human form, now!"  Ki'lal said.  "Now, or I'll polaron your ass." 
    "My, my, don't we have a temper," said Marute as he shifted out of the
brig's bed into human form.  "How can I help you, Klingon?"
    "My name is Ki'lal, and you will address me as "sir," do you understand?"
Marute smirked.  Ki'lal continued, "you will stop harassing officers on board
this ship.  Do you understand?"
     "Of course," he said egotistically.  "But not until I can talk to Mr. Sholek."
     "Why?" asked the massive Klingon.
     "We have some things to discuss," replied Marute.
      Believing that Sholek didn't need to be disturbed my Marute anymore, Ki'lal said, "you will stop harassing my officers or I will keep this cell so
flooded with polaron radiation that you'll stay in a puddle until we reach the Monitor."
     "Have it your way, dog," said Marute as he shifted into the wall.
     "Computer, erect a level five force field around this cell," said Ki'lal and the force field activated.  "Computer, now flood the cell with polaron
radiation for a duration of five minutes, then stop."  The computer chirped, and Marute became a puddle on the floor.  Unable to shift, Marute just laid there, in a shapeless puddle.  Ki'lal grinned a toothy Klingon smile.  
     Ki'lal left the brig and tapped his comm badge.  "Ki'lal to Sholek.
 Meet me in the security briefing room at 1500 hours tomorrow."
     "Aye, sir," he replied, "may I ask what for?"
     "Marute's been harassing fellow officers, asking to talk to you.  I want to discuss this further with you," explained the Klingon.
     "Aye, sir, 1500 hours, Sholek out.

END TRANSMISSION
 
Subject: SO: Fearless/Past and Present

Captain Sortha
USS Fearless: Ready Room
Stardate 9708.21

    Captain Sortha shifted uneasily in the large oversized chair in his ready room.  He had just finished reading Lieutenant Commander Rhikal's report on the strange sayings that Marute had been making.
     He accused Sholek of being a Romulan starship commander in his past and of conducting marauding raids against the Gorn.   Sortha reviewed Sholek's personnel file again.  It said nothing about any prior service with the Romulan Star Empire.   
     Sortha had known that Sholek was a Romulan but had held his inate
prejudices against the Romulans in check.  Sholek had proven to be a loyal and efficient officer.  If, and Sortha reminded himself, if the changeling was right about Sholek conducting raids against the Gorn populace, then there could be serious repercussions.
     It would place Sortha in an extremely difficult position.   Starfleet would make official inquiries and Sholek would be forced to explain himself. As long as Sortha maintained his discipline and role as a Starfleet officer, he would follow the book.  But, there would be a mighty battle raging on inside himself as his Gorn heritage and upbringing cried out for vengeance.  
     The Romulans had persecuted the Gorn for centuries.  Possessing superior
numbers of troops, ships, and materials the Romulans had come close to conquering the Gorn on numerous occasions.  The Gorn had fought back with ferocity and cunning and had managed to survive and prosper now that they were allied with the mighty Federation.
    In the first Gorn-Romulan war, the Romulans had surged across the Neutral
Zone with hundreds of ships.  Only their slow warp capabilities had kept them
from reaching the Gorn homeworld.  In the second Gorn-Romulan war, the two had fought each other to a bloody standstill, with much of the fighting taking place on disputed planets.  In the third Gorn-Romulan war, the Gorn had developed better shielding technology and had pushed the Romulans out of their space.
    However shortly thereafter the Romulans had developed their cloaking
technology and once again the Gorn were pushed back to the very limits of their home solar system.  Unable to penetrate the cloak, they had responded with brute force, armoring their ships heavily so as to take a full sneak attack and still be able to fight.  
   Both sides had developed plasma torpedoes and perfected their use, the
Romulans opting for a powerful but slowly firing weapon with the Gorn opting for a less powerful but faster firing variant.  The end of the fourth Gorn-Romulan war ended with the Gorn tenaciously gaining back most of the territory they had lost.
    The final war had involved a massive invasion by the full strength of the
Romulan fleet, this time using Klingon designed battlecruisers gained by the
Romulans during their alliance with the Klingons.  The Gorn were completely overwhelmed, and developed desperate tactics to defend themselves.
    The Gorn strategy became one of concentrating their fire on one specific
point on a Romulan ship and taking out one shield.  Then a berserker attack force of Gorn beamed aboard the Romulan vessel.  Once there the enraged Gorn,
wearing heavy blood red phaser resistant body armor were unstoppable. Eventually the Romulans withdrew after losing many of their best ships in this manner.
   The Federation-Gorn alliance had prevented the Romulans from launching
another all-out assault, but the Romulans continued their raids against Gorn
outposts and colony worlds, and continued to do so to this day.
     Sortha had been raised from early childhood on tales of mighty battles and had served the Gorn Starfleet and had been in several engagements with Romulan ships.  They were evenly matched battles, the Romulans with their elegantly designed warbirds, their design optimized to make full use of their cloaking technologies, and the solid, massively armored and shielded Gorn ships built for raw power with little thought to aesthetic design.  
     Sortha sighed.  He would undoubtedly face a difficult time ahead.
=============================================================
Lt. Sholek
Engineering
Stardate 9708.22

	Sholek had gathered with his entire Engineering staff on duty.
	"I want level 1 diagnostics on all systems before we reach Risa," he
ordered. "I want to make sure this ship is ready for what ever challenge awaits us after our shore leave. Begin with the most vital systems and work down from
there. I'll perform the diagnostic's on the sensors."
	After a slight pause everyone replied, "Aye, sir."
	Everyone headed off towards their assignment. Sholek walked over to the
computer when he was interrupted by his comm badge. "Rhikal to Sholek. I need
to speak with you when you get a few minutes."
	"Come by Engineering now," he said. "I don't have much time but I could take a few minutes."
=============================================================
Lt. Thoraz Brynaziir
Bridge, the end of Tyrian's Duty Shift
Stardate 9708.21

   Just minutes before Tyrian's duty shift was over, the Bridge turbolift
doors opened and Thoraz entered.  He headed straight for Tyrian. "Lt.
Commander.  Would you like to go to the gym or holodeck later?"

   Thoraz will leave the Bridge with Tyrian and discuss the Risa stop. While
in the turbolift...
   "Tyrian, what do think of this stopover at Risa?  I am of mixed feelings
myself.  I mean, we could all use a little relaxation, but why Risa?  Have
you heard anything about our next assignment? I wonder if they are giving us
a "Last Supper".  Thoraz used an old Earth reference he liked which he had
discovered when researching Earth culture.  I don't think Ki'lal or Sortha
will like our visit to Risa much, do you?"

END TRANSMISSION

Subject: SO: Fearless/Rendezvous with the Monitor

Lt. Commander Vehakra Rhikal
Turbolift
Stardate 9708.24

   Vehakra Rhikal was anxious to get to Risa. She needed a vacation and she
needed one badly. She had been given virtually no time off after leaving the
USS Avenger and transferring to the Fearless, even after being interrogated
by the evil Romulan Commander Sela when she was captured on the Avenger's
mission into Romulan space. The mission to Bolinar had also been stressful,
and Risa would be a nice place to unwind and relax.
    In fact, in the months before she ended up in Starfleet Academy, when she
was working odd jobs on various Federation worlds after finding freedom here,
Vehakra had worked as a dabo girl at a casino and resort on Risa. It was a
pretty lousy job, but it paid well. Well enough that she made enough for
passage to Earth and was able to get into the academy.
    The turbolift finally stopped and Vehakra stepped out into engineering.
This was one part of the ship she hadn't seen yet, and it was very
impressive. People were hard at work throughout the spacious engineering area
and at the center was the pulsing warp core.
    She looked around and spotted Lt. Sholek giving instructions to a couple
of his officers. Veh approached and stood by as Sholek finished with his
officers, then he turned to face her.
    "Hello Lt. Sholek," Veh said. "You said you have time to talk?"
    "Yes. What is this I hear about the Changeling asking for me?" Sholek
asked.
    "I spoke with his a few hours ago. He expressed a desire to speak with
you. He also told me some terrible story about you being a Romulan commander
a long time ago who commited war crimes against the Gorn. I personally think
he's insane...if that's possible for a Changeling."
    Sholek raised an eyebrow inquisitively, "Did he say what he wanted to
discuss?"
    "No. But if you want to speak with him, you should do it soon. We
rendezvous with the USS Monitor in 30 minutes. He'll be transferred shortly
thereafter," Vehakra said. "About the story he told me. I included it in my
security report to Lt. Commander Ki'lal. That report was forwarded to Captain
Sortha."
    "Thank you, Commander Rhikal," Sholek said, then returning to his work.
    (FROM THE GM: If you want to say anything else to Veh, feel free to post
it...)
    Veh shrugged and left engineering. She was off duty so she headed back up
through the ship to the Officer's Lounge at the very forward section of the
saucer. On the Galaxy-class ships this was called Ten-Forward, but here it
was just an officer's lounge.
    As she walked in and ordered a drink, she looked around a spied Lt.
Commander Kalahna sitting, having a drink with Lt. Regnigh. Being Kalahna was
her only friend on the ship, Veh went over to join them.
    "Mind if I join you two?" Vehakra asked, looking at both Kalahna and
Regnigh.
=============================================================
USS Fearless
Stardate 9708.24

   "Sir. Sensors are detecting another ship bearing zero-zero-five mark
two-four," Lt. Commander Ki'lal reported from tactical. 
   "Identify," Sortha said.
   "Its the USS Monitor. She's at the rendezvous site," Ki'lal reported.
   "Lt. Nassh. Sslow to impulsse," Sortha said. "Ki'lal, hail them"
   "Hailing frequency opened," Ki'lal reported.
   "Thiss is the USS Fearlesss to the USS Monitor," Sortha said. "Pleasse
acknowledge."
   The viewscreen suddely filled with the image of the Monitor's bridge. A
human male was setaed in the captain's chair. "This is Captain Richard
O'Malley of the Monitor. Welcome USS Fearless."
    "We will be arriving in sseveral minutess," Sortha said. "I would like to
ssend my ssecurity chief over to confirm that you have a facility on board
that will hold the Changeling."
    O'Malley looked a little miffed, but slowly nodded, "Very well. We're
ready to receive you. Monitor out."
    Sortha looked at Ki'lal. "Go over there and take a couple of your people
with you. Make ssure their holding facility is adequate. I don't want Marute
esscaping once he'ss out of our handss."

END TRANSMISSION
 
Subject: SO: Fearless/New Friends

Lt. Jonathan Regnigh
USS Fearless
Stardate 9708.24

   Regnigh was thinking on the way to the lounge with Kalahna, this was odd,
he couldn't believe he left that program in the slot. She must have been the
one he felt watching him.
   She was an interesting one. He was ubelievably enthralled by her. He
wondered why he lost his edge. He used to not care about being alone. What
some would consider a void, he considered an advantage. He sighed and when
Kalahna looked at him he just smiled and shrugged.
    He hoped this would be to his advantage. He shook his head and went on
with her.
=============================================================
Lt. Commander Kalahna Jarnell
Officer's Lounge
Stardate 9708.24

    Kalahna invited Veh to sit down with her and Regnigh.  She had developed
a liking for the Orion security officer.  They had some things in common and
Kalahna thought they could become good friends.   Besides she was the only other girl on the ship with her rank.  She invited Veh to attend Commander Dyer's poker night.  She and Veh talked about the last mission and past missions.  Regnigh was being quiet.  Kalahna wondered why he didn't talk very
much.  
     After a while it got late and Kalahna went back to her room.  It was
much bigger than the old one on the Stealth.  She still had stuff to put
away, but put it off to tomorrow.  Peeling her uniform off her she changed
into a silky smooth and very comfortable sleeper and climbed into bed.
 "lights off" she murmered and the computer turned off the lights.  Alone
with her thoughts Kalahna thought of things to do on Risa.
=============================================================
USS Fearless
Brig
Stardate 9708.25

    Two security officers stood outside the cell of the Marute Changeling.
They were there waiting for Ki'lal to go over to the Monitor and check out
its security arrangements. Once Ki'lal was satisfied with the ship's security
precautions, the two officers in the brig would oversee the transport of the
Changeling.
    As they waited, the Changeling kept taunting the two men by taking the
form of hideous beasts they might have had nightmares about as children.
After every transformation, he would become a humanoid again and would laugh
at them hysterically.
     "You solids are so fun to play with," Marute bantered as he took the
common humanoid shape of Changeling, similar to that of Odo's with the
featureless face and slicked back hair. "You are so easily intimidated and
angered. I forgot how much shapeshifting can be."
    "Shut up," Ensign Gaelon snapped, trying to keep his composure. "Or I'll
activate the polaron beam again."
    "Go ahead. Too much of that polaron radiation and I'll die," Marute said.
"How would you explain that to your Gorn captain?"
    The other ensign, a security officer named Chief Randy Norris, gave the
Changeling a dirty look, "Look, Shapeshifter! We've had enough of your crap!
Sit there and wait for your transfer like a nice glob of goo."
    The Changeling suddenly took the form of a huge horned gorrila-like
creature with white fur and gleeming fangs. It smashed its fists against the
forcefield and shrieked a hideous howl. Gaelon and Norris jumped back,
startled as the ferocious beast tried to get at them through the cell's
forcefield.
    After making a good show of it, the Changeling resumed its original form
and laughed at the two officers again. "You should have seen the looks on
your faces, solids. It was quite humorous."
    "Knock it off!" Gaelon yelled. "Or so help me I'll come in there and...."
    "Do it. Open the forcefield and come in," the Changeling said manically,
taking the shape of a human in boxing trunks with leather boxing gloves on
his hams. "Let's fight, tough guy! Come on. Show me what a man you are."
    Gaelon reached for the control to the forcefield, but Norris stopped him,
"Are you crazy. You open that and we're all dead. He'll kill us and go on to
cause all sorts of trouble throughout the ship. Don't go in there!"
    The ensing almost ignored the enlisted man, but decided Norris was right
and he turned away from the door. The Changeling resumed its original form
and stood shaking its head. "I guess we'll never find out how tough you
really are, ensign."
    "What is your problem?" Gaelon asked. "You've been making noise and
acting up in here for hours."
    "I want to see Lt. Sholek!" the Changeling shouted. "Get that Romulan
trash down here now! Before I'm transferred! Or you tell him when I get free
I'll make him wish he was never born!"
     Gaelon, sick of hearing Marute's rantings, tapped his comm-badge.
"Ensign Gaelon to Lt. Sholek. Sir, the Changeling is asking for you again. He
said...its important he speak with you."

END TRANSMISSION
 
Subject: SO: Fearless/Prisoner Transfer

Commander Michael Dyer, Lt. Johnathan Regnigh, 
Forward Lounge
USS Fearless
Stardate 9708.23

   Dyer walked into the lounge and noticed it was fairly empty.  He was
looking for Kalahna and Regnigh, and the computer had told him this was their
location.
   He spotted them sitting at a table together.  
   "Hi there you two.  Good work on this mission, I'm only sorry that I
couldn't have been there."
   "Thank you Commander.  How are you feeling anyway?  Kalahna asked.
   "Pretty good actually, that's kind of why I'm here.  I was wondering if
you two would be interested in a game of poker tomorrow night in my quarters?"
   Regnigh spoke up, "I suppose, I'll give it a shot... Kalahna?"
   "Sure, I'll give it a try."  Kalahna answered Regnigh.
   "Great, can you two find two more players?" 
=============================================================
Lt. Commander Tyrian M. Summers
USS Fearless Bridge
Stardate 9708.25

    Tyrian had heard from members of the crew that the changeling had been
causing trouble with the security personnel assigned to guard him.  He was
about to go up and do his bridge shift.
     The USS Monitor had pulled in alongside the Fearless a while ago and
security personnel were headed over there to check out the facilities.
 Tyrian decided to go down to the brig to check on the changeling, he felt he
should take a more active role in all happenings aboard the Fearless since he
was the second officer of the ship.  He entered the brig right as one of the
security, Ensign Gaelon, tapped his comm-badge. "Ensign Gaelon to Lt. Sholek.
Sir, the Changeling is asking for you again.  He said.......its important to
speak with you."
     Tyrian walked in and said in a stern voice, "Whats the meaning of this?
 Since when does a prisoner get his requests granted?  What if he asked to be
released from his cell for a jog around the deck........would you let him do
that too?"    
     Ensign Gaelon replied quietly ".....Sir, he was saying all these
things....."     Tyrian cut him off, "Ensign your duty is to guard him, not
to listen to him, not to tell him a story.....to guard him.  Any problems you
have should be reported directly to your supervisor on duty, I believe that
is Lt. Brass is'nt it?"  
     Ensign Gaelon looked down at the ground and replied, "Yes sir."  Tyrian
walked over to the forcefield that held the changeling, who now was now in
his humonoid form and quiet as he had been as soon as Tyrian came in.  He
obviously could tell that it would do no good to put on the shifting act he
had pulled earlier.
     Tyrian's face was inches away from the screen, he said:  "Causing a bit
of trouble are we?"  The changeling said nothing.  Tyrian continued, "If
there is one thing I hate more than a changeling, its a troublemaking
changeling....of course, I don't know of any other kind."  He said with a
smile.  "It would be a shame if you were shot and killed while trying to
escape from your cell.  Of course, I doubt Starfleet Intellegence really
thinks that you are all that important anyway, since you have'nt been in the
great link in years.  But oh well, I'm sure they will take you in custody one
way or another, dead or alive.  Have a nice trip, shapeshifter." 
   Tyrian said to Gaelon, "If he acts up anymore, report to Lt. Brass
directly, I'm going to send a report to the USS Monitor about his little
tactics so the guards over there know what to look out for.   Oh.........and
by the way, if Lt. Sholek does make it down here, don't let him and the
changeling talk in private, stay within earshot, I want to know what he wants
to talk to him about so badly."  Gaelon replied, "Yes sir"  as Tyrian left
the room.
=============================================================
Lt. Sholek
Engineering
Stardate 9708.25

	Gaelon, sick of hearing Marute's rantings, tapped his comm-badge. "Ensign
Gaelon to Lt. Sholek. Sir, the Changeling is asking for you again. He said... its important he speak with you."
	"I will not entertain the Changeling one last time," replied Sholek. "My
ignoring shows that I am uninterested in him. He merely wants to mock me one
last time. Tell him I said...'Shove it'."
=============================================================
Lt. Commander Ki'lal
USS Monitor
Stardate 9708.26

   "Ki'lal to Capt. Sortha.  Everything seems to be up to par here.  We are
ready to proceed with the transfer," said Ki'lal.
    "Excellent, Mr. Ki'lal," said the captain.
    "Ki'lal to Fearless, three to beam back to the Fearless."
    "Aye, sir," said the transporter chief and the team dematerialized from the Monitor's brig area.
=============================================================
USS Fearless
Brig
Stardate 9708.26

    Summers had just walked away when Sholek's response to Gaelon came. The
Romulan's words were loud enough that Marute heard them...loud and clear.
    Gaelon looked up at the Changeling with a grin and let out a barely
audible laugh. The Changeling had heard Sholek's response. He merely offered
a thin smile and sat down on the edge of his bunk, acting quite passive.
     A moment later, word came from Lt. Commander Ki'lal that the Monitor was
ready to receive the Changeling prisoner. Now they just had to wait for
Sortha's command to make the transfer complete.
     As they waited, the security officers quietly amused that Sholek had
rebuffed the Changeling's request to see him, Marute slowly stood and walked
up to the forcefield. Seeing him approaching from the corner of their eyes,
Gaelon and Norris turned and glared at the Changeling.
     "Don't start with us again. You're going to be beamed out of here any
second now," Gaelon said. "So why don't you sit down and shut up."
     The Changeling, of course, ignored Gaelon, "Since Lt. Sholek will not
endulge me, please give him a message for me."
     "Give it a rest," Norris said, frustrated.
     The Changeling leaned very close to the forcefield, and in a very soft
and cold voice, he spoke, "Tell that inbred Romulan fool that when the
Dominion overruns the Federation, and Jem'Hadar soldiers occupy every world
in the Alpha Quadrant, including Earth, that I will be free once again and I
will find him and make him suffer for what he has done to me. I will make all
of you pay. I promise you solids you will all regret the day you imprisoned me.
      "And while you're at it, tell your captain he should check into the
past of our good friend Mr. Sholek. He may find that they share some very
fascinating things in common," Marute said, smiling. He then turned and sat
back down on his bunk and awaited transport to the Monitor.

END TRANSMISSION
 
Subject: SO: Fearless/Prisoner Transferred

Lt. J.G. Clayton Aries
Sickbay - U.S.S. Fearless
Stardate 9708.26

   Sickbay had been fairly quiet since the Fearless left Bolinar. The Fearless medical staff had been working with Dr. Pulaski's staff in the camp. Now, until new orders were received, all Aries had to worry about were those blasted crew immunizations and fitness reports...
=============================================================
USS Fearless
Bridge
Stardate 9708.28

   With confirmation received from Ki'lal about the quality of safety
precautions in the Monitor's brig, Sortha gave his approval for the transfer
to begin. The sooner the Changeling was off his ship, the better.
    As soon as the word was given and Ki'lal and his officers were back on
the Fearless, the transport began. The Changeling was beamed directly out of
its cell and into a nearly identical cell aboard the USS Monitor.
    Once he was gone, the Monitor signalled that the transport was complete
and that Marute was locked down tightly as could be.
    With that completed, Sortha then gave the order to proceed on to Risa and
shore leave.

END TRANSMISSION
 
Subject: SO: Fearless/Arrival at Risa

USS Fearless
Arriving At Risa
Stardate 9708.30

    "Captain Sortha, we are approaching the Risa system," Lt. Nash reported
from the helm. "ETA is five minutes."
    Sortha let out an audible sigh and turned toward the helmsman. It was
obvious the captain wasn't too happy about the planned shore leave at Risa.
"Very well. Sslow to impulsse sspeed."
    Nash complied and the ship dropped from warp. Several minutes later, the
exotic paradise world of Risa appeared on the main viewer.
    "Sir," Regnigh said from tactical. "We are being hailed by Risa Control."
    "On sscreen," Sortha rumbled.
    The face of a gorgeous human female appeared on the screen. She looked
around at the crew and smiled, "Welcome to Risa, Starship Fearless. I am
Administrator J'loeil. You are cleared to enter orbit at the coordinates I am
transmitting."
    "Thank you Rissa control," Sortha said.
    "Your crew is welcome at any of the resorts and hotels located on the
surface. Consider our home your home," J'loeil said. "You are free to
transport to the surface at any time."
    "Fearlesss out," Sortha said bluntly, becoming annoyed at the beautiful
human woman. "Mr. Nassh, take uss into orbit. Mr. Dyer, proceed with shore
leave rotation for the crew. I want at leasst a sskeleton crew on the sship
at all timess."
   "Aye, sir," Dyer said. Sortha got up and began to walk toward his Ready
Room as the ship glided into orbit. Dyer turned in his chair and watched
Sortha leaving. "Sir, where will you be during shore leave?"
   "I do not know yet, commander," Sortha said, entering his ready room.
   Dyer shrugged his shoulders and began to authorize the crew's shore
leave...

END TRANSMISSION
 
Subject: SO: Fearless/Past, Present and Future

Captain Sortha
Lt. Sholek
USS Fearless/En route to Risa
Stardate 9709.01

     Rumors had been buzzing around the ship.  The wild tales that the
Changeling had told about Lieutenant Sholek were the talk of the ship.  As
time went by, they grew bigger and bigger, and more exaggerated.  The
scuttlebutt finally reached Captain Sortha.  
     Sortha knew he had to squash the rumors as soon as possible.  He quickly
reviewed Lieutenant Commander Rhikal's report with her and discussed the
matter with Security Chief Ki'lal and the security personnel who had been
guarding the changeling.
     Upon Lieutenant Commander Rhikal's recommendation Sortha also
interviewed Ensign Jefferson.  The ensign had been hesitant to reveal any
information but after heavy pressure from Rhikal, which Sortha found somewhat surprising, she caved in.  With tears in her eyes she told Rhikal about Sholek's conversation with her...

0550 Hours
     Sortha reviewed the data alone in his ready room one last time.  He
could not dismiss it.  Sholek had proved a loyal and capable officer.  And
Starfleet had cleared him through all security checks.  Sholek had spent a
long time on Vulcan, possibly completing the Kolinahr ritual....   Yet still,
the facts hit Sortha in the face like a phaser blast.  There was only one
thing to do, he had to talk to Sholek directly... for himself.
       Quickly standing, he left the ready room, "Commander Kalahna, you have
The conn" he said as he passed her and went into the turbolift.  On the bridge
Kalahna, Rhikal and Ki'lal looked at each other.  Without a word, Ki'lal and
Rhikal took the next turbolift...     

0600 Hours
     The door chime at Lieutenant Sholek's door buzzed.  Groggily Sholek woke
up, he wasn't supposed to go on shift until 0800.  "Lights, 1/8th" he ordered.  Could it be Ensign Jefferson, Sholek wondered.  The human female was so unpredictable... and emotional.   No one else would bother him at this time of day.
     Opening his door, Sholek aligned his eyes with the height of Ensign
Jefferson, that he had calculated to be 1.75 meters.  As the door opened
Sholek found himself staring directly into the barrel chest of Captain Sortha.
     Slightly startled, Sholek stepped back, "Captain?" he said raising an
eyebrow.   
     "Mind if I come in, Lieutenant" Sortha hissed.
     Alarm bells rang in Sholek's head.  There was an air of restraint and
danger within the Captain's words.   "Of course Captain" Sholek said allowing
Sortha into the room.
     Ducking through the door, Sortha entered.  The door swished shut behind
him.   "You are aware of the rumorss floating about thiss ssship?" Sortha
asked without preamble.  
     "Yes." Sholek answered matter-of-factly.  The Gorn and Romulan stared at
each other in the artificial twilight.  Outside Sholek's window, the starfield blurred by.
     Sortha said one word.  "Explain."  
     It was an order, but not an order from Captain to Lieutenant, no, it was
an order from one being to another, from Gorn to Romulan.  Sholek knew it and
Sortha knew it.  It was time to lay the cards on the table...

	Sholek pointed to the table. He new it would take time to explain and he
would prefer to have something between the Captain and himself. If the Captain
lost control, as unlikely as it was, Sholek wanted to be ready.
	"As you are well aware of, I was born and raised on Remus," Sholek started.  Sortha was growing obviously impatient. Sholek realized the logical decision would be to skip to his time aboard his ship. "I was Commander of the
Imperial Warbird Antoles. I was given orders to find Gorn production plants. I
encountered a Gorn ship. Normally, Romulans don't take prisoners, but we needed information from them on the location of a plant. They refused. We tortured and eventually killed each one." The Gorn was growing tense with anger.
	"So the rumors are true?" he questioned the Romulan.
	"Yes," he answered, "but there's more. Our method of torture involved
skinning them alive. The skins were given to the senior staff. Mine was from
the Gorn who gave us the most trouble. I had taken it when I left the Empire.
Almost 40 years ago, I brought the skin back to the Gorn. I also learned
about the ancient Gorn tradition were an enemy who is slain has his skin
removed and is returned to his family to honor his spirit. The Gorn council
sent me to his family after identifying him by his name mark that is put into
a Gorn's scales at birth." 
      At that, Sortha rubbed his mark.
     "He was the father of Solath and your grandfather. I even met you when
you were less than a year old. I was, of course, escorted by armed guards
were ever I went on the Gorn homeworld and Cestus III since I entered Gorn
space. The Gorn have forgiven me and even put a good word in for me when I
applied for Shadow Ops." He waited for the Gorn's response.

     Sortha did not say anything for some time.  He was obviously fighting an
inner conflict.  His eyes smoldered and Sholek wondered if today was the day
for him to die.  He knew of both the Gorn's great military tradition of
discipline, but he also knew of the close family relationships that the Gorn
maintained.
    Sortha was visibly trembling with rage, finally he could not contain
himself any longer and struck.  But his discipline held, instead of smashing
Sholek he smashed the duraplast table standing between them. With a
shattering crash it collapsed to the floor in several mangled pieces.
    Sholek had backed up a step but calculated that Sortha would be able to
maintain his discipline.   Treading over the mangled table Sortha moved
directly in front of Sholek.  His hot breath flowed down over Sholek's head
and his eyes burned as he spoke to Sholek.  
     "I will contact my father.  If what you ssay is true and my people have
forgiven you, then I will abide by their judgement.  But if you sspeak
falsssely you will certainly die thiss day, Sstarfleet, or anything elsse be
damned!"
     Watching Sholek, Sortha activated a subspace line on Sholek's computer.
 Within minutes he was linked into the Gorn central net, and after some delay
the image of Sortha's father appeared on the screen.
    The older and more gnarled Gorn beamed upon seeing his son, but his
expression changed to one of concern quickly upon seeing his son's anger.  
     "Father" Sortha said slowly, "I am sstanding with Ssholek, who claims to
have been on the Romulan warsship that captured Grandfather and tortured him
to death.  He claims that after the war he returned his sskin to our
homeworld and received forgivenesss from our people.  Iss thiss true?"
     The older Gorn appeared sad for awhile then sighed audibly.  "Yess, my
sson, it iss true.  He wass ressponssible for hiss death.  We did not know of
hiss fate until Sholek returned to Cesstus III with hiss sskin and claimed
ressponsibility for it.  He did sso at great perssonal risk becausse we did
not trusst the Romulans, but he came alone and unarmed, and he claimed that
he had forssaken the Romulan Empire, and insstead had embraced logic.  He had
been living on Vulcan for two years, when he decided he sshould return the
sskin to uss.  Along with the sskin, he alsso provided uss with many detailss
about the Romulan fleet and technical sspecifications of their sshipss.  We
have ussed that information to ssave many more Gorn.  He sseemed genuinely
repentent, and a changed persson, sso we granted him clemency."
    "So you do not desire me to kill him father?" Sortha asked.
    "No my son, do not.  We have given him our word that he would not be killed."
     Sortha calmed somewhat, but asked "Why did you not tell me Father?"
     "At firsst, becausse it wass top ssecret to protect the information that
Ssholek gave to uss, then because the knowledge would have troubled you, and
caussed problemss with you sserving in Sstarfleet my sson.  We are all sso
proud of you.  All Gorn are following your exploits in Starfleet with great
pride.  Your raid against the Cardassians and the Dominion with the USS
Stealth was greeted with deep growls of victory by all Gorn.  And your
promotion to Captain sso quickly iss a ssource of pride for our people ass well.  Our alliance with the Federation iss very important my sson and you are helping that greatly."
    "Thank you Father" Sortha said with bowed head.
    "The older Gorn added: "Learn of Romulus from Sholek my son, although he is now more Vulcan than Romulan, he sstill remembers his Romulan sside.
 Learn it sso that you will be a better warrior against the Romulans should we need you to fight them in the future."
    "Yes Father" Sortha said.
     "Goodbye my Son"
     "Goodbye Father."
     Sortha turned to Sholek, and looked at him closely.  "You are to live this day.  I will abide by my father's and my people's judgement.  But do not ever give me cause to doubt you" Sortha intoned.
     Sholek bowed his head "I regret personally the actions I took in my youth.  It was against logic and against what is right.  I can do no more to atone for what I have done, except to serve the Federation as best I can and support the Vulcan philosophy of IDIC. You have my deepest personal apology.  This knowledge has bothered me for some time as I have come to know and respect you, ..Sir" Sholek added.

    After a pause the two nodded to each other and Sortha left the room. Outside the doors he noticed Lieutenant Commanders Rhikal and Ki'lal
loitering in the hallway closeby.  "Sir!" they said as he walked by, "How are
you this morning?  We were just on our way to breakfast."  
   "Do you alwayss carry type I phasers under your uniformss when you go to
breakfassst?" Sortha inquired indicating the very slight bulges under their
uniforms.
     Sheepishly, the two looked at each other, "Well Sir we were concerned
and..."
     "I am quite capable of looking after mysself" Sortha asserted, then
paused, "but your concern is ....appreciated.  Carry on."
    "Yes Sir" they said and hurried off.
=============================================================
Lt. Commander Kalahna Jarnell
USS Fearless/Orbiting Risa
Stardate 9709.01

    Kalahna sighed, another shore leave with no where to go.  Maybe Jonathan
Regnigh wanted some companionship.  She went to his cabin and asked him if
he'd like to have fun on Risa with her...
=============================================================
Lt. Commander Vehakra Rhikal
USS Fearless/Orbiting Risa
Stardate 9709.01

   It had been so long since Vehakra had been to Risa, she couldn't think of
what she wanted to do there. When she had been here before joining Starfleet,
she had worked as a dabo girl. She had never really taken the time to enjoy
herself.
   Veh's options for companionship were slim at the moment, also. She thought
about hanging around with Kalahna, her only true friend on Fearless, but
learned the Bajoran woman had planned to spend time with Jonathan Regnigh. In
fact, she'd noticed Kalahna and Regnigh were spending a great deal of time
together lately. Veh could understand the attraction, he was an attractive
man...she wished her friend the best of luck.
    But this still left Vehakra without company during the stop at Risa. Of
course, Risa was known for its exotic pleasures and it was doubtful she'd be
alone long. All she had to do to facilitate a sexual liaison - known as
jamaharon - was to carry a
special statuette called a Horga'hn. 
    But Vehakra wasn't sure if that was truly something she wanted to do on
this trip. In fact, it had been a long time since she'd been involved with
anyone at all -- casually or otherwise. Veh had never been comfortable with
relationships and especially with sex after her years as a slave.
     In the academy she found life difficult among the young, upstart male
cadets who all thought they were god's gift to women. Being an Orion female
made her stereotyped as a sex object by many of the cadets. This left her
hounded by the men at the academy and shunned by the women who thought of her
as a tramp. 
     By the end of her sophomore year at the academy, she had shed the
popular image of an Orion female and got involved with an older cadet named
Jason Alden. He was, for all intents and purposes, her first boyfriend. They
dated throughout her sophomore year and into her junior year. But ultimately,
Jason wanted to take the relationship on to the next step. He wanted her to
sleep with him. 
     It was eventually an issue that ended their relationship. Veh couldn't
get past her years as a slave when sex was required of her. It wasn't for
love, or pleasure...it was a job. And if she didn't do as she was told, she
could be punished for it.
     Since Jason, she had dated several more men, but never let the
relationships go too far. Despite counseling and a strong effort on her part
to get past her problem, it was still a major obsticle for her in finding a
serious relationship. But, focusing on her career and her freedom, Veh was
content for now.
     She decided her trip to Risa would begin with a massage and steambath in
one of the resorts, followed by some time on one of the endless sun drenched
beaches. From there, she would decide what to do next.
     With her bag packed, Veh made reservations at the Risan Blue Star Resort
and transported to the surface.

