Subject: SO: Fearless/Dark Homecoming Lt. Thoraz Brynaziir USS Fearless Stardate 9801.24 After the mission, Thoraz reflected on the events in his quarters. He had a lot to think over after talking with his parents. "Best get it over with," he thought.Brynaziir to Sortha. "Go ahead Lieutenant." "Sir, when it is convenient for you I would like to discuss some things." "Now is fine, lieutenant. I'm waiting to sspeak with Ssholek, so pleasse come ssee me now," the Gorn replied. Thoraz arrived on the bridge and headed directly for Sortha's Ready Room. As he went he didn't notice to glances of those on duty as he passed by. "Come." "Sir, thank you for seeing me." Thoraz began. "Since I don't know exactly how to approach the subject, I will come straight out with it. Having considered the events of the past few days and the need to rely on my telepathic abilities, I think it would be prudent to gain some formal training. I feel that I have not fulfilled my duties as a security officer in that I should have been able to detect the recent telepathic presence/presences revovling around these events. If I cannot fullfill the duties you need me to, then I am more of a hindrance than a help. Please consider this matter and then we can meet again to discuss it further. I have already contacted my parents concerning this; which as you know, is only the second time i have contacted them since leaving Shadow Ops training." Having finished his agenda, Thoraz stood at attention waiting for Sortha to speak. ============================================================ Captain Sortha Ready Room Stardate 9801.24 The big Gorn sat up straight in his chair and considered Thoraz for a moment. He then sighed, sort of a hissing sigh, and leaned back in his chair. "I'm not ssure exactly what you are ssaying, Thoraz. Do you wissh to leave Sshadow Opss? Do you want me to ssend you back to Betazed or Vulcan for telepathic training? Or do you want a new asssignment aboard the Fearlesss?" Before Brynaziir could answer, the door chime rang. "Enter," Sortha said. Ki'lal appeared with Sholek and two security guards. Sortha dismissed Ki'lal and asked the guards to wait outside. He then turned to Brynaziir. "We will talk again about thiss when we reach the starbase later today. You can tell me exactly what you want to do. But conssider this, lieutenant: you have performed your duties well in my opinion and I am pleassed to have you as part of my crew. Now, if you'll excuse uss, we have matterss to discuss." ============================================================ Lt. Sholek Stardate 9701.24 Captain's ready room Ki'lal escorted Sholek to the Captain's ready room. Sholek had finished his report just as Ki'lal arrived at Sholek's quarters. His report included his encounter with Magus and about being controlled by Magus. "Ssholek," Sortha began, "you have a little explaining to do about what you did on Romulus. Your actionss could be considered inssubordination. You were ssupossed to stay with your team. Also, you could face chargess of treasson for telling the Praetor about our pressence. What do have to ssay about thesse charges." "I have gone into detail about everything in my report, Captain," he said handing a PADD to the Captain. The Captain read it and said, "So you murdered Ensign Jefferson." "Murder is the killing of an innocent life," he said in defense. "She was a traitor and was plotting to have me killed." "That is not for you to decide, lieutenant!" Sortha suddenly blared, slamming a huge fist down on his desk. "You could have arresssted her, called for ssecurity! Now we will never know the truth." Sortha calmed himself down and resumed, "And then you made a raid on the Naitara family residence and killed your brother." "He is not really dead, just brain dead. But that is not an excuse for my actions. I was under the control of the entity named Magus." "Entity?" "I do not know what species he is. He claimed to be millennia older than the Romulan species, but he could very well be a genetically mutated Romulan. If you wish I could tell you how I met him." "Doess it bare any ssignificance to what happened?" "Only to explain why he is after me." "Then you need not tell me. You will.." He was interrupted by Lt. Commander Vehakra Rhikal. She entered the Captain's ready room and told them what she had talked about with Spock. The Captain agreed wanting to confirm Sholek's story. Sholek knew what a mind meld would mean. Though he had mind melded before with his mentor, it was only to form a bond. This mind meld would be in the pursuit of information and Sholek unnoticeably became frightened of the prospect of Spock knowing Sholek's deepest darkest secrets. "If you are willing, Mr. Ssholek, I can have Ambasssador Sspock come to my ready room at once," Sortha said. "Then maybe we can finally get to the truth." He awaited Sholek's response... ============================================================ Lt. Commander Ki'lal Quarters/Sickbay Stardate 9801.24 Still pondering the dream/vision of Kahless, Ki'lal left Sortha's ready room and went down to sickbay. It was possible that he was sick, maybe that was what Kahless was speaking about. Ki'lal entered sickbay. "How may I help you, Commander?" one of the medics questioned. "I would like you to run a full physical on me," replied the large Klingon. "Aye, sir," the medic said, as he pulled out a tricorder. After finishing the exam, the medic said that the results would be in in a few hours. Ki'lal pondered what was going on. This was serious. Lost in his thoughts, he gazed out the window of his quarters. He was interrupted by the chime of his comm badge. "Sir, the results are in. Please report to sickbay." "On my way," replied Ki'lal, as he headed out the door. Ki'lal knew something was wrong. Sortha was waiting for him along with Dr. Ming and some of the medical staff. "What's wrong?" asked Ki'lal. "Sir," the medic who tested him earlier said, "you are dying." ============================================================ Commander Michael Dyer U.S.S. Fearless Stardate 9701.24 Now that the ship was back in Federation Space, the Shadow Operatives had been given a little down time. Commander Dyer was enjoying one his few days off since transferring to the Fearless. He had decided to make use of it by running one of the holosims used by Shadow Operations to train new recruits. Dyer had never taken any official shadow operations training, as his assignment left him mostly in charge of the Starfleet regulars who served aboard Fearless. The responsibilities of an Executive Officer were much larger than just a handful of special operatives. Still he felt a sense of responsibility to be trained in the same manner as his teammates, especially since certain circumstances did put him in command of SO away missions. Dyer keyed in a few commands to the console in the corridor outside holodeck #2. THe computer announced that the program was ready and the door opened to admit the Commander. The voice of Admiral Sorvek speaks through the comm system... ..."You and your team of Shadow Op agents have been sent to a Cardassian Outpost, Sendrok Nor, deep within Cardassian territory. Your team was beamed aboard the station from a cloaked ship and have been sent to steal data regarding the Cardassian Central Command's plans to invade the Ursas sector, an area of Federation controlled space located near the Arcanus sector. "After disabling the station's security scanners, you and the team used crawlspaces and service corridors to make your way to the computer core where you are supposed to attach an uplink device to the main computer, allowing your cloaked ship located nearby to download the Cardassian database. As soon as that is done, the ship will beam you back and leave immediately. This must be completed within 30 minutes or it is possible an approaching Cardassian/Dominion fleet will detect your cloaked ship. "Halfway to the computer core, you were separated from the team and then they were found and attacked by a Cardassian patrol. Most of the agents were killed, but two were taken prisoner -- two agents whom you are close to and with whom you completed basic training. You know Cardassian's like to torture prisoners before killing them. "Your presence on the station is apparently still unknown, so you are faced with the following decision -- complete your mission and then beam back to the ship; or go back for your friends and abort the mission. There are only 15 minutes remaining before your ship leaves without you. Also, keep in mind that you must maintain communications silence until it is time to beam out. "This is your mission. Good luck." Nearby, the voices of several Cardassians can be heard approaching. Dyer glanced at the open access panel and the tricorder in his hand was displaying a schematic of the space station and the path to the computer core. It looked like he could get to the core in under five minutes, but life sign readings indicate there were four Cardassians in the room where the core is housed. Out of curiosity, Dyer checked the schematic to see the location of the detention center. He figured that it would take about ten minutes to reach because of the amount of sneaking around that would be required. There were six Cardassian life signs in the detention center, in addition to your friends. Dyer had no choice but to complete the mission first as the safety and security of the Federation is the number priority. The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the one or the few. He learned from the four times that he had taken his bridge officer's exam, that it was difficult, but necessary to send a junior officer to his or her death in some situations. If he had once he had downloaded the core, he would attempt to recover his comrades. He began to move toward the core. The trip there was completely uneventful. He scanned the room that the core was in and confirmed that there were four Cardassians inside. He ran toward the door, set his phaser to a wide beam dispersal, maximum setting. The setting should vaporize anything alive within the path of the phaser. ============================================================ Lt. Commander Vehakra Rhikal Fearless gymnasium (A few hours after Dyer's holodeck excursion) Stardate 9801.24 Vehakra Rhikal entered the gym and started doing some warm up calthestetics before starting her daily run around the track. She had already communicated Spock's willingness to mind meld with Sholek to the captain and she hoped the Vulcan could help resolve this matter. Until she knew for certain why Sholek was acting the way he was, she wasn't comfortable working with the Romulan again. The Orion woman, dressed in tight spandex shorts and matching sports top, finished stretching and she began her run around the track. As she ran she thought about all that was going on: the war and the fact it sounded like the Federation was losing; her family back on the Orion homeworld and the slavers who sought to punish them for Veh's decision to run away from her master; the death of Clayton Aries; and the recent mission to Romulus. Silently, she wished things were going better...a lot better. After several laps Vehakra noticed that Commander Dyer had entered the gym and was working out with the weights and exercize equipment. She broke from the track and jogged over to where he was lifting and stopped to catch her breath. "How's it going, commander?" she asked, panting while wiping the sweat from her brow. "About as well as could be expected, considering the war and all," Dyer said. "How about you?" "Your thoughts pretty much speak for mine," Veh replied. "So, do you need a workout partner or do you want to lift weights by yourself?" She then awaited his reply... =========================================================== Lt. Commander Tyrian M. Summers USS Fearless Stardate 9801.24 Tyrian left the holodeck, he had worked up a good sweat on another one of his fighting programs. He always felt he was getting better, ironing out any little flaws he had in any of his moves. He had not seen much action lately, being on the surface of Romulus really did not work out to being more than a search mission and then a guard assignment when he accompanied the Captain down. Tyrian walked back to his quarters and cleaned up. He then made his way up to the bridge for his shift. The ship was headed for Starbase 347 and maybe a little rest, but that was not likely, with the Dominion looming over them. Tyrian hoped for a mission directed against them, he still had a lot of anger towards them. END TRANSMISSION Subject: SO: Fearless/Mind Meld Lt. Sholek Stardate 9801.24 Captain's Ready Room Sholek awaited Spock's arrival. He could not refuse to mind meld with the Vulcan. He had nothing to hide and did not want to be considered unreliable by his crew mates. There was a chime at the door. As soon as Sortha said, "Enter," Spock appeared in their midst. "Greetings, Ambassador," Sortha said as he and Sholek rose to their feet. "This is Ssholek, the Romulan you have requessted to mind meld with." "Greetings, Sholek," Spock said raising his hand in the traditional Vulcan salute. Sholek did the same and said, "Greetings, sir. It is an honor. I am thankful that you are willing to help prove that I am clean and have done no wrong of my own fault." "Captain," Spock said, "I would ask that you please stay." "If that iss what you wissh, ssir," the big Gorn replied. Spock sat in a seat next to the one Sholek was standing at. Sholek also sat. The Vulcan reached out his hand to touch the Romulan's face. Sholek did the same. Spock said, "Our minds our one, my mind to your mind, my thoughts to your thoughts." Spock began to probe Sholek's mind. On the thought plane. There was a mist on the ground and a darkness out side of were they stood. "Where are we?" Sholek asked. "We appear to be in a telepathic battle field," Spock answered. "It would take a powerful telepath to create this." "Magus." The brig. "One of the voices is speaking louder," Cortez said frightened. "It's Sholek." "Brig to Sortha," cried the ensign guarding the brig. "Cortez says that one of the voices he is hearing is Sholek's." "Another voice," Cortez shrieked. "Spock. Spock is in my head, too." "He just now said that he hears Spock, too," the Ensign added. Sortha stared at Spock and Sholek. What could be happening between them that would cause Cortez to hear them talking? The thought plane. "Correct, Sholek," a voice said from out in the void. "It is an honor to have such a famous person such as you in on my thought plane, Spock." "Why are you doing this?" Spock asked. "Vengeance," he replied. As long as the two of you are here, you can not break your mind meld. Also, no one on the other side can break the meld without risking brain damage to the both of you. You'll both slowly die, stuck together telepathically forever. Ha ha ha." Magus's ship. Magus sat on his ship laughing. "Neither of you actually realize that I am actually reading your minds to gain valuable information from the both of you. Your knowledge of the Federation fleet will turn the tides in the Dominion's favor. I'm sure you'll find a way out, I have no doubt. But your Federation will fall." Back on the thought plane. "My vengeance is complete," Magus said. "I doubt your intent is to kill us through starving us to death," The Vulcan countered. We can easily be feed intravenously until we can receive help from a Vulcan who could meld