END TRANSMISSION
 
Subject: SO: Fearless/RISA TRAVEL GUIDE

Risa

   The population of this world is humanoid, though at any given time it's
vastly outnumbered by the hordes of offworld tourists who flock to its
endless string of climate-controlled jungle islands.
    There's a good reason for this torrent of visitors. No other planet in
known space is so completely devoted to sensuality. To facilitate a sexual
liaison - known as jamaharon - it is customary to carry a special statuette
called a Horga'hn.
    However, sex is only one of the many pleasing activities offered on Risa.
Guests may also skinny-dip in one of the galaxy's most picturesque hot
springs, take a relaxing reyamilk soak, or simply bask in the soothing light
of Risa's dual suns.

Local Attrations:
   Risa itself is the attraction - all of it, from its glittering,
sun-drenched beaches to...well...its other glittering, sun-drenched beaches.

Restaurants:
    While there aren't any restaurants per se, any kind of cuisine can be
obtained anywhere on Risa, at any time. What's more, it's all of the highest
quality.

Lodgings:
Every guest suite on this world offers a stunning view of something - usually
the gentle surf washing up along the sensuous coastline. The service and the
accomodations are simply the best in the known galaxy.

Key Phrase:
"Why didn't I try this before?"

Unit of Currency:
Though Risa has no currency of its own, every valid form is accepted here.

END TRANSMISSION
 
Subject: SO: Fearless/Fun On Risa

Lt. Commander Tyrian M. Summers
USS Fearless Bridge
Stardate 9709.01

     The huge USS Fearless was in slow orbit around Risa as the crew were
continually being beamed to the surface.  It was Tyrian's eight hour shift in
command, he sat in the command chair next to the Captain's, the gorn's chair
was just too big, it made him feel too small.  
     He was going over current shore leave rotation on his PADD, most of the
crew was already down on the planet, the ship seemed empty.  Tyrian had yet
to take his leave, he was not jumping at the chance to go down to the
pleasure planet.  He did'nt want to go down there and face the temptations of
his lonliness, he didn't want to forget about his wife and unborn child at
home, he didn't want to indulge himself.  Sortha was also unlikely to go down
to the surface, it just wasnt like the gorn to do such a thing.  
     Tyrian looked at the screen and stared at the planet's bright blue green
atmosphere.  He was bored.
=============================================================
Lt. Jonathan Regnigh
USS Fearless/Quarters
Stardate 9709.02

    Regnigh was usrprised when Kalahna Jarnell showed up at his door. She
wanted him to go down to Risa with her. He thought for awhile and agreed.
Maybe this could be fun...
=============================================================
Lt. Commander Vehakra Rhikal
Surface of Risa
Stardate 9709.02

    Vehakra felt like she was a slave girl once again. Dressed in a skimpy
black bikini top and thong, she couldn't remember wearing so little clothing
in a very long time. She stepped out of the changing booth near the beach and
looked around. Standing under the warm dual suns of Risa, Vehakra couldn't
think of a time recently when she'd felt more free and relaxed.
     She walked across the sandy beach, weaving around vacationing tourists
and some members of the Fearless crew, and found a nice patch of beach to set
up her reclining lawn chair, where she laid down and basked in the warm suns.
While Orion's didn't tan, their skin pigmentation actually lightened some
when it was exposed to sunlight for a long period of time. Blemishes could
form, as a matter of fact, with overexposure.
     Veh applied a coating of sun screen to the front of her body and then
layed back to soak up the sun. No sooner had she done so when both a man and
a woman -- members of the resort staff -- approached wearing very little
clothing.
     "Can either of us help you finish applying your sun screen?" the woman
asked, both of them smiling brightly. Vehakra remembered, having been a dabo
girl here a few years ago, that the workers on Risa (if you really called
this work) were often so friendly they were downright annoying.
     "No, thank you. I'm fine right now," Rhikal said.
     "Can one of us get you a drink?" the man asked.
     "Yes, some iced tea would be nice," she said. The couple nodded and the
man headed up to the resort to fetch Vehakra's drink. Soon, with the drink
returned, she was alone and resting comfortably on the Risan beach.

END TRANSMISSION
 
Subject: SO: Fearless/Trouble in Paradise

Lt. Sholek
Aboard the USS Fearless
Stardate 9709.03

	"Why don't you want to go to Risa, Sholek?" Ensign Jefferson was questioning the Romulan.
	"Risa is a pleasure planet designed to give you a chance to express certain primitive emotions," he answered her. "Risa was not intended for people who suppress emotions."
	"You don't suppress them entirely," she replied. "Besides, you don't have to do anything but spend time with me."
	"I can spend time with you here," he countered.
	"Fine, I'll just go by myself. I can have fun without you." With that, she stormed out of engineering allowing Sholek to get back to work.
	Sholek wanted the ship to be in tip-top shape when they left Riza. His
engineering staff had completed all diagnostic tests several hours before
they arrived but Sholek just wanted to make sure all that could be done to
increase performance was done.
	'Hopefully the captain will not decide to kill me,' he thought. 'Ever since we encountered that changeling the past has come back to haunt me. Maybe I need to meditate more. Or at least relax.'
	Finally, he decided. He left engineering and went to the holodeck. He
Started up a meditation program. He sat in meditation for several hours.
=============================================================
Lt. Commander Vehakra Rhikal
Beach on Risa
Stardate 9709.05

    Vehakra's first day on Risa had been pretty uneventful, but it had given
her time to unwind a little and relax. She spent the first half of the day
basquing in the dual suns on the beach. Then she spent the evening in a mud
bath, followed by a fabulous dinner after she went to her room and showered
and dressed.
    While she had plenty of opportunities to find a man, she had decided to
go solo on this vacation. She had hoped one of her shipmates might prove to
be some friendly companionship, but they were all so busy enjoying themselves
that she hadn't encountered any of the crew.
    The second day on Risa, Vehakra awakened and felt invigorated. She had a
light breakfast and then returned to the beach for some more sunbathing in
his skimpy black bikini. It was good to feel alive and free once again.
    Late in the morning, as the suns were almost directly overhead, Veh found
herself drifting in and out of sleep on her chair facing the ocean, when
suddenly something blocked the sunlight beating down on her.
    Through squinting eyes, the Orion woman looked up and made out the shape
of a man standing over her. He was one of the resort employees, a lifeguard
named Kenrik. She had met him the day before and they had talked briefly.
    "How are you today, Lt. Commander Rhikal?" the beefy young man asked with
a smile.
    "I'm fine," Veh said. "And remember, I told you to call me Vehakra or
Veh."
    "Sorry, Veh," he said. "I'm here to deliver you a message."
    "Oh, from who?" she asked.
    "A Lt. Selak. He said he served with you on the Avenger. He said you'd
remember him," Kenrik said.
    Vehakra sat up, "Selak is here. Where is he?"
    "He stopped by this morning at beach cabana before you arrived. We told
him you'd probably be here sometime today," Kenrik said. "He said to meet him
down on the south beach at 1200 hours."
    "The south beach. That's the remote beach about a half a kilometer down,
isn't it?" Veh asked. "That's an odd place to want to meet. It's pretty
secluded."
    "He said he had important business to discuss with you," Kenrik said. "He
seemed rather serious."
    Veh frowned. This sounded very unusual for Selak. "This person, he was a
Bolian correct?" She had just lied to see if Kenrik really knew that Selak
was actually a Romulan, or possibly mistaken for a Vulcan.
    "No ma'am," Kenrik said, perplexed. "He was a Vulcan, I think."
    "Thank you, Kenrik," Vehakra smiled, as the lifeguard nodded and returned
to his watch tower.
     So Selak was here, on Risa, and it sounded like he might have some kind
of serious news. Probably something he was working on since becoming a solo
agent for Shadow Ops. Maybe he was in some kind of trouble? Or had some kind
of urgent information to pass along.
     Vehakra gathered up her belongings and returned to her room. There, she
put on a sarong which wrapped around her lower half life a skirt, only it was
made of a dark, diaphonous material. She also brought along a small handbag
containing a small hand phaser and her comm-badge. She wasn't taking any
chances.
     She then set out down the beach, well beyond the resort's boundaries.
When she arrived in the south beach area, she found a rocky area of beach
where the waters roared in from the ocean sending a mist spraying across the
terrain every few seconds.
     For several minutes Vehakra looked around until she saw a man wearing a
Starfleet uniform standing near a closeby rock formation. From a distance, it
appeared to be a Romulan or Vulcan, and then she saw the telltale long hair,
pulled into a ponytail and she knew it was her friend.
    She approached the lone figure on the beach from behind, as he stood
looking off across the endless ocean. The sound of the roaring waves was so
loud there was no way he could have heard her yelling for him, so she decided
to surprise him.
    When she was within reach, Veh reached out and touched the man's
shoulder. "Selak, how are you?" she asked.
    The Romulan turned slowly around and suddenly, she realized it wasn't
Selak. It was a human with long hair, like Selak's, wearing some kind of
prostetic ears to make him look Vulcan.
    "Sorry, you guessed wrong," the man said, leveling a phaser at her. He
smiled wickedly and tapped his comm-badge. "Got her!"
    From behind several mounds of rocks, figures appeared. Four were human,
one was an Orion male and the final one was the only one she recognized, the
Yridian advisor and henchman of her former master, a man called Jebra N'gorl.
     Vehakra thought about running, but the human with the phaser tensed with
his weapon and shook his head. She had been so stupid. How could she have
come out here in the middle of nowhere to meet someone she should have known
wouldn't have come to Risa to meet with her in such a clandestine way.
     "Well, well, well," the gnarled, grey-skinned Yridian said as he and his
thugs gathered around Vehakra. "It has been several months. The last time we
met, you had security on Starbase 58 arrest me for carrying an illegal
weapon."
     "I should have killed you when I had the chance!" Vehakra spat.
     "You should have accepted my offer back then," N'gorl said
threateningly. "Now, not only will you be returning to Captain Gortak, you
will have to endure punishment for your escape. It was quite foolish of you
to think you could avoid us forever, even in the Federation as a member of
Starfleet. We've been tracking your movements for months, although I will
admit whatever branch of Starfleet you work for it is difficult to find out
exactly what you do."
     "Obviously it wasn't good enough," Veh muttered, looking for a way out
of an impossible situation.
     "No. Our resources in Starfleet are quite knowledgable. We knew you were
aboard the Avenger, then we learned it was damaged in an ion storm and
returned to Earth for an overhaul. We were actually on Earth, tracking your
movements there, but it was much too risky to try and kidnap you there. Then
you were assigned to the USS Fearless. Since then we've not been able to find
you, until several days ago when a contact of mine on Risa reported that the
starship Fearless was scheduled to come here for several days of shore leave
-- thus giving us the perfect chance to find and capture you."
     Vehakra shook her head, "I'm not going with you, N'gorl. I'm not going
back to that bastard!"
     "Captain Gortak will not be pleased to hear you feel that way, Rhikal,"
the Yridian said, his hand moving beneath the folds of his jacket. He then
retrieved a coil Ferengi plasma whip from inside his jacket and held it up
for Veh to see. "I'm afraid you'll have to be punished for what you've done."
      Vehakra jumped up and kicked the phaser  out of the
Selak-impersonator's hand and then ran toward the ocean, breaking past a
couple of N'gorl's henchmen. She struggled to grab her comm-badge out of her
bag as she ran, but was knocked to the beach by two men who tackled her. They
then began to drag her across the sand toward N'gorl who stood waiting with
the plasma whip.
     "Hold her over that boulder," N'gorl said, motioning the men toward a
big rock on the beach. "It is time she get reaquianted with the lash." 
     "Damn you N'gorl!" Veh snapped as she was draped over the boulder on her
stomach and held by the two henchmen. "You'll pay for this! I'll kill you
with my own bare hands."
     "That," the evil Yridian began as he uncoiled the painful Ferengi whip,
"remains to be seen my dear." He then drew back with the whip and delivered
the first lash...

END TRANSMISSION
 
Subject: SO: Fearless/Saving A Friend

Lt. Commander Kalahna Jarnell
Risan beach
Stardate 9709.6

   Kalahna had been following Veh for some time now.  She and Regnigh had
spent some time together, but he'd returned to the Fearless for his shift on
the bridge. She had enjoyed his company, but he was a little too quiet. She
hoped he'd open up more on Risa, but so far nothing.
   So Kalahna decided to see Veh.  She got to where she was staying just in
time for a waiter to point out where she had gone to.  She could see her far
in the distance.  Kalahna followed, but couldn't catch up cause she had to
walk since she had left her shoes back at her hotel and some of the ground
was rocky.  That was ok cause it was a bright sunny day and Kalahna figured
Veh would stop sometime.
     After a while she did catch up, coming over a rise near the beach she
saw Veh and a group of men standing on the beach.  Then suddenly there was a
fight and Veh sprinted for the water.  Two dudes grabbed her and held her
down.  Then to Kalahna's surprise they took her to a rock and held her down
while an ugly man started whipping her exposed back with a ferengi whip.  

   Kalahna's hand went to her comm badge but she had left it back in her
hotel!  She was wearing only running shorts and a tank top and carried a
small totebag.  Quickly she looked in her bag.  She had sunglasses, two
magazines, some suntan oil and a small radio- vid player.  She looked over
the rise again.  The guy with the whip was taking his time, he was obvisouly
taunting her.  Kalahna was desperate, they were armed and she was not good at
handtohand fighting!   Desperetly she looked around....nothing but sand,
rocks and more sand.  She had to do something!   

   Finally she had an idea.  Veh had brought her bag with her.  It had fallen
close by the water.   Being a security person she would surely have her
commbadge with her.  She turned the volume of her vidplayer to low and
searched for a station.  She found a talk station and left it there.  She set
the vidplayer radio to an alarm setting to go off in five minutes and set the
volume to high.   Then she dumped the bottle of suntan lotion on her and
rolled in the sand.  Within seconds she looked like a sand creature.  Then
she sprinted down the beach keeping behind the dunes and rocks.  The little
and big rocks in the sand cut her feet and they bled but she kept going.
  Soon she was down the beach a ways. She sneaked down to the beach and
crawled across it into the water.  There was not much to see as the sand blob
crawled on the sand.  The men did not see her.

   She swam in the water as best she could.  Fortunately she had swam on
Bajor and was fairly good swimmer.  When she came up for air, she turned on
her back and put only her lips and chin above the water.  Swimming as fast as
she could underwater she made it close to where Veh was.  Now the water got
shallow.  She was breathless with exertion.  She was holding her breath and
swimming for 90 seconds at a time.  She could hear Veh's screams even under
the water.  Finally she was ready for her underwater dash into the beach.

   On the land the vidplayer went off and loud voices came from over the
rise.  The men around veh turned and looked.   Gulping air for one last time
she jetted under the water to where she had seen veh's bag.  Lucky for her
the two men holding Veh were too busy staring at Veh's bikini-clad body that
was bleeding and slumped over the rock and the others were running for the
sound of the vidplayer.

   Kalahna made it to the beach, coming in with the surf.  Quickly she
sprinted three strides and grabbed the bag, she dumped the contents out on
the sand.  She looked around....damn!   Finally...there was the commbadge!
  Then she heard shouting and looked up to see that the men had noticed her.
 She ran for the water activating the commbadge as quick as she could.
   "Kalahna to Fearless...emergency beam out everyone...in the near
area...hostiles!!"

   Just as she finished speaking she felt a huge force slam into her back and
saw the world turn to white and she pitched down forward into the surf
unconscious as blood pooled around her body now bobbing facedown in the surf.

   On the bridge of the Fearless, Kalahna's message sounded across the
comm-line alerting the crew to the emeregency....

END TRANSMISSION
 
Subject: SO: Fearless/The Rescue

Lt. Jonathan Regnigh
USS Fearless
Stardate 9709.07

   Regnigh was mad. He just, for some unbeknownst reason, could not open up
to Kalahna. No matter how much he liked her. He did at that, like her.
Amazing to him because he had not really liked anyone  in a long time.
Kalahna however, was different, he couldn't put his finger on it but it was
there.
    Everything had been quiet so he really hadn't payed much attention to
much that was happening. He had been tapping lightly on the tactical board
for the last two hours. then when the board beeped it started him a bit. he
shook it off and pressed the button. He heard:

   "Kalahna to Fearless...emergency beam out everyone...in the near
area...hostiles!!"
   His fingers raced over the board as he tapped his badge.
   "Regnigh to Kalahna, prepare for transport..."
   Before she would have even had time to acknowledge every Fearless crew
member was beamed up from where her badge was located.  He rushed down to the
transporter room to see what had happened...
=============================================================
Lt. Commander Tyrian M. Summers
USS Fearless Bridge
Stardate 9709.07

     Tyrian was still on his bridge shift when the emergency communication
from Lt. Commander Kalahna Jarnell came through.  ".......emergency beam out
everyone...in the near area...hostiles!!" 
     Tyrian immediatly stood up from his chair, "Transporter room one, beam
up all people in a twenty meter radius from that comm signal into holodeck
one and put a containment field around the perimeter of that room.  Lt.
Commander Ki'lal, take a security team down there and secure the
problem.................Captain Sortha to the bridge!"
=============================================================
USS Fearless
Holodeck #1
Stardate 9709.07

    Lt. Commander Ki'lal and Lt. Jonathan Regnigh, along with a security
team, charged onto the holodeck with weapons drawn and ready. But when they
arrived, all they found was Vehakra and Kalahna sprawled on the floor of the
holodeck with a containment field around them.
    "Disengage containment field," Ki'lal yelled into his comm-badge. One the
field was gone, the officers rushed in to see what was wrong.
    Vehakra Rhikal was barely conscious. Her back was covered with painful
welts and burns. What little she had been wearing on the Risan beach was now
in tatters from whatever assault she'd taken.
    Kalahna was, however, in worse shape. She was wet, soaked from head to
foot. Across her back were the tell-tale signs of a close range disrupter
blast. The skin of her back was badly burned and she appeared to be
unconscious. She was also bleeding profusely from a gash across her forehead,
which it looked like she received when she fell to the beach after being shot
in the back.
    "Sickbay!" Regnigh shouted into his comm-badge as he knelt beside Kalahna
and examined her wounds. "Transport Rhikal and Kalahna directly to your
location...ASAP!"
    "Transporter room. There is no one else here," Ki'lal growled. "Was
anyone else nearby Rhikal and Kalahna."
   "There were several lifeforms around her. We thought we got them all,"
Chief Simmons reported. "Rechecking the log." Then after a pause, the chief
reported back. "We locked on to seven other life signs. Five were human, one
was an Orion and one a Yridian. But they apparently engaged some kind of
scattering field as we began the transport. The transport beam was disrupted
before we could transport them."
    Veh and Kalahna were then transported from the holodeck to sickbay.
"Dammit!" Ki'lal shouted, thinking of what to do next. "Scan the site.
Bridge, scan the site where we beamed Rhikal and Kalahna from. See if there
is still anyone else there."
    "Negative," ops officer Ensign Bodine reported. "No lifesigns. Residual
energy signatures from a Ferengi plasma whip and an Orion disruptor still at
the site. Also, it appears another transporter may have been used there
within seconds after our own."
    Ki'lal then looked at Regnigh and frowned...

    In sickbay, Vehakra and Kalahna were immediately attended to by Clayton
Aries and several members of the medical staff. Dr. Ming was still on the
surface of Risa on shore leave.
    "Rhikal appears to be alright, though she took quite a beating," one of
the medics said as Aries approached with his medical tricorder. "It's
Kalahna. She's seriously injured. She has a skull fracture and third degree
phaser wounds to her back."
    Aries looked over both patients and then went to work...

END TRANSMISSION
 
Subject: SO: Fearless/Emergency Treatment

Lt. J.G. Clayton Aries
Sickbay
Stardate 9709.08

   Most of Kalahna's injuries weren't serious, the disruptor wounds were
taken care of by a simple dermal regenerator, but the skull fracture would
 be a problem.  There was simply no way to tell if there was any brain
 damage until the patient woke up.
   Broken bones were set, bruises healed, and both patients were placed
 under obversation in sickbay.  No matter what happened, those two wouldn't
be getting back to work for a while.
=============================================================
Captain Sortha
Bridge
Stardate 9709.08

    Sortha came to stand behind Lt. Commander Summers who was positioned at
tactical after arriving on the bridge. "What iss going on, commander?"
    "There was some kind of attack on Lt. Commanders Rhikal and Kalahna down
on the surface," Tyrian reported. "We beamed them and what we thought were
their assailants to holodeck one and decured it with a force field. But their
attackers used some kind of scattering field to block the transport. We only
got Rhikal and Kalahna."
    Sortha stiffened, "Their conditions?"
    "Unknown. They are in sick bay," Summers reported. "I am scanning the
surface in search of the attackers. It appears they were beamed out, but I
can't determine who transported them from the site."
    "What about sshipss in orbit?" Sortha asked.
    Tryian smiled and cocked his head to one side, "Well, sir. There are
almost 200 ships of various shapes and sizes orbiting this planet, with
traffic coming and going constantly. I'm not having very good luck."
    Sortha nodded, "Very well. Keep on it. I'll be in ssick bay."
    The Gorn boarded the lift and headed down to deck 12 where sickbay was
located. He was concerned about both officers, but particularly for Kalahna.
She'd proven to be fiercely loyal and an incredible asset to the ship. If any
serious harm came to her, he would find who did this and make sure they paid
dearly.
    Sortha stepped off the lift and walked the rest of the way to sick bay.
When he entered he saw Vehakra resting on a biobed while across the room, Lt.
Aries was hard at work with several medics on a figure laying prone on a
surgical bed.
    "Lt. Ariess," Sortha interrupted. Aries glanced up and saw the captain,
then turned  Kalahna over to another doctor and stepped aside to speak with
Sortha.
    "Captain," Aries said. "Lt. Commander Rhikal seems to be OK. She
sustained some minor plasma burns to her back from what appears to have been
a Ferengi plasma whip. She is recovering well. It's Lt. Commander Kalahna I'm
more concerned about."
     Sortha sighed. "What is wrong with her?"
     "She was shot in the back with a disruptor. Fortunately it wasn't on
full setting or it would have killed her. I treated her for third degree
disruptor burns and neural shock that accompanied the blast. But she
apparently fell in the attack and struck her head on a hard object, possibly
a rock. It opened a wound in her skull which I've repaired. It also caused a
serious skull fracture. That will be harder to repair. She's in a coma at the
moment. There is some swelling of the brain. We really won't know much more
until we can get the swelling down, repair the fracture and then see how she
is once she's out of the coma."
    Sortha looked past Aries at the table and watched as the other medical
staff worked on his Ops officer. "Where iss Dr. Ming? Not that I doubt you
abilities, lieutenant, but sshe hass far greater experience."
    "I've summonded her, sir," Aries said with an understanding look. "She'll
be here shortly. Now, if you'll excuse me Captain. I need to get back to
Kalahna."
    As Aries went back to work on the patient, Sortha watched from nearby.
What the hell had happened down on Risa? It was a damn pleasure planet, this
kind of thing didn't happen in paradise.
    "Captain," a familiar female voice sounded from behind him. The Gorn
turned to see Vehakra sitting up on the biobed. Dressed in a medical gown,
she looked around a little disoriented and clutched the sheet up against her
body. "What's going on?"
    "I wass hoping you might tell me that," Sortha said, crossign the room to
where the Orion woman sat. He then looked to her for answers...
=============================================================
Lt. Commander Vehakra Rhikal
Sick Bay
Stardate 9709.09

    Vehakra looked up from the bed into the black eyes of her Gorn captain
and she began to recall what happened on the surface. The trap. The attack on
her by N'gorl and his men. Then what sounded like Kalahna's voice, followed
by the sound of a disruptor blast. Then all went dark.
    "What happened down on Rissa, commander?" Sortha asked, gripping her
shoulder. "Who attacked the two of you?"
    Veh looked at Sortha confused, "Two? Who else....Kalahna? Kalahna was
there, wasn't she?"
    "Yess. Sshe was injured," Sortha said as gently as a Gorn could. "What
more do you remember?"
    Vehakra brought her hand up to her mouth in shock. "Tell me Kalahna is
alright?"
    "Ariess says sshe's not in good sshape," Sortha admitted. "Sshot it the
back by a dissruptor and sshe has a head injury."
    "Oh god!" Rhikal gasped. "Dammit! Dammit it all to hell!"
    The Gorn was concerned for Veh, but he also wanted answers, "What
happened on Risssa, Lt. Commander Rhikal."
    "I'm sorry sir," Veh said, getting control of the feelings of guilt she
was now feeling over Kalahna. "I was relaxing on the beach, alone, when an
employee of the resort said a friend of mine from the Avenger, Lt. Selak, was
here and needed to meet with me urgently down on the south beach. I thought
the request was unusual, but the employee said Selak told him it was urgent
and we needed to meet in private. I went to meet with him. The beach was
remote, but at a distance I saw a man who looked like Selak, so I approached.
When I got there it wasn't Selak. It wasn't even a Vulcan. It was a human
disguised to pass as Selak at a distance.
    "Before I could react, I was surrounded by men. Mostly human, with the
exception of an Orion and a Yridian. The Yridian was Jebra N'gorl. He's the
right hand man to Captain Gortak..."
    Sortha nodded, "The Orion pirate who was once your owner. I've read your
file."
    "Yes. He told me he'd been tracking me for months. He knew I'd served on
the Avenger. He knew I was on the Fearless. He indicated Gortak had powerful
friends with contacts in Starfleet, and that while they didn't know the
nature of the work I was doing, they were able to track the comings and
goings of the Fearless and were waiting for the ship to arrive in a port
where they could confront me," Vehakra said, tears welling in her eyes. "I
tried to escape, but they caught me. They held me down over a rock, belly
down, and N'gorl began to beat me with his whip...the same whip he used on me
as a slave when me or the other woman got out of hand."
     "Where did Kalahna come into all thiss?" Sortha asked.
     "She must have found out I was down on the south beach and came looking
for me. I guess she stumbled on to N'gorl and his men assaulting me and tried
to stop them," Vehakra said. "Dammit! How could I have been so reckless?"
     "It'll be alright," Sortha said, gripping her shoulder tightly with his
huge hands. "Kalahna probably saved your life. If N'gorl hadn't of killed
you, he certainly would have kidnapped you to take back to Gortak. You'd
probably be on a ship bound for Orion sspace right now."
    Vehakra wiped away a tear. "Yes. But Kalahna wouldn't be injured right
now, either. It's all my fault."
    "You've got to forget that right now, commander," Sortha said. "Right now
let'ss hope sshe pullss through. The important thing right now iss the two of
you are ssafe."
    Vehakra nodded, "About N'gorl. There's no use in looking for him. He's
long gone by now. he probably had two or three escape plans ready in case the
Fearless interfered."
    "That may be. I will sstill contact Rissan security to report thiss
incident. I will need a full report from you when you are able. Ariess ssays
you need to resst now."
    Veh reluctantly laid back down. "Sir. This isn't going to end for me, is
it? He's not going to give up until he has me back, chained to his side."
    "It won't come to that, commander," Sortha said ominously. "Gortak hass
just made an enemy of me and the resst of thiss ship. And if anything happens
to Lt. Commander Kalahna, he'll wissh he'd of never ssent his lackies here to
kidnap you."
    Sortha then patted Vehakra on the shoulder, whirled and strode from sick
bay.

END TRANSMISSION
 
Subject: SO: Fearless/Shattered Dreams

Lt. Sholek
U.S.S. Fearless
Stardate 9709.08

        "Sholek?
        "Can you hear me?"
        "Who's there," Sholek asked.
        "It's me."
        "Who?" he asked puzzled.
        "I'm Lonra, your wife."
        "But you're..."
        "Dead? I have something to tell you. I'm proud that you left the
Empire but why have you abandoned your people. Your too Vulcan and not enough
Romulan. Be yourself, Sholek. Be strong. Use logic but keep your emotions. Only then will you win in the confrontation to come.
        "I love you."

        Sholek woke up in a cold sweat. He had heard the voice of his long
dead wife.  Many Vulcans believe that certain dreams have a special meaning. Was this one of them?
        He got up and approached the computer terminal. He needed to talk
With someone on Vulcan to help him interpret the dream.
=============================================================
Lt. Commander Kalahna Jarnell
Sick Bay
Stardate 9709.10

   Kalahna dreamed.
   They were not good dreams.
   They were tortured dreams.
   Since the last thing she had been thinking about was violence and Veh getting whipped and beaten, those images set the scene for her dreams.  She had been dreaming for days now. 
   Her dreams took her back to Bajor during the Cardassian occupation.  In
her dreams she was held motionless by some force as she was captured and
assaulted by Cardassians.  It happened again and again and again...
   Always Kalahna was held motionless trying to escape...
   Something was always holding her back, she was trying to get somewhere....
=============================================================
Captain Sortha
Ready Room
Stardate 9709.10

   The captain was deep in thought about Kalahna Jarnell as his comm-badge
chimed for the third or fourth time. He suddenly snapped back to reality and
tapped the badge in response.
    "Ssortha here," the Gorn said, sitting at his desk.
    "Sir, incoming transmission from Starfleet Command," Commander Dyer's
voice reported. "It's a priority one message and a coded Shadow Ops
frequency."
    It sounded serious, whatever it was.
    "Put it through to my ready room," Sortha said, turning to his computer
console. A moment later a Starfleet insignia appeared on the screen, followed
by a Shadow Ops insignia, then both disappeared and a familar face replaced it.
    "Admiral Jaegar," Sortha said. "I trusst you are well?"
    "I am, but I can't say the same about things back home," Jaegar said, a
tone of seriousness to his voice Sortha had never heard before. "Its begun."
    Sortha stiffened. "The Dominion?"
    "Tensions between the Federation and the new Cardassian/Dominion alliance
are increasing. A number of Dominion ships travelling in convoys have been
going to and from the Gamma Quadrant. They seem to be transporting supplies,
possibly weapons, to their troops stationed in Cardassian territory," the
admiral explained. "Captain Sisko on Deep Space Nine and Starfleet Command
are considering a plan by the DS9 crew to mine the entrance to the Wormhole."
    Sortha knew what this meant. "You know how the Dominion will react to
ssuch an act?"
    "I do, captain. It will most likely mean war," Jaegar said somberly.
"Your orders are to proceed to a set of coordinates between here and Bajor,
very close to Cardassian space. In fact, you'll practically be inside the
Thornea Nebula, about 20 light years from the Cardassian border."
     "Nothing more specific?" Sortha asked.
     "No. You are to proceed to those coordinates and wait to receive further
orders," Jaegar said. "I will rejoin the Fearless at those coordinates. We'll
conduct a briefing with your crew at that time."
     "Very well ssir," Sortha said. "I will recall my crew from sshore leave
and depart within the hour. We sshould arrive at the coordinatess within two
dayss."
     "I'll see you then, captain," Jaegar said. "I'm transmitting the
coordinates now. Jaegar out."
     After the admiral's image faded, Sortha stood and strode from his ready
room and back onto the bridge. The bridge crew turned to see their captain
appraoching, anticipating his next order.
     "Recall all crew memberss from sshore leave immediately," Sortha said.
"As ssoon as everyone iss aboard, proceed to the coordinates downloaded by
Sstarfleet at maximum warp. We're leaving Rissa."

END TRANSMISSION
 
Subject: SO: Fearless/Breaking Orbit

Lt. Commander Kalahna Jarnell
Sick Bay
Stardate 9709.12

   Kalahna dreamed still....
   Kalahna lay naked on a stainless steel table.  There were no restraints
but she could not move.  The room was dark.  Very dark.  She was cold all
over. She could not see.  She wanted to move but couldn't.  Slowly in the
distance a dim white light appeared, it beckoned her.  
    Part of her wanted to go there but part didn't.  Another light appeared,
also dim.  This one was red.  Kalahna knew she must go to one of the lights
but which one?   Slowly both lights moved closer to her.
=============================================================
Captain Sortha
Bridge
Stardate 9709.12

   "That's the last of them," Commander Dyer reported. "Everyone is back
aboard the ship from Risa."
   Sortha turned toward the commander in his chair. "Good. Lay in a course
for the coordinatess Admiral Jaegar ssent and take uss out of here. Warp 9."
   With the Fearless away from Risa, the captain went down to sick bay to
check on Kalahna again. Her prognosis was not good. Dr. Ming said there was
little to be done now but wait. 
    Sortha was ready to wait for his friend to recuperate. But he vowed that
if she perished, the people who did this to her were pay...with their
miserable lives.
=============================================================
Lt. Commander Vehakra Rhikal
Quarters -- Deck 14
Stardate 9709.12

    Vehakra Rhikal dressed for duty, though it took every bit of strength she
could muster. She had recovered from her wounds she took during the beach
encounter with Jebra N'gorl and his goons, but emotionally she was drained.
    Not only had her freedom once again been threatened, but now the life of
her dearest friend was on the line. Kalahna had risked her life to save Veh
and now she might die because of it.
     Vehakra didn't want to have to run anymore. She didn't want to
constantly worry that Gortak's henchment might be around every corner waiting
to kidnap her to return back to Orion. It was time to take action, especially
in light of what happened to Kalahna.
     But now was not the time to be concerned with making a move against
Gortak. Right now there was Kalahna's life to worry about and a possible war
coming with the Dominion. When and if that ended, then there might be time to
deal with Captain Gortak and his right hand, N'gorl.
     Vehakra finished putting on her uniform, then she left her quarters and
headed off to the bridge. She had a few minutes left before she was to report
for duty, so she decided to stop in by sick bay to check on Kalahna.
     When she arrived, she found Captain Sortha standing near the Bajoran
woman's bedside. She knew how much Sortha liked Kalahna -- for her loyality
and fearlessness. Veh only hoped one day she would find herself as revered by
the captain.
     "How is she?" Vehakra asked as she approached Sortha.
     Sortha looked at her from his right eye, without turning his head. He
then shook his head slowly. "No change. How are you?"
     "I'm well, thank you," Veh said. "I am sorry for placing Lt. Commander
Kalahna is danger, sir. I truly didn't expect something like this to happen,
especially on Risa. It is a mistake Kalahna would have never made."
     "You may be a trained Sstarfleet officer and Sshadow Operative," Sortha
began, "but you haven't fought against the Cardasssianss in a war for your
homeland as Kalahna did. Her ssenssess would have warned her of a trap much
more eassily than yourss would have. I would not be asshamed of this,
commander."
     Vehakra watched Kalahna for the longest time with Sortha, she then
turned to the captain, "Sir. When the next mission ends, provided we are not
at war, I'd like to take a leave of absence. There's unfinished business for
me in the Orion sector. Something I should have done a long time ago."
     Sortha turned and looked at Veh suspiciously, "And what would that be,
commander?"
     "Gortak is never going to stop coming after me," Veh began, her voice
soft and emotionless. "I must go there and make sure he no longer is a threat
to me or my friends."
     She then looked at Sortha as a tear slid down her cheek, "I have to kill
Captain Gortak. Only then can I truly be free."

END TRANSMISSION
 
Subject: SO: Fearless/Promises

Captain Sortha
Sick Bay
Stardate 9709.13

   Sortha turned to Veh, his large reptilian face unreadable, but his next
words were clearly understandable. 
    "If Kalahna diess, then I will find a reasson for the Fearlesss to be in
the Orion sssector,"  Sortha said ominously.  It was stated as such a cold
blooded matter of fact that a chill ran down Veh's spine.
    She had heard what the Captain did when he was mad, she remembered the
stories of his hand-to-hand fighting on the Stealth against the renegade
Klingons...  "And even if she does not die,  thesse Orion sscum will pay."  

END TRANSMISSION
 
Subject: SO: Fearless/A Call To Arms

Lt. Jonathan Regnigh
Sick Bay
Stardate 9709.14

   Regnigh stood at Kalanha's side. He looked down at her solemnly. This
woman, who he had started to become friends with was possibly dying. She was
being ripped away from him, like his children and like his wife... Victoria. 
    He remembered every little detail of Vikki and even saw some of her
attitude in Kalahna. He sighed heavily. He had been shipboard when Kalahna
was in trouble and had beamed her aboard. What could possibly be going on in
her head was one of many things he had wondered over the last few hours at
her side. Now he had to make sure he didn't lose her. He had to try and help
her, but how???
=============================================================
USS Fearless
Bridge
Stardate 9709.14
 
   "Captain," Lt. Nash reported from helm control. "We are nearing the
coordinates indicated by Admiral Jaegar."
    Sortha turned in his command chair toward the fore section of the bridge
and nodded to the Vulcan helmsman. He then glanced over at Lt. Commander
Tyrian Summers who was at tactical.
    "Mr. Ssummerss, long range ssensor readingss of the coordinatess?" Sortha
asked. Summers set to work and a moment later he scowled in semi-confusion.
    "Captain. I am picking up some unusual readings at the coordinates,"
Summers said. "Interference from the Thornea Nebula is making accurate
readings difficult, but there appears to be a number of...objects at the
coordinates. Several impulse drive trails are also being detected. Sporadic
comm-traffic, all coded."
    Captain Sortha stood and took several steps toward the view screen. "Can
you be more sspecific?"
    "No sir. I can't determine much more," Tyrian said. "We are entering
visual range, however."
    "On sscreen," the Gorn said.
    The image of stars streaking by was replaced by the backdrop of a huge
blue and purple nebula. Across that backdrop was several dozen starships,
clumped in various formations. As the magnification was increased, Sortha
heard an audible gasp from the bridge crew.
     "Sstarfleet ships. Dozenss of them," Sortha muttered. "What the hell iss
going on?"
     "I'm getting more accurate readings as we get closer. There are more
than 40 Federation starships out there. And almost 30 Klingon ships," Tyrian
Summers reported from tactical. "Its a fleet."
     "No Mr. Ssummerss," Sortha said ominously. "It'ss an armada."
     "Captain, we're being hailed on a coded frequency," Vehakra Rhikal
reported from her post. "Its a Shadow Ops code."
     "Initiate decryption and put it on sscreen," Sortha said. A moment later
the image of the Federation/Klingon fleet was replaced with that of Admiral
Erik Jaegar.
     "Sortha, you old battle monger!" the admiral said, trying to sound
cheerful. "Glad you could make the party."
     "We wouldn't have misssed it for anything, admiral," Sortha said.
     "I'm aboard the Avenger at the moment. She's the first of three Shadow
Ops ships scheduled to join this fleet," Jaegar said. "Once I finish briefing
her crew on what is going on, I'll be transporting back to the USS Venture,
which is the ship I've been working from the past few days. There I will
retrieve my runabout and rejoin you shortly. Assume a position within the
fleet and standby."
    Sortha nodded, "Ssir. Can you tell uss what is going on?"
    Jaegar looked more somber. "Those matters between the Dominion and
Federation I spoke of when you were at Risa...well, they are becoming worse.
I'll explain shortly. Move into position with the fleet. I will be along in
about one hour."
     "Acknowleged," Sortha said. "Fearless out."

END TRANSMISSION
 
Subject: SO: Fearless/Preparing for Battle

Lt. Commander Tyrian M. Summers
USS Fearless
Stardate 9709.14

     Tyrian's eyes widened as the viewscreen lit up with Federation and
Klingon ships, it was a secret fleet!  He did a quick scan.......forty-three
Federation starships and twenty-nine Klingon warships. 
     Admiral Jaegar came on the screen and gave a brief briefing and informed
Captain Sortha that he would be coming on board in an hour.  Tyrian did
scanned the ships and found what he was looking for........the USS
Crazyhorse.  Tyrian's older brother William was a Commander aboard the ship.
 Tyrian probably wouldn't have a chance to communicate with him since there
was ban on all communication except high priority ship to ship coded
messages.  
     The Fearless moved into position among the huge armada of ships and held
its position.  Tyrian's shift ended and he walked into the conference room
behind the bridge and stood in front of the huge windows and just watched the
nearby space filled with ships.  Tyrian was still moved by the sight of
Federation starships.  
=============================================================
Lt. Commander Ki'lal
Stardate 9709.14
Quarters

   Finally, shore leave was over.  Ki'lal spent one day on Risa and it was
the
longest day he'd ever spent.  Too much free love for his taste.  And not
enough violence...  But he had heard the orders and was ready to fight.  
   As soon as he was informed on the plans of the ship he grinned a toothy
Klingon smile.  This is what he had missed.  Granted, he had been tired and
losing some response time, but two days of rest was more than enough.
     And what rest it was, rescuing the two ladies from the Orions!  He did,
however,
hope that Kalahna would recover.  She had shown bravery he had not seen in
her before.  
    So Ki'lal began to prepare mentally for battle.  It was going to be a
long fight, but definitely worth it!

END TRANSMISSION
 
Subject: SO: Fearless/Jaegar Arrives

Captain Sortha
Sickbay
Stardate 9709.17

   During one of the brief moments he had away from the bridge Sortha went
down to sickbay.  It was the nightshift and the bay was dim.  Kalahna was in
a room by herself in a critical care diagnostic bed.  The readouts blipped
forlornly.  
     Sortha stood there awhile lost in thoughts.  Then in an uncommon
humanistic gesture he reached out and with surprising gentleness stroked the
face of his officer with one large finger.
     "Kalahna, my little warrior, a new battle is about to begin, and I want
you serving by my side once again." 
     Sortha said, then looked around sheepishly.  He was spending far too
much time around these humanoids.  No one was around, much to Sortha's
relief.  He decided he would stay just a little longer...
=============================================================
USS Fearless
SIckbay
Stardate 9709.17

    Sortha wasn't sure how long he'd been standing there at Kalahna's bedside
when his comm-badge chimed. About three times after the badge had chirped,
the Gorn finally tapped it in response. "Ssortha here, go ahead."
     "Captain," it was Summers. "Admiral Jaegar's runabout is on final
approach and will be landing in the central hangar bay momentarily."
     "I'm on my way," Sortha said.
=============================================================
Lt. Commander Kalahna Jarnell
Comatose in Sickbay
Stardate 9709.17

   Kalahna's dreams became more vivid.  She relived incidents from her
childhood. Dreams of scavenging for food on war torn Bajor, early memories of
her parents, then images of her friends who had almost all died, one by one
at the hands of the Cardassian scum who had ruled her planet for so many
years.
    She dreamed of the time she had spent at the academy, and then her time
on the Stealth.  She relived her last battle against the Dominion and
Cardassians.  Always the two lights were in her dreams the red one and the
white one.
   The white one was comforting, safe, peaceful, but the red one was harsh
and pulsing.  Still the white one made her uneasy for some reason, perhaps it
was not time for the white light?  She eventually decided and started slowly
moving toward the red light in her dreams.

END TRANSMISSION
 
Subject: SO: Fearless/Admiral Jaegar Arrives

USS Fearless
Hangar Bay One
Stardate 9709.17

   Captain Sortha and Commander Michael Dyer waited near the doors leading
into the hangar bay as Admiral Jaegar's runabout, the Vigilance, descended
over the landing deck and began to lower toward the floor.
   Behind the runabout, the huge bay door began to slide closed. Once the
door was sealed, the containment forcefield was deactivated. Shortly
thereafter the runabout touched down and its engines were turned off.
   A door on the side of the sleek runabout slid open and soon, thereafter
Admiral Erik Jaegar and his three member crew stepped off the small ship and
approached the Fearless' commanding officers.
   "Permission to come aboard," Jaegar asked.
   "Permission granted, sir," Dyer replied with a smile.
   "Well, I see you kept her in one piece this time, Sortha," Jaegar said,
looking around at the Fearless' walls.
   Sortha knew Jaegar wouldn't let him easily forget how the Stealth was
severely damaged on her two missions under Sortha's command before she was
finally decomissioned. Of course the admiral wasn't serious, it was that
typical humanoid trait known as humor.
    "Yess ssir," Sortha replied. "Sshe is a fine sship. Sso, what can you
tell uss about the next misssion?"
    "You don't mince words, do you captain?" Jaegar smiled, slapping Sortha
on the back. "Assemble the command crew at 1700 hours this evening. I will
conduct a briefing at that time."
    "Aye, ssir," Sortha said. "I take it we may ssoon be revissiting
Cardasssian sspace?"
   "That," Jaegar said, moving past Sortha toward the doors, "is one thing
you can count on, Captain Sortha. Sorry I don't have more time right now to
talk, Sortha, but I'll be in my office preparing the mission briefing."
   Once Jaegar was gone, Sortha looked at Dyer and he took note of the
human's grave expression. "Inform the crew of the misssion briefing," Sortha
told Dyer. 
   Dyer nodded and together they fell in step behind jaegar and left the
hangar bay, a sense of forboding hanging in the air...
=============================================================
Lt. Commander Kalahna Jarnell
Sickbay
Stardate 9709.17

   In her mind, Kalahna ran towards the red light, it got closer an closer.
 Finally she reached it and in one last gigantic effort she ran headlong into
it.  In sickbay, she shuddered uncontrollably, ripping diagnoztic scanners
from her body.  She started jerking on the bed violently. 
    Doctor Ming ran in and tried to restrain her but was thrown off by a
powerful jerk from Kalahna.  Her eyes rolled up to the top of her eye sockets
as her muscles rippled uncontrollably from the wave or regained nerve
signals.  Then Captain Sortha was there, running back into the room he had
just left.  
    He grabbed her and squeezed her small body to his, holding her motionless
so she could not hurt herself.  Then Doctor Ming returned with a hypo.  "Can
you hold her, I don't want to deaden the nerves too much" Ming said.
    "Easily" the Captain responded.  Ming gave her a sedative.  After a short
time the jerking stopped, and Kalahna hazily regained consciousness looking
upo into the large reptile face close to hers, "Captain..." then her eyelids
fluttered and she slumped weakly back to the bed unconscious, but only
sleeping.
    Ming scanned her, "Her normal brain activity has resumed, she should wake
up within an hour or so."   Standing awkwardly, the Captain smoothed out his
uniform and said "Keep me informed." then he strode out of the sickbay as
Ming attended to Kalahna.

END TRANSMISSION

Subject: SO: Fearless/Mission Briefing

USS Fearless
Conference Room
Stardate 9709.18

    The entire command staff, minus Kalahna Jarnell, was gathered around the
conference table as Admiral Erik Jaegar, Captain Sortha and Commander Michael
Dyer entered and took their seats. 
    Jaegar immediately cut to the chase, "As you all know, hostilities
between the Federation and this new Cardassian/Dominion alliance have been on
the rise for weeks. Our ships have been disappearing from the space around
Cardassian territory like they are going out of style. The Klingon have
suffered similar losses. There has also been an increased supply route
between the gamma quadrant and Cardassia."
    Jaegar then stiffened in his chair slightly and became very somber,
"Then, this morning, Starfleet Command authorized Captain Bejamin Sisko at
Deep Space Nine to go ahead with a plan to mine the wormhole exit. That plan
is already underway. The Dominion hasn't learned of it yet, but we expect
they will within a few hours. At that point, we expect they will either
attack, or will attack shortly thereafter, once they tried bullying us into
cooperation. Either way we're looking at it, the Federation and Klingon
Empire will likely go to war with the Cardassian/Dominion alliance sometime
in the next 1-3 days."
    The mood around the table was very grim. A war would mean lots of
fighting, lots of destruction and a lot of death. No one wanted to hear this
news, but it was the news Shadow Ops had expected for some time now.
    "I take it this fleet will be on hand to defend DS9 and Bajor when the
time comess?" Captain Sortha asked.
    "Well, no actually," Jaegar said. "Deep Space Nine will be left to fend
for itself. We fully expect a major armed response against the station
shortly after we refuse to withdraw our mines."
    "Even a station as heavily armed as DS9 can't withstand the kind of fire
power the Dominion and Cardassians will be able to muster," Dyer said.
    "I know. The expected response to our minefield should set off a chain of
events as follows...First, a large Cardassian and Dominion strike force will
be detected en route to the station. At that time, several things will
happen. First, Captain Sisko will advise the Bajoran government to accept a
non-aggression pact with the Dominion. Secondly, all Starfleet and Klingon
personnel will be evacuated from the station. Once the mining operation is
complete, the Defiant and General Martok's ship will depart DS9 and return to
Federation space. The Bajorans will likely hand over DS9 to the Dominion and
Cardassians, but the non-aggression pact should keep the Cardassians and
Dominion from taking Bajor."
    "But we're not that far," Vehakra Rhikal said. "We could be there in time
to stop them."
    "I realize that, but Starfleet Command has a different plan in mind. The
attack on DS9 will be a diversion for the Cardassian/Dominon fleet. A vast
amount of resources will be in use to capture the station and secure the
wormhole. While all those forces are diverted outside Cardassian space, our
fleet will cross into their territory and attack the Dominion shipyards
orbiting Deveron IV. With the number of active ships there expected to be
few, we should to be able to attack and destroy the shipyards, and return to
Federation space before they can respond."
     "That would be quite a blow to the Cardasssianss and Dominion. Those
sshipyards are crucial for building more sshipss and refitting exissting
Cardasssian sships with Dominion technology," Sortha said. "It would be
beneficial to uss."
     "It would mean sacrificing Deep Space Nine, but that is a trade off
we're willing to make," Jaegar explained. "We will strike a major blow with
the destruction of the shipyards."
     "So where do we fit into all this, sir?"  Dyer asked.
     "We expect to have three Shadow Ops ships here as part of the attack
force. The Fearless will be acting as the Shadow Ops and Starfleet
Intelligence command center for the strike force. The Avenger and the Repulse
will be used for additonal objectives during the attack on the shipyards.
This is a perfect opportunity to pull off some covert ops in the midst of the
attack, so that's why we're along.
     "Your mission will be to enter Cardassian space several hours before
this fleet does," Jaegar said. "You will proceed to the Dominion shipyards
orbiting Deveron IV. We have a two-fold mission for your team.
      "The ships yards may not be guarded by many Dominion and Cardassian
ships at this time, but they have many of their own defenses. One of which is
a sophisticated shield grid around the perimeter of the shipyards. The
shipyard is a network of 14 orbital berths, located close to a central space
station. The central station is capable of generating a powerful shield
around the shipyard, making an attack difficult. We would first have to pound
through their defenses until we weakened it enough to get in close and
destroy the shipyards. By that time, we figure more than half the fleet would
be lost. But with the shields down, we should be able to complete the attack
with a minimal amount of damage.
    "You will infiltrate these shipyards with two strikes teams. One strike
team will beam on to the main station, a Cardassian space station called
Rendok Nor, and disable the shield generator, thus leaving the shipyards
unprotected. As long as the station hasn't been alerted to our impending
attack, the shields should be down, allowing you to get in close enough to
transport aboard. If they have the shields up when you arrive, there may be
little you can do. Neither objective can be completed if your ships can't get
close enough to transport the teams aboard. So the shield is of primary
concern.
     "While the first strike team disables the shields, a second strike team
from the Fearless will board one of the orbital construction berths to
download technical data on this..." Jaegar tapped a button on the table in
front of him and a holographic image of a Dominion warship appeared floating
above the table. "This is an experimental Dominion attack ship. It is under
construction in orbital berth 12-A. We heard about it through several
intelligence sources within the Cardassian Empire. It incorporates Dominion
and Cardassian technology, the first ever merging of alpha and gamma quadrant
technology. This ship could help us a long way in figuring out how to adapt
Dominion technology to our own. That is why we need the technical data, or,
if possible, we need the ship stolen and returned to Federation space.
   "Keep in mind, throughout this mission, the joint Starfleet/Klingon attack
force will be on its way. Once your teams arrive and reach their targets,
you'll each have approximately one hour to complete your tasks. After an hour
our fleet will arrive and our objective will be to destroy everything -- from
Rendok Nor to the orbital construction bays. So try to not be in the line of
fire.
    "Since Fearless will remain with the fleet, you'll all be taking
alternative sources of transportation," Jaegar continued. "One team will take
my personal runabout, the Vigilance. Our Klingon friends recently helped us
develop a small cloaking device, which has been fitted aboard the Vigilance,
making her the first runabout ever to have cloaking ability. 
     "The other team will be transported to the shipyards aboard a cloaked
Klingon Bird of Prey, the Vok'tah. Her commanding officer, a Klingon named
Varalis, has been ordered to assist in the raid however we see fit. She is at
our disposal."
    Ki'lal stirred in his chair, "Captain Varalis...is a she."
    "You are quite right, commander," Jaegar said. "And *she* has been most
cooperative so far. The Vok'tar has a crew of 21 aboard and Varalis has
indicated several of her officers will be made available if needed for the
mission. I'll leave it up to Captain Sortha who will be on each team and
which team will use the runabout and which will go with the Klingons.
    "I am open for questions," Jaegar concluded, looking around at the
team...

END TRANSMISSION

Subject: SO: Fearless/Sortha's Orders

Fearless:
Captain: Sortha
Commander Dyer: Emergency Extraction Team, 20 Security
Tactical: Lieutenant Commander Kalahna Jarnell (if fit for duty)

Vigilance:
Mission: Steal the ship in 12-A, or at least download all technical specifications.
Commanding Officer: Lieutenant Commander Tyrian Summers
Team: Lieutenant Commander Rhikal, Lieutenant Sholek, Lieutenant Aries, Lieutenant Brynaziir, 3 Engineers (1 Lt, 2 Ensigns), 3 Security (3 Ensigns)
Starfleet/Dominion personal cloaks 

Vok'tar: 
Mission: Destroy the shipyard shield generator (by any and all means necessary)
Commanding Officer: Lieutenant Commander Ki'lal
Team: Lieutenant Regnigh, 3 Security (3 Ensigns), 5 Klingon crew
Starfleet/Dominion Personal Cloaks

Mission Heads should specify their team member compositions, skills, and
equipment.

Report infiltration method, objective neutralization details, and extraction
details to Captain Sortha by 9708.20  2000 hours.

All hands, Rig Fearless for Extended Battle, this is not a drill!

END TRANSMISSION

Subject: SO: Fearless/Mission Briefing Concludes

Lt. Sholek
Staff Briefing
Stardate 9709.18

	"Why don't we destroy the wormhole instead of mining it?" asked the usually silent Sholek. "It would halt the Dominion's progress. The benifits would outway the cost considerably. We could then take out Cardasia and totally end the Dominion threat, at least for the over seventy years it would take for
them to get here without the wormhole."
=============================================================
Admiral Erik Jaegar
Conference Room
Stardate 9709.19

    Jaegar considered Sholek and then formed an answer, "DS9 recently tried
to collapse the wormhole, when the Dominion fleet arrived to support Dukat's
takeover of Cardassian space, but a Changeling infiltrator sabotaged the
effort and made the wormhole even more stable instead.
    "The only other way such a feat could be accomplished is to detonate some
kind of highly explosive device inside the wormhole. But that would kill the
wormhole aliens...the beings the Bajorans call the Prophets. We cannot doom
an entire race to extinction just because we want to stop the Dominion. It's
not that easy, lieutenant."
    Jaegar then looked for more questions, and saw Ki'lal looking at him
intently...
=============================================================
Lt. Commander Ki'lal
Briefing Room
Stardate 9708.19

   "Admiral Jaegar, sir," the Klingon said.
   "Yes, commander."
   "Are there any security measures you want taken care of before the battle
begins?  I can address them ASAP." 
=============================================================
Admiral Erik Jaegar
Conference Room
Stardate 9709.19

    "Just make sure the ship is secure and that security forces are ready to
repel any boarding parties we may encounter if the ship is damaged or
crippled during the raid," Jaegar said. "Otherwise, concentrate on
preparations for the upcoming mission."
    Noting there were no more questions, Jaegar dismissed the crew. "I'll be
in my office if I'm needed," he said before departing.
    As the room began to clear, the comm-line to the conference room chimed.
"Ming to Sortha."
    "Sortha here," the Gorn captain said, several of the officers still in
the room turning to look to their commander, realizing this could be
information about Kalahna.
    "Captain, I'm pleased to report that Lt. Commander Kalahna is conscious
and fully responsive. She's going to be alright."
    Sortha tried not to show his pleasure at hearing those words, but
everyone around him could sense the weight lifting from his broad chest.
    "That is good newss Dr. Ming. I will be along sshortly to check on her,"
Sortha said. "Thank you."
=============================================================
Lt. Commander Kalahna Jarnell
Sickbay
Stardate 9709.19

   Kalahna was sitting up in bed, gulping down food.  "Man I am hungry she
said slurping down a third bowl of soup.  How long was I out?"
    Ming responded, "You were unconscious for 3 days, it was touch and go for
awhile."
    "Did Veh get out okay?" Kalahna asked.  
    "Yes, she is okay" Ming responded.
    Putting her nose down to her body, Kalahna made a face "boy am I ripe!  I
need a shower."  
     After eating a foutrth bowl of soup, Ming helped her to a sickbay
shower.  Kalahna was a little shaky but was recovering quickly.  After Ming
left she took off her medical gown and examined her body.  There was no scar
on her head, Ming was a friendly surgeon as well as a good one. 
     Then she checked her back, it still had signs of regeneration
applications.  After several more treatments it should be smooth as normal
Kalahna thought. Stepping into the shower and letting the water spray her
from four directions Kalahna just stood there enjoying the sensation of being
clean and being able to stand on her own feet again.  

END TRANSMISSION

Subject: SO: Fearless/Recovery

Lt. Commander Vehakra Rhikal
Sick Bay
Stardate 9709.20

    Vehakra Rhikal wasted no time after the staff meeting in getting down to
sick bay. She was overjoyed to hear that Kalahna was conscious and recovering
well. It was the best news she'd heard in days.
    When the Orion security officer entered sick bay, she saw the Bajoran
woman sitting up on the edge of her bed while Dr. Cassandra Ming examined her
wounds and checked her vitals. Her back was to Veh as she entered the room.
    "Well, it looks like you have company," Ming told Kalahna as she finished
checking her out.
    Kalahna turned and saw Vehakra standing a few feet behind her. The Orion
smiled when she saw her Bajoran friend. "You look like Hell, Kalahna," Veh
smiled, a tear in her eye.
    "Lot better than you did down on that beach," Kalahna responded. "I'm
glad to see you're alright."
    "Me?" Vehakra asked, moving toward her friend. "I'm just glad you're
still with us. You shouldn't have stuck your neck out like that for me...but
I can't tell you how much I appreciate what you did."
    Vehakra then carefully put her arms around Kalahna and hugged her, "I
don't know how I can ever thank you for what you did...you saved my life."
    She then waited for Kalahna to respond...

END TRANSMISSION

Subject: SO: Fearless/After the Briefing

Lt. Commander Tyrian M. Summers
USS Fearless
Stardate 9702.22

     Tyrian went to his quarters and hit his computer terminal.  He sent
messages to all his individual team members to meet him in the docking bay
onboard the Vigilance at 1800 hours. He would assign duties for the upcoming
mission and get their input on the mission.
=============================================================
Lt. Commander Kalahna Jarnell
Sickbay
Stardate 9709.21

   Kalahna hugged Veh back warmly.  She was a little surprised that the Orion
security officer was being so emotional but she appreciated it anyways. 
   "Well I couldn't let those creeps have their way with yoiu now could I?"
Kalahna said smiling. "We girls have to stick together.  Tell you what, if
you help me escape outta sickbay and to the lounge for a hot fudge sundae
we'll call it even!   Then I'll need some exercise to get back into shape for
the next mission!  Three days on my back sleeping has taken my edge off." 

END TRANSMISSION

Subject: SO: Fearless/Ready to Depart

FROM THE GM: All of you will have time to begin planning at this point. I
will leave it up the the team commanders (Summers and Ki'lal) to post their
team's departure for Cardassian space so I'm not rushing you. The trip to
Deveron will take 6 hours, so you can plan on the way or plan before you
leave the Fearless...
=============================================================
USS Fearless
Sickbay
Stardate 9709.23

   Dr. Cassandra Ming approached Kalahna Jarnell, who was sitting on the edge
of her bed. Kalahna was looking much better than she had only a short time
earlier. Now out of the coma, she was healing rapidly with the help of Ming's
medical equipment.
    "Well Doc, what's the word?" Kalahna asked.
    "I'd personally like to keep you a couple more days, so you can rest and
recuperate," Ming said. "But the captain needs you on the bridge as soon as
you are well enough. I'm placing you on restricted duty. You will be unable
to participate in the Away mission, but Captain Sortha says he has a place
for you on the bridge during the mission, with him and Commander Dyer. So
that's where I expect you to be. I'll be checking on you to see if you're
OK."
    "Yes ma'am," Kalahna said, getting up off the bed. "So am I free to go."
    "You are, commander. Try to stay out of trouble," Ming said, handing
Kalahna a fresh uniform...

Bridge
Stardate 9709.23

   "Captain," Jonathan Regnigh reported from tactical. "Klingon Bird of Prey
decloaking off our port bow. It's the Vok'tah, and she's hailing us."
   Sortha turned toward the viewscreen, "On sscreen."
   The face and upper body of a stunning Klingon woman appeared on the
viewer. She was dressed in Klingon armor, but she still managed to look very
feminine and attractive. Her piercing green eyes surveyed the bridge and
locked on Sortha.
   The Gorn couldn't help but surmize that this woman was probably a very
strong and brave warrior, one he wouldn't mind engaging in combat someday.
She would prove to be a worth opponent indeed.
   "This is Captain Varalis of the Klingon Imperial Bird of Prey Vok'tah,"
she said proudly. "I have been assigned to work with member of your crew."
   "I am Captain Ssortha of the USSss Fearlesss," Sortha replied, equally as
proud. "Stand by to receive five members of my crew."
   "Standing by,' captain," Varalis said with a faint smile. "Vok'tah
out...and Captain," she suddenly added as an afterthought. "Qaplah!"
   "Qaplah!" Sortha replied. The viewer then reverted back to an image of the
Bird of Prey hovering outside the Fearless.
   "Ki'lal, Regnigh," Sortha said. "Gather your three ssecurity officerss.
Your ride iss here. Ssummerss. Collect your team as well. It iss time."

END TRANSMISSION

Subject: SO: Fearless/Vigilance 

Lt. Jonathan Regnigh
USS Fearless
Stardate 9709.24

   Regnigh smiled to himself on his way to his quarters. A Klingon ship. It
would be like old times. Regnigh was fascinated by Klingons. Just as he was
the Middle Ages. Knights and Kings. Jousting and great wars fought with
swords and daggers.
   The Klingon societry was a perfect merging of technology and mele weapons.
Regnigh pulled the klingon dagger honorarily presented to him by the High
council. As far as Regnigh knew a Klingon dagger in a human's hands was
dishonorable. So he was presented with one. And Varalis... this would be
interesting. He wondered if she would remember him... then he was off to meet
Ki'lal.
=============================================================
Lt. Commander Vehakra Rhikal
USS Fearless
Stardate 9709.24

    Vehakra Rhikal, dressed in her skin-tight black commando uniform, stepped
off the turbo-lift into the main shuttle bay of the Fearless. Admiral
Jaegar's runabout sat in the center of the bay and several officers dressed
like Vehakra had gathered around.
    She was looking forward to this mission. It was the first time she'd gone
on a covert op since serving on the Avenger. Considering what happened on
Risa, Veh needed something to take her mind off matters...and jumping into
the thick of things would help.
    When she reached the group of officers assembled outside the Vigilance,
Vehakra set down her duffle bag, containing her personal gear, and she waited
for Tyrian Summers to begin his mission briefing.
=============================================================
Lt. Commander Tyrian M. Summers
USS Fearless (Docking Bay)
Stardate 9709.24

     Tyrian had assembled his strike team and was waiting outside the
Vigilance.  He went over his PADD one last time and then addressed his team:
 "As you know we will be taking Admirals personal runabout here, the
Vigilance.  The ship has cloaking capabilities, which is how we will get to
the prototype ship in slot 12-A.  We will be split into two teams, one to
download specifications, and the other to steal the ship.  Team One will
include myself, Lt. Aries, Lt. Harrah (engineering NPC), Ensign Smith
(engineering NPC), Ensign Shultz (Security NPC), Ensign Renalt (Security
NPC).  Our mission will be to figure out how to operate the ship and get it
out of the area without being boarded and killed.  Simple.
    Team Two will be headed by Lt. Commander Rhikal and includes Lt. Sholek,
Lt. Brynaziir, Ensign Reynolds (engineering NPC), and Ensign Bonata (Security
NPC).  Your mission will be to beam over with us and attempt to extract the
necessary files directly from the computer core without setting off any
alarms.  Then you are to beam off before Team One attempts to activate the
ship and escape with it, so if Team One fails, you still have the plans to
take to Starfleet Intellegence.  We will be taking all normal Shadow
Operations equipment including body armor and we also have Starfleet/Dominion
personal cloaks   Any questions?"

END TRANSMISSION

Subject: SO: Fearless/Final Planning

Klingon Imperial Bird of Prey Vok'tar
Off the Fearless' port bow
Stardate 9709.25

   Ki'lal and Jonathan Regnigh, along with their team from the Fearless,
energized in the transporter room of the Klingon Bird of Prey, Vok'tar. They
were greeeted by Captain Varalis and two male Klingons who appeared to be her
executive officers.
   "Welcome aboard," Varalis said, her voice friendly and inviting for a
Klingon. "You must be Lt. Commander Ki'lal. I was unaware there were other
Klingons serving in Starfleet other than Lt. Commander Worf. It is an honor."
    Ki'lal nodded, "The honor is ours, captain. Allow me to introduce Lt.
Jonathan Regnigh and the rest of our team." Ki'lal finished the introductions
as the team filed off the transporter pad and Varalis got around to Regnigh
last.
    "Jonathan. I see you are well," Varalis said, shaking Regnigh's hand. "We
must find time to discuss old times."
    Regnigh nodded, "By all means."
    Ki'lal shot Regnigh a surprised look and returned his attention to
Varalis as she introduced her senior officers.
    "This is my first officer, Commander By'chek, and my security officer,
Katal," Varalis said, introducing the two, stern faced Klingons.
    "We are honored to fight beside you," By'chek said in a deep voice.
    "As are we," Ki'lal began, "honored to serve beside you."
    Varalis motioned for the team to follow. "The Fearless is downloading all
tactical data on our objective to the main computer right now. If you'd like
to use our conference room, we can begin planning. I'd like to know what we
are doing before we leave for Cardassian space. By'chek will serve as mission
commander for our team that will be joining you."
    "Let's begin," Ki'lal replied. The group then filed out of the
transporter room and headed off for the conference room, Ki'lal still looking
at Regnigh quizzically after his exchange with Varalis. There was indeed a
story there to be told...
=============================================================
Lt. Commander Ki'lal
On way to Cardassia/Vok'tar
Stardate 9708.25

   "Is everyone here?" said Ki'lal.  
   "Aye, sir," replied Regnigh, the second in command for this mission.
   "Excellent," Ki'lal said as he looked over the nine men and women.  He knew
that at least 4 of them probably would die, but that would be the price to be
paid, for it was wartime.  Ki'lal hit a button on the briefing table and a
holographic globe of Deveron III began to float above the table, while a
network of orbital platforms were visible above the planet.
     "We will take our craft to a safe place to transport, and will transport
to the space station, Rendok Nor, where we will disable the shield generator,
allowing the fleet to attack the Dominion shipyards.  I want one Starfleet
officer to stay on board and coordinate the space-to-ground communications
with the Klingon communications chief.  Bachek, you'll be the one to stay
aboard."
   The Bajoran nodded.
   "The rest of us will infiltrate the station, armed with Type III phaser
rifles, a side arm phaser, and each will have 3 super-charges that I have
personally designed for this mission.  We will transport to the site
highlighted on the station," Ki'lal continued.
    As he said this a map appeared on the screen on the wall.  "We will
follow the path highlighted.  Intelligence says that the halls and airducts
we will traverse have the least amount of men.  We should be able to get in
and out unnoticed.  However, if we run into problems, shoot to kill. This is
war ladies and gentlemen.  Any questions?"
   Ki'lal again looked over Ensign Gaelon, the human, Bachek,the Bajoran, and
Lojhvel, the Betazed, all fine officers.  He was filled with pride and said
to the entire group, loudly and proudly, "Today is a good day to die,
Qa'plagh!  And as a human once said to me, 'let's kick some ass!'"
=============================================================
Lt. Commander Vehakra Rhikal
Hangar Bay
Stardate 9709.25

    Vehakra shuddered. The mission she'd been assigned was similar to the one
her team aboard the Avenger had failed to accomplish several months ago. The
only difference is it was a space station in the Romulan Empire she and her
team had been sent to steal information from.
     It was also there she endured several hours of torture at the hands of
Sela, the half-Romulan daughter of the late Lt. Tasha Yar. Fortunately her
teammates rescued her before aborting the ill-fated mission, but the memory
of her time in captivity was still with her months later.
    She focused her mind and began to formulate some ideas.
    "Sholek and Brynaziir, you're both our computer hackers. Make sure you
have the appropriate equipment for this job. Also, brush up on all technical
specs for Cardassian and Dominion computer technology...we have no idea what
kind of technology we'll be encountering in berth 12-A," Vehakra said.
    With no further questions being asked, Summers ordered the team aboard
the customized Runabout.