with us and separate our link." "You have a point," Magus said seemingly defeated. "Maybe I didn't think this through. Since you're here to find out if Sholek is innocent, I'll tell you. "Of course he is. He wouldn't hurt a fly with out being forced to. I killed Jefferson through him, sent him to the Praetor, and killed his brother, through him. But it'll be a while before anyone else will know. Enjoy your time here." The Bridge. "Commander," said the ensign at Ops, "I'm detecting an energy surge outside the ship. It may be from a cloaked vessel. It appears to be moving away from us, now." "Dyer to Sortha," he said. "We have detected a cloaked ship nearby. It is now moving away from us." "Let it go, Commander," Sortha replied. "We have other things to worry about. We'll report it to Starfleet when we return." The thought plane. "I have an idea," Sholek said. "If we attempt a mind meld on this plane, we may be able get out." "A logical suggestion," Spock answered. "Let's try it." Spock reached for Sholek's face and Sholek reached for Spock's. And then they pulled their hands off each others face. "What happened," asked Sortha. "Cortez claimed he could hear you in his mind." "Magus able to bring us to a telepathic plane," Sholek said. "Magus admitted that he was responsible for Sholek's actions," Spock added. "It maybe that Magus was able to place a part of him inside Sholek ever since he first made telepathic contact with him and used that to interfere with the meld." On Magus's ship. "That fool," Magus said to himself. "I was able to obtain the information I need. Now I am thankful that I stayed with him after taking control of him. I will get my vengeance after the Dominion destroys the Federation. I win." He laughed. ============================================================ Captain Sortha Ready Room Stardate 9801.25 Sortha sat across from Spock and Sholek and nodded in satisfaction. It appeared the loose ends of the mission had finally been wrapped up. "There will sstill be a formal hearing regarding the death of Jefferson and your conduct on Romuluss," Sortha said. "But I think it iss safe to ssay you will be cleared. Thiss Maguss wass obviously ressponsible for what happened. I would like to get my handss on him for what he hass done. Because of him Kim Jefferson and Clayton Aries are dead, and Ensign Cortez may have to undergo therapy for the mental damage the invasion of hiss mind caused." "Magus will get what he has coming to him," Sholek concurred. "I thank you ambassador for helping me reveal Magus' intrusion into my mind, and you captain for allowing me the opportunity to clear my name." "I am here to serve," Spock offered. "You may return to duty, lieutenant," Sortha said. "I will inform Ki'lal that you are no longer a ssuspect. Disssmisssed." Sholek stood, nodded to the captain, and turned to leave. Once he was gone, Spock turned to Sortha. "I have spoken with the Federation Council. When we arrive at Starbase 347 I will be leaving for Markarus VI," Spock said. "The top leaders of both the Federation and Klingon Empires will be meeting at the colony there to discuss the future of the alliance and plans for the war against the Dominion. With my return, I have been asked to join the discussion." "Who better to help plot the future of the relationsship between the Federation and the Klingonss," Sortha concluded. "It wass you who helped bring both ssides together 80 years ago." "Indeed," Spock said. "I look forward to serving the Federation again after all this time on Romulus. Again, captain, I thank you for your hospitality. You have a fine ship and crew. And while I am thinking of it, how is your father?" Sortha smiled, recalling that Spock's former captain, James T, Kirk, and his father had once done battle with one another on Cestus III...many, many years ago. "My father iss well," Sortha said. "However, he cannot pick up boulderss over hiss head as he once did, but he is otherwise quite healthy." "Please send him my regards," Spock said, uneffected by Sortha's attempt at humor...as only a true Vulcan could be. "Now, if you will excuse me captain, I must gather my belongings and prepare for my trip to Markarus." Sortha nodded to Spock, "Thank you for your help on thiss mission, ambasssador. We could not have done it without you." Spock gave a curt nod, then turned and left the ready room. A short time later, Lt. Quilman reported from the helm station, "Captain, we are approaching Starbase 347." "Acknowledged," Sortha replied. "I am on my way." ============================================================ USS Fearless Bridge Stardate 9801.26 The Avenger and Fearless dropped out of warp and entered the Krolon Sector. Ahead on the main viewscreens of both vessels was a large, majestic Federation starbase orbiting a gas giant planet. The system was literally filled with starships of both Federation and Klingon design...it was the Fourth Fleet. Navigating around the armada of ships...102 in all...the two Shadow Ops vessels moved into orbit above the station. With all the docking ports filled to capacity, the Avenger and Fearless would have to transport their crews aboard the station to take advantage of shore leave. But it was just a minor inconvenience, considering both crews had just come off a hard mission and they were ready for a little downtime. Shortly after achieving orbit, the captains of both ships authorized shore leave and the majority of both crews beamed over to the station for a little long overdue R&R. END TRANSMISSION Subject: SO: Fearless/Dyer's Workout Lt. Sholek Stardate 9801.27 Fearless Sholek decided to stay on the Fearless for now. He wanted to try out a holodeck program that belonged to Ensign Jefferson. When he entered the holodeck, he saw a bar and a wooden dance floor. On one wall was a jukebox. There was a large crowd, all sitting at tables apparently waiting for something. Sholek approached the bar. The setting was slightly depressing and it showed on him. When he sat down, the bartender noticed it and said, "What's wrong? You woman break your heart?" "I suppose you could say that," Sholek replied. "She plotted with my brother to kill me." "Wo," the bartender said surprised. "Now I've heard everything. You've got it rough. Perhaps a song 'd cheer you up." He handed Sholek a quarter. "Take this quarter and go play song A7." "A7?" Sholek questioned. "Which song is that?" "Hank Williams, Your Cheatin' Heart, of course," answered the bartender. "It's the most popular song 'round here, what with these being the most popular place for the heart broken." =========================================================== Commander Michael Dyer U.S.S. Fearless Holodeck #2 Stardate 9701.26 Dyer burst through the door into the computer core and fired his phaser. It took two shots, and dodging a blast from one of the Cardassian engineers, but the wide beam maximum setting had it's desired effect. Dyer was now alone in the core. He found the access panel that he was looking for and set up the download, he then removed his comm badge, and placed it on top of the download device. At the desired time, the ship would beam up the information. He checked the schematic of the station one more time before moving toward the detention centre. He decided that to save time, he would plow straight through and deal with defenses as they happened. The first thing he encountered was a small group (3) Cardassians who protested a human running through the corridors at full speed with a phaser in his hand. Dyer levelled his phaser, and without breaking stride, vaporized the group before they could raise an alarm. He encountered a few stragglers, along the way, but made excellent time and reached the detention centre in about four minutes. He burst through the door to the detention centre after killing the two guards at the door. The four that remained were quite surprised at this development. Apparently they were under the impression that they had rounded up all of the intruders. Dyer vaporized three of them and slit the throat of the fourth. He spent two minutes trying to crack the security lock out on the force fields for the cell holding the rest of the team. He then ripped off the access panel and blasted the controls with his phaser at maximum setting, the force field dropped. The team then grabbed their weapons and communicators, and began to fight their way back to the computer core, where the transport coordinates were. They had a much harder time getting back, than Dyer had in reaching them. Someone along the way must have had a chance to raise an alarm. The entire station was in the process of coming to full alert. The team eventually made it to the core, and Dyer picked up the download device and his comm badge, just in time to beamed up to the ship with the rest of the team. They dematerialized form the computer core, and Dyer was left standing in the center of the holodeck. He walked over to the console, slightly winded, and downloaded the mission critique from the console and returned the holosim program to the archives. He then decided to wind down the night with a work out in the gym. He arrived to find Vehakra Rhikal running around the track. It always surprised Dyer when he saw a fellow officer in different light for the first time. He had worked with Veh for a couple of missions now, but this was the first time he had seen her out of uniform, and in such skimpy clothes. He took note of her attractiveness and moved to the weights. He had just finished warming up and began his workout, when Veh came over and stood beside the machine. "How's it going, commander?" she asked, panting while wiping the sweat from her brow. "About as well as could be expected, considering the war and all," Dyer said. "How about you?" "Your thoughts pretty much speak for mine," Veh replied. "So, do you need a workout partner or do you want to lift weights by yourself?" "I'd love a workout partner. I haven't had one since I left the Victory. It's so much more motivating having someone to workout with. I find you sort of push each other to the next level, instead of being complacent with past achievements." Dyer said, he didn't add that it would be a pleasure having someone so lovely workout with him. Veh moved over to the next machine and began to workout herself. Dyer added, "I seem to remember a young Ensign Rhikal beginning her career aboard the VIctory, many years ago when I first went that ship. Could that have been you?" END TRANSMISSION Subject: SO: Fearless/At Starbase 347 Lt. Commander Tyrian M. Summers USS Fearless Stardate 9801.30 Tyrian went to the transporter room after the main rush of crew leaving for the starbase had already departed. He stepped up on the transporter pad and then dematerialized, then reappeared in a transporter room on Starbase 347. He nodded to the Lieutenant manning the controls and walked out into the hallway. With all the ships around the station, it was packed with Starfleet personnel. Tyrian made his way through the crowd towards the main lounge. In the lounge, it was standing room only. Tyrian went up to the bar and asked for a synthohol. The bartender gave it to him. Tryian walked over to the huge window that looked out into space. He looked through the crowd of ships, and immediately found what he was looking for, the Fearless. The majestic ship stood out among all the others. Tyrian had been extremely happy after being reassigned to it, other young officers could only dream about being assigned to such a ship, much less being third in command. But he still longed for home, to see his wife and son. But it was wartime, he knew that if something happened he would never see them again. Tyrian finished his drink, and looked up once more at the Fearless and left the bar. He heading towards the holodeck, he hoped to trade some fighting programs he had brought for some new ones others might have with them. He always was looking to learn whatever other tactics that might be out there that he had not seen yet. ============================================================ Lt. Sholek USS Fearless Stardate 9801.30 Magus' ship approached the Dominion ship and docked. Still smiling, Magus boarded the other ship. "You seem very happy," the Vorta onboard commented. "I have succeeded in damaging Sholek more than I had hoped," Magus replied. "Unfortunately," the Vorta started, "the Dominion does not like failure. I am forced to kill you and take your ship." "You don't dare," responded Magus. He tried to use his power on the Jem'Hadar. "What the..." "We have created a defense against your powers. Kill him." The Jem'Hadar jumped on him, mauling Magus' body. They did not realize that his ship was set to explode when Magus died to protect it from enemy hands even after he died. The explosion destroyed the Dominion vessel. Fearless' brig. Cortez began to say, "They're gone. The voices are gone." Then he screamed. "Brig to the sickbay," the ensign nearby said. "It appears that Cortez can no longer hear the voice but he appears to have gone mad. He may need medical help." Sholek sat on his bed. It had been only a few minutes since he awoke from his dream about the past. For a second he heard Magus' voice crying out. ============================================================ USS Fearless Sickbay Stardate 9801.31 Dr. Cassandra Ming had administered a battery of tests to Lt. Commander Ki'lal and then brought him into her office to speak with him alone. The Asian doctor was seated across from the Klingon as she reviewed a padd of information on the test results. "Ki'lal, you have K'Vak Syndrome," she said solemnly. "It is a genetic disease which only effects Klingons. It attacks the brain and central nervous system. You are in the early stages right now, so you are showing no visible symptoms. At some point you will begin to experience uncontrollable shaking of your hands, slurred speech, forgetfulness, migraine headaches. In the later stages sufferers of this disease often forget who they are, forget the people around them, lose control of most bodily functions, eventually they lose their vision, hearing, then they lapse into a coma and usually die within three to six months thereafter." Ki'lal looked at the floor, "That is no way for a warrior to die," he growled. "Apparently most Klingons feel that way," she said. "There are only a few cases that have gone full term. Most Klingons take their own lives by the middle-stages." "Is there a cure?" he asked. "There is, but there is a problem," Ming said. "The only way to cure the disease is for the patient to have a sample of DNA transplanted from a healthy family member...a direct blood family member. Some Klingon doctors have been able to use this DNA sample as a genetic resequencer. It works in 90 percent of the cases." "But I have no living relatives other than an uncle and his son, my cousin," Ki'lal explained, speaking of Worf and his son, Alexander. Ming frowned and shook her head. "If it were your father, mother or a sibling, then it might work. But not an uncle or cousin. Not a close enough match." Ki'lal frowned. "How long can I expect to remain functional?" "There should be no serious threat to your abilities or health for at least six months," she said. "I want you in here once a week for check up. The moment I begin to see major degradation of your senses or abilities..." Ki'lal held up a hand, "I know...I'll be relieved of my duties. Don't worry, Doctor. If I noticed myself slipping, I will willingly