END TRANSMISSION
    
Subject: SO: Fearless/Strike Teams Depart

Lt. Commander Tyrian M. Summers
Onboard Vigilance in USS Fearless hanger
Stardate 9709.25

     As soon as all the strike team had loaded their equipment and themselves
on board the runabout, the doors slid shut.  The engines roared to life as
Lt. Harrah hit the controls and piloted the ship out the Fearless' bay
doors.
    The runabout moved around to the front of the Fearless where the klingon
bird of prey, the Vok'tar, was holding position.  The small ship was dwarfed
by the USS Fearless. 
    Tyrian turned to the pilot, "Lt. Harrah, open a channel to the Vok'tar."
 A few seconds later a klingon appeared on the view screen, introducing
himself as Commander By'check, first officer of the bird of prey." 
   Tyrian replied, "Greetings commander, I am Lt. Commander Summers, my team
is ready we will follow you into the shipyards so that our teams can operate
at the same time.  Please signal us when you are ready to depart."  The
klingon nodded and the image dissappered.  "Lt. Harrah, hold position until
we recieve word from the Vok'tar."  
     Tyrian sat back in his chair and went over his PADD containing all
intellegence on the shipyards, he had already memorized it, but he wanted to
review it again.  He had never used the new personal cloaks yet, and wondered
how they would work against the possible Jem'hadar soldiers that may be on
board the ship.  
    Lt. Commander Rhikal was in the back going over last minute plans with
her half of the team, she was a competent officer and Tyrian had faith in her
abilities.
=============================================================
Vok'tar
Bridge
Stardate 9709.26

   Captain Varalis sat in her command chair at the center of the dimly lit
bridge of the Klingon Bird of Prey. When the ship was ready, she opened a
channel to the Fearless and the Vigilance. 
   "This is the Vok'tar. We are ready to depart," she said.
   "Thisss iss Captain Ssortha," the Gorn replied. "Good luck and...Qaplha."
   Varalis smiled and nodded to Sortha, "Qaplha. Vok'tar to Vigilance.
Prepare to depart."
    Shortly thereafter, the Bird of Prey and Federation runabout soared away
from the fleet and cloaked. They were on their way to Cardassian space and
the ship yards at Deveron...

END TRANSMISSION

Subject: SO: Correction

FROM THE GM: After watching the repeat of the DS9 episode "Call to Arms" I've
learned that the shipyards you are going to attack aren't orbiting a planet
called Deveron III...its Taurus III.

Subject: SO: Fearless/En Route

Lt. Commander Kalahna Jarnell
Bridge
Stardate 9709.28

   Kalahna manned her station at tactical and watched the ships depart the
fleet.  She was somewhat jealous, she would have liked to have been able to
blown something up on the Cardassian station, but she knew the fleet would be
in action soon enough.  She thought happily about firing the Fearless's
weaponry on the Cardassians and vaporizing them.
=============================================================
Lt. Commander Vehakra Rhikal
Aboard the Vigilance
Stardate 9709.28

   Vehakra was in the crew compartment of the runabout with Thoraz Brynaziir,
Sholek, Reynolds and Bonata. She had presented each officer with a PADD
containing all information Starfleet Intelligence could provide regarding the
shipyards at Taurus III.
    Her team's mission would be the beam aboard construction berth 12-A
undetected and download all information in the berth's computer banks
regarding the Cardassian/Dominion hybrid vessel they had been sent to steal.
The mission was similar to the ill-fated mission she'd been a part of aboard
the Avenger when her team boarded a Romulan spacedock to find out what they
were building. While that mission failed, much of their plan for getting in
and moving around the station had been successful. It was that plan she was
now going to proceed with.
    "First, when we are within sensor range, we need to locate a place within
the construction berth where we can beam in without being detected. Once we
are there, we'll need to gain access to the spacedock's security system. Once
we have done that Brynaziir will hack into the computer and he'll become our
eyes and ears.
    "Thoraz, you'll figure out the best route for us to take to the computer
core. You'll have to make sure all sensor grids and other security devices
are disabled so we can make it to the core. This means you'll probably be in
a stationary location, tapped into the computer system."
    Reynolds frowned and raised his hand. "Commander, why not just tap into
the computer system the first chance we get and download the data on that ship?"
    "Unless the Dominion is being incredibly foolish, that kind of sensitive
data will be accessible in only two places: the command center and the
computer core directly. If it could be accessed from any computer console or
ODN junction on the spacedock, anyone could beam in and do what we're trying
to do quite easily," Vehakra said.
    "Yeah, but it won't be easy," Reynolds said. "That information is going
to be heavily protected in the computer. And we don't know a lot about
Dominion computer programming."
    Vehakra nodded, "I'm confident Sholek will be able to hack their computer
system. Which by the way, that's going to be your job Sholek. Once we reach
the computer core you'll hack the system and once you have, we'll establish a
link with the Vigilance and upload the data."
    "What about the rest of us?" Bonata asked.
    "Reynolds will work with Sholek. Assist him with whatever needs to be
done," Vehakra explained. "I'll be covering Reynolds and Sholek while they
work. And Bonata, I'm leaving you to protect Brynaziir while he's tapped into
the security system. Brynaziir, your role in this is of the utmost
importance. Even though we'll be leaving you at the first computer junction
we find that is in an out of the way place, you'll be monitoring station
security to make sure we aren't detected. You are going to have to be one
step ahead of us at all times.
    "Contained on the PADDs I've given you are not only all the known
information about the construction berths, but also everything we know about
Dominion computer technology. Familiarize yourselves with this data,
especially Sholek and Brynaziir, you'll need to know your way around a
Dominion computer system real soon," Vehakra said. "Are there any questions?"

END TRANSMISSION

Subject: SO: Fearless/So It Begins

Lt. Commander Tyrian M. Summers
Onboard Runabout Vigilance
Stardate 9709.28

     The small cloaked runabout trailed behind the cloaked Bird of Prey
speeding through Cardassian space.  Tyrian had sent their last transmission
to the Bird of Prey about an hour ago, before the communication blackout,
just to ensure that the Dominion or Cardassians could not pick up anything
and be forewarned of their coming.
     This would be an important mission Tyrian knew, getting ahold of
information or the actual ship would be a great help in the coming war.  The
crew on the Bird of Prey had an important mission as well, if they failed to
disable the shipyard's shields, many people would die attacking it.
     Tyrian had his plan finalized.  They would beam directly to the bridge
of the prototype ship and disable any personnel up there before they could
sound any alarm and then secure the bridge.  From there, they would attempt
to disable any communications from any terminal onboard the ship so the
remaining Jem'Hadar or Cardassians onboard could not call for help.
     Then the engineers would remain on the bridge and work on figuring out
basic flying controls and if possible, weapons, while Tyrian and the rest of
the team would clear out the rest of the ship.  As soon as team two signaled
that they had the technical data, Tyrian's team would attempt the escape from
the facility.
     A little while later, Lt. Harrah turned to Tyrian and said:  "Sir, we
have the shipyards on long range scanners."  Tyrian looked down at the
display, and said, "We're in luck, the shields are down."   Tyrian started to
scan the Dominion/Cardassian ship and see if he could learn any more that was
not in the Starfleet report.  He turned said to the crew, "We will be beaming
down shortly, be prepared."
=============================================================
Lt. Commander Vehakra Rhikal
Vigilance
Stardate 9709.29

   Vehakra, finished with her mission briefing, headed up to the cockpit of
the runabout. There, Tyrian and one of the pilots were busy manuvering the
cloaked ship through Cardassian space.
    "My team is briefed," she told Summers as she sat down behind him. "When
we reach the shipyards we'll need to find an isolated spot in the spacedock
for us to beam into. I'm then going to put Brynaziir to work cracking the
construction berth's security so we can move around undetected. The rest of
my team will go after the data while Thoraz takes care of the security
system."
    Tyrian nodded, his mind obviously elsewhere.
    Vehakra sighed and looked out the windows at the stars streaking by, "So,
Tyrian, how do you feel about the prospect of going to war?"
(TO SUMMERS: feel free to join in...)
=============================================================
Bird of Prey Vok'tar
In Cardassian space
Stardate 9709.29

   Captain Varalis entered the briefing room where she normally met with her
senior officers. The room had been literlly taken over by the Starfleet team
which now occupied it, using it as a place to eat, relax and research the
coming mission.
    "We are nearing the Taurus system," the attractive Klingon woman told
Ki'lal and Regnigh. "Are the warriors I provided you adequate for the
mission?"
    Ki'lal nodded, "They are great warriors. It shall be an honor to include
them as part of our team."
    Varalis gave the Klingon a nod of satisfaction, then turned to Regnigh.
"Lieutenant, I would like to speak with you...alone."
    Ki'lal gave Regnigh another quizzical look, but the tall human ignored
him and followed Varalis into the corridor outside the briefing room. Once
they were alone, Varalis grabbed Regnigh and pushed him against the wall with
great force.
    "How long were you going to be aboard my ship and not acknowledge me,
Jonathan? Or have you forgotten after all this time?"

=============================================================
USS Fearless
With the Fleet
Stardate 9709.29

   Captain Sortha sat in his oversized command chair on the bridge of the
Fearless reading over reports when the turbo-lift doors slid open and Admiral
Erik Jaegar stepped on to the bridge.
    Jaegar crossed to the chair beside Sortha and was seated. Both Sortha and
Commander Dyer noticed to look of concern on Jaegar's face as he was seated.
    "Gentlemen," Jaegar began. "Five minutes ago, Deep Space Nine reported
that a Dominion/Cardassian fleet numbering close to one hundred vessels was
detected in Cardassian space heading directly toward them. They will engage
DS9 in less than an hour."
    Sortha nodded, "Then it iss war."
    "Yes, captain, I'm afraid so," Jaegar said.
    "Captain," Lt. Commander Kalahna reported from tactical. "Incoming
message from the USS Venture. The fleet is to assume formation and lay in a
course immediately for the shipyards at Taurus III, warp 8."
    Dyer looked at Sortha and then stood. He glanced across the bridge to Lt.
Nash at the helm controls, "Lieutenant. Take us into formation and prepare to
move out."

END TRANSMISSION

Subject: SO: Fearless/Arrival at Taurus

Lt. Jonathan Regnigh
Vok'tar
Stardate 9709.30

   Ki'lal gave Regnigh another quizzical look, but the tall human ignored him
and followed Varalis into the corridor outside the briefing room. Once they
were alone, Varalis grabbed Regnigh and pushed him against the wall with
great force.
    "How long were you going to be aboard my ship and not acknowledge me,
Jonathan? Or have you forgotten after all this time?" 

	Regnigh forgot how powerful she was. She pushed him against the wall rather easily, though he wondered if he actually wanted her to. He looked into her eyes and found it a bit hard to speak.
	"I thought it would be best to keep the mission the first thing on my mind." He replied.
	She looked at him and gave a bit of a growl. "Always the consumate warrior eh? You know that's what I always loved about you Jonathan... "
	He looked her in the eyes and wondered why he couldn't go further. Why
couldn't he do what his instincts told him to? He shook off his inhibitions
and leaned forward to kiss her...
=============================================================
Captain Varalis
Vok'tar
Stardate 9709.30

   Varalis grabbed the back of Regnigh's head with her hand and forced her
lips against him. After a long kiss, she brought her hand back around the
side of his face and pulled her long nails across his cheek.
   Regnigh winced in pain and gasp slightly at the pain. He started to pull
his head away from her, but remembered this was her way...the Klingon way.
And at times, fooling around with a Klingon could be painful.
   "Watch it," he said, feeling the side of his face. He checked his hand and
noticed a little blood from where she'd scratched him. "How am I going to
explain this?"
   "This is certainly not the Jonathan I remember," Varalis said with a
mischevious grin. "Being back among humans must have softened you some.
Perhaps when this mission is over, we can find out if any of the old Regnigh
still exists."
    Regnigh went to say something more, but a klaxon of some kind sounded
throughout the corridor. "Captain Varalis. You are needed on the bridge."
    "I am on my way," she replied. "I will see you later, Jonathan." With
that, the tempting Klingon turned and walked away.
=============================================================
Vok'tar and Vigilance
Entering the Taurus System
Stardate 9709.30

   The two cloaked ships slipped through a Cardassian sensor grid with little
trouble and then the two split off from one another. The runabout was on
course for the orbital dockyard where the prototype Cardassian/Dominion ship
was being built, while the Bird of Prey diverted toward the Cardassian space
station at the center of the shipyard...a station known as Rendok Nor.
    Once in position over their prospective targets, the two ships went to work.
    On the Vok'tar, Captain Varalis signalled the Shadow Ops team and the
five warriors she had assigned to work with them: Baylar, son of Koros;
Koltal, son of Gerkal; Khatak, son of Mehbahk; Vixis, daughter of Kuraal; and
K'Dar, son of Voroth.
    "We have arrived," she informed Ki'lal and Regnigh. "Report to the
transporter room and prepare for transport. May Kahless guide you."
=============================================================
Lt. Commander Ki'lal
Stardate 9709.30
Transporter room of the Vok'tar

   Ki'lal and Regnigh stood in front of the five Klingon warriors and the
three security ensigns, whom Ki'lal considered to be warriors as well.  A
speech would be in order here, thought the Klingon.
   "Warriors," Ki'lal said, thinking it was appropriate, "we have discussed
our game plan, we have all of our equipment, but there is one more thing we must bring, our hearts.  Our hearts must be in this battle at all times. Our
hearts provide us with strength, courage, and honor.  We fight for a good cause, remember that.  This is not a meaningless battle, if we succeed it will be a great day for the Klingons and the Federation.  So, let's get ready, ready to..." 
   "Sir," said a bridge officer over the comm badge, "we are within
transporter range of the station."
   "Thank you," Ki'lal said as he tapped the badge.  "Everyone, I need a go
or no-go."
   Each warrior said "go!", and when they had all finished, Ki'lal said,
   "Qa'plah!  Energize!" and the team dematerialized from the transporter
pad.

END TRANSMISSION

Subject: SO: Fearless/The Spacedock

Captain Sortha
Bridge
Stardate 9710.01

   So it was war Sortha thought to himself.  It was about time!  Some enemies
just could not be bargained with, and the Dominion was one of those.  The
JemHadar were worthy adversaries, but they lacked the autonomy and creativity
to be dangerous by themselves. 
    For that they relied on the Vorta.  The Vorta were at heart cowards, so
ultimately Starfleet and their Alpha quadrant allies would find a weakness
and exploit it.  These humans could be viscious fighters if provoked, and
they procreated at a rapid rate.   Starfleet had devoted lots of resources to
exploration in the past as well.
   Now that they were building purpose built warships they were coming up
with some nice ship designs indeed.  And the Jem Hadar were not expecting a
phased cloak either. Sortha had plans on how to best introduce them to that!
 He stared ahead at the starfield as they sped toward the Taurus system.
 Yes, they would soon come to know the Fearless! 
=============================================================
Lt. Tyrian M. Summers
Onboard Vigilance
Stardate 9710.01

     Vehakra was sitting next to Tyrian when she asked, "So Tyrian, how do
feel about the prospect of going to war?"  Tyrian paused before he answered.
     Then finally turned to her and said, "Well, the Dominion is a force that
will dominate as many worlds and people as they can, controlling as much as
possible.  They must be stopped..........now.  With the Federation and
Klingon combined fleets, we have a good shot at winning and sending them back
to the Gamma Quadrant with their tails between their legs.  The Jem'Hadar are
worthless beings, blindly following orders given to them by the Founders, who
have no regard for life other than their own.  I hold a severe grudge against
the Founders and the Jem'Hadar for the senseless death of my father.  He was
serving on the USS Odyssey when it was destroyed during the first major
conflict against the Dominion.  They were simply on a rescue mission and the
Jem'Hadar rammed the wounded ship, destroying it and killing all hands.  I
will not be truly at piece until the Founders are defenseless and the
Jem'Hadar are extinct.  I will happily fight in this war every waking moment,
until it is over, or I am dead."  
     Tyrian looked down at the panel and then tapped a key.........the
picture of a high tech looking Jem'Hadar type warship appeared
onscreen.......it was time.
=============================================================
Lt. Commander Vehakra Rhikal
Vigilance
Stardate 9710.01

   Vehakra felt the pain in Tyrian's words. He had a real axe to grind with
the Dominion for the death of his father. She hoped in the back of her mind
that it wouldn't cloud his judgement when it came time to do battle with the
Jem'Hadar.
    After Summers announced that the Vigilance had arrived at the spacedock,
Vehakra began running passive sensor sweeps of the construction berth the
prototype ship was docked in.
    Within several minutes, Veh had pinpointed a section of the spacedock
facility where there were no Cardassians, Jem'Hadar or other signs of life.
It was a maintenance section of the spacedock, one used for access to a
number of service conduits, similar to Jefferies Tubes, and for storage. It
was the perfect place for her team to set down.
    "Tyrian, I think I've found a place for my team to beam in," Vehakra
said, motioning to a map which was displayed on the computer console before
her. "With your permission, I'll collect my team and prepare for transport?"
    She awaited Tyrian's reply...

END TRANSMISSION

Subject: SO: Fearless/Infiltrated

Lt. Commander Tyrian M. Summers
Onboard Runabout Vigilance
Stardate 9710.02

     "Permission granted, Lt. Commander Rhikal.  Good luck."  Tyrian said.
 Rhikal left the bridge of the small craft and headed to the back with her
team.  They beamed down to a maintenance section of the spacedock undetected.
 They would signal Tyrian when they were safely back onboard the runabout and
were leaving the area.  Tyrian and his team would have to provide their own
ride home.  
     Tyrian looked at the prototype ship out the front window.  It was a good
size warship, about the size of a Starfleet Intrepid Class Starship, the ship
would probably hold about 200 crewmembers.  This ship could obviously do some
damage, and Tyrian could hardly wait to get onboard.  
     They were beaming directly to the bridge, they had to secure it quickly
before anyone could sound the alarm.  Tyrian performed a quick scan of the
ship, there was twenty six people on board spread throughout.  They were
probably mostly engineers, finishing up tests, but the rest were probably
Jem'Hadar soldiers.
     The team would beam down at staggered two person intervals to throw off
their enemies to their number.  They would beam to different parts of the
bridge, to catch whoever was on the ships bridge a tactical disadvantage.
 Tyrian took a deep breath and then said, "Computer, run transport program
Summers One.........energize."
     On the bridge of the Dominion prototype there were two Cardassian
engineers, two Jem'Hadar soldiers, a Cardassian Gul, and a Vorta.  The whole
group was gathered around the Vorta who was talking about something to do
with a test flight.  Tyrian and Ensign Renalt beamed down first, about four
meters from the group.  They both fired their phaser rifles as soon as they
materialized.
     Tyrian's first shot caught a Cardassian engineer in the chest as he
turned around.  Renalt's blast caught a Jem'Hadar in the shoulder, sending
him flipping backwards over a computer terminal.  Lt. Aries and Lt. Harrah
beamed down next, right next to the enemy group which was frantically
spreading out.
     The Jem'Hadar who was not hit, swung his arm at the materializing Lt.
Harrah, who had no chance to defend himself.  Harrah was knocked to the
ground as the elbow of the soldier caught him in the face.  Lt. Aries
wrestled with the Cardassian Gul, who had jumped on him as he materialized.
 Tyrian shot the other Cardassian engineer in the midsection as the
Cardassian drew his weapon, but dropped it as he was shot.  Renalt closed on
the fallen Jem'Hadar soldier who had been hidden by a computer terminal after
he fell behind it.
     Suddenly, the Jem'Hadar jumped from behind the terminal and knocked
Renalt's rifle off to the side as it shot harmlessly into the ground.  The
Jem'Hadar threw Renalt off to the side into a wall with great force.
 Finally, Ensigns Smith and Shultz beamed down to join in.  Ensign Smith shot
the Gul who was fighting with Lt. Aries, killing him.
     Ensign Schulz grabbed the Vorta and attempted to subdue him when the
unwounded Jem'Hadar soldier hit him in the head with his gun, knocking him to
the floor.  He then climbed on top of the fallen ensign and pressed down on
his neck with his rifle as the Vorta smiled and looked down.
     Tyrian looked and saw that Ensign Renalt was in trouble, he raised his
rifle and shot the Jem'Hadar repeatedly with his weapon.  The soldier
shuddered as he was hit by the multiple shots, and then he fell to the floor,
smoking from the phaser blasts.  Tyrian ran at the other Jem'Hadar and
tackled him, sending them both sprawling sideways.  The Vorta realized that
he was now in trouble and ran towards a control panel to set off an alarm.
     Lt. Aries grabbed the Vorta in a choke hold and pressed him into a wall.
 Tyrian and the Jem'Hadar wrestled back and forth, exchanging punches.
 Finally, Tyrian had an opportunity and grabbed the soldier's head and
twisted with both hands, snapping his neck.  
    Part one of Tyrian's plan was completed, the bridge had been taken
without the rest of the ship being notified, and they had one prisoner, the
Vorta.  Tyrian moved quickly, "Ensigns Harrah and Smith, begin working on
basic controls for the ship.  Lt. Aries, interrogate the Vorta.....get him to
help you figure out the ship.  If he does'nt help you, kill him.  Ensign
Shultz and Ensign Renalt, you are with me, we will secure the rest of the
ship, lets go."  
     The three activated thier personal cloaks and appeared to disappear
against the wall, they were only detectable as large blurs as they moved out
the door to complete their mission.  Lt. Aries turned to the Vorta who was up
against a wall arms and legs bound.  Aries said with a smile as he drew a
nasty looking knife Tyrian had given him, "So, are you going to be
helpful......or am I gonna have fun with this interrogation?"  The Vorta
looked up with a panicked look on his face.
=============================================================
Lt. Commander Vehakra Rhikal
Dominion Spacedock 12-A
Stardate 9710.02

    The Away Team materialized in a dark, unused storage facility deep inside
the structure of the orbital spacedock. Once they were solid again from the
transport, the team activated the power cells in their weapons and the
flashlights on their wrists.
    Thoraz took out his tricorder and immediately began scanning while the
rest of the team got its bearings.
    "Doorway," Vehakra said, directing her flashlight toward a sealed door
across the room. "Lt. Brynaziir, any luck finding an access port to the
station's computer?"
    Thoraz studied his tricorder readings and nodded, "There's a crawlspace
over there," he said, directing his flash light at a panel covering an
opening in the wall to the right. "Down that crawlspace about 100 feet is an
access port. I should be able to tap in there."
    Vehakra motioned for Brynaziir to go to the crawlspace, with Ensign
Reynolds joining him. Then she, Sholek and Bonata went to the doorway and
waited. "Signal me once you're in to the security grid, Thoraz. We'll move
once we get the all clear."
    She then waited while Brynaziir and Reynolds removed the covering from
the crawlspace and entered the dimly lit access conduit by sliding in on
their stomachs and crawling. Now, they would just have to wait until the
coast was clear...

END TRANSMISSION

Subject: SO: Fearless/Taking the Prototype

Lt. Commander Tyrian M. Summers
Onboard Dominion prototype
Stardate 9710.03

     Tyrian and the two ensigns stalked down the corridors of the prototype
ship.  They had to eliminate the twenty remaining Dominion members onboard.
 Tyrian hoped that the three engineers on board had disabled the
communications and alarms on the ship.
    Tyrian had faith in Lt. Harrah though, Harrah had done extensive research
on Dominion and Cardassian technologies, he had been on the team that went
over the captured Jem'Hadar scout ship some time back.  That is one of the
reasons he had been chosen for this mission.
      Tyrian and ensigns Shultz and Renalt went down to the engineering room
first, there were six Cardassians working at computer stations around the
room.  The three Starfleet officers attacked quickly, decloaking only when
they were already on top of their enemies.
     Three of them dropped quickly, caught from behind with no warning.
 Thier bodies had'nt even hit the ground yet when Tyrian and his teammates
turned and fired again, killing the remaining three before they could draw
their weapons.  Tyrian cloaked again and looked around the room, it was much
different looking than any Starfleet engineering section, that was for sure.
    The phaser blasts must have been heard by some nearby Jem'Hadar, who were
on the same deck, because three of them stormed into the room.  They
obviously didn't know that anybody but them had cloaking devices, because
they walked right by the Tyrian, who was against a wall in some light
shadows.
     One of them went over to a wall and hit a panel, paused and then hit it
again.  He said to the others, "The alarm is not working!"  With that Tyrian
decloaked and fired repeatedly into that Jem'Hadar soldier, sending him
backwards into the wall.   The other Jem'Hadar turned to fire at him, but
Shultz and Renalt were positioned behind them, and quickly shot them as they
decloaked.  Tyrian thought to himself, nine down, eleven to go.
     The small team arrived outside a door that led into barrarks that their
tricorder showed to house about five lifeforms.  The three cloaked men stood
outside the door, Tyrian hit the control panel and the door slid open and
Tyrian stepped back to where the other two were standing.  Two Cardassians
stepped out and looked around, confused.  The last thing they saw was three
men become visible as they started firing at them.  Tyrian led the way,
stepping on the fallen Cardassians as they charged into the room firing,
three more Cardassians met their death in their own beds as they were blasted
by the Starfleet team.  Tyrian checked his tricorder again that he had run
into the Viginlance's scanners, it showed the remaining four enemy lifeforms
heading directly to the bridge! 
=============================================================
Lt. Thoraz Brynaziir
Crawlspace, Station 12-A
Stardate 9710.03

    Before they entered the crawlspace, Thoraz took one of the nanoprobe
cameras and positioned to monitor the storage area and entrance. Thoraz
crawled into the crawlspace with Reynolds right behind him.
    Once they had covered the 100 feet to the access port Thoraz said,
"Reynolds, keep watch over the entrance, I don't want any surprises."
    Thoraz put down his type IV phaser rifle, grabbed his PADD and tricorder
and set to work.  "Too bad the Dominion have their hand in this, the straight
Cardassian system would have been easier to crack." 
     Long moments passed as Thoraz worked on the system. Reynolds felt as if
hours were passing.  "I'm in," Thoraz said excitedly and used his subvocal
comm unit "Commander Rhikal, I'm in the system now.  Checking for the best
route to the Core."
    There were many more monitors and security devices set up here than any
typical Cardassian facility.  "Commander, this could take awhile."
    After a short while Thoraz began to recieve some important information.
"Commander, we may have a problem.  I have found information that indicates
that the patrols are random, both in route and time interval. I will attempt
to determine the best course taking this into consideration as well as mask
our presence."
=============================================================
USS Fearless
With the Task Force
Stardate 9710.03

    The USS Fearless soared along through space with the rest of the huge
Starfleet/Klingon task force. The ship was among the sturdier, more well
armed ships in the fleet, meaning it would be one of the primary attack
ships.
    On the bridge, Captain Sortha sat silently in his command chair
monitoring incoming reports and other communications. Beside him to the right
was Admiral Erik Jaegar who sat pensively watching the stars streaking by
outside, and to his left was Commander Dyer, who was reading over some last
minute status reports.
     At the tactical console, Lt. Commander Kalahna Jarnell was busy
programming attack patterns and targeting information into the weapons system
when an alarm sounded. She checked a readout and then looked up at the captain.
     "Incoming transmission from Cardassian Central Command," Kalahna
reported. "Being transmitted to all ships in the task force."
     Sortha grinned a toothy smile and stared up at the viewscreen. "On sscreen, commander."
     The image of a flustered Cardassian appeared on the viewscreen, "Are you
insane? Your fleet has violated Dominion borders. Leave at once or you will be destroyed!"
     "All ships in the task force are receiving a message from Admiral
Nechayev," Kalahna said. "She says disregard the Cardassian transmission and
proceed to target."
    Sortha gave Kalahna the signal to shut off the transmission and once the
image was gone, he smiled, "We've caught them with their pantss down. With
the bulk of their fleet deployed in the asssault to take Deep Sspace Nine,
they left their guard down."
    "We're not out of the woods yet, sir," Kalahna said. "I am detecting 23
Jem'Hadar attack ships approaching the task force on an intercept course.
Also picking up nine Cardassian ships, six Keldon-class and three Galors."
    "Time to intercept?" Sortha asked.
    "Three minutes," Kalahna said. 
    "Sstandby all weaponss," Sortha said....

END TRANSMISSION

Subject: SO: Fearless/Battle at Taurus III

Lt. J.G. Clayton Aries
Interrogating the Vorta
Stardate 9710.03

   Aries continued to taunt the Vorta for another minute or so, but would
never actually do any harm because it would violate the Hippocratic oath.  He
could however, inject the Vorta with truth drugs and make him talk.  Aries
took out his tricorder to record this session and what was said.  If anything, it would also take readings of how the drugs worked on a new alien species.
  He started off with a few basic questions first.
  "What is your name?"
  "Borath"
  The questioning continued for a few minutes, and then Borath started telling Aries how the ship was run.
=============================================================
Lt. Commander Tyrian M. Summers
Onboard Dominion prototype
Stardate 9710.04

     "Summers to Aries, secure the bridge doors, you are about to have visitors.  We will get there as soon as we can, out."  Tyrian yelled into his
commlink as he, Renalt and Shultz ran towards the bridge.  
    The four Jem'Hadar soldiers arrived at the bridge and realized that the
doors had been locked from the inside.  The commander of the soldiers acted
quickly, ripping the control panel off the wall, sending sparks all over the
front of him.  The Jem'Hadar didn't flinch as he stuck his hand in the mess
of wires and messed with them for a momment.  The door slid open.
    Aries and the two other engineers opened fire from inside the bridge.
 The Jem'Hadar returned fire, and a huge firefight ensued.  Shortly after,
Tyrian and his two teammates converged on the hallway outside the bridge, and
fired at the Jem'Hadar, taking them by suprise.  Shortly after, all four
Jem'Hadar lay dead.  Ensign Schultz had suffered a blast to the shoulder of
his body armor, but it wasn't a direct hit, it only damaged the body armor.
    Tyrian quickly accessed the damage to the bridge, it appeared the
equipment had not sustained much damage.  He turned to Aries and asked, "How
far did you get in figuring out this ship?" 
    Aries responded, "It wasn't very hard to figure out, actually.  The Vorta
was actually kind of helpful, once we talked it over, but he does'nt know
everything about this ship unfortunatly. This ship carries a lot of
Cardassian controls hooked to actual Dominion technology, I can't be exact on
how most of the systems work, but I do know how to work most basic systems.
 We will have to manually control most functions, but six of us should be
enough to do it.  Right now I have figured out firing controls for the
Dominion type blasters, basic helm control, and shields.  I am having trouble
with the scanners though.  As you can see, the bridge has no viewscreens, all
displays are handled through these visors, you put them on your head and look
through the one eyepiece.  So far I have only figured out how to do visuals,
not complex scans.  And one other thing, I need to go down to engineering and
work on starting the Dominion warp core down there, I cant start its
operation from up here for some reason, with your permission I will start on
it right away."
     Tyrian took Aries PADD and looked over his control scheme for the
prototype and said to him, "Permission granted."  Tyrian said to the others,
"Get ready for departure, we will leave as soon as we recieve word from
commander Rhikal."  
    Tyrian then walked over to the Vorta who was still tied up in the corner,
"Lets talk about nearby Dominion ships....."
=============================================================
Lt. Thoraz Brynaziir
Dominion Spacedock 12-A
Stardate 9710.04

   "Commander," Thoraz called again, "I have deactivated the security grids in
corridors 26B through 28E.  If you exit the storage area and take a right to turbolift 16 you should be able to gain access to level 28. Watch for patrols.  I will continue to work on a path to the core."
    Thoraz was having some success, so far.  Although there were a few grids
which he couldn't deactivate, he had not yet been detected.
    As the team moved through the station, Thoraz kept a separate and secure
monitor check going to keep track of their progress. As Thoraz was working on
the sealed doors to the central chamber on level 28 in order to gain access to the next level for the team
    Reynolds whispered to Thoraz, "Lieutenant, I think we have company coming."  A patrol of six Jem'Hadar soldiers entered the storage and looked around.  Thoraz and Reynolds having activated their cloaks, dared not breathe.
=============================================================
Lt. Commander Vehakra Rhikal
Dominion Spacedock 12-A
Stardate 9710.05

   Vehakra listened to Thoraz's instructions over her subvocal communicator and then nodded to her team, "Let's move. Cloak yourselves. Bonata, cover our flank, Sholek stay behind me and I'll take point. Whatever happens, Sholek, you must access the spacedock computer core and download the data."
   Sholek nodded in response and then the three of them cloaked. Vehakra
opened the door in to the corridor and exited the storage area. The trio moved along silently down the corridor until they reached turbolift 16. They boarded the lift and proceeded to level 28 as Brynaziir had suggested.
    When the doors opened into level 28, three Cardassians were waiting to board the lift. Unable to squeeze by, the three operatives moved to the sides of the turbolift car and waited for the Cardassians to file in, hoping they would not bump into them.
     Of course, the worst thing happened, a Cardassian walked right into
Vehakra's invisible body and stumbled backwards in shock. What happened after
that was a quick and relatively painless slaughter.
     Vehakra decloaked and slammed an open palm hard into the Cardassian's
nose. Shattering the cartilidge and shoving it up into his brain, the soldier
was dead before he hit the floor. Sholek and Bonata decloaked at the same
time and each dispatched the remaining Cardies without hesitation.
     The team cloaked again and looked around outside. Not seeing anyone, Veh
signaled Thoraz. "Thanks for telling us three Cardassians were waiting to use
the lift. Any suggestions as to how we should dispose of their bodies?" Veh
asked in a sarcastic voice.
     But no response came from Thoraz Brynaziir.
     After nearly one minute, Veh said, "If you receive this message, Thoraz,
seal off turbolift 16 and lock it between floors."
     "What do we do?" Ensign Bonata asked, becoming edgy.
     "We continue," Vehakra said solemly. "Hopefully he is just unable to
communicate at the moment."
     The three then set out again for the computer core, leaving the dead (or
unconscious) Cardassians behind.
=============================================================
On Rendok Nor and Spacedock 12-A
Stardate 9710.05

    On both the Cardassian space station and the Dominion shipyards
surrounding it in orbit of Taurus III, an alarm was sounded throughout the
entire complex. The Starfleet/Klingon task force had been detected on long
range sensors approaching quickly. Ships were dispatched from all over to
deal with the threat.
    The shield generator on Rendok Nor was activated, setting up a powerful
protective  field around the shipyards...and trapping the Vigilance and
Vok'tar inside the perimeter of the shipyards.
    It was now up to Regnigh and Ki'lal to deactivate the generator...
=============================================================
Captain Sortha
Bridge of the Fearless
Stardate 9710.05

   The two opposing fleets closed at warp speed, with a combined closure rate
of warp 18.  As the ships got closer they dropped to sublight.  Kalahna's
tactical scanner was insane, registering 32 JemHadar ships, 9 Cardassian
ships, 25 Klingon vessels and over 50 Federation vessels all within a range
of one light year.
    The fleets continued to close at sublight.   Just before firing range the
nine Cardassian ships, recognizing the unequal fight, executed a parabolic
turn and began heading away from the engagement at warp nine.   
     Admiral Necheyev's instructions came over the intercom immediately,
"Gamma wing, form up on Enterprise and hunt those Cardassian scum down,
Commodore Picard in command."
     Majestically, the Enterprise E and twelve Federation vessels peeled off
course and laid in a pursuit course for the escaping Cardassian ships.  "You
are authorized to take NO prisoners Enterprise.... that is an order, Necheyev
out."  
     "Captain Sortha, you and the Klingon Defense forces hold the center."
    "Aye ssir," Sortha said to Admiral Necheyev, using the Sir even tho
Necheyev was a female.  The Fearless stood its ground with the 25 Klingon
ships as the Jem Hadar ships screamed in, while the rest of the Federation
fleet seperated into two wings and moved away from the center group.
    The 32 Jem'Hadar ships, seeing the Federation ships seperating off from
the battle bored in on the Fearless and their Klingon allies.    Just when
they reached firing range Sortha gave the prearranged order, "All sshipss
cloak, now!"   Before the Jem Hadar's eyes, the Fearless and the 25 Klingon
ships dematerialized in front of them.  
    Thrown into disarray the Jem Hadar broke formation, tracking possible
sensor tracks of the cloaked ships.   Now, the Federation ships that had
seperated returned using a short burst of warp speed, and they fell on the
milling JemHadar fleet as an organized attack force.
    Targets were coordinated and several Federation ships opened fire
simultaneously on single JemHadar ships, overloading their shields and
destroying them in a burst of brilliant white light.  As the JemHadar turned
to face the new threat, the cloaked ships decloaked and fired their weaponry
at point blank range.  More JemHadar ships blew up spectacularly.  The battle
continued as a free for after that.
    As the JemHadar got close to knocking down the shields of a Federation or
Klingon ship, another Federation ship would interpose itself between the two
as the first ship moved off out of teh major conflict.  Federation and
Klingon ships played wingman and guarded each other tenaciously.
    Soon the Federation's weight in numbers began to weigh heavily.  The Jem
Hadar died bravely...but they still died. 
     "Continue on to Taurus III" Necheyev ordered as the fleet cruised past
the remains of the JemHadar attack force.
     "This is a Picard" the Enterprise reported, "We destroyed five
Cardassian ships, the others managed to escape."
     "Very well" Necheyev responded somewhat disappointed some had escaped.