step down." "Let's hope it doesn't come to that," Ming said with a smile. "I'll keep in contact with the Klingon Medical Ministry on Qo'nOs. Maybe something else will work out." "Thank you doctor," he said, then standing and departing sickbay... END TRANSMISSION Subject: SO: Fearless/Remaining at Starbase 347 Commander Michael Dyer U.S.S. Fearless Stardate 9802.02 Commander Dyer was glad to back at Starbase. The last few months aboard this ship had been good ones, but extremely busy. The missions they had been on were all successful ones and this crew had performed well. They deserved to have some time off, even if shore leave was only for a few days, and only aboard a starbase. Dyer took advantage of the downtime to workout more often. He also liked to crawl around the belly of the ship. He enjoyed spending time exploring the Jeffries' Tubes, and the lower regions of the ship, that weren't travelled very often, especially by the first officer. The time also gave him the leisure time he needed as well. There really was no need for shore leave on a vessel such as the Fearless. She was capable of sustaining hundreds of crewmen and women for years during deep space missions. There really was no need to disembark. And besides, Captain Sortha was busy on the station meeting with the other Captains in the fleet as well as Admiral Jaegar, so someone had to remain in command of the ship, even at station keeping. Usually it would be the Second officer, but Tyrian needed some time off too. He gladly remained aboard his ship. He did go down to the shuttle bay to see how the repairs were coming to the Vigilance. He had no intention of returning the Admiral's shuttle damaged. Besides, one never knew when the tiny ship would be called into service again. With the repairs nicely under way, and the Fearless in great shape, Dyer spent most of time doing things that he liked: Listening to Opera, reading and working out. He would keep the ship afloat while her crew waited for another mission. END TRANSMISSION Subject: SO: Fearless/Commendations Lt. Thoraz Brynaziir Starbase 347 Stardate 9802.04 After having disembarked, Thoraz toured the station. He didn't really notice anything as his mind seemed to be other matters. He went to the gym and went through the motions of practicing his Klingon Martial Arts, but he soon left. Some of the other crew passed him in the corridors, greeting him but he never even noticed them; far less acknowledging them. .... ============================================================ Captain Sortha Ready Room Stardate 9802.05 Sortha sat behind his desk and looked at the holographic communicator in the corner next to him. There on the imaging platform stood Admiral Jaegar...or at least the captain's holographic image. "It isss good to sssee you Admiral,' Sortha said. "I trusst you've read my misssion report?" "Indeed," Jaegar confirmed. "Good work stopping the Avenger without incident, and for exposing the Dominion conspiracy. Your crew performed exemplary." Sortha nodded with pride, "Thank you." "Which brings me to another subject," Jaegar said smiling. "I've reviewed your reports and I'm pleased to inform you Starfleet has authorized me to award your crew a Meritorius Service Commendation for their actions. And specifically, to Commander Dyer and Lt. Quilman, a bronze star for bravery for their raid on the Warbird. Damn good work." "Thank you again, sssir," Sortha said. "I am equally pleasessed with them." "And for you, a silver star for your actions in delaying the Praetor and exposing the plot against him," Jaegar added. "The real heroes were my crew," Sortha said. "I see the review board is satisfied Sholek acted under mental duress," Jaegar added. "So his actions have been exonerated." "Yesss," Sortha said, humbled a little. "Ssholek's actions sstill dissturb me, but from everything our investigation sshows...and the findings of the JAG inquiry board...he was not of his own mind when he killed Jefferson and paid the unauthorized vissit to the Romulan praetor." "Any threat of this individual, Magus, mentally attacking him again?" Jaegar asked. "Unknown," Sortha admitted. "Let'ss hope not. Sso, admiral, do you have a new asssignment for uss?" "Tomorrow," Jaegar said with a smile. "Assemble your crew at 1300 hours in the conference room and I'll make contact with you then for the mission briefing. And, before I forget to tell you, I probably won't be returning to the Fearless anytime in the near future." Sortha cocked his head to one side, slightly. "Oh?" "With the launch of the new mobile training and command facility aboard the USS Retribution, my offices will be moved there eventually. For now I'll remain at Starbase 189 until such time as I am able to transfer to the Retribution. Fearless will remain a mobile command center, but will only be used for that purpose when necessary," Jaegar explained. "As for the Vigilence, go ahead and keep it for now. I'll be getting a new launch when I transfer to the Retribution." Sortha nodded, "Thank you, ssir. That little sship hass come in quite handy. I'll maintain your office as is for now." "Thank you captain," Jaegar said. "Well, I have to be going. I have a strategy meeting with the rest of the command staff here at Starbase 189, so if you'll excuse me." "See you tomorrow, admiral," Sortha said. A moment later the holographic image of Jaegar faded and was gone. The Gorn captain then went to work on a report for the crew informing them of the commendations they'd earned on the Romulus mission. END TRANSMISSION Subject: SO: Fearless/Mission Briefing Announced Lt. Sholek USS Fearless Stardate 9802.05 When Sholek returned to Romulus after his encounter with Lavando. After landing the shuttle, he headed to see Riamon, his best friend. Riamon greeted Sholek at when he arrived at Riamon's door, "Greetings Sholek. "How was your little adventure?" "I found the being you told me about," replied Sholek. "What?" Riamon said confused. "I didn't tell you about any being." For a second Sholek thought his friend might be joking but he quickly realized that Magus may have used Riamon to get Sholek to come to him. I Magus could reach all the way to Romulus, he could not stay here. "Oh, that's right," Sholek came back. "I was thinking of a person someone else had suggested I see. "Anyway," Sholek continued, "I've decided to ask for another command, one on the far side of Romulan territory." 'And far from Magus and the Federation as possible,' Sholek said to himself. "Have you already made a request?" Riamon asked. "Not yet," answered Sholek. "Then I suggest you request command of the 'Iron Fist'," he offered. "It's mission is on the far side of the Empire. It's going out to investigate some trouble. And it seems that no one is ready to ask for it." "Very well," Sholek said. Sholek went to the military office to apply for the opening. "Are you sure you want this command?" asked the General at the office. "It involves a race called the $!@4^!. Have you*)#@%^&%@$@ Sholek woke up. His dream had become distorted for some reason. He was thinking back to the events that happened and could only remember up to that point. Why couldn't he remember the mission he had gone on. He was sure that it happened just before he was assigned to the battle against the Gorn. ============================================================ Commander Michael Dyer U.S.S. Fearless Stardate 9802.06 Dyer sat down at the terminal in his quarters after another workout. He did enjoy downtime, it gave him a chance to catch up on exercise. He opened a channel to McKinley Station, in orbit around Earth. He hadn't been there since he was assigned to this fine ship. It didn't take the system very long to locate his mother. She was, as usual, in her office. She looked up from her papers with a smile, "Good evening Michael." "Hi Mom," Dyer responded, "How's life at home?" "Things go fairly well here. Your father is beginning to drive me crazy. He's a little bored since he retired. He's trying to get me to do the same, so we can travel together." "How do you feel about that. Starfleet couldn't be too upset with you for desiring that after 37 years of service." He knew his mother had no intention of retiring. While it's true she had 37 of years under her belt, she Graduated from Starfleet academy when she was 20, so at 57 years of age, she was no where close to retirement. "Are you crazy," She fained surprise. "I haven't worked my way through the ranks to just quit. I've only been at McKinley for a year and a half, I have plenty of work left to do." Dyer knew his mother would have to be removed by force. She would never retire, as long as there was breath left in her. "How goes it out there in the war?" She was giving him that look. "You could call your mother once in a while so I don't have to use the 'no news is good news theory' to ease my mind." "I know," Dyer lowered his eyes a bit, "But you know how it is in the field, there isn't a whole lot of opportunity to do that when you just skip from battle to battle." "To answer your question though, things do not go well in this war. We battle but neither side ever gets a foot hold. We are losing so many ships, and the Klingons are losing more than we are. "Luckily our ship is faring well, we have had few deaths and sustained very little damage during our missions." Dyer continued his conversation with his mother for awhile and then they signed off with a promise to try and talk more often. He got dressed and decided to take a late night tour of the ship. He checked out cargo bays, checked up on the repairs to the Vigilance, peeked in on main engineering, and all points in between. he ended up on the bridge, and was surprised to find Captain Sortha at the conn. "Good evening sir," He said. Dyer then remembered that the Captain had not commented on the results of his holosim. "Did you get a chance to review the results of my holosim? I am quite anxious to hear an outside opinion." Dyer sat down in his chair to the right of the Captain and awaited a reply. ============================================================ Captain Sortha Bridge Stardate 9802.07 Sortha nodded to Dyer and eased back in his chair. "Your performance wass exemplary. Accomplisshing the download of the data iss of course the primary objective of the ssimulation. But it sshows a certain loyality to your crew when you rissk your life to go back for them. I have alwayss approved of recruitsss who manage to accomplissh both the primary objective and the resscue of the fellow operatives." "Thank you sir," Dyer said, smiling. "I'd be curious to know how you did on that simulation?" "My ressponse was virtually the ssame," Sortha began, but before he could continue much further with the story, the officer currently at tactical looked up from his station. "Captain, incoming text only message from Admiral Jaegar. He'd like you to assemble the senior staff for a meeting in 20 minutes," the officer reported. Sortha glanced at his chronometer built into the armrest of his chair. "He wassn't ssupposed to make contact with uss for two more hourss. Ssomething musst have come up. Acknowledge his messsage." "Aye captain." "Ssortha to all ssenior officerss," the Gorn captain said, tapping his comm-badge. "There will be a misssion briefing in the main conference room in 20 minutess. Sortha out." "I guess this is a story you can finish another time," Dyer remarked. Sortha nodded and stood up, "Indeed. Let's go..." END TRANSMISSION Subject: SO: Fearless/Briefing Lt. Commander Tyrian M. Summers Starbase 347 Stardate 9802.09 Tyrian had spent almost all of his shore leave aboard the starbase. Before he left the Fearless, he had been able to contact his family and talk to them for a short time, they were alright but worried about him with the war going on. The rest of the time he had spent in the holodecks of the starbase, testing new fighting technique programs with officers from other Starfleet ships. He had been able to trade some of his programs for a great deal of new ones, a lot of them involving Jem'Hadar scenarios, his favorite. By the time he returned to the Fearless, he was exhausted and sore. Tyrian went directly to his quarters and fell into his bed to get some rest. He didn't know how long it was until the intercom called him to report for briefing for the next mission. ============================================================ USS Fearless Conference Lounge Stardate 9802.11 The Shadow Ops team assembled in the conference room and waited for Captain Sortha to arrive. After a short time Sortha entered and was seated at the head of the table. He keyed the comm-line to the bridge and got Ensign Dwight Loomis, the current tactical officer. "Ensign, put the admiral through on the holographic communicator," Sortha said. A moment later the image of Admiral Erik Jaegar flickered into existence in the chair at the opposite end of the table. The holographic representation of Jaegar looked around the table and smiled. "Good to see all of you again," Jaegar said. "Glad to see you all made it back from Romulus in one piece. "I've called you here today because we have a new mission for you," Jaegar said. "As you all know, with the capture of Deep Space Nine and Bajor's entry into a non-aggression pact with the Dominion, we've been shut off from what's happening on Bajor and with the Wormhole. "Some intelligence reports have leaked through, however, and we've learned something Starfleet is rather concerned about," Jaegar continued. "It seems the Cardassians are seeking a religious artifact on Bajor which is said to possess powers beyond imagination...powers which could give them an edge in the war against the Federation and Klingon Empire. "Many of you may be familiar with stories about the Bajoran Orbs. These powerful objects are said to have been gifts to the Bajoran people from the Prophets. Several of these orbs have been encountered by Starfleet personnel and their powers have been verified. The religious artifact the Cardassians seek is one called the Orb of Victory. The Bajorans say it is the most powerful of all the orbs and has been keep hidden by a sect of nomadic Vedeks (Bajoran priests) for centuries. Even during the Occupation they managed to keep the Orb away from the Cardassians, who plundered many of the Orbs. This one in particular has interested the Cardassians and they searched for it all through the Occupation. They are now said to be looking for it again." Sortha turned to the admiral, "Thiss orb, what makess it sso sspecial?" "The Orb is said to have the power to destroy an attacking army just by using it to call upon the Prophets," Jaegar explained. "The Bajorans have only seen its power used once...about 35 years ago during the Occupation when a Vedek used it against a legion of Cardassian troops to stop them from destroying a village. Legend has it the Cardassians were all slain, but the village also laid to waste and many Bajorans died. So the Bajorans have never since used the Orb for defense or offense. "Anyway, our spies indicate the Cardassians want the Orb. However, the Dominion has refused to let them set foot on Bajor, so Gul Dukat has secretly hired a group of mercenaries and has smuggled them on to Bajor to find the Orb, take it from the Vedeks and bring it to him on Deep Space Nine. "We want to send the Fearless in close to Bajoran space and then from there deploy an Away team aboard the Vigilence to travel to Bajor. A small cloaked ship like the