   The first brief engagement had gone well due to the element of surprise,
but there was a long war ahead of them...

END TRANSMISSION

Subject: SO: Fearless/Ship Theft

Lt. Commander Tyrian M. Summers
Onboard Dominion Prototype
Stardate 9710.09

     "I don't know anything else about the current Dominion ship
status........I swear."  The Vorta cringed as Tyrian hovered over him.
 Tyrian said, "If that is true, your usefullness to me is over."  With that,
Tyrian pulled the Vorta off the ground and threw him into a bridge wall.  The
Vorta fell to the floor hunched over.  Tyrian drew his phaser and pointed it
at the Vorta.  He looked up at Tyrian and hurriedly said: "Wait.....I'm sure
that we can work out something, really.........don't kill me!"  Tyrian lowered his phaser.  "Alright, I will give you another chance, but you had better prove useful."  
     A short time later, all members of the team were at their stations, Tyrian at the tactical station, Harrah at the conn, Aries manned the sensors,  Schultz was going to man communications along with the Vorta, who had become really helpful since his encounter with Tyrian.  Renalt was in engineering waiting to start up the Dominion warp core.  Smith was standing by to manually release docking clamps.  Each member was going over their stations familiarizing themselves with the controls.  They had been able to figure out most of the ship.  They had long range, short range,  and targeting scanners, full communications, warp drive through warp 9.9, and weapons, both Dominion
disrupters, and torpedos.  
     Tyrian stood there, (since there were no chairs), and then said, "We can't afford to wait much longer for Commander Rhikal, if she doesn't contact us soon, we will have to go."  Aries turned to Tyrian, "Sir, I'm reading that the shipyard's shields have just risen!"  Schultz also turned to Tyrian, "Commander, there is a transmission coming in to us........I'm putting it on the speakers now."  A cold voice thundered over the speakers: "..........you are to abort your tests and to proceed immediatly to the transmitted coordinates and assist in the battle with the Klingons and the Federation."
 Tyrian said, "Well that certainly changes things, lets hope Rhikal can get
those shields down, for if not us, for herself and her team.  Ensign Renalt,
activate warp core, Ensign Smith, release docking clamps.  The powerful
ship's engines thundered to life as the warp core came on line along with the
thrusters.  The clamps let go of the ship.  Tyrian said to Harrah, "Ahead
full thrusters......engage."  The ship moved out of its dock and moved
forward quickly, through the shipyard.  Tyrian hoped that they did'nt detect
that something was wrong.  He smiled as the shipyard's shields lowered to let
them out.  Tyrian said to Harrah, set course for Federation space, maximum
warp...........now." 
     The ship powered up and then shot into warp with little hesitation.
 Tyrian said calmly, "Well that was too easy, lets hope the rest of our trip
is as easy."  Aries interrupted Tyrian's train of thought and said, "Sir, we
have four Galor class warships headed this way."  Tyrian said, "What is their
tactical status?"  Aries replied, "Shields are down with full power directed
to their engines."  Tyrian then said, "Remain on course."  Schultz anxiously
looked over to Tyrian, "Sir, there may be a problem, the Cardassian ships are
requesting that we join up with them to defend the shipyards from the
oncoming attack.  They state more Cardassian ships are enroute to the
shipyards.  Tyrian changed his orders, "Acknowledge their request.  Lt.
Harrah, change course to intercept the Cardassian ships.  
=============================================================
Lt. Commander Vehakra Rhikal
Spacedock 12-A
Stardate 9710.10

   Still cloaked, Vehakra, Sholek and Bonata arrived outside the main room
accessing the computer core. There had still be no further word from Thoraz
and Veh was beginning to worry. Perhaps he'd been found by a troop of Jem'Hadar. But so far, there had been no alarms and all security measures from the turbolift to the computer core had been deactivated.
   Making sure the coast was clear, veh deactivated her cloak and checked her
tricorder. According to the device, two Jem'Hadar and a Cardassian were in
the room beyond the door. Brynaziir had also taken the liberty of
deactivating all internal sensors within the room, so their arrival would be
undetected by security.
    "OK, get ready," Veh said. She recloaked and depressed a button beside
the door. When the doors slid open, Vehakra and her team rushed in. 
    To either side of the doorway were the two Jem'Hadar, while on an upper
catwalk was the Cardassian, who appeared to be some kind of technician
working on the computer core.
    The team decloaked once in the room and attacked the unsuspecting
Jem'Hadar. Bonata fired at and stunned the first Jem'Hadar, while Vehakra
scored a hit on the second. Sholek took aim and fired at the Cardassian, who
was hit and fell from the catwalk to the deck below.
    "Sholek, get into the computer system and find that data," Vehakra said.
"Bonata, cover him. I'm going to check the security sensors from here and see
if I can find out what happened to Thoraz and Reynolds.

END TRANSMISSION

Subject: SO: Fearless/Time Running Out

Lt. Tyrian M. Summers
Onboard Dominion Prototype
Stardate4 9710.10

   The Dominion/Cardassian prototype sped away from the shipyards it had just
been secretly stolen from.  Tyrian continued to go over the technical
schematics as they were decyphered from the computer. 
     The ship was a little smaller than a Jem'Hadar Battleship, but much
larger than a regular Warship.  About the size of an Intrepid Class Starship,
but much more powerful.  It was a good thing, since they were closing on four
Cardassian Galor class warships.  Tyrian said to Aries, "Time to intercept?"
 
     Aries replied, "Two minutes, and other then the four ships, long range
sensors are clear."  Tyrian said to Harrah: "Drop out of warp, go to primary
thrusters."  A minute later, Tyrian said:  "Their shields are still down, I'm
charging polaron beam banks, and loading missile launchers." 
    Aries looked at his display through his head visor, "Cardassian ships are
moving to rendevous position, shields are still down."  Tyrian said to Harrah, "Attack pattern omega four."  The Dominion ship suddenly turned and beared down on the nearest Cardassian ship.
    Tyrian activated the prototype's weaponry from his tactical panel.  The
prototype shot mutiple blasts of phased polaron beams from both wings onto the unshielded Galor class ship, strafing it as it flew over.  The Cardassian warship was riddled with explosions from each shot as it hit, finally exploading, sending debris outward in the explosion sphere.
     Tyrian's serious look did'nt change as he said, "The rest have decided
to put up their shields now I bet."  
     The Prototype had already turned as the Cardassian ships raised their
shields and started to scatter.  Tyrian fired a spread of missles and polaron
beams at two of the ships that were still near each other, one of the ships took the majority of the volly, its shields gave way and it took a missile hit to its engineering section, causing an instantainious explosion of the ship. 
     Tyrian held on as the prototype rocked from the explosion of the other
ship.  Harrah piloted the ship through the flames in pursuit of the other
ship as Tyrian fired multiple poloron beams at the aft of the ship.  The Galor class ship fired rear disruptors at its attacker, but the shields were too powerful to penetrate, and the ship met its demise as the other two already had.  The remaining ship had taken up position behind the Dominion prototype and started firing, scoring direct hits on the rear shields with disrupters and torpedos.
    Tyrian was knocked into the console in front of him, and Harrah was
knocked over to the floor.  The lights dimmed and certain consoles sparked and emitted smoke onto the bridge as the Galor class warship unloaded with everything it had.  Harrah, a little shook up, got back up and piloted the ship away from the Cardassian ship as Tyrian quickly fired a missle from the aft launcher.   
    The missile hit the ship, rocking it as the prototype came around for another head on pass.  The Gul in charge of the ship thought again, the Galor
class turned a little and went to warp as Tyrian fired a few more poloron beams at it, connecting a few as it went to warp. 
    Harrah said, "Commander, shall I lay in a pursuit course?"  Tyrian thought for a momment, and then replied, "No....our priority is getting this ship to Federation space.  Besides, it looks as though they are heading to the shipyards for protection anyway, if our team does their job, they are in for a big surprise.  Resume course, maximum warp."  Harrah turned back around as he said, "Aye, sir."
=============================================================
Lt. Commander Ki'lal
Rendok Nor- Docking ring 2
Stardate 9710.10

   The team beamed onto the station, just by one of the currently unused
docking rings.  There was, luckily, nobody in sight.  Ki'lal and his band of
warriors, clad in their black Shadow Ops uniforms.  
   "All right, let's bee-line it to the generator.  It's two decks down and
three sections over.  We'll go in waves.  Three waves of 2.  We're all headed
to the same place in the same direction, in these waves.  You know your assignments.  Regnigh, you're team should go first, we'll follow, and Ensign Gaelon will lead the last wave.  To the generator!"  and they silently made their way there.
=============================================================
Lt. Thoraz Brynaziir
Storage Room
Stardate 9710.10

   "I tell you I heard something,"  the guard reiterated.
   "Well we've checked the whole room twice.  There is no one here," replied
the other.  Reluctantly they left.  As soon as the doors closed Thoraz used
his subvocal communicator.
    "Commander, we have a problem.  I have two very suspicious guards here.
You better vaporize those bodies in the turbolift.  I sense that the guards
will be hanging around for awhile.  One of them heard us.  I will try to plot
you a course back here safely.  Watch for those random patrols though.  If
you get the plans and are able to get out do so.  Don't worry about us.  I'll come up with something." Thoraz was furiously working on the security controls as he talked.  "Maybe if I try to make the computer think there is a systems malfunction on level 3 that will buy us some time,' he  thought and began to try this.   "Reynolds, we may be on our own." Thoraz had redirected the security sensors allowing the others a passage back the way they came.  It should last for a twenty minute cycle as long as no patrols stumbled upon them.
     Now to worry about the distraction.  "Reynolds, do you think you can
quietly slip out, cloak yourself and take out those guards that are still
hanging around the area?"
=============================================================
Ensign James Reynolds
Storage Compartment w/Brynaziir
Stardate 9710.10

    Reynolds looked at Brynaziir and his eyes got kind of wide, then he
slowly nodded. "OK, lieutenant."
    The ensign crawled back out of the conduit and into the storage bay. As
he looked around, the two Jem'Hadar emerged from an adjoining room and both
instantly saw Reynolds.
    The security officer snap-aimed his rifle and fired a shot, vaporizing
the first Jem'Hadar. The other soldier fired and the blast struck Reynolds in
the lower abdomen, causing him to slam backward against the bulkhead. The
soldier charged him, drawing a short sword weapon from a sheath on his belt. 
    Reynolds managed to aim the rifle again, despite his painful injury, and
fired another shot just as the Jem'Hadar was upon him. The Jem'Hadar was vaporized, but not before he ran Reynolds through with his sword. The ensign's corpse slid to the deck of the storage compartment, surrounded by a pool of blood...
=============================================================
USS Fearless
Entering the Taurus system
Stardate 9710.10

   "Cardassian and Dominion ships are re-grouping at zero-two-four mark four
eight," Kalahna Jarnell said.
    "Continue on coursse, helm," Sortha ordered.
    "Incoming message from the command ship, USS Venture," Kalahna reported
from her post at tactical. "Admiral Nechayev says all ships are to assume
their pre-planned strike wings and make their attack runs."
   Sortha nodded, "Lt. Nassh. Make it sso."
   As the Fearless joined with 10 of the Klingon Birds of Prey it had
originally group with and set course for a cluster of eight orbital dockyard
berths in orbit of Taurus III. In all, there were 65 spacedocks, each being
targeted by several ships each.
   "Sir, the shielding grid is still up around the dockyards," Kalahna said. 
   "Time until we reach the sshieldss?" Sortha asked.
   "Five minutes and closing," the Bajoran woman replied.
   Sortha again nodded, "Come on, Ki'lal and Regnigh, get thosse sshields
down. We've got a job to do."

END TRANSMISSION

Subject: SO: Fearless/Encountering the Fleet

Lt. Tyrian M. Summers, Jr.
Onboard Dominion Prototype
Stardate 9710.11

     Tyrian looked forward at the tiny viewscreen in front of his left eye at
the blackness of space rushing towards the ship.  Aries looked up at him and said, "Commander, there is nothing else I can do right now, the long range sensors were apparently overloaded and fried by that last aft Cardassian torpedo hit.  We only have short range scanners."  
     Tyrian's look was grim as he replied, "We see another ship until it is
too late to avoid it....damn."  With that, Aries said excitedly, "SIr, I have
massive sensor readings coming straight at us........Federation and Klingon
ships!"  Tyrian immediately turned to Shultz and yelled, "Quickly ensign,
activate comm system to all ships!"  Aries nodded as he hit the controls.
 Tyrian stood straight up as his transmission broadcast to the oncoming fleet.
    "This is Lt. Commander Tyrian M. Summers, we have captured this Dominion
ship and fly it under a Starfleet flag, do not fire upon us, contact the USS
Fearless for confirmation, Summers out."  The transmission ended.  The Prototype flew into the thick of the fleet as it passed going the opposite
direction. 
     Tyrian told Aries to open another channel to the USS Fearless.  Captain
Sortha's huge figure appeared in Tyrian's viewscreen.  Tyrian said,
"Greetings Captain, I know we should'nt be broadcasting our presence out
here, but we're flying blind so we could'nt avoid the fleet, and I did'nt
feel like getting blown apart by Starfleet ship.  Could you send a tactical
report on resistance on the area we might encounter on the way home?"
=============================================================
Lt. Sholek
On station
stardate 9710.11

	Sholek began to search the computer for the information on the new ship. As he went along he downloaded other information he thought might be of use to
Stafleet. After he got done with that he set up a computer virus to destroy all the files in the stations computer, just in case they were unsuccessful at
destroying the station.

END TRANSMISSION

Subject: SO: Fearless/Caught in the Act

Captain Sortha
Bridge
Stardate 9710.12

  Sortha took in the information Tyrian relayed to him, and after several
seconds he keyed a comm signal.  "Commander Ka'lok, our forces have managed
to capture the Dominion/Cardassian Prototype, however it sustained serious
damage to its sensor array.  It is currently flying blind.  Its safety is
paramount.  Escort it back to Federation space.  You will be it's eyes and ears."
     The Captain of the small Bird-of-Prey Scout, with a crew of only fifteen
nodded reluctantly.  He was the Commander of the smallest ship in the attack
force, and even Klingons realized the requirements and logic of war.  As the
weakest ship, his was the most expendable to the attack force, but its sensors were just as good as the rest of the ships in the fleet, except the Fearless.  He could see for the prototype, and in that regard was much more useful than a few megajoules of added disruptor fire.
   "Very Well Starfleet!" Ka'lok spat out.  He was relatively young for a
Klingon Commander, and he ached to see battle.  It was hard for him, but he
obeyed the order.   The small bird-of-prey swooped around and took position
next to the prototype, linking their sensor grids electronically.  After several seconds they both went to warp, heading deep into the safety of Federation territory.

     Sortha looked back at the tactical on the Fearless' viewscreen.   The
JemHadar and Cardassian ships that had survived the Federation/Klingon attack
had formed a ragged perimeter around the orbital station, seven ships in all.
 The Federation had lost no ships as of yet, however three were seriously
damaged, and these along with four damaged Klingon ships formed a reserve force, as they attempted to effect emergency repairs.  Two Klingon birds-of-prey had been destroyed.  Over thirty Cardassian and Dominion ships had been blown to fiery splinters in the previous battle.  
     This would all change however, if the Shadow Ops team was unable to lower the station's shields.  It's powerful fixed weaponry would wreak havoc on the Federation/Klingon fleet if they were not destroyed quickly... and this could only happen if the shields were lowered.  Sortha waited expectently as the fleet closed in.... 
=============================================================
Lt. Commander Vehakra Rhikal
Computer Core, Dominion Spacedock 12-A
Stardate 9710.12

    Vehakra got a little nervous when alarms all over the station went off.
But after she checked the station's sensors, she learned the reason why. The
Starfleet/Klingon task force was closing in.
    On top of that, the prototype ship had just been stolen from the
spacedock's docking berth...undoubtly the handywork of Lt. Commander Summers.
So the station was a flurry of activity.
    "Hurry up Sholek," Vehakra said, glacing over at the Romulan who was hard
at work.
    "I am almost there, commander," Sholek replied. "Please be patient."
    Easy for him to say, she thought. Jem'Hadar and Cardassian soldiers were
crawling all over the place and the fleet was just minutes from blasting this
entire place to pieces. Veh wanted to be off this station and back on the
Vigilance.
    Finally, Sholek stood up and gathered his PADD under his arm. "I am
finished."
    "You got the data?" Ensign Bonata asked, looking hopeful.
    "Indeed," Sholek said. "We may depart for the beam out point."
    Vehakra nodded in approval and she led the two officers to the doors,
where they waited and scanned with a tricorder before proceeding. "Signal
Thoraz that we're on our way. I just hope he's still listening."
     With that, they reengaged their cloaking devices and left the computer
core, bound for the storage compartment where Brynaziir was holed up...
=============================================================
Lt. Thoraz Brynaziir
Spacedock 12-A
Stardate 9710.12

   'Finally', thought Thoraz as he heard that Sholek was finished. Hopefully
no random patrols were nearby the computer core as it was not possible to
scan for patrols and tamper with the sensors; at least not for one person.
Thoraz's thoughts then turned to Reynolds.
   'How am I going to explain this to the Captain?  I shouldn't have sent him
out.'
   Just then his thoughts were interrupted as he sensed someone approaching.
Tuning his abilities he discovered ....
=============================================================
Dominion Spacedock 12-A
Storage area
Stardate 9710.12

   A Cardassian with a flashlight poked his head into the conduit where
Brynaziir was working and began shining the light around. After a moment he
focused on Thoraz and drew his pistol.
   "You," he snapped. "Crawl out of there nice and easy, or you're dead."

END TRANSMISSION

Subject: SO: Fearless/Brynaziir's Bad Day

Lt. Thoraz Brynaziir
Spacedock 12-A
Stardate 9710.12

   Thoraz slowly and carefully crawled out of the conduit, leaving the visual
probes behind.  He carefully laid down his type IV phaser rifle on the floor
and slowly raised his hands; activating his cloak as he did so.
   Quickly, remembering his training in the holodeck with Ki'lal, Tyrian and
Sortha he opened his mind to anticpate the guard's reaction and use the
Klingon manuevers he had learned.
   The Cardassian stumbled to the floor, Thoraz dove for his rifle, grabbed
it and turned.  Firing blind he hit the Cardassian, instantly vaporizing him,
but the Cardassian also got off a shot.  Fortunately for Thoraz the guard's
aim was poor and he was only clipped in the shoulder.  Thoraz's last thought
as he slipped into unconsciousness was that he hoped the rest of the team got
out...
=============================================================
Lt. Sholek
On station
Stardate 9710.12

	As Sholek and the team made their way back to the beamout, after downloading the information from the computer core, four Jem'Hadar burst into the corridor. Ensign Bonata fired his phaser and killed one of them just as he
got hit by a phaser.
	The remaining Jem'Hadar approached Sholek who had his back to them. "Turn
around Starfleet," one of the Jem'Hadar commanded. 
	Sholek spun around and with a sweeping motion cut the three Jem'Hadar in
half. He picked up his PADD with the info he downloaded and approached
Bonata's body. He checked for a pulse, but got none.
	"Foolish, illogical human," Sholek said aloud. Sholek decided to contact
Vehakra, who had gone ahead of the team to scout the route back to the
beamout site. "Sholek to Lieutenant Commander Rhikal. I have the information
on the prototype." 
	Then he added without emotion, "Ensign Bonata is dead."
=============================================================
Commander Dyer
USS Fearless Bridge
Stardate 9710.12

   "Dyer to Lt. Robertson." Dyer decided he'd better get his extraction team
together, in position and ready for beam-out.
   "Robertson here." 
   "Lt., get the team together as we discussed, and meet me in Cargo bay 2 in
five minutes. Dyer out."
   Dyer turned to Captain Sortha and the Admiral, "Gentlemen, my extraction
team will be ready in five minutes. Hopefully we won't need it. If you'll
excuse me."  Dyer left the bridge for his quarters en-route to Cargo bay 2.
   He reached his quarters, changed into shadow-ops fatigues, as the rest of
the team had been instructed. Ordered a container of water from the replicator, and headed for the cargo bay.
   Lt. Robertson greeted him at the door. Dyer was pleased to see that 18
officers had been assembled with the equipment he requested.
   He took a sip of water and turned to address his men.  "You have been
selected to form an extraction team for this attack on the shipyards.  We
have one team on the station and it will be our job to get them out, if they
run into trouble.  The element of surprise will not be ours, sensors will
alert the enemy of our transport.  our advantage will be in numbers.  The
location we may be going to is remote and hopefully not very heavily guarded.  We should be able to go in and overpower any resistance.
   "We may or may not get to see any action.  Our purpose is to be an insurance measure.  If the team on the station has any trouble getting out, we will simply beam-in to even the odds. Are there any questions?"
   A young ensign spoke up. "Sir, we have heard reports that the Jem'Hadar
will not surrender.  Is that true?"
   "That is true ensign.  The Jem'Hadar are bred to be warriors.  They will not quit fighting until they are dead.  The purpose of our team is not capture technology, people, or anything else.  If we are called into service today, we will go in and kill everyone we see who is not starfleet personnel.  We will locate our team, and ensure their safe return to the ship.
   "One further thing, we will have about 10 seconds notice if we are needed
so don't let your guard down and stay focussed."
   Dyer stepped over to the control panel spoke briefly to the transporter
chief, and tuned the terminal to the reports coming in from the fleet and
sensors.  
   "Come on guys, get that shield down," he thought to himself.  This would
be an awfully short mission if they didn't.

END TRANSMISSION

Subject: SO: Fearless/Trapped

Lt. Commander Ki'lal
Cardassian Starbase
Stardate 9710.13

        Tricorder reports showed that the team was directly above shield
generator.  The team had reconvened in an Jeffries-tube like structure directly above the generator.  Ki'lal could not have asked for a better position.  So far, they had not been detected, and Ki'lal felt the team was truly living up to the name "Shadow" Operations."  
        Scans showed that there were five Cardassian guards and 5 Jem'Hadar.
With hand gestures, Ki'lal moved the team into position for a strike.  Two
would stay to cover with phaser fire, Ki'lal, a Klingon, and Regnigh would take the charges to the generator, set them for three minutes and beam the hell out of there.  
        The two ensigns were to stay in the tube to cover with phaser fire.
The rest of the Klingons were to "occupy" the Jem'hadar and Cardassians. 
       The team, Klingon battalion first, dropped into the room, phasers firing, shouting Klingon battle cries.  Just dropping down, three of the guards were killed.  Under phaser fire, Ki'lal, the Klingon, and Regnigh ran toward the generator.  Just as they reached the main part of the generator, the Klingon was shot dead.  Ki'lal's instinct kicked in and he grabbed the warrior's charges and shot and killed the Klingon's assassin.
        Regnigh and Ki'lal reached the generator, threw the charges on and set them.  "Ki'lal to Vok'tar, beam the entire team out."
        "Sir," said the comm officer, "they have raised the station's
shields.  We can't get you out of there!"  
        Ki'lal's team had two minutes and twenty seconds to get out, with no
way out....
=============================================================
Lt. Commander Vehakra Rhikal
Spacedock 12-A
Stardate 9710.14

    Vehakra and Sholek arrived in the storage compartment, their weapons drawn, and entered carefully. They had not yet heard from Thoraz Brynaziir or Ensign Reynolds and were beginning to fear the worst.
    Carefully they slipped inside the dark storage area and began to look around. Sholek was reading his tricorder carefully and he raised an eyebrow
curiously.
    "I am detecting the cellular remains of two Jem'Hadar and one Cardassian,
all vaporized by a phaser blast," Sholek confirmed. "Also, I am detecting one
Betazoid life form over there."
    He motioned toward a pile of boxes and behind it he and Vehakra found
Thoraz, sprawled on the floor. Nearby, they saw the bloodied remains of
Ensign Reynolds.
    "He's alive, but he's lost a lot of blood," Vehakra confirmed. "We've got
to get him out of here."
    Vehakra tapped her comm-pin, "Rhikal to Vigilence. Three to beam up. And
lock on to Reynold's comm-badge and beam him up too."
    A moment later they were standing inside the cloaked runabout, which
orbited close by. Vehakra set about tending to Brynaziir's injuries, while
Sholek stowed Reynold's body, then headed up to the cockpit.
    "Vehakra," Sholek called toward the aft compartment.
    "Yes," she replied.
    "The shield is still in place. We will be unable to move beyond its
confines until Lt. Commander Ki'lal's team can deactivate it. We are trapped
here, between the statiuon and shield."
     Veh cringed and secured Brynaziir in a bunk, then headed up to the cockpit. "We've got to get Thoraz back to Fearless...or another ship in the fleet with adequate medical facilities. He's been hit with a Jem'Hadar disruptor. The wound won't quit bleeding. Sholek, we can't wait for Ki'lal
and Regnigh. I need another option to get us through that shield."

END TRANSMISSION

Subject: SO: Fearless/Shields Down

Captain Sortha
Bridge of the Fearless
Stardate 9710.15

   Captain Sortha listened in to the attack team's coded frequency.  It
played on the bridge speakers and had been doing so for the past forty-five
second, ever since the Fearless had gotten within the short range of the
team's subvocal transponders.
   The Federation/Klingon fleet was hovering just out of weapons range of the
station's fixed batteries.  Apparently Ki'lal was trapped unable to beam out
since the station's shields were between his team and the cloaked
bird-of-prey.  Rhikal's team had beamed to the cloaked runabout which was
small enough to fit within the confines of the shield,  but was unable to
leave until the shields were down.  There was only one alternative and Sortha
took it:
    "Ki'lal set a five second delay and blow those generators!  Rhikal, beam
Ki'lal's attack team out of there on his mark onto the runabout.  As soon as
the shields are down, get out of there!  Then we'll show them what Starfleet
can do."
=============================================================
Lt. Commander Vehakra Rhikal
Runabout Vigilance
Stardate 9710.15

   Vehakra Rhikal heard Captain Sortha's orders and slid behind the helm
controls of the runabout. She engaged the impulse engines and took the small
craft away from the spacedock berth and across the open expanse to the space
station -- Rendok Nor, keeping the ship just inside the perimeter of the shield.
    As soon as they were in transporter range, Veh locked on to the Away Team
and beamed them up to the Vigilance. Four seconds later, the explosives
detonated, destroying the shield generators and blowing a huge hole in the
side of the central portion of the space station.
    "The shield is down," Sholek reported from beside her. As soon as that
word came, Vehakra punched the impulse controls and the Vigilance soared away
from the Taurus spacedocks.
    Shortly there after, the fleet broke into attack wings and the final
assault on the spacedocks began...

END TRANSMISSION

Subject: SO: Fearless/Fleet Attacks

Lt. Sholek
On Runabout
Stardate 9710.15

     Veh cringed and secured Brynaziir in a bunk, then headed up to the
cockpit. "We've got to get Thoraz back to Fearless...or another ship in the
fleet with adequate medical facilities. He's been hit with a Jem'Hadar
disruptor. The wound won't quit bleeding. Sholek, we can't wait for Ki'lal
and Regnigh. I need another option to get us through that shield."
	"We could reconfigure our shields to match the frequency of the stations
shields," Sholek said in reply. "I was able to download schematics on the
station and it would be logical to assume that they will not change shield
frequencies any time soon. Unfortunately, this would alert them to our
presence."
=============================================================
Runabout Vigilance
Taurus Shipyards
Stardate 9710.16

    Just as Vehakra began to reconfigure the runabout's shields, the orders
came in from Captain Sortha and she instead went to retrieve Ki'lal and
Regnigh, hoping all the while Thoraz would be able to hold in there.
    Once Ki'lal's team was safely aboard and the shield generators were
destroyed, Vehakra guided the runabout away from the shipyard and toward the
fleet.
=============================================================
Lt. Commander Vehakra Rhikal
Runabout Vigilance
Stardate 9710.16

   Speeding toward the fleet, Vehakra began to scan for the Fearless, but she
soon found the Sovereign-class ship on the far side of the dockyards. With
the shields down, the fleet was moving in at full force, attacking the
shipyards with great intensity.
    A number of small but dangerous Jem'Hadar attack craft swooped in from
the dockyards and began to fight back, selecting the smaller, more vulnerable
ships in the fleet to attack.
    Still cloaked, the Vigilance weaved in an out of the battle as Vehakra
sought a place of safe refuge. With the Fearless so far away and in the midst
of heavy fighting, it would be difficult to get back there, so she decided
they would have to find some other place to seek medical attention for
Brynaziir.
      Scanning the fleet, Vehakra looked for a ship suitable to beam
Brynaziir on to. Within seconds she found the USS Crusader, an upgraded
Ambassador-class starship. The Crusader had just finished destroying a
spacedock and was moving on, flanked by two Miranda-class ships and a Klingon
Bird of Prey, toward another cluster of spacedock berths.
     "Runabout Vigilance to USS Crusader," Vehakra said. "This is a priority
one message."
     The face of the Crusader's captain appeared on the runabout's console
viewscreen. "This Captain Vernon MacAllister. Where are you signalling from,
Vigilance?"
     "It's kind of hard to explain, but we're going to be appearing off your
starboard side right now," Vehakra said, disengaging the claoking device.
Once the runabout decloaked, MacAllister raised an eyebrow and smiled.
     "You must be the advance unit that went in ahead of us, correct?" the
captain said.
     "Correct," Veh confirmed. "You can authenticate our identity with the
USS Fearless. I'm contacting you because I have a wounded man onboard who
needs immediate medical assistance.Can we beam him aboard your ship?"
     MacAllister nodded, "Yes, but make it quick. I don't want my sheilds
down long."
     "We're coming aboard," Vehakra confirmed, turning to Ki'lal and Regnigh.
"Lt. Regnigh, take the helm controls. I'm beaming over to the Crusader with
Lt. Brynaziir so we can get him some medical assistance. I want you to take
the Vigilance and get back to the Fearless."
     Regnigh nodded and took the helm controls as Vehakra and Ki'lal helped
the weak Thoraz Brynaziir on to the transporter pad in the rear of the ship.
Veh stood beside him and helped support him and waited.
     "Crusader's shields are down," Regnigh confirmed from the cockpit.
     Ki'lal moved to the transporter controls and locked on to the Crusader's
sickbay. "Ready."
     Vehakra nodded, "I'll see you after the battle, Ki'lal. Good luck and
qua'plah."
     A moment later she and Thoraz dematerialized and then found themselves
rematerialized in the sickbay of the Crusader. They were greeted by a doctor
and a couple of medics who took Thoraz and moved him to a bed.
     "Are you OK?" the doctor, a human male asked.
     "I'm fine. I just didn't want to leave him alone," Vehakra said. "I'm
Lt. Commander Vehakra Rhikal."
     "Dr. Norris, Ben Norris," the doctor said, picking up a medical
tricorder. "The captain wanted to see you on the bridge when you arrived."
     "I'm on my way," she said, turning to depart for the bridge...

END TRANSMISSION

Subject: SO: Fearless/Escort

Lt. Commander Tyrian M. Summers
Bridge of Dominion Prototype
Stardate 9710.16

     The whole ship shuddered from the repeated multiple blasts to the
shields.  Tyrian screamed over the noise to the bridge crew, "The lead ship
has just exploded to our port side,  there are four left, three on us and one
on the bird of prey."  Tyrian targeted one of the Dominion scout ships and
fired with both phased poloron beam banks onto the shields of the scout ship.
 The prototype's missle launcher was inoperable,  Renalt was working
furiously to fix it.  Targeting systems were down, and Tyrian had to do it
manually, and it was no picnic as fast as the ships were moving.  
     The Prototype and the Bird of Prey had been attacked by five Dominion
scout ships and a Keldon class Cardassian ship, they had managed to destroy
two, but the Bird of Prey had sustained heavy damage, and the Prototype had
been damaged as well.  The battle had been going on for about fifteen
minutes. 
      Tyrian had sent out a distress signal, but the nearest friendly ships
were attacking the shipyards and were a ways away.  They had received no word
back because the comm system had been damaged right after the transmission.  
    Aries turned to Tyrian and yelled, "Sir, the Bird of Prey has a emminant
core breach, its going to explode..........wait.....its changing
course......they are aquiring ramming speed."  There was a moment of silence
from Aries, then he looked over, "The Bird of Prey was successful, another
Jem'Hadar ship has been destroyed along with the Klingons." 
     Tyrian targeted again and fired at another Jem'Hadar ship.  About half
the shots connected.  The ships shields started to fail, and Tyrian continued
to fire as the other two ships concentrated their firepower on the prototypes
aft shields.  Tyrian scored a direct hit to the ship's warp nacelle, causing
nacelle to blow up, sending the rest of the ship spinning off into space
powerless.
     Tyrian called to Aries, "Damage report!"  Harrah spun the ship around to
try to face the Jem'Hadar ship as the Cardassian ship blasted away at the
prototype.  Aries yelled over the blasting, "Missle system is still down,
targeting systems down, long range scanners destroyed, comm system down, warp
system damaged, warp 3 is fastest available speed, and our shields are at
17%"  Just then, the ship rocked sideways violently, sending everyone on the
bridge careening to a wall or the floor.   
     Aries yelled, "Shields are down, I cannot raise them back up."  The
lights on the bridge went out, and the dim red emergency lights came online.
 Tyrian stood back up to the targeting console and said, "I hope the armor on
the hull of this ship can take a pounding, otherwise we are through."  Tyrian
fired more shots at the Jem'Hadar ship that was coming straight at them, but
the scout ship was coming in firing both poloron beams and missles.
     The Cardassian ship unloaded as well from the other side.  The console
in front of Harrah exploded with a flash of light, fire, and smoke, sending
Harrah shooting backwards into the front of Tyrian's tactical console.
 Tyrian yelled to Aries, "Route conn to the alternate panel and take over the
controls, quick!"  Aries complied as Tyrian kept firing.  Harrah was
uncouncious, but apparently alive Tyrian observed, luckily his body armor
took the brunt of the explosion.  The bridge was quickly filling with smoke.
 Every time the ship took a shot, there were sparks or small explosions on
the dim bridge.  
     The battle waged on for what seemed like hours, but Tyrian knew were
only minutes.  He had managed to disable the Cardassian ship's engines, but
it still was firing on them, plus, the prototypes thrusters were only at 35%
and it was right next to the Cardassian ship, in range..  The outlook was not
good, Tyrian was not sure how long the prototype could last, the ship was not
designed to be manned by only six crew, the ship would normally carry about
two hundred.  And Tyrian needed that many right now to get vital systems back
online.  
     Finally, Tyrian scored another good hit on the Jem'Hadar ship, piercing
its shields and hitting the engineering section.  Ensign Shultz looked over
to Tyrian, "Sir, it appears the Jem'Hadar are changing course to ram us!!"  
     Tyrian looked at the short range scanners and accessed the situation.
 He kind of grinned for a momment as he said to Aries, "Prepare to initiate
manuever Summers Delta One."  
     Aries said confused, "Sir?:"  Tyrian suddenly remembered he had only
told Harrah about that manuever he had created.  Tyrian leaped the tactical
console and nudged Aries aside quickly and started typing into the console
frantically.  Shultz said hurriedly, "Sir its too late!"
     Tyrian fell backwards as the prototype jumped to warp 3 suddenly.  The
Jem'Hadar ship just missed the Prototype and rammed directly into the
Cardassian Keldon class ship.  The Scout Ship exploded and the Cardassian
ship started spinning sideways out of control, then blew up, completely
destroying the ship.
     Tyrian sat on the floor for a moment, visions of his fathers death at
the hands of the Jem'Hadar in a similar situation clouded his mind.  He got
up dazed and asked for a status report.  Shultz slowly began to rattle off
damages, he and the rest of the crew were visibly shaken at the near death
experience.  Tyrian helped Harrah back up off the floor as Harrah shook his
head, dazed.
     Tyrian said, "Begin repairs, we still have two hours until Federation
space, and hopefully......safety."
=============================================================
Lt. Commander Vehakra Rhikal
USS Crusader
Stardate 9710.17

    Vehakra Rhikal stepped off the turbolift onto the bridge of the
Ambasaador-class starship, USS Crusader. Several of the bridge crew saw her
and had to do a double take...a green-skinned Orion female with long flowing
black hair and wearing a black, skin-tight covert ops uniform was certainly
an unusual sight.
     "Lt. Commander Rhikal reporting as ordered, captain," Veh said, coming
to stand behind Captain MacAllister. The captain turned and looked at
Vehakra, trying to hide his surprise at seeing her up close.
     "Commander," he said. "I trust you and your wounded man are alright?"
     "We're fine, your doctor is workingon him now," Vehakra said.
     "Good," MacAllister said. "We've just finished our run on spacedock
cluster 12. I believe that is the dock the prototype ship was taken from?"
     "It was," Veh said. "How are we doing, if I may ask?"
     "Remarkably well. The spacedocks are 70 percent destroyed," he said
proudly. "We've lost a minimal number of ships. We caught them quite by
surprise."
     "That's good news," she replied. "What of the prototype?"
     "That what I wanted to ask you about," he said, "she's fallen under
attack and is proceeding to the border. I take it more of your men are
aboard?"
     Veh nodded, "They are. Are they receiving any support?"
     "None of the ships have been able to disengage to go help," MacAllister
said. "What can you tell me about that prototype?"
     "Just that it is important to the Federation," Vehakra said.
     MacAllister frowned and glanced at the tactical readout on the
viewscreen. "So it would probably be in our best interest to see that she's
escorted safely out of Cardassian space?"
      "Most definitely sir," Vehkara replied.
      "Very good," he said. "Helm, we're breaking off. Notify the Venture
that we're going to the aid of the prototype. The rest of our attack wing can
continue mopping up."
     "Aye sir," one of the officers replied. Vehakra then watched as the
Crusader broke formation and headed on course for the stolen prototype.
     "Hail the prototype," MacAllister said. 
     A moment later, Tyrian's weary face appeared on the viewscreen.
"Prototype here. Thanks for responding to our call for assistance, Captain."
     "Hello Tyrian," Vehakra said, stepping forward.
     "Veh!" he said. "What are you doing on the Crusader?"
     "Medical problem. Brynaziir was wounded so I had the team drop us off on
the nearest ship," she said. "But he's doing OK. He's in sickbay. We lost
Reynolds and  Bonata, though."
     He nodded thoughfully, "Sorry to hear that."
     "Captain MacAllister has graciously agreed to escort you back to the
border. The fleet is about done here, anyway," Vehakra said.
      "Good, we can use the support," Summers said.
      "Let us know if you need anything else, commander," the captain said.
"We'll be right here beside you. Crusader out."
      Vehkara then sent a message to the Fearless, informing them of the
Crusader's course change, before returning to sickbay to check on Brynaziir.

END TRANSMISSION

Subject: SO: Fearless/The Battle Ends, The War Begins

The Battle of the Taurus Shipyards
Stardate 9710.19

    The stolen prototype starship was successfully piloted out of Cardassian
space, escorted by the USS Crusader and several Klingon ships. Once back in
Federation space, the ship was taken to Starbase 189 where possession of the
vessel was taken by Starfleet Intelligence.
    Shortly thereafter, the Fearless (with the Vigilance safely back aboard)
and the Vok'tar, along with the rest of the fleet, arrived at the starbase.
The battle had gone well with the shipyards now nothing more than a field of
debris. But news from Deep Space Nine was not so good. The station had fallen
to the combined forces of the Dominion and Cardassians.
     Worse yet, a state of war now existed between the Federation and
Dominion. The time to fight was finally here.
     Vehakra Rhikal and a recovering Thoraz Brynaziir returned to the
Fearless from the Crusader, while Tyrian Summers and Clayton Aries rejoined
the crew after turning over their captured Dominion prototype.
     With the ship parked at Starbase 189 for several days, Captain Sortha
made allowances for some crew shore leaves. Battle plans were being drawn and
the Fearless would soon be heading back into the thick of things.
=============================================================
Captain Sortha
USS Fearless
Stardate 9710.19

    The Fearless along with the rest of the Federation fleet returned to
Federation space in triumph.  The attack had been an almost total success.
 Word had arrived that DS9 had been captured by the Dominion, but that
Captain Sisko had taken a good many of the Jem Hadar and Cardassian ships out
before they had vacated the station.
     The enemy had paid a heavy price for taking DS9, not only had they
suffered heavy losses at DS9, but the diversion had allowed the Deferation to
strike with superior force at the Dominion/Cardassian shipyards.  Not only
were enemy ships destroyed, but now if any enemy ship were damaged, it would
remain damaged for an extended period of time.
     Sortha was in his quarters and the crew had all returned to the
Fearless.  Sortha's chime sounded.  "Come" he said.
     Kalahna stood in the doorway in civilian clothes carrying a large duffel
bag.  Sortha had a pretty good idea of what would be next.
     "Captain, I, I, I..."  Kalahna was close to tears.
     Sortha got up off his rock slab as Kalahna came into the room.  "I know"
Sortha said gently.  "I heard about the treaty between Bajor and the
Dominion."  
     Kalahna's wide Bajoran eyes held a wealth of emotion as they looked
forlornly at Sortha.  "I can't leave my people now.  We'll fight,
somehow.....   We got rid of the Cardassians, we will get rid of them and the
Dominion as well" she vowed.
     "I know you will" Sortha said putting a large clawed hand gently on her
shoulder.  Then she broke down and leaned into his chest crying openly.
 Sortha felt sorry for her.  Bajor had suffered so much already.  Now it
would suffer some more.  He imagined the Gorn homeworld in the same
predicament and shuddered inwardly.  "I'll be sorry I'm losing such a fine
officer" Sortha finally said.
     With a slight smile Kalahna looked up, "I asked for extended leave.  I'm
not quitting Starfleet.  Admiral Jaeger said he understood."    The huge Gorn
and the diminuative Bajoran talked the rest of the night.  Finally morning
came, and it was time for Kalahna to leave.  
     "Good Luck Kalahna" Sortha said, "Ssstay alive."
     "I will.....and you'll be hearing from me from Bajor....one way or
another" she said with a mischievious wink.
  
END TRANSMISSION

Subject: SO: Fearless/Docked at Starbase 189

Lt. Thoraz Brynaziir
U.S.S. Fearless
Stardate 9710.20

   Thoraz had been back on the Fearless for a day. "Time to see the Captain,"
he thought.  Thoraz headed for the turbolift: "Bridge."
   He entered the Bridge, saw that Captain Sortha wasn't there and then
headed for the Captain's ready room.
<chime>
    "Come in," called Sortha.
   Thoraz entered and stood at attention. "Captain.  I have brought my report
on the mission.  I have failed you.  Ensign Reynolds died as a direct result
of my orders.  In addition I was careless and endangered both my life and
that of Commander Rhikal's and Lt Sholek's when they had to rescue me.
 Reporting for disciplinary measures, sir!"
    Thoraz waited uneasily, being unable to 'read' the captain.
=============================================================
Lt. Commander Vehakra Rhikal
USS Fearless/Docked at Starbase 189
Stardate 9710.20
  
   Vehakra was shocked when she heard Kalahna was leaving the Fearless. The
Bajoran woman was her best friend and now she was leaving to return to her
homeworld.
    The Orion woman left her quarters and sought out the Bajoran. Kalahna had
just finished packing and had taken her gear down to the transporter room.
She knew Kalahna well enough to know she wanted to slip off the ship without
saying goodbye to everyone. Kalahna didn't want to make a scene, or let
anyone see her crying. 
     But Veh had to say goodbye. She owed Kalahna her life and more than
that, she was Vehakra's best friend. They might not get a chance to see one
another again.
     Vehakra walked into the transporter room as Kalahna stood and waited for
word that her transport was ready to depart for Bajor. When the doors open,
Kalahna turned and saw Vehakra, and she could see the tears well in the
Bajoran's eyes.
     "Taking off without even saying goodbye?" Vehakra asked.
     "I'm sorry Veh," she said. "You know I'm no good at saying goodbye. I'd
like to think I'll be back here when this war is over."
     "Why not stay here and fight alongside us?" the Orion asked. "Bajor will
be free again."
     Kalahna shook her head. "My world needs me. I've fought in the
Resistance. If a new Resistance is formed, I need to be there to help."
    Vehakra nodded as a tear ran down her cheek. "I just hate to see you
leave. You were the only other woman on the command staff. It's good to have
another woman to talk to. Sometimes the guys just don't get it."
    "Especially Ki'lal," Kalahna joked, "I think he understands females about
as much as he would gardening or cooking."
    They laughed. Then they hugged.
    "I'll miss you, Jarnell," Vehakra said as they both cried. "I owe you my
life."
    "Forget it," Kalahna said. "I was just helping out a friend."
    A chime signaled from the transporter controls. The transporter chief on
duty checked the incoming message, then nodded to Kalahna.
    "The next Bajoran transport bound for Bajor is ready to depart," the
chief said. "I wouldn't miss it, commander. Word is the Dominion and
Cardassians are imposing travel restrictions in and out of the Bajor system.
This might be your last chance to get there."
    "Understood," she said. "Tell them to standby."
    "Guess this is it," Vehakra said. "Don't get yourself killed."
    Kalahna smirked. "You to. Watch your back from now on, I won't be here to
do it for you."
    The Bajoran then picked up her bags and stepped on to the transporter
pad. She looked back at Vehakra and winked. A moment later, she was enveloped
in the transporter beam and disappeared.
    When Kalahna was gone, Vehakra bowed her head for a moment, then turned
and left the transporter room. She checked the time and found she had six
hours before she was on duty. She decided to go over to the station and find
a bar whenre she could drink and be alone.

END TRANSMISSION

Subject: SO: Fearless/Life Goes On

Lt. Commander Tyrian M. Summers
Onboard Dominion Prototype
Stardate 9710.20

     Tyrian's heart sank as the transmission from the USS Crusader came over
the ship to ship comm.  "Commander Summers, this is Crusader, we have just
recieved orders to escort you to Starbase 189.  We are to change course
immediatly, Crusader out."  Tyrian was dissappointed, with a war starting, it
could be months....even years before he would see his family again.  And with
being in Shadow Operations, it could be never, if he was one of the unlucky
ones.  He sighed as Harrah changed coordinates for Starbase 189.
=============================================================
Admiral Erik Jaegar
Admiral's Office/USS Fearless
Stardate 9710.21

   Lt. Jonathan Regnigh entered the admiral's office and saw Captain Sortha
standing beside Admiral Jaegar. Jaegar motioned for Regnigh to be seated.
   "Lieutenant, fine job on that last mission," the admiral said.
   Regnigh, uncertain of why he'd been called to Jaegar's office, nodded,
"Thank you sir."
   "Mr. Regnigh, let me cut to the chase. We've been asked by Klingon
Imperial Intelligence to provide them with a liaison officer to help
coordinate intelligence between Starfleet and the Klingons," Jaegar said.
"They've requested you, at the urging of Captain Varalis."
   Regnigh couldn't believe it. Varalis had asked for him specifically? Just
great, he thought. But it was an offer he clearly couldn't -- or shouldn't
refuse.
    "OK. What do I do?" he asked.
    "You'll travel to Qo'noS, the Klingon Homeworld, where you'll be assigned
to the Ministry of Intelligence," Jaegar explained. "You'll simply coordinate
intelligence reports between Starfleet and the Klingons and could be sent as
an...observer on some Klingon covert operations."
    "I take it Varalis is also being assigned to Klingon Intelligence?"
Regnigh asked.
    "Yesss," Sortha chimed in. "The Vok'tar will take you to Qo'noSss. It has
been attached to Klingon intelligence for the duration of the war."
    Figures, Jonathan thought to himself. Varalis wanted to have some time
alone with him, and to have him at her side in battle. The coming weeks and
months would be interesting.
    "When the assignment ends, will I return to Fearless?" Regnigh asked.
    "Yes," Jaegar replied. "You could be there the duration of the war."
    "I accept sir," Regnigh said. "When do I leave."
    Jaegar smiled, "Tonight. The Vok'tar leaves in six hours."
    Regnigh nodded. "Very well, admiral. Captain. If I can be dismissed, I'll
start packing."
    "Good luck, lieutenant," Jaegar said, standing and shaking Regnigh's hand.
    "Thank you sir," he replied.
    "And quaplah," Sortha added.
    Regnigh nodded and left to go pack his things. He'd soon be leaving for the Klingon Empire aboard the Vok'tar. It would be an interesting trip, to be certain.
=============================================================
Transfer Orders
From: Admiral Sorvek, Shadow Ops Training Facility
To; Captain Sortha, USS Fearless
Subject: Lt. JG Ian Quilman, Ensign Jamie T. Marcus
Stardate 9710.21

   Captain Sortha, we are sending you two recent Shadow Ops training
graduates: Lt. JG Ian Quilman and Ensign Jamie T. Marcus.
   Quilman is trained in command with specialty training in  Advanced
Command, Surveillance.
    Marcus is trained in command, tactical and is an accomplished shuttle
pilot. She has speciality training in unarmed combat and energy weapons.
    Quilman will be dearting Earth for Starbase 189 shortly. Marcus should be
arriving soon.
    Place these officers within your unit as you see fit. Live Long and Prosper.
Admiral Sorvek.
=============================================================
Ensign Jamie T. Marcus
Bound for Starbase 189
Stardate 9710.21

    Ensign Jamie Marcus stood stiffly in her starched and pressed starfleet
uniform.  The dark hues of the duty uniform reflected the somber mood she
currently felt.  She had just graduated Starfleet Academy and Shadow
Operations training.
   On the exact date of her graduation, the Federation had declared war on
the Dominion.   The red hue of her shirt under the uniform, indicative of an
officer on the command track, also reflected her mood.  Inside her calm
exterior she felt the rage that most humans felt at the thought of war
against a powerful enemy.  She had grown up under the threat of the Dominion
and now, her fear, and that of many other members of the Federation had come
to pass.
     Ensign Jamie Marcus was Starfleet through and through.  Gazing out the
duraplast viewing window of the shuttlecraft taking her to her first
assignment on the USS Fearless she reflected on the path that had taken her
here.  Unlike many people her path had been a very straight and narrow one,
leading directly to where she was now.  She didn't remember it clearly, but
she had been told many times of the time when she was five and her mother had
asked her what she wanted to be when she grew up.  Jamie had answered
quickly..."I want to be a starship captain mama!" 
   Her parents had laughed and brushed it off.  However as Jamie reached
junior high school and neglected her interest in the usual boys, clothes, and
hairstyles that so many girls went through, and instead concentrated on
aikijujitsu and starship weapons design, they started getting worried.  
   Both her parents came from a long line of distinguished Federation
scientists in the medical and biological sciences, and they didn't want their
only child growing up to be a member of the "military."   
    Jamie continued her studies throughout high school, taking only those
courses she felt would ease her entrance into Starfleet Academy.  Her parents
tried all manner of diversion...including outright bribery but she was not to
be disuaded.  "I'm going to be in Starfleet mama!" was shouted throughout the
Marcus household on more than a few occasions.
    Finally her parents through up their hands in disgust and sadly shook
their heads as they consigned their daughter to her fate.  Talking with their
relatives they explained and bemoaned, "well out of all the children in our
family she had to get the bad genes!" Jamie graduated high school at 17, and
went to an advanced college curriculum at the University of Californaia San
Francisco, all in preparation for the Starfleet officers exam that she would
have to take at age 20.    
     She remembered the day of the test very clearly.  She had walked into
the testing room filled with approximately 100 applicants, only three of
which would be considered further.  While the other applicant conversed
nervously she sat serenely by the window looking out at San Francisco Bay.
 She scored 99.8 percent on the test, and was accepted into Starfleet
Academy.
    She continued the performance throughout her four years at the Academy.
 It wasn't that she was a genius, although she was very intelligent, it was
simply that she had no other distractions.  Her life was Starfleet and the
Academy.  She graduated at the top of her class, and no one was really all
that surprised.  Her nickname was "Ice" because the only topics she discussed
were starships, Starfleet and strategy.  
      They were getting close to Fearless.  Jamie pulled down her shirt
straightening it for the hundreth time that day.  She was 24 and ready for
her first assignment...in the middle of the Federation's most desperate war.
 She was approximately 5'8" tall and weighed in at a trim 125 pounds.  She
wore her light brown auburn hair trimmed exactly at the shoulder.  She had
the body and grace of a natural athlete and it showed when she walked.  Above
all, she projected an extreme air of self-confidence as if she already knew
 where her destiny was.  
     Another ensign came up to her.  "Ensign Marcus, Fearless is ready to
transport."
     "Very well." she said tapping her commbadge, "Fearless, this is Ensign
Marcus.  Request permission to come aboard." 
     On the Fearless the duty officer replied naturally, "Permission granted,
 Prepare for transport."   Seconds later Ensign Marcus and her small duffel
bag were beamed aboard the Fearless.
 
END TRANSMISSION

Subject: SO: Fearless/Taking Care of Business

Captain Sortha
Ready Room
Stardate 9710.23

   Sortha looked up as Brynaziir entered his office and assumed a position at
attention in front of the desk.  "Captain.  I have brought my report on the
mission.  I have failed you.  Ensign Reynolds died as a direct result of my
orders.  In addition I was careless and endangered both my life and that of
Commander Rhikal's and Lt Sholek's when they had to rescue me.  Reporting for
disciplinary measures, sir!"
   Thoraz waited uneasily, being unable to 'read' the captain.
   Sortha took the report and reviewed it silently, then set it down on the
desk and motioned for the Betazoid to be seated.
    "Reynoldss death wass unfortunate," Sortha began. "It iss not eassy to be
in command and isssue ssomeone an order, and then have them die as a ressult
 of that order. But he knew the the risskss of the job, lieutenant. He died
fighting for the freedom of the Federation. Hiss death will not be forgotten.
    "More than likely, if he would not have been ssent out of the sservice
conduit, you both may have been killed," Sortha continued. "And you actionss
helped the away team carry out their orderss. Lt. Commander Rhikal's report
ssaid you were vital to the ssuccess of the mission. I do not hold you
ressponsible, for Reynoldss death nor any failuress you may perceive."
    Thoraz was still uncertain, "But sir, my orders sent Reynolds to his
death. He wasn't ready to face the Jem'Hadar alone."
    "Again, that iss unfortunate, but as a Starfleet officer he knew the
rissks," Sortha said. "I have losst many officers under my command. It iss
not pleassant and it never getss any better. It iss a ssad fact of life in a
military organization like Shadow Opss. Take ssome time in the next few dayss
and think about thiss. You need to make peace with thiss on your own.
Disssmissed."
    After Brynaziir was gone, the door chime signalled once again and Sortha
called for the person to enter. It was a young woman, with short brownish
hair and an athletic body. She entered and stood at attention before the
captain.
    "Ensign Jamie T. Marcus, reporting for duty," she said.
=============================================================
Lt. Commander Vehakra Rhikal
Starbase 189
Stardate 9710.23

   Vehakra was shocked to hear that Regnigh was also leaving the Fearless.
While it was possible he'd return, being there was a war the crew might never
see him again...or it could be the other way around. These were indeed trying
times.
   The Orion woman had spent the days following the mission on the Starbase,
when not on duty, relaxing and mingling with the station crew. Talk amongst
the people at the starbase was not good. Many feared what the war would
bring.
    After hearing that Thoraz was taking the death of Ensign Reynolds hard,
and his own near death on the Jem'Hadar spacedock, Rhikal figured she'd
better go find the Betazoid and offer him some words of reassurance and a
friendly ear.
    She finally tracked Brynaziir to an observation lounge on the starbase.
The huge windows in the lounge looked outside the station and revealed the
majestic sight of the ships of the fleet assembled around the station.
    Vehakra saw Thoraz looking out the window, nursing a drink. As she grew
closer, she saw Thoraz take notice of her, probably reading her as she
approached. She offered him a smile as she stepped up to his table.
    "Mind if I join you?" Veh asked, then awaiting an answer...

END TRANSMISSION

Subject: SO: Fearless/Downtime at Starbase 189

Lt. Thoraz Brynaziir
Lt. Commander Vehakra Rhikal
Observation Lounge
Stardate 9710.24

    Vehakra saw Thoraz looking out the window, nursing a drink. As she grew
closer, she saw Thoraz take notice of her, probably reading her as she
approached. She offered him a smile as she stepped up to his table.
   "Mind if I join you?" Veh asked, then awaiting an answer...
   "Of course Commander."
   "I understand you're having some difficulty dealing with the death of
Ensign Reynolds," Vehakra said. "Do you want to talk about it?"

    "Well, I have been with Captain Sortha ever since I graduated from Shadow
Ops.  Even though I am Security trained I was at first assigned as Ship's
Counsellor.  I have become accustomed to the crew.  The away mission was my
first leadership role.  I could sense the Cardassians near and I also sensed
Reynold's fear.  Commander, this may be hard for you to understand, but since
I was constantly 'reading' Reynold's emotions and trying to boost his morale
I was in contact with his mind when he died.  I FELT HIM DIE! I'm sorry for
my outburst, Commander.  It was uncalled for.  Maybe I should talk Sholek.  He has the Vulcan disciplines.
     "I joined Shadow Ops to protect my family, my friends and the Federation. I sent Reynolds to his death, and regardless of what the Captain says, I know Reynolds was not ready or able to perform the duties I asked of him."
     Thoraz fell silent after releasing all the pent up emotions he was
having since the mission.

     Vehakra placed a hand on Thoraz's shoulder. "Look, I feel bad about
Reynolds too. He was under my overall command on the mission. We lost Bonata
too. But this is war, Thoraz. A lot more people are going to die before this
thing is over.
    "I can't say I know how it would feel to be linked to someone elses mind
and emotions, but I know how hard it is to lose an officer under your
command. It's a horrible feeling. But you'll get through it.
     "Maybe it would help you to talk to another Betazoid, or someone with
empathic or telepathic abilities.Maybe even Sholek, like you said. He knows
of Vulcan mental disciplines. Maybe he could help you with this.
     "But no matter what you decide, remember I'm here for you," Vehakra
concluded, taking a hold of the Betazoid's hand and gripping it...
=============================================================
Lieutenant (jg) Ian Quilman
USS Fearless
Stardate 9710.24	

   The news that I had graduated and was promoted was one of the high points
of my life, right up there with graduating from Star Fleet.  I was getting
ready for the party the Admiral was giving, but the news that Cardassian and
Jem'Hadar ships had attacked DS 9 and war had just broken out made me start
packing. 
    I thought that my new assingment would need all the man-power it could
use.  After getting all my gear ready, not too much I'm a light packer, I
sent a message to the Admiral and Lt. Commander saying how much I would have
liked to attend the party but hoped that they would understand my leaving for
my new ship now.  As I got to Spacedock and waited at the counter to see
about transport to SB 189, I saw that the crew was not taking any chances
blood test were given to all checking in, then travel orders were checked.
    As the flight for SB 189 was called I saw many superior officers getting
ready to board.  Then an anouncement was made that Commander Mogenson was to
get off the flight and make room for me.  The Commander was very upset at
loosing his seat to a Lt. (jg) and made it known to all.  However the
security officers informed him that I had higher ranking travel orders then
he did.  He tried to go over their heads but the
Captain in charge of security was not intrested in hearing any complaints.  
   Commander Mogenson did want to see my orders and who had signed my travel
assingment.  He made it known to me that he was in charge of a maintenance
detail onboard SB 189 and would be seeing me there and would finish the
matter there.
    The rest of my trip was a blur and soon I found myself on the starbase
waiting to transfer to the Fearless.  I got to the air lock and asked for
permission to board, I then made my way to Captain Sortha, and presented
myself for duty.  
=============================================================
Captain Sortha
Ready Room
Stardate 9710.25

     Captain Sortha reviewed the changes in crew assignments he had just
made.  He was losing several key officers and fresh replacements would have
to fill in.  That was the way of war.
     During wartime the Federation reactivated ships that it had mothballed,
ships that were slightly too old or were too expensive to operate normally.
 Federation shipyards would be working overtime as well, putting out as many
ships as possible in anticipation of losses.
     Federation members and ally races would also be converting civillian
spacecraft into military vessels.  Federation battlepods, self contained
modules that had their own power supply and were stocked full of phasers and
photon torpedo launchers were being fitted to merchant marine ships that had
been designed to accept the pods in time of war.
    It was the greatest mobilization in the history of the Federation.
 Fortunately for the Federation it came a few years after the first Borg
invasion, and Starfleet had responded with large numbers of purpose built
fighting ships.  Q had done the Federation a favor by introducing them to the
Borg earlier-- it had made them stronger to face the Dominion.  
     The greater number of ships meant that Starfleet required more crew, so
all front line ships were losing experienced officers and were being issued
replacements, either retired officers recalled back to duty or freshly
graduated Academy cadets.  
     Sortha noted with some satisfaction that his people, the Gorn, had also
declared war on the Dominion and now stood with the Federation, the Klingons,
and several other non-allied races aainst the Dominion.  Sortha snorted a
full blown snort of disgust.  The despicable Romulans were remaining neutral,
most likely in hopes of mopping up after the Federation and Dominion had
destroyed each other.
     Not many Gorn ships would see action against the Dominion, at least not
right away.  They were busy manning BOTH the Gorn and Federation borders with
the Romulans.  As such they were spread thin, but they would suffice to slow
down any Romulan assault against an unprotected flank of the Federation or
Gorn territory--- and they would be slowed with the loss of much green
Romulan blood.
     A Gorn tactical task force had been dispatched to the Federation
Cardassian border to represent the Gorn in the fighting.  It was composed of
a Gorn battleship, two light cruisers and two destroyers.  Like all Gorn
ships, they were built heavily armored and heavily shielded.  They were armed
with phasers, photon torpedoes, as well as plasma torpedoes.  They also had
several banks of strong tractor beams and multiple transporter pads, as the
Gorn liked to board enemy ships as much as possible due to their physical
prowess and ability to wear heavy phaser resistant armor in combat.
     To the practical Gorn it was always more efficient to capture an enemy
ship than to destroy it... there was an entire Gorn reserve fleet that was
composed of refitted captured Romulan vessels.  Sortha looked forward to
serving alongside his fellow Gorn in a fierce war.  The commander of the
flotilla was a renowned Gorn General, named Ska Kradesh, his scales a dull
gray with age, and with more than a few teeth missing, but the 200 year old
general was still as tough as duranium alloy armor plate.
    Sortha hissed in glee at the thought of the Dominion attempting to board
one of the Gorn vessels, they would certainly be surprised.
    Working with a PADD, Sortha finally completed the new crew assignments
and posted the new roster to his officers:

New crew changes are as follows:
Lieutenant Commander Vehakra will assume Kalahna's post at Ops.
Ensign Jamie Marcus is assigned as Assistant Security Chief (replaces
Vehakra), Lt. Ian Quilman is assigned to Helm,  Lieutenant Nash is transferred off Fearless. Ensign Shavoc will fill Lieutenant Regnigh's place as Assistant Tactical Chief.

   After he sent out the message to his crew, the door chimed and when it sld
open, a young officer walked in, "Lt. JG Ian Quilman reporting for duty, sir."

END TRANSMISSION

Subject: SO: Fearless/Welcoming the Crew

Captain Sortha
Ready Room
Stardate 9710.26

     Captain Sortha invited the young officer into his ready room, and stood
to greet the human.  
     "Greetingsss  Lt. Quilman, welcome to the Fearlesss."  Sortha noticed
the humans reaction upon seeing Sortha, which was to take a half step
backward.  Although allies for decades, few humans had worked with, let alone
seen a Gorn in person, and the massive stature of the Gorn usually produced
this reaction the first time.  Then again,  the double rows of razor sharp
teeth, claws, and dark green reptilian hide might have had something to do
with it.  
     Sortha extended a huge clawed hand in the human tradition.  Quilman
grasped it firmly for a human Sortha noticed.  Sortha had read Quilman's file
thoroughly.  He appeared to be a competent officer on paper, only time would
tell how he would stand up under the constant stress of prolonged combat.
     "You are asssigned to navigation" Sortha informed him.  "Your
predecessssor was transsferred to sserve as the executive officer of a
resserve sstarsship."  Sortha considered the human standing before him.  One
of his weaknesses was with human facial expression, which made it awkward for
the large Gorn to get instant feedback on how his officers felt. 
     "Your crewmatess are all top notch officerss, many who have sserved with
me for some time now.  Learn from them asss quickly ass you can, I'm afraid
we won't have much time for training..."   After several minutes of getting
to know each other, Sortha asked "by the way, a quesstion...  how did you
ressolve the Kobayashi Maru sscenario in the academy?   

Later....