Vigilence should be able to make it through to Bajor and set down on the surface. From there the team will seek out the Orb and get it to safety, and/or take out the mercenary team." The team looked around at each other as the details of the mission began to sink in. While it did, Vehakra Rhikal raised her hand. "Admiral, if this Orb is such a secret, how are we supposed to find it? And if we do, will the Vedek's who protect it allow us to take it?" "We have contacts on Bajor who have a good idea where the Vedeks can be found. Through Kai Wynn we've learned they are willing to turn it over to a representative of the Federation for safe keeping until after the war with the Dominion is over. In fact, we've agreed to take the Orb from Bajor and turn it over to Captain Ben Sisko...who is considered to be the Emissary of the Prophets," Jaegar said. "You will carry a message from Wynn and Sisko which tells the Vedeks they are to cooperate. Hopefully, they will." "Will we be disguised as Bajorans for this away mission?" Ki'lal asked, obviously noting the difficulty that would exist in making himself look Bajoran. "Not necessarily," Jaegar confirmed. "There are many off-worlders trapped on Bajor since the Dominion took control of the system. You should all fit in. The good thing is neither Cardassian nor Jem'Hadar troops are allowed to set foot on Bajor without the permission of the Bajoran government. If anything can be said for the Dominion, at least they stick to their agreements." "Ssir," Sortha interjected. "What will the Fearlesss be doing while the team iss on Bajor?" "Fearless is to proceed on to Sector 234-G to escort a convoy of Federation troops bound for the front lines," Jaegar said. "Starfleet is spread thin these days and the convoy is transporting nearly 100,000 Federation Marines. They must get through to the colony of Uraeras III where they will be needed to repell an expected attack by Dominion forces any day now. "Now, are there any more questions?" END TRANSMISSION Subject: SO: Fearless/Briefing Continues Captain Sortha Conference Room Stardate 9802.11 Bajor, Sortha thought to himself. The name reminded him of his Bajoran former tactical officer Kahlanna Jarnell. She had been a hell of a fighter, Sortha wondered if she was one of the contacts the Admiral was talking about. When the Dominion captured DS9 she had left the crew to return to join the Bajoran resistance. "Admiral" Sortha asked, "by any chance is one of those contacts Kalahna Jarnell?" ============================================================ USS Fearless Briefing Stardate 9802.11 Jaegar smiled at Sortha, "Insightful as always, captain. Kalahna has been working for us on Bajor and is your contact on Bajor. Kalahna and a group of Bajorans who are working for us are currently in the Sha'kar Provence on Bajor, in a spaceport city there called Demjuin. Your team will make contact with her there, at a bar near the docking bays called the Wandering Soul. She'll put you on track in finding the mercenaries and the Orb." "Unless there are any more questions, this meeting is over," Jaegar said, then glancing around the table to see if anyone else had a question... END TRANSMISSION Subject: SO: Fearless/Briefing Ends Lt. Commander Tyrian M. Summers USS Fearless Conference Lounge Stardate 9802.11 "Admiral, I realize that you have said that the Vedeks will turn it over to Federation representatives, but I wonder about a worst case scenario, where other Bajorans might find out about what is about to happen, and try to interfere with outsiders trying to get their "Orb". Do we have authorization to retreive the device at any cost?" ============================================================ Admiral Erik Jaegar Conference Room/Communicating via Holographic Communicator Stardate 9802.11 "While we'd like to avoid harming anyone, especially Bajorans, if you are left with no other choice...yes," Jaegar said in reply to Tyrian. "The Orb is too important to let it fall into the hands of the Cardassians." ============================================================ Captain Sortha Conference Room Stardate 9802.11 Captain Sortha allowed himself one of his infrequent grins. At least we'll have a contact we can trussst." Sortha stated. Kalahna was one of my most loyal officers. She's tough too, you'll have to keep on your toess to keep up with her." "We'll take the Fearlesss in as close to Bajor as we can get and then launch the Vigilence who will carry the away team down to the ssurface of Bajor. The away team will consist of Commander Dyer, Lieutenant Commander Ssummerss, Lieutenant Commander Ki'lal, Lt. Commander Rhikal, Lieutenant Brynaziir, and Enssign Marcuss, and two Bajoran ssecurity enssignss. Lieutenant Quilman will sstay with me aboard the Fearlesss as acting first officer. Commander Dyer will lead the away misssion with Lt. Commander Ssummerss ssecond in command. I expect you'll need a wide range of weaponry and equipment. What you can't conceal you can leave on the Vigilence until ssuch time as you need it. Okay people, let's get cracking. Commander get your team ready." ON THE SURFACE OF BAJOR Former Lieutenant Commander Kalahna Jarnell, now a member of the newly formed Bajoran resistance, meditated on the small flickering flame that was the only illumination in the small dingy underground room. She and her compatriots had been living like voles, like the days of the Cardassian occupation. She stared into the flame. On board the USS Stealth, she had killed but not as personally as she had done here on Bajor. They were dirty killings, the type of killings where one had to dispose of the body, so as to leave no trace. Hide, sabotage, spy, hide, kill, hide. It was a pitiful existence. As she had returned to this life, the life she led as a teenage girl during the Cardassian occupation, she sought solace in the ways of her people, their beliefs and religions. Staring into the flame, she sought out their advice, the help from the ages, that she prayed would see her through this new dark phase in her life. ============================================================ Lt. Sholek Stardate 9802.11 Fearless Another dreamy night for Sholek. After his return from the outskirts of Romulan space, he was escorted to talk with the Praetor himself. Who ever Sholek was forced to fight must have been a powerful adversary. "Well done, Commander," said the Praetor to Sholek before the Imperial court. "You have come back victorious, defeating our most powerful enemy." "At the cost of nearly our entire imperial fleet, Praetor," Sholek interjected. "We have more ships in production," replied the Praetor, "and the fleets destruction means I need you to lead the rest of our forces against the Gorn. You will get more specific orders when you have returned to your ship." When Sholek returned to his ship, he read his orders. He was ordered to find a secret Gorn production plant with any means necessary. That meant torture or kill to get info. His first incursion into Gorn space was fruitless. He merely entered to determine if the Gorn could detect the cloaked ship. He failed to encounter a Gorn ship before the time limit he set. The next time through, he moved towards a Gorn ship. They were caught off-gaurd. Evidently, the Gorn had detected them. Sholek was forced to damage the Gorn ship and take everyone on board as prisoners. Though he tortured them, they had too much honor to betray the location of the Gorn secret plant. Eventually he was pulled from his mission to a desk job on Romulus. The Romulan sense of honor had begun to deteriorate. That compounded by the fact that Sholek's family was executed for treason, though they were not guilty, force Sholek to leave his home for Vulcan. There he decided to pursue the Vulcan ideals of logic and suppressed emotions. He learned how to perform mind melds and how to do the Vulcan nerve pinch. And since he was Romulan, he now seemed almost entirely Vulcan. But what of that force that he had encountered. What lived on the far side of Romulan space. This continued to puzzle Sholek. END TRANSMISSION Subject: SO: Fearless/Planning Commander Michael Dyer Briefing Room U.S.S. Fearless Stardate 9802.15 Dyer listened intently to the entire briefing without uttering a single comment. The mission could be simple; go to Bajor, find Kalahna, retrieve the orb, and return to vigilance. It could also be perilous; Go to Bajor, discover a team of Cardassians after the orb as well, do battle, suffer casualties, etc. Dyer hoped for the simpler outcome, but he and his team would have to prepare for the latter more complicated outcome. He spoke to his team, "I want you all to gather the standard SO gear that you will need." He turned to Tyrian, "Commander, I want you to oversee the retrofit of Vigilance. We will have to use her as a home base and eight people is a lot for her to handle. Maximise the space, we could have to live on her for a while until we can get back to friendly territory after this is over." "Commander Rhikal, I want you to oversee the equipment round-up. Use your discression, but I suggest a good supply of hunter probes, and nano-probes. We will also need some Bajoran currency. They never got fully integrated into a Federation system and still use hard currency for certain business transactions." "Commander Ki'lal, you and our two security officers gather everything you can on Bajor. I want to know key players in the Shakar resistance that repelled the Cardassians, especially if they are still alive. It might be good to have a few back-up contacts in the event that we have trouble locating Kalahna." "Lt. Brynaziir you can assist Commander Summers, and Ensign Marcus, you're with Commander Rhikal." "That's it everyone, I'll meet you back here in 4 hours at 18:00hrs you can brief me on progress at that time. Dismissed. After everyone left Dyer turned to Captain Sortha. "Captain, I'd like to discuss our plan sir." "What'sss on your mind Commander?" Sortha looked at his first officer. "Sir, I was just remembering the complicated maneuvers we had to undergo the last time we deployed the Vigilance while under cloak when we were on our last mission. I was wondering if it would be a good idea to launch Vigilance while we're still in friendly territory sir, that way we could proceed cloaked, and not risk giving away our position to the Dominion. They will certainly be on a higher alert status than the Romulans were. Dyer sat and waited while Sortha considered this suggested alteration to the plan. ============================================================ Captain Sortha Briefing Stardate 9802.15 "Very well Commander" Sortha responded. We'll launch you in our territory. Fearless will escort you until we're at least sure you are ssafe on Bajor. After that we'll be off to escort thosse Federation mariness and you'll be on your own." =========================================================== Lt. Commander Vehakra Rhikal USS Fearless Stardate 9802.15 Vehakra Rhikal left the briefing and headed down to the ships armory to begin procuring the supplies Dyer had requested. This was indeed going to be an intersting mission, she thought to herself as she walked through the ship, on the way to the armory. Travelling to Bajor to find some mystical orb of the Prophets, and seeing Kalahna while she was there. She missed her friend and thought of how good it would be to see the Bajoran woman again. Rhikal couldn't help but like the idea of spending a lot of time with Commander Dyer either. Somehow, since their workout together while the ship was at the Starbase, Veh had found herself attracted to the commander. Maybe they could get to know one anothe better during this mission. END TRANSMISSION Subject: SO: Fearless/Ready To Depart FROM THE GM: Posts are beginning to slip a little guys. I need to have the level of participation increased here soon. Tyrian is supposed to be overseeing the retrofitting of the Vigilence and Ki'lal is supposed to be gathering information about the Shakar Resistance. Lt. Sholek Stardate 9802.16 USS Fearless Sholek examined the battlefield. It was completely desert but had no desert vegetation. The ground was hard, dry, and cracked like a typical desert. Behind him was a legion of knights. The hot desert sun apparently had no effect on their metallic armor. He noticed that he also wore armor. Beside him was a horse, which he mounted. Off in the distance he saw another knight approach. It was a black knight on top of a black steed. The black knight held a lance. Sholek's army held only swords. How could they ever expect to defeat this knight. Sholek held up his sword and yelled, "Charge!" Sholek's army moved towards the black knight. The knight swung his lance and each time he connected the knight who received the blow would fall off his horse, squirm for a few seconds, then die. After half of his army was slaughtered in this way, he called all his knights back to regroup. This was obviously not going to work. He turned towards the knight and slowly brought his steed closer. When he was half way between his army and the black knight he said, "I am Commander Sholek of the Romulan Imperial army. Surrender at once. "Sholek, Commander of the Romulan Imperial army," the knight said in response, "you will surrender yourself over to us. You will join us." "If you want me, come and get me." The knight quickly started up into a gallup towards Sholek. Everyone was caught off guard. The knight grabbed Sholek, pulled him off his horse, and dropped him to the ground. Sholek howled in pain. He removed his helmet because it was so loud. Sholek tried to hold back the pain. "Resistance is futile," the black night said. Sholek resisted. Slowly he began to rise. He steadied himself on his horse. The black knight backed off in surprise. Sholek screamed out to what was left of his army, "Attack. Everyone at once. We must overwhelm him." His entire army started in a gallop towards the two. All swung their swords. The black knight tried to fend them off killing many of them but they were too much for him. He fell from his horse, beaten. On the bridge of the 'Iron Fist' Sholek witnessed the destruction of a ship. At the cost of over three quarters of his fleet he had beaten them. That would teach them not to mess with the Romulans. They would not dare try to face them again. Perhaps they would go for the Federation instead. Then again, you can never guess what they would. After all, they were the BORG. ============================================================ Lt. Commander Vehakra Rhikal Armory Stardate 9802.17 Veh had spent a couple of hours in the armory working on a list of gear to take along for the mission. So far, she had a PADD containing: - (5) Type I Nano-Probes - (5) Type 2 Nano-Probes - (5) Type 2B Nano-Probes - (2) Type III Nano-Probe - (2) Nano-Cameras - (2) Nano-Stunners - (4) Hunter Probes - (4) Visual Probes - (2) Holographic Imagers Additionally, Veh would suggest using a cache of Breen disruptor pistols and rifles stored in the armory for special situations. It would be better to use weapons non-tracable to Starfleet. She also thought the team should consider using subvocal communicators instead of comm-badges. As for money, there were ten bars of gold pressed latinum in the ship's safe and nearly 250 slips of latinum. Enough for them to use on Bajor. While latinum wasn't the standard currency, it was widely accepted. Once the list was prepared, she headed off to present it to Commander