     Sortha tapped his commbadge: "Sortha to Lieutenant Brynaziir, report to
the bridge, captain's ready room."
    Brynaziir showed up shortly, "You wanted to see me sir?"
    "Yess, pleasse sit down."   The Betazoid sat.  "Lieutenant, I know you
have your hands full adjusting to your new duties as assistant security
chief, however I have another requesst of you."
    "What is that sir" Brynaziir asked somewhat despondently, still suffering
the effects of losing a man under his command.
    "We will be having many new crew coming on board... and I am...well...
not very good at reading their feelings or ...morale.  Yet we need to be a
cohesive fighting team if we are to ssurvive thiss war.  Ssso I would
appreciate it, if you would pay extra attention to the state of the crew and
let me know of any problems, and try to easse their transition." Sortha
watched Brynaziir's reaction carefully.  "I am relying on your help,
Lieutenant" Sortha added...
----------

     Another new officer was reporting to Sortha in several seconds.  Sortha
sighed, so many, so young.  He hurriedly looked at her record on his PADD.
 Jamie Marcus, excellent academic scores- top of her class actually, but
untested in combat...  Just then the doorchime sounded.  "Enter" Sortha said.
 
     Ensign Marcus walked in, rather strode in and came to a crisp attention.
 "Ensign Jamie T. Marcus reporting for duty, sir!" she barked out in
traditional cadet style.
     "At eassse Enssign" Sortha said, as he rose his bulk out of his command
chair and came around the desk to stand in front of her.  He noticed her eyes
widened somewhat, but she remained in place, calmly looking up at him.   He
extended his hand in the traditional human greeting, and she shook it.
     Sortha was very careful not to damage her small hand.  "Your assignment
is as Assistant to the security chief, Lieutenant Commander Ki'lal.  Sortha
noted a frown cross Marcus' face.  "Iss there a problem Ensign?" Sortha asked. 
     "No Sir, no problem, no problem at all." she replied stoically.
 Sortha continued on, "Your crewmatess are all top notch officerss, many who
have sserved with me for some time now.  Learn from them asss quickly ass you
can, I'm afraid we won't have much time for training..."   After several
minutes of getting to know each other, Sortha asked "by the way, a
quesstion...  how did you ressolve the Kobayashi Maru sscenario in the academy?   
=============================================================
Lt. Sholek
Stardate 9710.24
USS Fearless

	"Revenge," came the voice.
	"Vengence," came another voice.
	Sholek recognized the first voice, his wife. It took him a second to figure out that the second voice was his father.
	"Dad," he spoke out.
	Sholek could now see, not only his wife and his dad, but his children and
His mother and sister. His entire family that had been slaughtered by the Romulan government except his brother. They were all calling out to him for vengence.
	"Vengence?" he questioned. "Do you meen vengence upon the ones who killed
you?" Even in his dreams he retained his calm Vulcan like composure.
	"The weed my son. In the garden the weed has killed all the plants but one. The weed will not be satisfied until the last plant in the garden is dead."
	"Weed?" Sholek asked confused. "What do you meen weed and what garden."
	"Kill the weed, my son. Don't let it kill the last of the garden."
	"I can not kill anything if I do not know what it is I am trying to kill," he replied. "Who or what is this weed."
	"You abandoned us," Lonra, his wife, said. "You left us for the Vulcans but you can redeem yourself. Kill the weed that killed our garden."
	"I don't understand," Sholek said still confused. "We never had a garden."
	"Logic is not working for you," his wife said. "Envoke your emotions. You
must use them to kill the weed, to understand."
	"Last time you spoke about emotions," he began to recollect. "Why? I still don't understand. Tell me what the weed is."
	"Your blood," was the last thing he heard.

	As he woke up, he felt a sudden throbbing in his head. He would need to
contact his mentor on Vulcan again.
=============================================================
Lt. Commander Vehakra Rhikal
USS Fearless
Stardate 9710.26

    Assigned to ops? Vehakra was not pleased with the new crew assignments.
She had ops training so handling the station would be no problem, it was the
fact she was worried about being tied to the ops console on the bridge all
the time.
    But, she resigned herself to the fact she and the rest of the crew would
be seeing much more action than any of them wanted to in the months to come.
It wouldn't be so bad, and with her field experience, Sortha was likely to
send her out on Away Missions from time to time.
    Still, leaving security would be difficult, but she would adjust.
    Vehakra wanted to meet the new crew members soon. Ensign Marcus, Lt.
Quilman and Ensign Shavoc all seemed like good, competent officers. The
trials ahead for the crew would prove their usefulness in battle, though.

END TRANSMISSION

Subject: SO: Fearless/Personal Issues

Ensign Jamie T. Marcus
Ready Room
Stardate 9710.27

   "Damn!" Jamie thought to herself as she heard Sortha ask the one question
she didn't want to answer about the academy... the Kobayashi Maru scenario.
 It was the one demerit she had received while at the academy, the only
blemish on an otherwise perfect record.  
     "I resolved it successfully sir." she replied hoping that would be
enough of an explanation.  
     Unfortunately the huge green Gorn with the Captain's pips was not
dissuaded so easily.  "I understand that the Kobayashi Maru is supposed to be
a no-win scenario" Sortha replied evenly.
    Jamie began to sweat under her now seemingly tight and itchy uniform...
stay cool, stay cool she thought to herself.  Does he know?  Is he toying
with me?
The Gorn waited for an answer.
    "It is sir, the first time I took the test my ship and my crew were
killed to the last person." she replied.
     "The first time ensign..." Sortha prodded.
     "Yes sir, the first time I did not know it was a no-win scenario.  I
requested to take the test again.  Because of my academic record my
instructors decided it would be interesting to let me take it again."
     "And what happened the second time?" Sortha asked.
     "I crashed the simulator program." Jamie replied.
     "Crashed the program...?" Sortha cocked his head to one side, "how did
you crash the program?"
     Jamie took a deep breath, she had better come clean with her captain she
thought.  "Well I don't like to lose, so the night before I downloaded a
program that would alter the conditions of the test so that it would be at
least possible to win. Unfortunately it seems that strategy had been tried
before, so the Academy had installed countermeasures.  My program was
attacked by a defensive program that resided within the Kobayashi Maru
programming.  It seems that my invasive program and the simulator's were just
about evenly matched.  While I was taking the second test they built up into
an infinite feedback loop off each other and fried the computer circuitry.
 The simulation quit just after I had destroyed two Romulan warbirds, and
three more were closing in."
     "So you attempted to cheat?" Sortha asked menacingly.
     "No sir, not in the least, no one said that it was illegal to attempt to
reprogram the simulation."
     Sortha stared at Jamie for several minutes, finally letting out a series
of sharp hisses, the equivalent of Gorn laughter.   "And Starfleet did not
give you a commendation for original thinking?" Sortha said between hisses.
 "Times have changed.  You're lucky they didn't dismiss you." 
     "Well Sir, they... uh made an exception in my case."  Jamie replied with
a twinkle in her eye.
     "Yes I bet they did, I bet they did" Sortha said baring his teeth in a
ferocious smile.   "Dismissed Ensign."    
     Once outside the Captain's door, Jamie breathed a sigh of relief.  Good
thing he hadn't asked how long it took to get the simulator back up and
running.  Her shift was not ready to start for another five hours so she
headed down to teh ship's holodeck for some zero-G personal combat
simulations.  She loved the freedom of weightless combat and it's reliance on
mental strategy over physical prowess.  It was always challenging.
 Afterward, she took a quick shower in her quarters, pulled the latest
reports on Dominion battle tactics from the computer and went down to the
lounge for  dinner before she went on duty.
=============================================================
Commander Michael Dyer
X.O.'s Office
U.S.S. Fearless
Stardate 9710.26

   Dyer was glad to be back in Federation Space.  Although the Fearless was
being prep'd for another mission, there was a comfort to the knowledge that
all the support the Federation had, was pretty much within reach.
   The loss of Kalahna and Regnigh was a tough blow for the crew,  especially
the senior staff.  Their expertise would be missed in commanding this unit.
   Dyer spent some time reading over the new assignments Captain Sortha had
made, and making changes to the crew profiles.  He edited the Starfleet
regular crew databases with the new information, so the regs would know who
they reported to now, and posted the announcement of the new assignments at
the key areas of the ship.
   He then spent some time recording a communication for his parents. It was
time for a trip to the Starbase, his duty shift at the conn wasn't for a
couple of hours, so he had some time to kill.
   He was on his way out to the turbolift, when he noticed Lt. Quilman coming
out of Sortha's office.  He stopped and introduced himself, and then decided
to pay the Captain a visit.
   He chimed the door, and received the ok to enter.
   "Captain, do you have a minute?" Dyer asked, still unsure how to approach
the Gorn officer that he reported to.
   "Sssure Commander, What'ss on your mind?" Sortha looked up from his
terminal.
   "Sir, I know I'm new to your team, but perhaps now with Kalahna gone back
to Bajor, I could take more of a leadership role within the Shadow Ops
missions.
   "It's not that I don't understand the importance of the extraction teams
that I've been in command of, but, I accepted this assignment because I
thought it would get me off of a starship a little more often.
   "It's rather disheartening to sit on the bridge with my Captain and the
Admiral, just waiting for something to go wrong.  I kind of get the feeling
that my place on the team is a little unnecessary.
   Dyer waited for the Captain's response...
=============================================================
Lt. Thoraz Brynaziir
With Vehakra Rhikal on Starbase 189
Stardate 9710.27

   Thoraz was surprized at his outburst, especially to a superior officer he
hardly knew.  Regaining his composure he said, "You're right, of course,
Commander.  Thank you for listening to me.  Maybe later we can workout
together on the Holodeck.  Have you ever used a Klingon calesthenic program?
 If you will excuse me know."  Thoraz stood and purposefully walked from the
room.  
=============================================================
Lt. Commander Vehakra Rhikal
With Thoraz Brynaziir on Starbase 189
Stardate 9710.27

   "As a matter of fact," Vehakra said as Thoraz rose to leave, "I have run
Klingon combat simulatuions from time-to-time. Let me know, I'd be glad to
accompany you."
   After Thoraz was gone, Vehakra headed back to the Fearless. When she
arrived, she found a message waiting for her on her desk computer console.
   She tapped in her personal identification code and a moment later, the
screen displayed a Starfleet Command emblem. After that, the image faded and
the face of a familiar Starfleet officer appeared.
   It was Admiral Greta Callahan, the Starfleet officer who granted her
asylum several years ago when she first fled the Orion pirate who owned her.
Callahan had then been a captain in command of Starbase 320, where the Orion
priate Captain Gortak had been forced to stop over for repairs. While the
ship was docked at the station, Vehakra managed to escape and went to
Callahan to request asylum.
    Much to the dismay of Captain Gortak, Callahan granted Vehakra's request
and she was allowed to stay. She had helped Vehakra get up on her feet and
showed her what it was like to have freedom of choice once again. She had
changed Veh's whole life for the better, and was the reason she chose to join
Starfleet Academy.
    "Hello Vehakra. I wish I had time to speak with you, but this message
will have to do for the moment. With the war I'm finding myself incredibly
busy these days, but I wanted to take time to pass along some information.
    "A message was sent to me several days ago from the Orion ambassador on
Earth. Captain Gortak, it appears, remembers me as being the officer who
helped you seven years ago. The message simply says for me to inform you that
the bounty he had placed on your head is lifted. He has forclosed on your
family's debt to him by  taking your family's home and possessions. And I'm
afraid it gets worse. He also claims the Orion government has revoked your
mother's status as a free woman and he has taken her as an indentured service
to work maintenance duty aboard his ship. Your father has also been
indentured as an engineer aboard his ship.
   "I'm sorry to bear this news. I wish there was something we could do to
help," the admiral said. "Next time you're at Earth, stop into Starfleet
Command and look me up, we can talk more then. Callahan out."
    Vehakra turned off the monitor and slumped into her chair. Gortak had
become so much of a thorn in her side that she wanted nothing more than to
kill him with her bare hands. First he threatened her, then he sent his goon
squad after her on Risa and now he had forced her family into indentured
servitude.
     The Orion woman took a deep breath and then let it all out. At least her
parents were safe for the moment. There was also no mention of her brother,
Aered, whom last she knew was serving in the Orion Defense Forces. But she
vowed when this war was over, she would be taking a side trip to Orion space
to deal with Gortak once and for all.

END TRANSMISSION

Subject: SO: Fearless/Sortha's Response

Captain Sortha & Commander Michael Dyer
Captain's Ready Room
Stardate 9710.28

     Sortha looked at Dyer keenly.  "I remember a certain officer ssaying
that he wass glad that hiss Captain folowed Sstarfleet protocols and sstayed on the bridge of hiss sstarsship instead of going on away missionss" Sortha said.
    "The ssame can be ssaid of an executive officer.  I put you in charge of
the extraction teams because I wanted an experienced officer available if
things went wrong.  And you were a key part of the mission on Bolinar."
    Sortha noted that Dyer still looked disappointed.  "Commander, I assure
you, if a mission comes up requiring the command of a full commander, you
will be sent straight away.  And the way thiss war iss sshaping up, that will
come very ssoon indeed.  Until then, try not to get yourself killed,
Sstarfleet will most likely be losing quite a few captains shortly and there
will be plenty of opportunities for Commanders to get promoted.  Dismissed."
    Dyer regarded the Captain for a moment, and then turned and left the
Ready room.  Perhaps it had not been a good idea to talk to the Captain with
regard to his feelings.  Dyer had always thought it was the Captain's role to
feel like the outsider, but here, among this team of Shadow Operatives that
have fought together for so long, it would take a very long time to feel like
a place on the team had been earned by more than mere rank.
=============================================================
USS Fearless
Admiral's Office/USS Fearless
Stardate 9710.28

   The door chimed and Admiral Jaegar looked up from several padds he was
reading over. "Enter," he said.
    When the door opened, he saw Captain Anastasia Kostov enter and come to
stand just inside the door. Always an admirer of attractive women, the
admiral couldn't help but smile as he saw Kostov enter. The tall, attractive
blonde had always been one of his favorite Shadow Ops captains.
     "Ana! Good to see you and the Avenger made it back from that raid on
Taurus VII. From your report it seems the mission was a success?" Jaegar asked.
     "We lost a few security officers, and two Shadow Operatives were
wounded," Kostov said. "But otherwise, we managed to rescue the defector,
Kaylan Cural, and we kidnapped the Vorta engineer who designed the
Dominion/Cardassian hybrid ship."
     Jaegar nodded in satisfaction, "Sorry to hear about your officers, but
I'm afraid things aren't going to get better anytime soon."
     Kostov fully entered the room and took a seat across from the admiral.
"Sir, I wanted to discuss a conversation I had with the Cardassian defector,
Cural. He told me something rather disturbing."
     Jaegar's curiosity was piqued. "Oh. And what did he tell you?"
     "Cural claims the Dominion is planning some kind of strike against
Shadow Operations. We have been deemed a threat to them and they intend to
make some kind of move against us...or I should say specifically against
you."
     "Me?" Jaegar snorted. "They think I'm somehow the reason Shadow Ops has
been kicking their ass since they struck up this unholy alliance with the
Cardies? It's because we have damn good operatives working for us. What would
they want me?"
     "I don't know sir, but Cural says they plan to either replace you with a
Changeling or assassinate you sometime soon," Kostov said with concern. "I
just thought you should know."
      "Cural's just trying to stir the pot a little," Jaegar said. "He's
probably not pleased he had to turn to the Federation to help him with his
plan to topple Dukat."
      "Still, sir," Kostov said gently, "you may want to exercise more
caution."
      "I see," Jaegar said. "I'm touched you're concerned for me, Ana. I
promise, I will be careful. But I'm going to be very busy in the coming
weeks. There's lots to do for Shadow Ops now that we're in a full-scale war."
      "That's all I ask sir," Kostov said. "So, when do we get our orders?"
     "Soon," Jaegar said. "I'm figuring out where I'm going to deploy the
Shadow Ops task force. There are several missions on tap, it's just a matter
of figuring out which ship I'm going to send where. And it doesn't help we're
missing a ship."
     "Missing a ship?" Kostov asked, perplexed. "Did we lose one of the
Shadow Ops ships in the battle?"
     Jaegar sat back in his chair and rubbed the bridge of his nose, showing
obvious signs of stress. "No. The USS Repulse never made it to the rendezvous
with the fleet. She was supposed to join the Fearless in its assault on the
shipyards. She stopped off to check on a malfunctioning communications relay
near Romulan space and hasn't been hard from since shortly after arriving at
the site. A search party has been dispatch to find her."
      "Damn," Anastasia Kostov said, sinking back into her chair. "Keio
Sakata and his crew are some of the best in Shadow Ops. I hope they turn up."
     "So do I captain," Jaegar said. "So do I."

END TRANSMISSION

Subject: SO: Fearless/Orders

Lieutenant (jg) Ian Quilman
USS Fearless
Stardate 9710.31	

   After several minutes of getting to know each other, Sortha asked "by the
way, a quesstion...  how did you ressolve the Kobayashi Maru sscenario in the
academy?"
   "Well Sir, I think that it was the hardest training op that I had at the
academy.  The only one that was harder was one in the Shadow Op's training
center.  I had no knowledge of the Kobayshi Maru before getting into the
simulator.  When the first Romulan ship decloaked and started to fire on us I
was not able to get the shields up before they were disabled.  As the second
Romulain ship closed in and started to decloak I sent a small boarding party
onto their bridge.  They were able to take control of the ship and start
providing support fire for us but the Romulan's kept
sending in more ships.  Finally we were outnumbered 7-2 and my ship was
destroyed.  Sir, I will try to perform my duties at the helm with the best of
Star Fleet standards."
    Then, Quilman added, "One question sir, how did you do on the Kobayshi Maru?"
=============================================================
USS Fearless
Bridge
Stardate 9710.31

   Admiral Erik Jaegar stepped off the turbolift onto the bridge. Captain
Sortha and Commander Dyer sat in their respective chairs, going over reports.
The admiral approached and came to stand beside Sortha.
    "Captain, glad I caught you," Jaegar said. "Orders have come in from
Starfleet Command."
    Sortha nodded and looked at the admiral with great intent. "And?"
    "The Fearless is being sent along with the Seventh Fleet to the Kyvoros
system," Jaegar said. "Admiral Nechayev will be commanding the Venture, which
is the flagship of that fleet. Kyvoros sits near the Echara Nebula, on the
border with Cardassian space. We think the Dominion is building a strike base
concealed behind the nebula. Fearless will be going along to provide
intelligence and advanced sensor data."
    "What about an away misssion?" Sortha asked, eagerly.
    "At the moment, none is expected. You are merely on an intelligence
gathering mission," Jaegar said. "The idea is we don;t want any of our ship
-- standard Starfleet or Shadow Ops -- sitting idle. You'll be serving a
purpose until a mission comes up."
    Sortha nodded, "Very well. I take it from the way you will not be joining
usss?"
    "Correct. I'm staying here on Starbase 189 to coordiate with Starfleet,"
Jaegar said. "I'm leaving the Vigilence aboard the Fearless -- in case you
need her."
    "Thank you," Sortha said. "When do we leave."
    "Two hours. The fleet is here now and will be departing then," Jaegar
said. "Good luck, captain. I'll be in touch."
    "Thank you ssir," Sortha replied.
    Jaegar then turned and left...

END TRANSMISSION

Subject: SO: Fearless/Leaving Starbase 189

Captain Sortha
Ready Room with Ian Quilman
Stardate 9711.02

     Sortha looked at Quilman as he composed his answer: "I didn't go through
Sstarfleet Academy per se, I went through the Gorn equivalent.  However I did
take a year of various coursework in preperation for the exchange officer
program.  Sso I didn't actually have to take the Kobayashi Maru sscenario.  I
did find it interessting however and elected to run a ssimulation once.  As
an already commissioned officer I knew it wass ssupposed to be a no-win
sscenario, so I had some advantage going into the simulation by the fact that
I knew that whatever I did I and the ship would be destroyed.
    "Basically I attempted a resscue, when the Romulanss sshowed up, I
launched as many people off the sship as possible in shuttlecrafts heading
back for  Federation territory while I kept the warbirds distracted.  I
basically didn't fire, but maneuvered and ran.  Eventually the ssimulator
programmed eight warbirdss after the sship.  I ssaid I would ssurrender, as
they closed in I put all power into shields and tractor beams and tractored
onto each of the warbirds and two seconds later I self destructed the warp
core and took them all with me. "
     Sortha eyed Quilman even closer, "But that was only a simulation.  At
Wolf 359, after the sship I was sserving on was disabled, and the captain and
first officer killed, I took command.  I had the crew grab every weapon from
the weaponss locker, including fabricating actual physical weaponss such as
sswords from the replicatorss and we beamed over en masse to the Borg Cube.
 We went on a rampage destroying as many systems as we could and killing as
many Borg as we could.  When they adapted to our energy weapons we went after
them with the swords in hand-to-hand combat.  It was a time of desperation
for the Federation, all of us knew it, and we fought like berserkers.  No
quarter was asked, nor was none given.  
     "Of the 112 crew who beamed over only about 25 of us were eventually
beamed off by retreating Federation shipss.  Our sship was destroyed by the
Borg shortly after we beamed off it.  I personally brought back from our raid
on the Borg cube, a part of a Borg arm that had become embedded in my
sshoulder during the fighting.    After it was ssurgically removed, I kept it
as a ssouvenier.  It is in my quarterss."
     "You could also ask some of the old crew from the USS Stealth who are
serving on Fearless for some other good stories of actual events."
=============================================================
Lieutenant (jg) Ian Quilman
USS Fearless
Stardate 9711.01

   After my meeting with Captain Sortha I went and found my quarters.  I
quickly unpacked and got all of my things squared away and in place.  I then
went over to the comm-link and found out what time I was to be on the helm on
the bridge.
    I saw that I was not scheduled until the next morning.  I got some supper
in my room then went to 10 Foward to see if I could get a drink and see some
of the other members of the crew.  After a few hours there I made my way back
to my room and went to sleep, as I did not want to be late for my first day
on the job.
    Two hours before I was to be on the bridge the computer started to wake
me.  I had a light breakfast and went to the exercize room to work out some
of the kinks that came with getting across most of the Federation in short
time.  I like excersise but am not religious about it.
    Getting back to my room I took a quick shower and dressed.  Just as I got
to the bridge I saw Admiral Jaegar talking to Captain Sortha and Commander
Dyer.  I overheard the Admiral say what out destination would be.  As I got
into the helm I punched in the destination of the Kyvoros System and also had
the computer get us ready to leave Starbase 189 and join up with the Seventh
Fleet.  Then I ran a fast
computer diagnosis of helm control and the helm computer system, both were
operating normally.
    Lastly I reported to the Captain after the Admiral left the bridge that
we were ready to get under way, and was standing by for his orders...
=============================================================
Lt. Commander Vehakra Rhikal
USS Fearless
Stardate 9711.02

   Vehakra Rhikal was in her quarters contemplating the message she'd
received from Admiral Callahan before the ship left Starbase 189. News from
home was not good, but she had her duty to the Federation and the Alpha
Quadrant to consider before rushing off to help her family. It was something
that would have to wait for now.
    Veh was dressing when the captain's orders came across shipwide
communications. The Fearless was pulling out of Starbase 189 to head into the
field. It wouldn't be long now before they were in combat, she thought as she
finished putting on her uniform.
    Fully dressed, Veh stopped at the computer station in her quarters and
sent a message off to Thoraz Brynaziir indicating she would like to try his
Klingon calestetics program in the morning if they both had time. She gave
him a time of 0500 hours, two hours before they were schedule to start their
morning shift.
    After sending the text message to Thoraz, Vehakra left her quarters and
headed up to the bridge. It was to be her first shift at Ops, replacing
Kalahna Jarnell. She couldn;t help but wonder how her friend was doing back
on Bajor. She hoped Kalahna and the rest of the Bajorans would weather the
war without incident.
    Arriving on the bridge, Vehakra crossed the bridge and settled in the ops
station, right next to helm. There she saw one of the newest Shadow Ops agent
to join the crew -- Lt. JG Ian Quilman -- at the helm controls.
    She hadn't officially met Quilman or the other new officer who came
aboard, Ensign Jamie Marcus. So, Veh decided it was time to get to know her
new collegues.
    "Hi," she said, leaning over to Quilman. "I'm Lt. Commander Vehakra
Rhikal. Welcome aboard the Fearless."
    She then waited for a response from the quiet new officer...

END TRANSMISSION

Subject: SO: Fearless/Off to the Seventh Fleet

Commander Michael Dyer
U.S.S. Fearless Bridge
Stardate 9711.02

   Commander Dyer finished up the reports he was working on and left the ready
room with Captain Sortha and Admiral Jaegar.
   "You have the bridge Commander." Captain Sortha said.  "I'll escort
Admiral Jaegar to the transporter room. Prepare to carry out our orders."
   "Yes sir!" Dyer stepped past Captain Sortha's oversized chair to his  own
starfleet issue command chair, and accepted a PADD from a young Yeoman.
   "Lt. Quilman, Lay in a course for the Kyvoros system." 
   "Course already laid in sir." Quilman responded, catching the commander's
ear.  Dyer was glad to see the Lt. was ahead of the game, but made note  to
remind him about eavesdropping so noticeably.
   "Thank you Lt.  We will depart on the Captain's order.  While we wait
though, could I ask the results of your helm diagnoses?"  Dyer was toying with
the Lt. but hey, why not have some fun with the eager helmsman.
   Quilman gave Dyer a wry smile and reported, "All helm systems operating at
peak efficiency sir."
   "Excellent Lt.  And very thorough of you to run that diagnostic."
   Just then Lt. Commander Vehakra Rhikal came onto the bridge and took her
station at Ops. Dyer regarded the Orion officer for a moment and then bid her
good morning.
   "Senior officers, report to the Bridge. Briefing will commence in 15
minutes." Convinced for himself that the Fearless was ready to join the
Seventh Fleet and Admiral Nechayev he summoned the senior officers and waited
for Captain Sortha to return.
=============================================================
Captain Sortha
USS Fearless
Stardate 9711.03

   Captain Sortha had all section heads report in and had instructed them to
prepare their stations for 100% operating efficiency.  The Fearless would be
conducting mock battle drills on the way to join the seventh fleet.  Sortha
ordered the helm to plot a course to the Seventh Fleet that would take them
through an asteroid field.  Sortha wanted to test out the new phased cloaking
device.
=============================================================
Ensign Jamie T. Marcus
USS Fearless
Stardate 9711.03

    Ensign Jamie Marcus attired in white tanktop and black exercise shorts
squared off against the third member of the Fearless' security crew within the
past hour.  It was she supposed, the Klingon security chief's way of testing
his new recruits, still she resented the necessity of having to prove herself
to the hulking Klingon.  Jamie had been enrolled in martial arts classes since
she was five.  She had studied a large range of fighting styles including
aikido, aikijujutsu, graciejujutsu, Vulcan Savet, ambojutsu, as well as Karate
and Starfleet basic self defense.
    Her opponent was wary now, after having watched his two cohorts go down
ingloriously in defeat at the hands of the human female in the previous two
bouts.  This security officer was a large human male, approximately 270 pounds
and 6'5" tall.  Still he circled warily.  He did not want to fall prey to any
tricks.  His movements were short and sharp, not exposing himself.
   Jamie knew she had expended all the elements of surprise on the first two
opponents.  She circled cautiously as well, staying out of the larger man's
range.  She feited several times, but the security guard didn't fall for any
of them.  So she feinted in again, and again, each time he assumed a defensive
posture but didn't react.  Jamie feinted once again and moved in quickly for a
leg sweep.  The security guard had been expecting it however, unfortunately
for him Jamie had expected him to expect it.
      As she kicked he sidestepped and closed the distance with her pushing
her over onto her back.  He thought he had her pinned for a second but she
managed to wrap both her legs around his torso as he pushed her over onto her
back.  Squirming like a snake she locked her feet together behind his back
with her legs wrapped around him on either side. 
     Sliding one arm up and around his neck she locked it in place with her
other hand in a viselike grip.  He pummelled her shoulders and upper arms.  It
looked as if he was winning to the onlookers and they cheered for their
friend.   However his punches couldn't reach anything vital.  Then she
extended her legs out away from her at the same time she arched her back and
tightened the grip around his neck.
    It had the effect of tractioning his spinal column and increasing the
pressure on his neck by a factor of five.  Within seconds he had gone
unconscious from lack of oxygen.  Suddenly he went limp on top of her.  Then
from underneath the big mass, Jamie slid out, stood, and straightened her
outfit.  "Next?"
=============================================================
Lieutenant (jg) Ian Quilman
USS Fearless
Stardate 9711.02

   "Hi," she said, leaning over to Quilman. "I'm Lt. Commander Vehakra Rhikal.
Welcome aboard the Fearless."
   "Thanks, Commander, I take it that you are the Op's officer?  I'm Lt. Ian
Quilman, I was just transfered to the Fearless.  How long have you been
onboard?  And how long have you been the Op's Officer?  Can you tell me about
the Captain, I think that I made a mistake when I first met him.  I was not
expecting a Gorn as our commanding officer.  In fact I did not know that any
were in Starfleet."  
   It was not like me to talk as much as I was, but I had to find out if I had
made a mistake in protocol and if so what to do about it.  Having the captain
of the ship pissed off at you is not the best way to start a new assignment.
    I liked the Op's officer sitting next to me but could read on her face and
body that something was not right.  Not knowing her better I did not say
anything to her about it, but made a mental note so I could check about it
later.  

END TRANSMISSION

Subject: SO: Fearless/Invasion

Sector 001
Earth
Stardate 9711.04

    It had been a long journey from Cardassian space to the very heart of the
Federation. Moving silently and unseen with the help of a captured Romulan
cloaking device, the small ship penetrated Federation defenses and made it
all the way to Earth. It had not been easy to defeat the endless number of
tacheyon sensor detection grids and patrols, but ultimately the ship arrived
at its destination.
    Cruising steadily through the Terran solar system, the ship was on course
with the planet known as the hub of the Federation -- Earth. Nearing its
destination, the crew began to assemble in the belly cargo hold of the ship
where they began to don heavy, black uniforms.
     Today they would fight the enemy, striking a blow deep at the heart of
the Federation. It was a daring raid, at best, and would probably result in
the deaths of the entire strike force. But that was irrelevent, as long as
the objective was met.
     "Victory is life!" the gathered Jem'Hadar warriors yelled, raising their
weapons.
     "Today we undertake an important mission which fulfills the wishes of
the Founders," the Jem'Hadar First barked. His name was Cor'metaklon and this
would be his 68th mission on behalf of the Dominion...and likely his last.
"We will overcome the odds against us, however, for victory is life."
     A smaller, less imposing individual entered the cargo hold and
approached the team of ten Jem'Hadar. He looked nervous as he inspected the
troops and finally stepped up to Cor'metaklon.
     "This method you have chosen for reaching the surface, it is most
dangerous," the Vorta said. "Considering the responsibility of the satchel
you carry attached to your back, perhaps you should reconsider."
     Cor'metaklon glared at the Vorta. "I have discussed the plan with him
already and he accepts the risks. This is the only way for us to reach the
surface undetected. An unauthorized transport through the detection grid
Starfleet has around Earth would reveal us."
     "You must guard his safety above all else," the Vorta demanded.
     "I will take personal responsibility for his safety," the big Jem'Hadar
said. "Now I must finish suiting up. We will be nearing the drop zone soon."
    The Jem'Hadar soldiers finished putting on the bulky black suits covered
with rows of ceramic plates. They topped off the outfits with small oxygen
respirators attached to their belts, feeding a heavy ceramic helmet they each
put over their heads.
    When the soldiers were all dressed, they lined up in the cargo bay and
waited. The Vorta, still looking uneasy, stepped outside the door to the
cargo hold and dsealed the door tightly behind him. He then watched through a
small window in th door to see what happened next.
    "We are entering the upper atmosphere of Earth," the voice of another
Jem'Hadar echoed through the corridor where the Vorta waited.
    "Continue on the preplanned course and vector," the Vorta replied. "When
you reach the planned altitude, depressurize the cargo bay and plot a course
away from Earth."
    The cloaked Jem'Hadar ship slid through the upper atmospshere of earth
and began re-entry. The invisible ship began to become visible as it plowed
into the atmosphere, creating a burning glow around the small ship. 
     "We have reached the correct altitude," the Jem'Hadar reported from the
bridge.
     "Open the hold," the Vorta said.
     The hold blew open and depressurized its contents into Earth's upper
atmosphere. Flames from reentry licked up inside the hold as the Jem'Hadar
were sucked out into the coldness of the atmosphere. Once the last soldier
was gone, the doors were resealed and the ship took a hard climb out of the
atmopsphere and off into space.
     "Were we detected?" the Vorta asked into the comm-link to the bridge.
     "Negative. Starfleet recorded what appeared to be a meteorshower
striking the upper atmopsphere," the Jem'Hadar said.
     "Good," the Vorta said. "Proceed en route back to Cardassian space. Our
job here is complete."
    