Dyer. END TRANSMISSION Subject: SO: Fearless/En Route to Bajor Lt. Thoraz Brynaziir USS Fearless Stardate 9802.18 Thoraz immediately gathered his personal gear after the briefing before heading for the Vigilance to help Tyrian with the retrofit. Thoraz donned his flexable body armor and then put on Betazed style civilian clothing over top. He grabbed a pair of tricorder output contact lenses, his tricorder, Padd, holographic imager, type I phaser, sub vocal comm unit, 10 visual probes, a nano camera, nano stunner, and a vocal chip. ============================================================ Lt. Commander Tyrian M. Summers USS Fearless Hanger Bay Stardate 9802.18 Tyrian and Brynaziir had been working on the Vigilance runabout. They had pulled all unnecessary funishings and interior objects to make room for more space saving stackable cots. Commander Dyer had said it might get crowded if the need arose for them to spend extended time in the runabout. Since the Vigilance had been the Admiral's personal craft it had a lot of extra stuff that was not crucial to its operation, so it was easy to make more space. They also finished up repairs from its last beating, by the time they were finished, the Vigilance would be ready for battle again if necessary. ============================================================ Lt. Thoraz Brynaziir Runabout Vigilance Stardate 9802.18 As Thoraz sat in the cramped but liveable Vigilance his thoughts turned to the members of the team. He was friends with Tyrian and Ki'lal - they had gone through Shadow Ops training together. He knew what to expect from them. Rhikal he had served under on a few missions and he knew her strengths and what she expected of others. What worried him were the unknowns - Dyer and the ensigns; but even more so himself. He hoped in his heart they wouldn't have to divide into smaller teams. he had sentenced one ensign to his death and Thoraz did not want to face that possibility again. Tyrian, who was sitting nearby, saw the expression on Thoraz's face. "Anything wrong, Thoraz?" he asked "No Tyrian, Just wondering what awaits us on Bajor. It'll be good to see Kalahna again, won't it?" he began, making small talk to cover himself. Thoraz then began to review the information on Bajor he had downloaded into his PADD. Bajor - class M planet with several moons. One of note Jerrado. Oceans greener than earth. Bajor VIII also habitable. Bajorans are deeply spiritual, history of artists and philosophers until Cardassian occupation. Dispute between two factions, the Pa qu and Navot. Alliance for Global Unity - a.k.a. the Circle - anti-alien mentality, wanted Bajor to be independant of other cultures. Pagh - life force. Religious leaders, Vediks, grab a person's ear to 'read' their pagh. Dahkur Province - Geographical subdivision, home to Shakaar Resistance Cell, mountainous terrain, excellent concealment possibilities. Site of noteable incidents in past - ...... Thoraz was immersed in his reading. This was his passion, learning about new cultures. Kahlana had been part of the team for such a short time Thoraz wasn't able to talk to her about her culture. 'I will have to study the Bajorans much more indepth once the mission is over' he thought. END TRANSMISSION Subject: SO: Fearless/Underway Commander Michael Dyer U.S.S. Vigilance Stardate 9802.19 Commander Dyer was pleased with the work the team had done to get ready for the mission. Tyrian's work readying Vigilance was commendable. It was no short order retrofitting the little craft. Vehakra had performed above expectations gathering the equipment as well. The away team was now assembled on the Vigilance, and they were ready to depart Fearless. They would be briefed by Ki'lal en-route, as to what they could expect when they arrived on Bajor. Dyer sat in the Pilot's seat and signaled Captain Sortha, "Vigilance to Bridge." "Go ahead Commander." "We are ready to launch Captain, depressurize the shuttle bay at your discretion." "Very well Commander. We will esscort you as far as posssible, but with the unknown Dominion activity, we will maintain radio sssilence. Good luck to you Commander, and to your team. We'll see you sssafely back at Ssstarbasse 189. Sssortha out." Dyer turned to his team, "Here we go people." Sensors showed the atmosphere leave the shuttle bay, and Dyer piloted the the Vigilance out and brought her alongside Fearless. He stayed at the controls for a couple of minutes, then engaged the cloak, and handed over controls to the two Bajoran security officers. Dyer and the rest of the Shadow Ops team then moved to the conference table in the ships mid-section for the briefing by Ki'lal. He began, "The biggest thing that we have in our favour is that the non-aggression pact between Bajor and the Dominion stipulates that no Cardassian or Dominion troops are permitted to set foot on Bajor. "One big problem with that, is that the Bajoran militia has become extremely suspicious of anyone out of the ordinary. Hopefully Kalahna will be able to guide us around Bajor, so as to avoid the most diligent groups of officers. "As Admiral Jaegar indicated during the briefing, the Orb of Victory is being held by a group of Nomadic Vedeks. Our reports indicate that these Vedek's last known location was at the Temple of the Prophets in Dahkur province. The temple is not guarded, but access is restricted to Vedeks and the Kai. "If anything happens to hamper our retrieval of the Orb, it may be necessary to break into the temple and take the orb by force. Due to the fact that there are many members of the Vedek assembly who feel that the prophets will ensure their safety, and success, it may not be as simple as Admiral Jagaer indicated to retrieve the orb." Ki'lal paused for a moment. "Have you pinpointed the best location for us to set down?" Dyer asked. "I have," then as if to no one "Computer, display map." A map displayed on the monitor on the wall. Ki'lal pointed to a section of the map near a river, and a settlement. "This position is approximately 5kms from Kalahna Jarnel's last known position. We should set down here. We can hide the Vigilance, here," Again pointing to a rocky encroachment," in these caves and then proceed to the city on foot." "Excellent work Ki'lal, the information will come in useful. Now let's get some rest. There may not an opportunity to do so, once we reach Bajor. We should arrive in about 11 hours." Commander Dyer went to check on the heading, and then hopped into his bunk for a few hours of shut-eye. ============================================================ USS Fearless Stardate 9802.19 The Fearless and Vigilance had parted ways and the big Sovereign-class ship cloaked and headed for its rendezvous with the marine convoy. END TRANSMISSION Subject: SO: Fearless/Approaching Bajor Captain Sortha USS Fearless Stardate 9802.21 Sortha brought the Fearless into position on the flank of the convoy that faced Cardassian space. He stayed cloaked with sensors on maximum, awaiting any move the Cardassians and Jem'Hadar might make against the Federation marines. ============================================================ Lt. Sholek Stardate 9802.21 Engineering Sholek was amazed at what his dream had shown him. That memory was supposed to have been hidden when he was training on Vulcan. The mind meld with Spock may have triggered his dreams and finally brought back this nightmare. He could not remember what went on when he fought the Borg, only that he had succeeded. Sholek began tampering with some of the main ship's systems. For some reason he had thought up a way to improve the efficiency rating of many of the systems. So far he had boosted warp efficiency up to 193% above normal and the phasers were almost 200% above normal efficiency. Now he was tackling with the main computer. He boosted computer speed, although the computer already worked faster than any humanoid could need. "Lieutenant?" asked one of the Ensigns in Engineering. "Yes?" Sholek replied. "How did you do this," she said referring to his efficiency boosts. "Most of these methods of boosting efficiency have never been used before. You linked the systems up with a devise that does who knows what. What made you think to do that and how did you create that." "I don't," he said betraying some of his confusion. "The idea just came to me. I could not simply devise a program to match what the device does. I told the computer how to make it and it replicated it. It's very complex. I'm not even sure exactly how it works." ============================================================ Lt. Commander Tyrian M. Summers Onboard Vigilance Stardate 9802.22 The Vigilance had been headed for Bajor for four hours, they were still about seven hours away. Tyrian was going over the geographic makeup of the planet. He could'nt believe how religious the planet was as a whole. Temples and such were all over the place. Tyrian did'nt really care much for their culture, he would kill a Vedek who got in his way just as soon as he would kill a Jem'Hadar. The bottom line was to accomplish the mission.......whatever the cost. Commander Dyer was back on a cot catching up on his sleep. Tyrian was waiting for him to get up so that he could go back and catch up on his. The trip had been quiet so far, he just hoped it remained that way. He hated being on this small ship, it made him a bit on edge, he was a lot more comfortable on the Fearless. ============================================================ Lt. Commander Vehakra Rhikal Runabout Vigilance Stardate 9802.22 Vehakra emerged from one of the ship's tiny cabins in the aft section dressed in a tight, black jumpsuit, knee high black boots and an olive green vest. Tucked inside the vest was her disruptor and a utility belt strung around her waist carried many of the essentials she would need on Bajor. The Orion woman headed up to the cockpit to check on their progress. When she arrived, Summers and Dyer were manning the controls. They were still three hours out of Bajor, but already well within the sphere of control exerted by the Dominion. They had passed several Jem'Hadar ships already and had slipped through one anti-proton sensor grid designed to detect cloaked ships trying to slip into Dominion controlled space. "Any more signs of detection grids?" Veh asked Dyer as she came to stand behind him. Dyer shook his head, "Not yet. I expect we'll encounter more when we're about to enter the Bajoran star system. About the time we drop out of warp." "I hope they're not any harder to fool than the ones we've already encountered,' Rhikal added. "I've been thinking about our intelligence on the Orb and my feeling is the Vedeks guarding the Orb probably are no longer in the Temple of the Prophets. They have likely begun moving the Orb around to different locations, constantly staying on the move. This is what they did during the Cardassian Occupation...I expect they'll be going back to their old ways." "More than likely," Dyer confirmed. "Let's hope Kalahna can help us out where the location of the orb is concerned." "I'm going to go make one last check on the gear and weapons," Veh said. "Let me know if anything comes up?" She then turned and headed to the back of the runabout again. END TRANSMISSION Runabout Vigilance Bajor Stardate 9802.24 It had taken several hours of work by Dyer and Summers, but the Vigilance successfully navigated a series of anti-proton beam emitters set up around the Bajoran star system to detect cloaked vessels trying to sneak in. Once they were clear of the detection grid, the Vigilance sped to Bajor. As they approached the planet, they saw a number of freighters and other transport vessels parked in orbit above the planet. "What are all these ships doing here?" Summers asked as the cloaked runabout neared the planet. "They must have all been trapped here when the Dominion attack happened," Dyer said. "They've all been trapped here since. The Dominion is allowing no ships into the Bajoran system and only a trickle of ships here are being allowed to leave. Total blockade to keep Starfleet out and the wormhole protected." Summers smirked. "Sensor readings show the Cardassians are still trying to disassemble the minefield Sisko left guarding the wormhole entrance." "Good," Dyer muttered. "That's all that's keep a Dominion invasion force from coming here and destroying us all." "I'm locked on to the landing site," Summers remarked, checking his sensors. "What are your orders, sir?" ============================================================ USS Fearless Sector 234-G Stardate 9802.24 The Fearless had arrived at the rendezvous and waited for the convoy to show up. The only senior officers left aboard the Sovereign-class ship were Captain Sortha, Lt. Sholek and Lt. Quilman. After waiting nearly one hour, approximately 20 Marine transports showed up in formation. As they grew near, Sortha was able to scan then and confirmed their identity. "Ensign Loomiss," Sortha hissed to the acting tactical officer. "Decloak the sship." "Aye," Loomis replied. A moment later the ship had decloaked and the Marine transports hailed. Sortha ordered the transmission on screen. "USS Fearless, this is Colonel Robert Ericsson of the 301st Marine Battalion," a big human dressed in Marine utility fatigues said. "Captain Ssortha of the Fearlesss," the Gorn replied. "We are at your sservice." "Welcome, captain," the Marine said. "We're bound for Durkalis VII, one of the Federation colonies on the border with Cardassian space. We've got a lot of soldiers and equipment here." "We'll be covering you, colonel," Sortha said. "Whenever you're ready to proceed." The ships then got underway, heading right for the front lines.... END TRANSMISSION Subject: Re: SO: Fearless/At Bajor Commander Michael Dyer Runabout Vigilance Bajor Stardate 9802.26 "I'm locked on to the landing site," Summers remarked, checking his sensors. "What are your orders, sir?" "We'll continue with our plan to land the runabout at the pre-determined coordinates. That way we can avoid accidental detection of our transport. There is also the danger of having someone detect our cloaked ship in orbit. By landing, it also allows all of us to leave. If we stayed in orbit one of us would have to stay. And I have a feeling this mission will require a combination of all of our skills. "Take her down Mr. Summers." Tyrian expertly piloted the shuttle through Bajor's atmosphere, and landed her at the site they'd seen on the map. The team then began deployment. Veh and Jamie began unloading gear with the help of the two security officers. Tyrian, Ki'lal, Thoraz and Dyer set up to leave the ship. They locked down the warp engines, set up the deflector emitters to mask the tachion signature emanating from the cloaking device, and set up the computer to flood the ship with anestisine gas if any unauthorized entry was detected. The extra precautions could only be disabled by one of the 8 officers on the away team. Everyone donned civilian clothing, if they were not already dressed that way. Dyer once again noticed how attractive Lt. Commander Rhikal was. He would have to put his feelings and desires aside for the duration of the mission, but perhaps once they had some down time, he would ask her to dine with him. Dyer the team headed out n their four or so hour walk through the Bajoran countryside to try and find their former comrade, Kalahna Jarnell. END TRANSMISSION Subject: SO: Fearless/Landing Commander Michael Dyer Runabout Vigilance Bajor Stardate 9802.26 "I'm locked on to the landing site," Summers remarked, checking his sensors. "What are your orders, sir?" "We'll continue with our plan to land the runabout at the pre-determined coordinates. That way we can avoid accidental detection of our transport. There is also the danger of having someone detect our cloaked ship in orbit. By landing, it also allows all of us to leave. If we stayed in orbit one of us would have to stay. And I have a feeling this mission will require a combination of all of our skills. "Take her down Mr. Summers." Tyrian expertly piloted the shuttle through Bajor's atmosphere, and landed her at the site they'd seen on the map. The team then began deployment. Veh and Jamie began unloading gear with the help of the two security officers. Tyrian, Ki'lal, Thoraz and Dyer set up to leave the ship. They locked down the warp engines, set up the deflector emitters to mask the tachion signature emanating from the cloaking device, and set up the computer to flood the ship with anestisine gas if any unauthorized entry was detected. The extra precautions could only be disabled by one of the 8 officers on the away team. Everyone donned civilian clothing, if they were not already dressed that way. Dyer once again noticed how attractive Lt. Commander Rhikal was. He would have to put his feelings and desires aside for the duration of the mission, but perhaps once they had some down time, he would ask her to dine with him. Dyer the team headed out n their four or so hour walk through the Bajoran countryside to try and find their former comrade, Kalahna Jarnell. ============================================================ Terok Nor Bajoran Star System Stardate 9802.26 Gul Dukat sat at his desk clutching the baseball left behind by Bejamin Sisko and stared out the window at the Jem'Hadar and Cardassians ships parked around the station. It felt good to be back on the station he'd once used as his base of command during the Occupation. Sometimes, if he could block out the Jem'Hadar and Vorta infesting Terok Nor, he actually thought he was back in the Occupation when he commanded all the Cardassian forces in this system. His thoughts were interrupted when the office door chimed. "Come in," he said. The door slid open and his top aide, Demar, strolled in carrying a padd. He set the data reader down on Dukat's desk and stood at attention. "What is it, Demar?" Dukat asked. "It may be nothing sir, but we detected a faint sensor echo on the edge of Bajoran space about an hour ago," Demar said as Dukat picked up the report and read. "It's probably nothing, patrol ships swept the area and found nothing, but it could also have been a cloaked ship...a small cloaked ship." "Smugglers, perhaps?" Dukat asked. "Possibly," Demar admitted. "Or, it might be nothing at all. One of our anti-proton beam emitters detected it. We're running a diagnostic on it." "If it was a ship, where did it appear to be headed?" Dukat asked. "Bajor," Demar added. Dukat smiled and gripped the baseball even tighter. "Perhaps Starfleet learned of my plan to take the Orb of Victory. Maybe they've sent someone to stop us." "Perhaps, but even if it is Starfleet, they might just be here trying to spy on us or get a message through to Bajor," Demar said. "We'll stay on it, see what we can find out." "Does Weyoun know yet?" Dukat asked. "Not yet," Demar said. "Would you like me to keep this confidential?" "Yes," Dukat said. "If it is the Orb, then I don't want that miserable Vorta finding out about it. That Orb will not only lead us to victory over the Alpha Quadrant, but I intend to use it to send the Dominion back to the gamma Quadrant where they belong once we are firmly in control here." Demar smiled. "I can't say that would bother me at all. That is, if the Orb can do what the Bajoran's say it can do." "Oh, it can Demar," Dukat said, turning to look out the window. "When the Orb was used against some of our people on Bajor 50 years ago, my uncle was one of the soldiers killed by its power. A weapon of that magnitude...if it can be controlled, would make us undefeatable." Just then, the door to the office opened and Weyoun entered. The Vorta with the most fake smile Dukat had even seen entered and approached the desk, "MY, a staff meeting an I wasn't invited? Not keeping secrets from me, are you Gul Dukat?" "Not at all, Weyoun," Dukat said. "We were discussing our vicotry over the Seventh Fleet. Demar and I are just....in awe of the Dominion fighting force." "As you should be," Weyoun said smugly. "However, I have some...unfortunate news. It seems a Starfleet crew in a captured Jem'Hadar vessel beamed a bomb aboard our central Ketricil White depot in Cardassian space and destroyed it. Our supply of White has been somewhat diminished. It may cause shortages." "Make more," Demar sneered. "That is not as easy as it may sound," Weyoun countered. "Remember, Starfleet also destroyed one of our White producing facilities here in the Alpha Quadrant. We cannot replace it until the other ships come through the wormhole...which won't happen until you bring down that minefield." "We're working on it Weyoun," Dukat said. "Patience is obviously not part of the gentic makeup the Founders gave you Vorta." "It isn't," Weyoun said. "If I understand correctly, you have a group of Vorta engineers visiting Bajor tomorrow to help the Bajorans with a new aqueduct facility at Derhuk City in the Dahkur Province," Dukat said. "I see you're only sending four Jem'Hadar as security." "We've been welcomed by the Bajorans to help them with this project the Federation had to abandon in a hurry when they fled like frightened children," Weyoun smiled. "Why should we need more soldiers as security?" "Because, they are dangerous," Demar snapped. "There are rumors of Bajoran Resistance Cells forming in case of an invasion." "Resistance Cells? What is there to resist?" Weyoun asked with his arms extend to his sides. "We are here as friends to the Bajoran people. It's you they are scared of, Demar. The Cardassian people who brutalized them for so long." "I'd like a team of Cardassian soldiers to join that group," Dukat chimed in. "Six of my finest officers will do the trick. Just as an added precaution." Weyoun shook his head, "The Bajorans won't like it, Dukat. I don't want to endanger the non-aggression pact the Dominion has with Bajor." "And aren't we part of the Dominion?" Dukat asked. "Yes, of course, but..." "Then its settled," Dukat said placing his hands down on the desktop. "My men will join your people on Bajor tomorrow." "Very well," Weyoun said. "But if they cause trouble they'll be sent back to the station in bodybags." "Understood," Dukat said with a grin as fake as Weyoun's. The Vorta considered Dukat's grin for a moment, then turned and left. "The six Cardassians, I assume they'll be agents of ours?" Demar said. "Of course. Alert six officers from the Third Legion to standby, they leave with the transport tomorrow. When it is possible, they are to break off from the group and go to a pre-arranged site to meet with our mercenary contacts," Dukat said. "If the Federation has people on Bajor looking for the Orb, we may need reinforcements." END TRANSMISSION Subject: SO: Fearless/Being Watched Captain Sortha USS Fearless Stardate 9802.27 "Report" Sotha ordered. "Sensors show clear space to our destination sir" the tactical officer replied. Sortha sighed, convoy duty was not very exciting, but he knew it was necessary. "Very well, keep a ssharp lookout for any ssigns of enemy activity." Then he went back to studying ship system status reports. ============================================================ Lt. Sholek Stardate 9802.27 Engineering "Sholek?" said one of the ensigns in Engineering. "Yes?" Sholek replied looking up. "What is it ensign?" "Your not on duty right now," answered the ensign. "Shouldn't you be asleep." "I do not require as much sleep as humans do ensign, but thank you for your concern." "What's troubling you," she asked him. "I've been having some dreams lately." "Dreams?" "Yeah," he said sleepy eyed. "Their about my past. And I'm scared about what I might see. There are things in my past that I had hidden from me while I was on Vulcan. My latest dream involved the Borg. I can only faintly remember what happen and I'm scared about what I'll find out." The ensign was wide eyed. She couldn't believe that Sholek had actually met the Borg or that he was scared. "I'm sure everything will turn out OK sir." "I wish I was as sure as you." As the ensign walked away, Sholek added, "By the way ensign, what is your name?" "Jennifer. Jennifer Bradley." ============================================================ Bajor Dakhur Region Stardate 9802.28 The team walked through the lush countryside of Bajor heading toward the spaceport town of Demjuin. It was hard to believe just a few short years ago this beautiful planet was overrun by Cardassians and its people had been enslaved. They were about 45 minutes from the outskirts of town, when they entereda heavily forested area. As they made their way through the woods, using some old foottrails they'd found, Thoraz Brynaziir was the first to sense something was wrong. "Commnader," he hissed, keeping his voice to a whisper. "There's someone out there, in the woods. Several people, on both sides of the trails. I can sense their feelings. We are being watched." Dyer looked around, but not in a manner that would attract their attention of the watchers. He pulled out his tricorder and began to sacan, keeping it low and as concealed as he could. He frowned when he realized someone was using a scattering field to block the use of a tricorder. "Everybody look sharp," Dyer said softly. "We have company." END TRANSMISSION Subject: SO: Fearless/Encounter in Space Lt. Commander Tyrian M. Summers On Bajor Stardate 9803.01 The team had been 45 minutes out from the outskirts of Demjuin when Brynaziir picked up the people who were watching them from the dense forest on both side of the road. Tyrian could not see anything through the trees and brush. The team kept walking, trying not to let the watchers know they had been detected. Tyrian was wearing bulky Bajorian civilian clothes to hide his body armor and weapons. He had also put on a long cloak for that purpose also. He slowly moved into the center of the group as they walked, and pulled out his pulse rifle, keeping it hidden at his side under the cloak. As they walked Tyrian scanned the trail, looking for cover as they walked, just in case they came under fire. Tyrian made his way to the rear of the group as he checked out the surroundings and contacted Commander Dyer with his sub-vocal comm unit, who was at the front of the team, "Commander, what do you want to do? My suggestion is to either make a stand as soon as we can find a tactically safe position, or to release smoke grenades and scatter, and pick a rendevous position elsewhere. I do'nt think continuing along the trail like sitting ducks is a wise decision." ============================================================ USS Fearless Bridge Stardate 9803.01 It had been a painfully quiet watch on the bridge as the Fearless guided the Federation Marine transports toward Uraeras III. Very little had happened, which was good for the convoy but boring for the crew of the Fearless. Then, at about 1930 hours, everything changed. "Captain," Tactical Officer Steve Banakov reported. "Sensors are reading the approach of six Jem'Hadar attack craft. They have just crossed over from the Cardassian border and are en route to intercept the convoy, bearing zero- four -five mark two-one." Sortha's eyes suddenly dialated and he turned in his chair toward the tactical officer. "Time to intercept?" "Ten minutes," Banakov said. Sortha then considered his next action... END TRANSMISSION Subject: SO: Fearless/Reunion Ensign Jamie T. Marcus Bajor Stardate 9803.01 Jamie overheard Tyrian talking with Commander Dyer, and edged closer. "Commander, from what I've read the Bajoran resistance became highly efficient from its years of fighting the Cardassians. They survived many years, and not by being too trusting. It could be that it is the resistance out there checking us out. I'd advise against anything offensive at this point. I'd recommend we just move off the trail nonchalantly as if we were planning to do so all along. That way, we'll have cover at least." Ensign Jamie Marcus kept a hand on one of the two hand phasers she carried under her clothing. She had opted for the two hand phasers, being ambidextrious she could use both simultaneously, and there was just no way she could conceal a large phaser rifle on her, no matter how bulky of clothes she wore. Along with the two phasers she also carried several high quality knives that could be used for close conbat or throwing. She carried both energy and physical weapons because one nbever knew if one ws going to be in a situation where energy weapons could not be used. In her other hand she carried a simple unobtrusive staff- apparently a walking stick, but also a formidable weapon at close quarters. If all hell broke out she's drop it and pull out that other phaser quick enough she thought. ============================================================ Lt. Commander Tyrian M. Summers On Bajor Stardate 9803.01 Tyrian waited for Commander Dyer's signal from the rear of the group. When Dyer signaled, the whole group threw their smoke grenades around them. Thick smoke poured out around them, the team instantly scattered in different directions. Tyrian headed quickly into the forest, hoping to flank thier watchers. He tore off the Bajoran cloak he was wearing and set his pulse rifle on stun. Tyrian was successful in flanking the mystery group........they were Bajoran! "Damn" Tyrian thought, he had actually hoped for some Jem'Hadar to kill, but he would have to settle for stunning some weak religious Bajorans. Tyrian came up on a group of three Bajorans who were looking through the smoke where the group had just been. The first Bajoran turned around as Tyrian came up on him, Tyrian smacked him brutally with his rifle, knocking him into the other two. Tyrian kicked the Bajoran phaser out of one of the others hand and then gave him an open handed punch to his neck, sending the man to the ground choking and clutching his throat. The third Bajoran, a woman, aimed her gun at Tyrian, but he quickly knocked it aside and gave her an elbow to her jaw, knocking her clean out. He brought his phaser back up and aimed, shooting the other two, to disable them as they lie on the ground. Tyrian ran into the clearing smoke looking for more, as he did, energy blasts shot out at him from the woods on the other side of the path. Tyrian rolled to dodge them, then returned fire. Tyrian was so happy with these quick firing pulse rifles. He blanketed the area the blasts were coming from with phaser stun blasts, smoke and sparks bounced off the trees up there. Tyrian charged up into the forest, continually firing. As he got closer he saw a Bajoran fall from one of his blasts. Another, who had been up with him, dropped his weapon and raised his arms up in surrender. Tyrian walked up ceasing fire. As he got closer to the Bajoran, he shot him with a stun blast anyway, dropping him to the ground unconcous. Tyrian activated his comm unit and asked for a status report from Dyer. ============================================================ Commander Michael Dyer Bajor Stardate 9803.01 They were