     High above the Earth, Cor'metaklon and his nine Jem'Hadar plummeted
through the atmosphere, hurling toward the ground below at incredible speed.
The special parajumping suits they wore began to glow as the friction of
re-entry heated them up. As the suits began to openly burn, the Jem'Hadar
each engaged a personal forcefield which sparked against the friction of
reentry, further protecting them as they soared downward toward the surface
of Earth.
     When they were clear of the upper atmosphere, the exterior of the
special suits began to cool and the forcefields deactivated, their power
sources extiniguished within a few short minutes of use. Below them, the
Jem'Hadar jumpers could see the Pacific Ocean through the darkness and
clouds. Using thermal imaging goggles, the soldiers soon made out the land
mass Terrans called Australia.
      Manuvering their bodies, the ten soldiers descended toward this
Austrailia. Using a locator beacon planted at a specific point in the
wilderness of Australia, the Jem'Hadar lined up with the pre-designated
landing spot and when they fell to the proper altitude, they pressed buttons
on their belts, deploying black parasails from a small compartment on the
back of their ceramic uniforms. The parasails broke their falls and the
soldier glided toward the surface.
      Minutes passed and the team of Jem'Hadar finally floated to the ground,
landing in a desolate, rocky region of Australia the Earth people called "The
Outback." It was dark, approximately 0200 hours, giving them several hours of
darkness to work in before the sun rose. 
    Once they were all on the ground, the soldiers took account of one
another and began to strip off their dive uniforms. Within five minutes, the
Jem'Hadar were no longer incumbered by the ceramic tiled uniforms. They wore
their standard grey and black uniforms and toted disruptor rifles, their
bladed weapons hanging from their belts.
     They placed all their dive outfits together in a pile and vaporized them
before forming up around Cor'metaklon. The First removed the satchel he'd
worn and placed it on the ground. When he opened it, he stood back and slowly
a gelatinous figfure rose from the bag and gradually took the form of a
humanoid. When finally formed, the being took the shape of something almost
human, with a featureless face and a slicked back representation of hair.
      "Founder," First Cor'metaklon said, bowing with his soldiers to the
Changeling. "We are honored you have chosen us to serve at your side. What
are your orders?"
      "Thirty minutes west of here, at the coordinates programmed into your
data pads, is a facility used to train the agents of Starfleet's Shadow
Operations," the Founder explained. "Our mission will be to go to this
facility, penetrate its defenses and get inside. We are to kill everyone we
encounter, set the bombs you have brought along, and carry out the raid on
the command center. There I will take care of my end of the attack. When we
are finished, those of us still alive will flee the base and detonate it as
we escape."
      "We are here to serve you, Founder," Cor'metaklon said. "Victory is
life!"
      "Victory is life!" the other Jem'Hadar shouted in unison.
      "I will travel ahead of your team, watching for sentries and security
precautions," the Founder said. "Gather your men and move out."
      With that, the Founder took the form of a desert bat and took to the
skies, flying ahead of the team as they Shrouded themselves and began to jog
briskly across the rugged landscape toward the Shadow Ops base.
      It took the Jem'Hadar more than one hour to find the Shadow Ops
training base and get through its outer defenses. The Changeling was able to
find and warn the Jem'Hadar about several sensor grids and some remote probes
around the perimeter of the Shadow Ops desert base. Once those security
features had all been penetrated, the Jem'Hadar found themselves on the edge
of a forcefield which surrounded the desolate base.
      A Jem'Hadar trained in engineering broke out his equipment and set to
work with a sensing device to seek out the modulation of the forcefield. It
took him only three minutes to isolate the forcefield's configuration, which
he passed along to the others. They each calibrated a device on their belts
to that frequency and together, they easily passed through the forcefield and
found themselves on the grounds of the training base.
     Together, they re-shrouded themselves and scattered throughout the
compound as the Changeling flew above them, still in the shape of a bat,
waiting for them to lower the forcefield so it could enter.
      Already well versed in the layout of the base from previous
intelligence reports gathered from a Changeling who infiltrated one of the
training groups nearly a year earlier, the Jem'Hadar knew exactly where to go
and what to do.
     Two Jem'Hadar went to one of the base's outbuildings which housed a
shield generator. They easily broke into the building without being detected
and killed two Starfleet security officers posted there. They then
deactivated the shield generator, allowing the Changeling access to the
compound.
    Shortly thereafter, chaos erupted. The Jem'Hadar struck almost
simultaneously, destroying the base's communications relay and one of two
shuttles parked on the  base's landing pads. The second shuttle they secured
for their own possible use.
    Before they could react, six security officers patrolling the grounds on
what seemed to be a typical night, found themselves facing Jem'Hadar which
appeared out of thin air. It was, for lack of a better word, a massacre. The
Jem'Hadar slaughtered the unsuspecting guards before any of them could even
raise a weapon.
     With the exception of a couple of stragglers, there were currently no
recruits in training. The majority of the recent graduates had left just the
day before. This was good, because the Jem'Hadar wasted no time in detonating
explosive packs planted on each of the four barracks at the base. The
buildings erupted in balls of flame and debris.
     The command center doors opened and a force of 12 Starfleet security
officers charged on to the grounds, quickly seeking cover so they could
confront the attacking force. The force was led by Lt. Commander Remak, a
Bolian who was one of the training leaders for Shadow Ops. The security force
sought out the attackers through the fire and smoke, and were soon confronted
by the ten Jem'Hadar who unshrouded themselves as they charged up on the
security officers.
      A melee ensued between the Starfleet officers and Jem'Hadar, while
inside the command center, the remaining Shadow Ops and Starfleet personnel
began preparing for the possible penetration of their base.
       Admiral Sorvek, awakened by the sounds of the attack, had quickly
dressed and hurried to the command center. He found the place in absolute
disarray. Officers hurried about, trying to figure out what was going on. The
base was operating on emergency power and all the sensors and communications
had been completely disabled. They couldn't even communicate with the team
they'd just sent out to confront the enemy.
      "Commander Naakon!" Sorvek shouted across the command center. "Report!"
     "Sir," the big bald Norwegian training instuctor said, addressing his
CO. "A unknown force as penetrated the base's defenses. They've taken out
sensors and communications. The shield generator is also down and our
transporters are offline. We think they've destroyed at least one of the
shuttles."
     Sorvek remained unemotional as he considered the report. "We don't know
if we are the only Starfleet facility on Earth under attack?"
     "Negative. We can't even call for help," Naakon rumbled. "Our best
assumption this is an attack by the Jem'Hadar."
     "That would make sense, considering we are at war," Sorvek said.
     "Sir, we need to get you out of here," Naakon said, as another external
explosion rocked the command center. "I recommend we try getting you to that
remaining shuttle."
     "No. That shuttle may be a trap. Besides, I'm not leaving this base,"
Sorvek insisted. "Prepare the rest of our forces. I want every last man and
woman armed and ready to repell the attackers. Begin purging the main
computer of all classified information. I will do the same with my private
database."
    Naakon nodded to Sorvek and carried out his orders as the Vulcan admiral,
flanked by two guards, headed off to his office. 
    Outside, Lt. Commander Remak and one remaining security officer fell
amidst the bodies of the other 12 security officers...both of them run
through the midsection with a Jem'Hadar blade. Remak took his last gasp of
air and then went limp, right after the Jem'Hadar soldier who killed him
yanked the sword out of his gut.
     Of the ten Jem'Hadar, only one had been killed in the battle. Of course,
this was to be expected, for these were a new and elite corp of Jem'Hadar
warriors -- the Dominion's equivalent of special forces soldiers. They were
better than a standard Jem'Hadar in almost anyway...a model for future breeds
of Jem'Hadar to emerge from the Dominion's labs.
     Finished with the battle outside, the Jem'Hadar shrouded again and broke
into two groups. One went to the front doors of the command center, while the
rest went around to the rear of the structure. Both groups quickly attached
explosives to points on the structure and moved back. When they were in
place, they detonated the charges, blowing two gaping hole in the side of the
building.
    Under normal power, the base would be able to erect forcefields to block
invaders from entering holes such as these, but with main power down, the
station was basically defenseless. The two groups of Jem'Hadar charged into
the battered building and began firing at the Shadow Ops training personnel
inside.
    Amidst the battle, Admiral Sorvek was secured inside his office with one
guard posted outside the door, and one inside with him. The Vulcan admiral
was at his desk and had accessed his personal datatbase on the computer. He
was about to inititate the complete purging of the computer core when a
service panel on the ceiling popped open and two plasma-like tentacles came
down inside and wrapped around the guard's neck.
    With ease, the Changeling killed the guard and poured down out of the
ceiling, taking form on the floor. At his desk, Sorvek heard the noise of the
guard being killed and spun around to face the Changeling. He drew his phaser
and went to fire, but a tentacle shot out of what was the forming
Changeling's arm and snapped the phaser away.
    Before Sorvek could sound an alarm, the Changeling was on him. It wrapped
its long arms around his neck and slammed his head into the desktop. The
Vulcan admiral, a green gash opened on his forehead, began to lose
consciousness, but kept reaching for the keypad on his desk to finish the
purge of the database. He struggled for a moment, but the blood to his brain
was finally cut off by the squeezing tentacle and he went unconscious.
    Standing over Sorvek's unconscious form, the Changeling suddenly morphed
into the admiral's shape, forming a perfect replica of the Vulcan. He then
sat down at the desk and began to access the open computer station on the desk.
    Outside, one group of Jem'Hadar managed to break through the base's
defenses and made it to Sorvek's office, killing the guard outside. When he
knew his soldiers had arrived, the Sorvek changeling opened the door,
allowing three Jem'Hadar into the office with him, then he secured the door
behind them.
    "Founder?" the lead Jem'Hadar asked.
    "I am," he confirmed. "Quickly, I need the Vulcan connected to the
portable mind probe"
    One of the Jem'Hadar got out a piece of equipment which attached to
Sorvek's temple much like a neuro-stimulator. The Soldier then handed the
Founder a similar device, which it absorbed into its body.
    "Set the probe on maximum output," the Changeling ordered, sitting at the
desk. 
    "That setting could kill the Vulcan," the Jem'Hadar warned.
    "As long as I get the information I need, his welfare is of no concern,"
the Founder said coldy. "Proceed."
    The Jem'Hadar adjusted some tiny buttons on the side of the device
attached to the admiral's head and Sorvek's body convulsed. The Changeling
merely stiffened for a moment, then smiled as he was able to access
information in Sorvek's mind.
    "Hook up the portable transceiver, quickly," the Changeling ordered.
Again, more equipment brought with the Jem'Hadar commandos was brought out
and this time attached to the side of the computer on Sorvek's desk. The
transceiver would allow access to communications, even though the base's
communications were down.
    With ease, the Changeling accessed all of the top secret information in
Sorvek's database and called up various codes and procedures needed to
contact a Shadow Ops vessel. The specific ship he chose was the USS Avenger.
Once he had the proper codes and data, he used the transceiver to tap into
the base's communications and then he sent a priority transmission to the
Avenger.
     As he waited for the Avenger to respond, the Changeling added some
features to his Sorvek image. Some dirt on his face, a rip to his
uniform...enough to make it look like Sorvek had been through a lot. A moment
later, the image of the Avenger's captain, Anastasia Kostov appeared on the
desk viewscreen.
    "Admiral Sorvek!" Kostov said, bolting up out of her chair. "What's wrong?"
    "Captain. Shadow Ops Headquarters is under attack. A small force of
Jem'Hadar have penetrated Earth's defenses and have landed here at the base.
I am locked in my office and am in the process of wiping the database clean
before they can extract any information from our files," the Sorvek
changeling said in typically calm Vulcan demeanor. "There is information I
must pass on to you before security is completely compromised. I need the
Avenger for a priority one mission. This mission will require you to follow
my orders to the letter and it will involve a major risk to your crew. The
fate of the Federation, and more importantly the Alpha Quadrant, is at stake."
    Kostov was still trying to conceive how Shadow Ops Headquarters...on the
homeworld of the Federation...could be under attack by a hostile enemy force.
But Sorvek's words quickly sunk in and she nodded, "You know you can trust me
and the crew, sir."
    The briefing took several minutes, during which time the imposter laid
out a carefuly planned course of action for Kostov to take. Then, as
expected, Shadow Ops personnel from the base showed up at the door to the
office and began to force their way in. The Changeling completed the briefing
by wishing Kostov and her crew well, then it drew a phaser and terminated the
transmission, leaving the Avenger with the impression Sorvek had been overrun
by Jem'Hadar.
    As the Starfleet officers forced the doors to the office open, the
Changeling downloaded the entire database from Sorvek's computer into a
handheld device. It then absorbed the device into its body and, in the same
manner it arrived, the Founder shot back up into the ceiling conduit, the
mind probe device falling to the floor behind it.
    "Victory is life, Founder!" the Jem'Hadar first shouted as the Changeling
disappeared. "We will insure your escape." 
    Commander Naakon and five base guards broke into the office and were
immediately attacked by the Jem'Hadar in the room. The battle was short, but
final. The three Jem'Hadar died quickly, but took two of Naakon's men with
them. With that, the base was secured of all attackers. The last of the
Jem'Hadar commandos were gone.
     Naakon went to Sorvek and found him alive, but in bad shape. He was
nearly in neuro-shock from the mind probe. The Norweigian had his remaining
guards get Sorvek out of the office while he checked the admiral's computer.
He found it still full of data, all of which had been recently accessed.
Someone had dowloaded all of the data on Shadow Ops -- its strengths,
weaknesses, personal information on the operatives and their
families...everything.
     Uncertain who might have done this, Naakon felt a chill run down his
back as he looked up and saw the missing service panel on the ceiling. No
Jem'Hadar could fit through a air duct that small...but a Changeling could.
He spied a foreign device connected to Sorvek's computer, which he removed
and took with him once he was sure it wasn't an explosive.
     As Naakon left the admiral's office, he was greeted by Lt. Commander
Kiana Ammelis, who was carrying a pulse phaser rifle. She looked distressed
and had apparently just returned from the last of the fighting.
     "Report!" Naakon said as they met in a smoke filled corridor. The guards
continued on past them, carrying the unconscious admiral out of the building
to safety.
     "We need to get the hell out of here now!" Ammelis yelled. "Some of the
guards found explosives set on the main reactor. When it goes..."
     "So does this base," Naakon muttered. "MOVE! Everyone get out...now!"
    Without communications, Naakon and Ammelis set about rounding up the last
of the personnel and ordered everyone to get out of the base and as far away
into the desert as they could. In all, there were only 16 survivors of the 48
officers stationed at Shadow Ops Headquarters. Those who were mobile carried
those who were not, and were forced to leave the dead behind.
     They all moved quickly, through the front gates to the base and out into
the pre-dawn desert. When they were all out, Naakon and Ammelis made a final
sweep of the base with tricorders and when they were satisfied there were no
survivors, they broke into a sprint and headed as far away from the base as
they could.
     Shortly thereafter, there was a huge explosion behind them and the
Shadow Ops training facility and headquarters was nothing but flames and
debris scattering across the desert. The blast knocked Ammelis and Naakon to
the ground, but did not injure them. When it was over, fire and pieces of the
destroyed compound littered the area.
      "My god," Naakon stammered as he looked back at the base. "What the
hell happened?"
     "I'm not sure, but let's hope the rest of Starfleet isn't being attacked
too," Kiana added as they stood and looked around. "We lost a lot of good
people, Lars."
     Naakon grimaced. "I know. Remak, Slade, Sheng. Thank god there were no
recruits here."
    As they stood in the desert, several shuttles dropped down out of the
night sky, followed by several landing teams of Starfleet security officers.
The explosion had apparently tipped off Starfleet to the raid on the base,
but they were too late to do anything more than evacuate the survivors.
    Nearby, from its perch in an old, weather beaten tree, a big vulture
watched as the Shadow Ops survivors gathered in the desert to seek medical
attention and evacuation from what used to be there base of operations. The
vulture waited until daylight emerged on the horizon, then it took flight and
headed toward Sydney. Gripped in its talons was a data transfer device
containing the sum of information gathered about Shadow Operations and its
agents. Information that was now in the hands of the Dominion.
=============================================================
Lt. Commander Tyrian M. Summers
Onboard USS Fearless
Stardate 9711.03
 
     Tyrian sat in his quarters at his desk, leaning over his computer
terminal.  He was going over old pictures of him and his wife on earth, who
he had just gotten finished talking to a few minutes ago.  She was due with
thier child any day now.  As much as Tyrian loved Starfleet, he wanted
nothing more than to be there now.  The Fearless was ready to ship out on a
new mission, and would not be able to send or recieve any personal
communications for a undetermined amount of time.  Tyrian grabbed his
favorite katana off its mount on the wall and headed out the door for the
holodeck for a workout, he needed to releave some stress.  He had plenty of
stress right now, with the upcoming birth, and with the war.  Tyrian wanted
desperately to avenge his fathers death by killing as many Dominion members
as he could.  He hated the Jem'Hadar greatly since they were the actual
murderers of the crew of the USS Odyssey.  But Tyrian knew the Jem'Hadar were
only puppets with the Founders pulling their strings, they were the ones
Tyrian truly wanted.  The holodeck opened and Tyrian stepped in and activated
the program......ten Jem'Hadar soldiers appeared with a Vorta and a
Changeling.   Tyrian was ready to relieve some stress.
=============================================================
Lt. Commander Vehakra Rhikal
Bridge (before briefing)
Stardate 9711.04

   Unable to speak with Ian Quilman much on the bridge as the Fearless
departed with the Seventh Fleet, Vehakra waited until they were well on their
way and Sortha was occupied elsewhere on the bridge before she answered
Quilman's questions.
   "I've been on the Fearless about four months now," Vehakra said. "I was on
the USS Avenger before  that, so I've been in Shadow Ops about a year.
   "As for the captain, he's really great to serve with. He's as much or more
of a warrior than most Klingons you'll meet. He accelerated to command
quickly and was hand picked by Admiral Jaegar to command the Fearless,"
Vehakra told Quilman. "Follow orders and always be strong, even when faced
with adversity. That's the best way to stay on his good side."
    Word then came from Commander Dyer that the team would be gathering
shortly in the conference room to be briefed by Admiral Nechayev on the
upcoming mission. So Vehakra and Ian turned their stations over to relief
officers and departed for the conference room.

END TRANSMISSION

Subject: SO: Fearless/The Mission

Captain Sortha
Bridge
Stardate 9711.07

    "Helm, course 112 mark 10, one-quarter impulse" Sortha odered as the
Fearless neared the Jawellam Asteroid Field.    "Tactical" what does the
board say?"
    Tyrian responded, "Maximum sensor sweeps shows we are currently
unmonitored, the board is clean sir."
     "Very well" Sortha said, leaning forward in his command chair.  "Rig for
cloak."  
     "Cloak on-line sir" Tyrian responded.
     "Engage cloak" Sortha ordered.  As the cloaking device was engaged the
bridge lights turned to a greenish sheen, as outside in space the Fearless
wavered and vanished.  The green light's purpose was similar to the red of
the red alert, it reminded everyone that the ship was in cloak mode.
     Ahead a large asteroid loomed.  "Slow to 100 kph" Sortha ordered.
     "Aye Sir" Quilman responded.   The Fearless, at a crawl speed compared
to its normal speeds, cruised twoard the asteroid.  "Stop us at .1 km
distance helm" Sortha ordered.   Soon the Fearless had come to a crisp stop
at the position Sortha had ordered.  He noted that for future reference.
  "Proceed at 10 kph, shields at maximum" Sortha ordered.  "Prepare to engage
phased cloak."
    Sortha noted that the crew responded with hushed excitement and
anticipation.  "Cloak ready sir" Tyrian informed Sortha.  
    "Engage." Sortha finally commanded.
     The lights on the Fearless now turned to a blue shade as the phased
cloak engaged.  The Fearless drifted forward, "Helm read marks at 100 meter
intervals please."
     Quilman began the countdown, "1000, 900, 800, 700,600,500,400
,300,200,100....  Sir we have reached the asteroid!"  The crew watched with
baited breath as the viewscreen turned into an unidentifiable swirl of color
and phantom shapes.  The Fearless was moving through the asteroid.  

Later, the Fearless launched its shuttles in an attempt to track the Fearless
in the asteroid field.  The shuttles and their weaponry hits were programmed
into the simulation computer as Cardassian warships for the simulation.
 After a two hour game of cat and mouse, it was Fearless 10, shuttles zero.
  After all were on board, the Fearless resumed its journey to the Seventh
Fleet, as the crew analyzed the simulation results and took confidence in the
abilities of their ship.
=============================================================
USS Fearless
With the Seventh Fleet
Stardate 9711.07

   Once again, the Fearless was among a fleet of Starfleet and Klingon ships.
In all, the fleet numbered 112 ships and they were among the best both
defense forces had to offer. 
    When the ship joined the fleet, they were soon contacted by Admiral
Alynna Nechayev aboard the Galaxy-class USS Venture which had served as her
command ship since the attack on the Taurus shipyards.
    "Admiral," Captain Sortha said, welcoming the admiral as a holographic
representation of Nechayev appeared in the holo-communicator on the bridge of
the Fearless. "I ssee we're not too late."
    Nechayev looked unhappy about something and for a moment Sortha wondered
if she was going to yell at him for something he had done. 
    "Greeting, captain. I wish I could explain what is going on, but I'm told
the reasons are classified," Nechayev said. "I was looking forward to having
the Fearless serving in my task force."
    Sortha stared at Nechayev, uncertain of what she was talking about,
"Ssir?"
    "I've been informed by Starfleet Command that the Fearless has been
selected for a mission outside of the Seventh Fleet," Nechayev said. "You are
to make contact with Admiral Jaegar at Starbase 189, immediately, using a
secured channel. He has your orders."
    "Ssounds sseriousss?" Sortha added. "Very well. I am ssorry I will not be
sserving with you on thiss campaign. Hopefully the chance will arisse again,
admiral."
    "Likewise, captain," Nechayev said. "Venture out."
    Once the admiral's holographic representation was gone, Sortha turned in
his chair to Tyrian Summers at tactical. "Commander Ssummerss, open a
priority one Sshadow Ops channel to Sstarbase 189. Get me Admiral Jaegar."
    A short time later, Admiral Erik Jaegar's face appeared on the
viewscreen. He looked distressed and very unhappy in general.
    "Captain. We have a serious situation," Jaegar started, skipping his
usual greetings and jovial introductions. "Yesterday, a force of Jem'Hadar
commandos breached Earth's defenses and set down outside the Shadow
Operations Training Base in the Australian Outback. They penetrated the base,
killed almost everyone there, and stole data from the computer system...data
about all Shadow Ops vessels and their crews."
    Sortha felt his teeth grinding within his mouth, "Casualities?"
    "Thirty two base personnel were killed, including squadron training
leaders Lt. Commander Remak, Lt. Commander Garrett Slade and several of the
individual class instructors," Jaegar said. "There were only 16 survivors,
Admiral Sorvek among them. But he's in bad shape."
     Sortha withheld a growl as his anger grew, "How did thisss happen?"
    "Oh, it gets worse, captain," Jaegar said. "The Jem'Hadar brought a
Changeling with them. This Changeling broke into Admiral Sorvek's office
while the admiral was trying to purge his private database. The Changeling
rendered Sorvek unconscious and assumed his identity. He used some kind of
advanced Dominion mind probe to extract information from Sorvek's mind and
transfer it to his own.
    "Using this knowledge, the Changeling imposter contacted the USS Avenger,
the following is all we were able to retrieve from the base's security
recorders of that transmission...."
    A smaller box appeared in the corner of the viewscreen and it was a split
screen of the imposter Admiral Sorvek and Captain Anastasia Kostov of the
Avenger. The details were quickly spelled out. The fake Sorvek ordered Kostov
and her crew to proceed on to Romulus to terminate the Emperor of the Romulan
Empire, who had been identified as a Changeling infiltrator. The mission was
highly classfied and the Avenger was ordered to run silent and observe
communications silence.
    After the tranmission was shown, Jaegar looked at Sortha. The Gorn was
silent as he pondered the situation.
    "The Avenger?" he finally asked.
    "As far as we know, she's bound for Romulus intent on carrying out
Sorvek's orders. She isn't responding to hails," Jaegar said. "I'm sure
you've guessed by now the Romulan emperor is not a Changeling?"
    Sortha nodded, "They get a Sstarfleet sstrike force to kill the Romulan
emperor in public, thinking it iss a Changeling, and when it turnss out not
to be a Changeling, we get implicated for the murder."
    "The Romulans will surely join the Dominion," Jaegar said. "The
Federation is already have a tough fight of this war. The Romulans joining
the battle against us would mean certain defeat."
    Sortha nodded, "Do you think Captain Kostov will figure out sshe's being
used?"
     "The codes were authenticated. She thinks Sorvek sent that message and
is now dead. She also thinks the Dominion will stop at nothing to prevent her
from completing this mission. I doubt she'll figure it out," Jaegar said.
"And we weren't able to retrieve the recall codes the fake Sorvek sent to the
Avenger."
     "You want us to go after the Avenger, don't you?" Sortha asked.
     "Yes," Jaegar confirmed. "She has a day's head start on you and will
undoubtably reach Romulus before you will. Your mission will be to find
Avenger and prevent her crew from carrying out the assassination of the
Romulan emperor. If there is no way to convince them to back down, you will
kill the Shadow Operatives sent to complete the task and/or destroy the
Avenger."
    The bridge was silent. These were orders no one expected. Not now, not
when they were at war with the Dominion.
    "You'll take the Fearless to Romulus and make contact with the Romulan
Underground, the real Romulan Underground," Jaegar said. "In the Krokton
Section of the city is a restaurant called the Loyal Citizen. You will meet a
contact there named T'Lara. I am transfering data about this woman to you as
we speak. You will ask her if she knows the way to the Imperial War Museum
and she will respond by saying two streets north and turn left. This will be
your recognition code. T'Lara and her underground cell will assist you in
finding the Avenger crew.
     "Also, this mission will be a two-fold operation for you," Jaegar
proceeded. "While the Fearless goes to Romulus, a second team will be
deployed once in Romulan space to check out reports of Dominion activity
within Romulan space. Two weeks ago a Corballan freighter in the Neutral Zone
claims it picked up two Jem'Hadar ships moving among a small Romulan convoy
bound for the Kredallan system. Kredallan is an uninhabited Romulan system
not far from Romulus. A large nebula located there could be concealing
Dominion activity," aegar said. "Starfleet Intelligence has confirmed other
sightings of Dominion ships in the area and fears either the Romulans are
secretly negotiating with the Dominion, or elements of the Empire are in
league with the Dominion. Either way, a second team from your ship will take
the Vigilence and go to Kredallan to check it out.
    "Are there any questions?"

END TRANSMISSION

Subject: SO: Fearless/More Briefing

Lt. Commander Vehakra Rhikal
Briefing
Stardate 9711.08

   Vehakra could not believe what she was hearing. Her old ship, the Avenger,
was the target of the Fearless' mission. They were to either stop her from
completing the falsified mission, or destroy her.
    She had only served aboard the Avenger briefly, just one mission...but
ironically it was a mission into Romulan space. It was territory certainly
familiar to Captain Kostov. 
    "Sir, can we have access to the biographical information on the Avenger
and her crew?" Vehakra asked. "I know since I served aboard her, there's an
all new Shadow Ops crew...with the exception of Captain Kostov and Lt.
Commander Anderson. He's first officer now, correct?"
    "Yes," Jaegar nodded. "And yes, I'll see to it you have background data
on all the crew members. And Commander Rhikal, since you've served under
Captain Kostov, please make your insights and observations about her known to
Captain Sortha."
    "I will sir," Vehakra replied.
    She then looked around to see if anyone else was going to add anything to
the briefing...
=============================================================    
Captain Sortha
USS Fearless
Stardate 9711.08

     "Are there any questions?"  Admiral Jaeger asked.
     "Was the changeling infiltrator caught?" Sortha growled.
     "No he remains, unfortunately, at large." Admiral Jaeger reluctantly
admitted.
     "Let'ss hope Earth ssecurity improvess, I ssuposse we sshould take it
ass a high compliment that the Dominion decided it wass necessary to sstrike
sspecifically at Sshadow OPss.' Sortha continued.
     "Success breeds attention Captain.  Best of luck."
     "Thank you sir," Sortha concluded as Jaeger switched off the commline.

     The big Gorn gave his first series of orders, "Commander Dyer, you and
Lieutenant Quilman, two science officers and two security officers will take
the Vigilance and investigate the Dominion sightings around the Kredallon
system.  Prepare your team and the Vigilance.  We'll launch you as soon as we
are within range."
     Sortha keyed a line to engineering, "Lieutenant Sholek, we are a day
behind in a very important race, I want to arrive at Romulus at the same time
the Avenger does.  Pussh it to the limit.  And get ready for an away mission
on your old home turf. "  Sortha looked at the crew, who expectently sat in
silence at the extreme situation they had been placed in.
      They had been ordered to potentially destroy another Shadow Ops ship
and its crew.  Sortha knew this would weigh heavily on the morale of the
Fearless' crew, so he addressed the issue as he did most, head on.
     "It will not come to us destroying the Avenger, we'll work something
out, something that won't result in the deaths of any Shadow OPs members...
at least not at our hands. "  
     Then for the effect on the crew's morale as much as anything else he
stood and gave the orders launching them onto their next dangerous mission.
 "Helm, lay in a course for Romulus.  Relay your board to the captain's
chair.... I know a few shortcuts and ways around detection grids in Romulan
space" Sortha said with a mischievious yet ominous grin.  "Warp 9.99!"  Then
keying the all crew intercom, "Attention all crew, rig for sustained high
speed warp run,  engineering teams alpha and beta at full alert.  All
nonessential systems power rerouted to engineering in 10 minutes, mark.  All
section chiefs, close down all nonessential systems.   We'll go to cloak as
we get closer to the border.  Also, all section chiefs, reinitialize all
computer systems and access codes with new numbers.  Do not use standard
shadow ops designations.  Coordinate this with Lieutenant Commander
Summmers."
Then somewhat more quietly he informed the crew, "You have 10 minutes to
inform any personnel close to you by subspace that your covers have been
compromised by the Dominion and they are now at risk."
      Around the Fearless crews scurried to carry out the Captain's orders.
 In the galley, cooks hurriedly replicated non-spoilable rations, and
stockpiled these for later use, then took the food replicators offline.  The
holodeck grid was closed down, lights around the ship dimmed, environmental
systems cut back to minimal levels, even the ship's running lights dimmed,
and finally went out.  As every ounce of available power was channeled into
the engines, the Fearless hurtled through space toward her rendezvous with
Romulus.    
=============================================================
Lt. Sholek
Stardate 9711.08
USS Fearless

	"Sholek," Ensign Jefferson began, "what do you think of our new mission?"
	"We will be returning to Romulus," he answered mildly puzzled by her
question.
	"No," she replied, "I mean what is your emotional response."
	"I have no emotional response. I have abandoned all emotions."
	"But you said you love me, and love is an emotion. You're not going to say you lied, are you?"
	"I have suppressed my emotions for you."
	She sighed, obviously disappointed.
	"What is it with you humans. You fall in love, then try to change the one
you love, even changing the part about that person that attracted you in the
first place."
	"Have spoken with your mentor on Vulcan about these dreams?" she asked.
	"Yes, he says that they may mean my family in disappointed about how I have responded to their deaths, that their katras are calling out to me. Perhaps they with me to avenge their death. That is what they continue to say. I believe this 'weed' they continue to refer to is the person responsible for
their deaths. I remain curious as to why my brother was missing."
	"You wife was the only one you saw in your first dream. Perhaps he will be present next time." It bothered Sholek about the way she said that but he
didn't mention it.
	"My wife also said I should abandon the Vulcan belief in emotionlessness but keep the Vulcan logic. That is the only way I would be able to face what ever is to come."
	"Maybe she's trying to tell you to love me?" she said jokingly.
	"I have to go," Sholek quickly spoke after looking at the chronometer. "My shift begins in 32.76 minutes."
	Sholek got up and left Kim Jefferson all by herself in ten forward.
	After she was sure he was far down the hall, she got up and headed for her quarters.
	"Naitara family this is Jefferson," she spoke to a hidden communications
device. "Patch me into Sorna."
	Sorna quickly answered, "Is your line secure, human?"
	"As always," she replied.
	"What is it you have for me now?"
	"I believe your brother may be catching on. These dreams he has been having seem to be guiding him. Our new mission will take us into Romulan space. The Dominion has tricked a Federation ship into entering Romulan space to kill
the emperor, who they believe is a Changeling."
	"If that happens," Sorna began, "the Romulan people would cry for vengeance.  We would even go as far as to declare peace with the Dominion and aid them in destroying the Federation. The Dominion would then turn on us. This is not good."
	"I thought you would like the idea of tricking the Federation into killing the Emperor as good. You could then rise up in power as a new Emperor is chosen or even become Emperor yourself."
	"With the Federation gone, the Romulans would be the next target of the
Dominion. I would have no power then."
	"What are you going to do," Kim asked.
	"When Sholek comes here, I'll kill him. The Federation will stop their own.  We'll have to destroy the Fearless after they're done stopping the renegade ship."

END TRANSMISSION

Subject: SO: Fearless/New Fears

Lt. Commander Tyrian M. Summers
USS Fearless- personal quarters
Stardate 9711.07

     The glass from the antique clock shattered against the wall loudly where
Tyrian had hurled it.  He was visibly upset at the news the Dominion had
obtained personal information on Shadow Operations..........information on his family and their wherabouts.
     He pulled one of his antique katanas from its perch on the wall and
flung to the other side of the room, enbedding it in the wall.  He was
extremely frustrated.  The captain had given the crew ten minutes to notify
their families of the security breach, and Tyrian had attempted to call home
to warn his mother, brothers, and wife, but there had been no answer. 
   He had left a desperate message for them, but his mind was filled with
horrible thoughts of what might happen if they were being watched.  He wanted
to be there right now to protect them, instead he was out in the middle of
space.........helpless.    He hoped that they would go into hiding until the
war was over, like he had specified in his message, but you could never tell
with the women in his family, they were pigheaded, and Tyrian feared they
might stay right where they were and not heed his warning. 
    Tyrian sat down slowly at his desk, his head propped up by both hands as
he thought of this new danger from the war.......to him the most horrid.
=============================================================
Ensign Jamie T. Marcus
USS Fearless
Stardate 9711.09

     Jamie Marcus hadn't had much time to get to know many of the people
aboard the Fearless, yet.  She had spent most of the time with her team
members in security.  Lieutenant Commander Ki'lal seemed okay...for a
Klingon.  At least he didn't behave like a normal Klingon.  Jamie knew she
shouldn't have prejudices but she was having a hard time looking past her
family history.  Klingons had been responsible for deaths in her family in
the past.
     Her roomate, Ensign Jefferson seemed okay, but she hadn't had much
chance to talk with her since they were on different shifts, and one or the
other was usually sleeping in their shared room.  She looked forward to
making Lieutenant, then she could have her own room.  She made a point to get
to know Jefferson better.  She seemed to spend a lot of time with the ship's
engineer.  Jamie had even seen that she had a holographic cube with
Lieutenant Sholek's image.
    Jamie snorted to herself, no shipboard romances for her, especially with
a non-emotional creature like Sholek.  Leave the love lorn to other ensigns
she thought, she had a promotion to earn.  
    Jamie stepped off the turbolift and walked down the hallway to the ship's
lounge.  All the holodecks were shut down to conserve energy usage.  Captain
Sortha was sure driving the ship hard, but she liked that.  The thought of
perhaps exceeding design specifications appealed to her.  Despite her near
perfect record and scores at the academy, she had a wild impulsive side that
she tried hard to repress.  That kind of impulsiveness had been drummed out
of Starfleet a long time ago.  It was a team act now.   
    Jamie saw Lieutenant Commander Rhikal, off to one corner of the lounge.
 She decided it wouldn't hurt to get to know the command crew.  She walked
over to the bar, got a hot chocolate, and walked over to the Commander who
was staring out the viewport into space.  "Mind if I sit down Commander?" she
asked.

END TRANSMISSION