about 45 minutes away from Domjuin when Brynaziir sensed that the team was being watched. Everyone perked up and Dyer noticed Tyrian slowly move to the centre of the group, and then eventually to the very rear. "That is a good tactical position for him." Dyer thought when Tyrian came over the sub-voc. "Commander, what do you want to do? My suggestion is to either make a stand as soon as we can find a tactically safe position, or to release smoke grenades and scatter, and pick a rendezvous position elsewhere. I don't think continuing along the trail like sitting ducks is a wise decision." Dyer replied, "I don't like walking along like sitting ducks either. Here's what we'll do. Everyone grab a smoke grenade. We'll launch them just in front and off to the sides of the trail, on my mark. Then we'll scatter, as you suggested Tyrian, into the woods. I want to double back on this position and catch our stalkers as they are trying to figure out what happened to us." They continued along for about thirty seconds until Dyer found he had a place where they could get around those that were following them. this also gave everyone the chance to prepare, with their grenades. "Now everyone!!!" Dyer gave the order and the entire area was covered in a blanket of thick smoke. The team scattered into the woods successfully evading their followers. Dyer came upon two Bajoran's, dressed in some type of fatigues. He could hear some small skirmishes with his people and the rest of the group that had been shadowing them. He got confirmation of his suspicions from the rest of his team. "Their Bajoran," came a message from Lt. Brynaziir. "Commander, you may want to come over here." It was Veh. Dyer made his way with his two prisoners over to Lt. Comander Rhikal's location and was not all that surprized at what she had discovered. The team of Bajoran's that had been following them was lead by Lt. Commander Kalahna Jarnell. "It seems that we did not need to seek you out Commander. You did a pretty good job in finding us on your own." Dyer comented, not sure whether his own planning had made them so easy to find. "It was easy Commander. I had a hunch you'd be coming in Vigilance, so we had a sensor net watching for you to land. It's good to see you again everyone." ============================================================ Lt. Commander Vehakra Rhikal Dahkur Region/Bajor Stardate 9803.01 Vehakra stepped out from behind the tree she was about to use as cover when she saw Dyer returning with a familar woman in tow. It was Kalahna Jarnell. "Well I'll be damned," Vehakra said, stepping into the open and placing one hand on her hip. "Imagine meeting you here." The Bajoran woman managed a smile and went to her friend. She and Veh hugged and the two looked at each other. "Still dressing like a bad girl I see?" Kalahna remarked. "We're supposed to be off-world travellers stuck on Bajor," Vehakra said, defending herself. "We Orion slave girls aren't known for dressing conservatively." "Always knew you were trouble, Rhikal," Kalahna said. "Sorry to break up your little reunion girls," Dyer said. "But Kalahna, we need some information from you." ============================================================ Captain Sortha USS Fearless Stardate 9803.02 Sortha considered his options. The Fearless was cloaked and hopefully undetectable to the JemHadar attack craft. However once the battle was joined, six of them would be more than a match for the Fearless. Sortha looked at the tactical officer: "possition of nearesst Federation sships?" he demanded. "The frigate Dunkirk is enroute to the front lines and is bearing 120 mark 10 from our current position at 20 minutes at warp 6, the Yamato-A is bearing 155 mark 33 from our current position at 15 minutes at warp 6. The Yamato is heading back to starbase 11 for repairs. She suffered serious damage two days ago." "Time to intercept at current course and speed with JemHadar ships?" Sortha demanded as the Tactical screen replaced the starfield. "Intercept in approximately two minutes" the tactical officer replied. Sortha considered his options. The convoy craft had a maximum warp speed of warp six. "Tactical plot a course towardss the Yamato-A at warp six and order the convoy to make best possible speed. Inform the Yamato-A that the convoy is headed their way, ask them to rendezvous with us at maximum warp. Hail the Dunkirk and have them meet us at the Fearless/Yamato rendezvous... best possible speed." The Fearless and a Galaxy class starship would be heavy odds for 6 JemHadar attack craft. Hopefully the Dominion did not have good intelligence on the state of the Yamato. "Tactical, how long til rendezvous with Yamato?" "Ten point five minutes" the tactical officer replied. "How long until the JemHadar intercept us at our new course and speed?" Sortha inquired. "Nine minutes" was the tactical officer's response. That meant that there would be 1.5 minutes that the JemHadar could attack before they met the Yamato. "Time to intercept with our rendezvous with Yamato for the Dunkirk?" The tactical officer ran several calculations quickly, "approximately 14 minutes Sir." So there would be at least six minutes of fighting before the Dunkirk could arrive to help. Very well Sortha thought, as they headed for the Yamato-A. Hopefully the JemHadar could be scared off thinking they were headed into battle with a Galaxy class ship. If not, then he would engage and detain them until the Dunkirk could help. The Dunkirk was the equivalent in firepower to one of the JemHadar carft. The Yamato could turn and disengage at the last minute. There was no sense in jeopardizing a repairable Galaxy class ship. "Get me the latest reports on the Yamato's status" Sortha ordered an ensign. Two minutes pass... "Helm, put uss off the flank of the convoy. As the JemHadar close in on the convoy I want to come around behind them and make one high sspeed pass at their rearss and get a full attack in before they can engage. We'll decloak directly behind them, fire off a full barrage of overloaded quantum torpedoess and phasserss at point blamk range and then fly passst them and put uss back between them and the convoy. They'll mosst likely have their forward sshields at maximum ssince they are in purssuit mode, which meanss their rear sshieldss will be weaker. Let's use the element of ssurprisse and our ssuperior sspeed to besst advantage people. Oh, and helm" Sortha said ominously "it would make sense for one of them to kamakaze us so the others could have their way with those fat loaded transports. Keep us maneuverable and stay sharp!" The Fearless and the four Federation transports headed at warp 6 towards the Yamato-A, as the JemHadar closed in at warp 9. END TRANSMISSION Subject: SO: Fearless/Kalahna Ensign Jamie T. Marcus Bajor Stardate 9803.04 Jamie shook her head, and went to tend to the Bajorans who had been knocked unconscious by Tyrian and the other members of the party. It looked like several of them were messed up pretty good. She hoped they didn't hold grudges. They might have to work with these people for a while to get the orb. Well at least they would figure out that we are combat effective Jamie thought to herself as she reset a Bajoran's jaw with a yank "good thing you're still unconscious" she said to him. She had somehow sensed that the watchers were friendly, almost as if she knew with certainty. Could this be some unknown sixth sense her grandfather had possessed that had let him become so successful, and she had inherited? Secretly she hoped it was. After tending to the Bajoran wounded she returned to the group where Dyer and Veh were conversing with a pretty tough looking Bajoran female. Hmmmm, I suppose this is the famous Kalahna Jarnell. Jamie walked back over to the main group. ============================================================ Kalahna Jarnell Bajor Stardate 9803.04 Kalahna was glad to see her friends again, but time was crucial and they had to get underway. "Please, help us with the injured," she said to Dyer and Rhikal. "We need to get back to our base camp. It's not far from here. I'll brief you there." "What's the rush?" Veh asked. "The Cardassians have a team of mercenaries on Bajor searching for the Orb," she said. "Those mercenaries have contacts all over these parts. We need to get to our camp so we're not seen together. We don't want to tip them off that a Starfleet team is here on Bajor." Quickly, they helped out some of the resistance fighters who had been knodked unconscious and got them to their feet, then headed off toward a nearby rocky region. END TRANSMISSION Subject: SO: Fearless/Base Camp Lt. Thoraz Brynaziir Bajor, en route to camp Stardate 9803.05 "Kahlana, do you know of any specific Vedek's in the group that guards the Orb? Or the general region they are in? I was thinking I would try to scan for them telepathically, but I need to narrow the search parameters, as it were." ============================================================ Kalahna Jarnell Bajor Stardate 9803.05 Kalahna shook her head at Thoraz's question. "Sorry, I haven't met any of the Vedeks myself. We've been trying to find them and we know they are somewhere in the Dahkur Region, but we haven't made contact. I carry a padd containing a message from the Kai with orders for the Vedeks to turn over the Orb of Victory to us, with the strict understanding it will later be given to Captain Benjamin Sisko for safe-keeping until after the war." Shortly thereafter, they arrived in a secluded, rocky area. Kalahna and her resistance fighters led the team to a sheer rock face and they stopped at the base of the formation. "Well, here it is," Kalahna said, motioning toward the stone face of the rock. "The camp." The team looked around dumbfounded. There was no camp visible...just a sheer rock face extending several hundred meters into the sky. Kalahna tapped a button on a wrist chronograph she wore and the rock face shimmered before disappearing in one section by the ground and revealing a cave which extended inward for quite a way. "Holographic imagers?" Vehakra commented. "Very high tech for a resistance group." Kalahna shrugged. "We've been well taken care of by the Federation. Come on." She then led the way into the cave... ============================================================ Commander Michael Dyer Bajor Stardate 9803.05 The group of Shadow Operatives made their way through the hills escorted by Kalahna's team of slightly bruised Bajoran resistance fighters. The trip was uneventful. The scattering field that they team was using prevented them from being detected by and Cardassian mercenary group, and Dyer had asked Thoraz to let him know if he sensed anything unusual while they were on route. "Well Commander, how does Captain Sortha fair during this war?" Kalahna asked. "He's fine Kalahna. And as unreadable as ever. He and the rest of the crew are on another mission with the Fearless." Dyer replied, not wanting to divuldge too many details of their happenings of late. They reached the base camp of the resistance, and gathered in a large cave. Kalahna began, "There have been rumoured sightings of the Vedeks who are holding the Orb. Here is the document, signed by Kai Wynn, that will instruct them to give you the Orb." handing the document to Commander Dyer, she continued. "It's written in the language of the ancient Bajoran religion. Only they will be able to decipher it's text." "The Vedeks have been spotted around the Temple of the Prophets in Dahkur province. They apparently take turns visiting the temple to pray." "Is there anyway to contact them?" Lt. Commander Summers asked. "The only way that we know of is to find their camp and approach them. It is reported that their lead by a man named Vedek Abil Miran. He is not expecting anyone to come looking for him, or the Orb, so it may be tricky getting to him." Commander Dyer addressed the group, "I think we should all get some rest, it was a long flight. Tyrian, you Vehakra and Kalahna go over some maps of the area and find us our best route. We'll head out at first light for the Temple. Does anyone have any questions for Kalahna?" ============================================================ Derhuk City Bajor Stardate 9803.05 Six cloaked figures moved silently through a back alley and gathered in an alcove behind an abandoned building. Looking around, they made sure they were alone before pulling back their hoods. "We lost them," Glin Evek smiled. "I'm sure the Vorta in charge of the aqueduct project will be very unhappy when he finds we're missing." "I'm just glad to be away from those foul Jem'Hadar," another Cardassian commando said spitefully. "So what is the plan, Glin?" Evek, leader of the special force team, took center stage as he prepared to brief his operatives. "I've been in contact with the mercenary leader...a Gorn by the name of Serha. He and his team are assemble in a base camp five kilometers out the Temple of the Prophets and they've been doing recon on the site for three days now." "Any sign of the Vedeks?"Galt Rin Taval asked. "No, but they are expected within the next two days," Evek said. "We slip out of Derhuk City tonight and we can rendezvous with the mercenaries before dawn. We'll take charge of the operation then." Galt Rin Mynar shook his head, "Working with common mercenaries? This is a job we should handle ourselves." "Gul Dukat wants the mercenaries to handle the actual incursion into the temple, we'll provide tactical planning and support from the forest around the temple," Evek said. "That way, if something goes wrong it looks like the work of common thieves...not Cardassians." "Will these mercenaries do as they are told?" Taval asked, a loathing detected in his voice. "They will. They are soldiers for hire and they are being paid well by Gul Dukat to carry out this mission," Evek said. "They have been told we will be arriving and taking charge of the operation. I have 10 bars of gold-pressed latinum in this satchel to pay them for the change in orders." "So these mercenaries, they're all Gorn?" Mynar asked. "No," Evek said. "Only the leader is. The other six mercenaries are a mix of races...two humans, a Bolian, a Klingon, an Orion and a Nausican. Dukat said they come highly recommended by a criminal organization known as The Consortium." Taval sneered, "We shall see. Can we really trusts these mercs?" "That's why Dukat wants us here," Evek said. "As...insurance we'll get the Orb once the mission is completed. Are there anymore questions?" None of the Cardassian soldiers responded. "Let's go then," Evek said. The soldiers then slipped down several more deserted alleys until they found themselves on the edge of town, and then they disappeared into the dark forest... END TRANSMISSION Subject: SO: Fearless/Both Missions Continue Captain Sortha USS Fearless Stardate 9803.07 "Status!" Sortha ordered. He always lost his hissing speech when in a tense situation as he attempted to speak in short clipped tones to get his orders out quickly. The lieutenant at tactical responded "we are off the flank of the JemHadar attack craft. They are closing in on the transports at full warp. It appears that the Yamato has taken up position in front of the transports... they are approaching her quickly." Sortha thought of the captain of the Yamato, if he recalled correctly it was Captain Takahashi. It was quite possible that he planned to join the battle, damaged ship or not. Sortha factored that into his plan. Suddenly the transports dropped to sublight as they approached the Yamato-A. The Jem Hadar dropped to sublight and closed in attack formation, their weapons glowing visibly with the pent-up energies they were prepared to unleash. They had not been scared off by the Yamato, the chance to destroy thousands of Federation marines was too juicy of a target. They came boring in at full speed. Seconds before they came within range of the transports the majestic sight of the USS Fearless appeared -decloaking directly behind them. On the bridge, the normally civilized Federation crew looked with blood in their eyes as the Fearless swooped to point blank range behind two Jem Hadar attack craft. The Federation had been stung badly by the casualties inflicted by the JemHadar. Almost everyone on board the ship had lost someone or something to their depravations. The thought of surrender or accepting the surrender of their enemies wasn't an even option. It was kill or be killed...simple. "FIRE ALL WEAPONS" Sortha ordered, and the tactical officers complied with zeal. The Fearless shuddered as it quickly let off a string of ten overloaded quantum torpedoes and full sustained bursts of phaser fire that left the phaser banks bled dry. Sortha had targeted onlt two of the attack craft. He wanted certain kills and less targets to defend the transports against. He also wanted the JemHadar to suffer the psychological shock of seeing two of their ships destroyed from an unseen quarter. The quantum torpedoes slammed into the rears of the JemHadar ships one, two, three...shields flaring...four...shields buckling....five....shields completely down and the torpedos through...ripping into exposed metal, machinery, and JemHadar flesh....phaser fire followed cutting and slicing and dicing critical systems one after another until the inevitable explosions that took out both ships...all of it occurring in a mere three seconds. The Fearless passed the JemHadar ships just as they exploded, the explosions blinding the sensors of the other JemHadar ships allowing the Fearless to pass through unscathed. "Helm, warp speed!" Sortha bellowed. Ahead of them they could see the transports jumping back into warp heading straight for the Yamato-A. The Jem Hadar, furious at the turn of events followed still. The transports warped past the Yamato-A as the Fearless took up position beside the Yamato-A. It looked in bad shape, but it still must have some fight left. Only one warp nacelle glowed the characteristic blue indicating warp power and there were numerous hull breaches and blackened areas on the ship. Captain Takahashi's smiling face appeared on the view screen "Nice welcome committee captain, I'm sure the Jem Hadar appreciated that." "They will receive even more" Sortha vowed. "Don't risk your ship unecessarily Captain" Sortha said to Takahashi. "Don't worry" the Yamato's captain responded, the old girl still has a few tricks left. Just then Sortha saw the shuttle bays open on the Yamato and a string of shuttlecraft come streaming out. "We still have a full complement of shuttles, and they're armed with a photon torpedo and type III phaser each. Better yet, I've got the best pilots in the fleet!" Sortha was about to debate that but the Jem Hadar arrived at that moment...and they didn't seem very happy..... ============================================================ Lt. Commander Vehakra Rhikal Bajoran caves Stardate 9803.07 Vehakra Rhikal had been looking over data-padds containing maps of the region for several hours. She and Kalahna had come up with the best route from the resistance camp to the Temple of the Prophets. Vehakra approached Commander Dyer and handed him a padd. "Sir. Kalahna and I believe the route shown on the padd will be the fastest and least likely traveled through the forest. We should reach the temple in about four hours...provided we don't run into any problems along the way." She then waited to see if Dyer had anything else to add... END TRANSMISSION Subject: SO: Fearless/Route Decided Lt. Sholek Stardate 9803.07 Engineering "I want all Engineering personnel to be prepared for any contingency," Sholek ordered. "If we suffer serious damage, however unlikely, I want us to be ready to make repairs." ============================================================ Lt. Commander Tyrian M. Summers Bajoran Caves Stardate 9803.08 Tyrian, Rhikal, and Kalahna had agreed on a route to the Temple of the Prophets after a little deliberation. The journey would take about four hours, with no resistance, but since peaceful trips for them did'nt happen very often, Tyrian figured it may be more. Tyrian had upset a few of the Bajorans with Kalahna, apparently they didn't like his shoot first and ask questions later approach........Tyrian really didn't care. He would just have to watch his back from his "allies" while on this planet. Tyrian really did'nt think too highly of most Bajorans, he thought they were naive for devoting their lives to the creatures who lived in the wormhole. The creatures were powerful yes, but they were far from "Gods", Tyrian lost a lot of respect for the culture for this. Tyrian's mind turned to the "Orb" they were after. He saw no religious value in this item, he simply saw the raw power it held, if utilized by the Federation it could be a powerful weapon against the hated Dominion. END TRANSMISSION Subject: SO: Fearless/Moving Out Lt. Thoraz Brynaziir Resistance camp on Bajor Stardate 9803.10 "Comander Dyer." Thoraz quietly called as he woke up he CO. "Yes, Lt?" "I have been teelpathically scanning the area. I have detected a group of humanoids about 8km away. They are near what seems to be a place of worship. There are people practicing their religion, I think it must be the Temple of the Prophets. There are mixed races there, and one is a Gorn. They have thoughts of killing and so I assume they must be soldiers. Should I take a small scouting group to check it out sir?" Dyer checked his chronograph and patted Thoraz on the shoulder, "It's time to move out anyway. Why don't you an Ki'lal go on ahead and take a look. Have Kalahna assign one of her people to act as a guide. We'll be about 15 minutes behind you. Be careful." ============================================================ Ensign Jamie T. Marcus Bajor Stardate 9803.10 Jamie watched her superior officers conversing with Kalahna. Rhikal and Tyrian seemed concerned. Jamie, was on guard but not so worried... yet. She had researched the Bajoran resistance, and although their beliefs were different from the mainstream of the Federation, they were tough dedicated fighters. She sat down next to one of the resistance fighters and started up a conversation asking him about the surrounding territory and Dominion/Cardassian activities. ============================================================ Commander Michael Dyer Bajor Stardate 9803.10 Dyer looked over the PADD containing the data that Kalahna, Tyrian and Vehakra had prepared. It looked good. He was proud to work with such thorough people. "Looks good Commander. Let's gather up our gear and head out in about fifteen minutes. That will allow us four and a half hours to travel, and still give us plenty of darkness left for cover." The time passed quickly as the team gathered up their equipment, and headed out. They were accomanied along their chosen path by Kalahna, and three of her best resistance fighters. If they did run into any trouble, it would be good to have the extra help. ============================================================ Captain Sortha USS Fearless Stardate 9803.11 The three Dominion ships screamed in bent on the destruction of the Federation ships in front of them. One headed straight at the Fearless, it's weapons pulsing continuously, while another headed directly for the Yamato-A, again it's weapons spewing destruction. The third started on a course above the two Federation ships. The Yamato fired off five photon torpedoes scoring three hits on the Dominion ship attacking it, however having no phasers operational it was unable to reply with return phaser fire. It did however, have an operational tractor beam and Captain Takahashi was no fool. He locked onto the Dominion ship that was trying to bypass the Federation warships to attack the defenseless convoy ships. It stopped the Dominion ship dead in its tracks, however the strain of the lock caused damage on both the Dominion ship and the Yamato-A. Meanwhile the other Dominion ship was heading straight for the Fearless. Realizing it was the stronger of the two ships, it attempted a kamikaze run. "Helm HARD APORT!" Sortha bellowed. Time stood still as the Dominion ship narrowly missed the Fearless so close that the shields of both ships touched in a furious shower of sparks. "BRING HER AROUND, SAME COURSE" Sortha ordered allowing the Fearless to continue the curve it had begun to avoid the Dominion ship. The Dominion ship was trying to turn inside the Fearless's curve, but Sortha was having none of that. "Hard over!" he ordered as the inertial dampers strained to keep the ship's gravity normal. Slowly the Fearless turned to bring its weapons to bear on the Dominion ship. Inexorably the Fearless closed to firing range. It was a quick fight. Sortha brought the two ships close and slugged it out Gorn style. It took the Fearless's shields down to 51% but it was quick, and the Dominion ship disappeared in a climatic fireball. Sortha knew he had to get back to help the Yamato-A. END TRANSMISSION Subject: SO: Fearless/The Battle Rages Captain Sortha USS Fearless Stardate 9803.10 Smoke filled the bridge of the Yamato-A, as the red alert sirens blazed. Captain Takahashi tenaciously kept his seat as the Yamato-A rocked back and forth with the force of the explosions. "Diverrt all power to shields" Takahashi croaked breathing in the hot acrid fumes filling the bridge from sparking consoles. Again the ship shuddered violently with another Dominion barrage. Nearby there was an explosion at the engineering station on the bridge and a crewman flew across the bridge to crumple next to the tactical station from the force of the explosion. "Captain, safeties on the warp core have shut down" She's running hot! If we take another barrage like that one, she's likely to go critical!" On the viewscreen one of the Dominion ships was coming in for another strafing run. "Emergency power to forward shields!!" Takahashi yelled. Then the viewscreen of the Yamato-A went suddenly white, but it wasn't the white of annihilation, it was the graceful white bulk of the Fearless settling down directly in front of the Yamato. The Fearless took the impact of the Dominion attack on its shields returning phaser fire of its own. Quickly the viewscreen was replaced by the snarling visage of Captain Sortha "Do you have warp power?" Sortha demanded. "Yes, we still have one engine online, we can make warp 2" Takahashi responded to the burly Gorn captain. "Then I ssuggesst you use it Captain" Sortha said, "You've done enough thiss day." Takahashi was loathe to quit any fight but he knew one good shot could cause a warp core breach on his ship. Discretion was the better part of valor in this case, and he had a very large crew to think of. "Very well, Tabayo (good luck)" Takahashi said as he ordered his ship to warp and exiting the field of battle. Meanwhile the two Dominion ships maneuvered to get the Fearless in a crossfire. Sortha managed to stay out of their way, but the Dominion ship captains were good, very good. They traded shot for shot with the Fearless. Not to be left out the Yamato's shuttlecraft buzzed in and out annoying the Dominion ships. Their maneuverability made them difficult targets, especially with the way that Takahashi's pilots piloted their shuttles. Finally, one of the Dominion ship captains made a mistake, overzealous in his pursuit he overshot the Fearless, just as Sortha braked his ship. The Dominion ship floated right into the main weapons arc of the Fearless, and Sortha gave it to him good, unleashing a full string of photon torpedoes intersperced with phaser fire. There were enough hits to put the Dominion ship spinning wildly out of control, its weapons and propulsion systems in a shambles. Seeing its comrade destroyed and realizing the odds were now heavily against it, teh remaining Dominion ship attempted to ram the Fearless. This time it had the advantage of speed and it barrelled straight for the Fearless. There was no dodging this one. "ALL POWER TO SHIELDS, SOUND COLLISION" Sortha bellowed as the crew grabbed onto their stations. He could only hope the shields would hold, but after this much fighting they were down pretty far. Suddenly the Fearless received an incoming transmission from one of Takahashi's shuttles... "You saved my ship and my Captain, now it's our turn" and with that the shuttle piloted by Lietenant Arai of the Yamato-A barrelled his shuttle into the Dominion ship before it could reach the Fearless. the shuttle was vaporized instantly but not before it knocked the Dominion ship off course, making it miss the Fearless. "Weapons, target that scum and fire" Sortha ordered as he brought his ship vengefully around to engage the Dominion ship from its flank. "ALL WEAPONS......FIRE!!" And with those words Lieutenant Arai was avenged, the Dominion ship splintering into thousands of microscopic fragments from the seven quantum torpedoes Sortha poured into her belly. Sortha brought the Fearless around to the remaining disabled Dominion ship. "Life signs?" "Twenty Dominion personnel sir" a crewman replied. "Breach their hull, let them suck vacuum" Sortha ordered. Then take their ship in tow. The crew complied willingly. ============================================================ Lt. Commander Vehakra Rhikal Bajoran forest Stardate 9803.11 The team had been moving through the heavy woods of the Dakhur region for a few hours. Somewhere ahead of them was Thoraz, Ki'lal and a bajoran resistance member named Toren Bedai. So far, the advance scot team hadn't checked in. Vehakra was taking up the rear of the team, while Dyer led out fromnt, along with Kalahna. It was a mild fall morning, which made the hike from the camp toward the Temple of the Prophets easier. The weather was cool, the air contained a little moisture and the skies were clear. As they hiked, Kalahna dropped back at one point and walked beside Veh. "How have you been, slave girl?" she asked. "Doing well," she said. "Thanks to you leaving, I got stuck at ops." "You must hate that," Kalahna grinned. "I'll say. I hate being stuck atthe ops console all the time," Veh said. "But I'm dealing with it OK. How about you?" "I got involved with this resistance cell shortly after I returned," the Bajoran said. "Problem is we've had little to do. The non-aggression pact has kept the Cardassians and Dominion off Bajor...at least until now." "So this Orb, do you believe it can do what the Vedeks claim it can do?" the Orion woman asked. "Yes," Kalahna said, her voice shaking a little. "My grandfather used to talk about how the Orbonce destroyed an entire village when our people used it to ward off an attacking platoon of Cardassians. They used the orb for violence, against the will of the Prophets, and while it achieved the goal of destroying the Cardassians...it destroyed the village and many of its inhabitants. The Orb has never been used since." "I see why Dukat wants it," Veh said. "Let's just hope we can beat him to it. Has Thoraz and Ki'lal checked in yet?" Kalahna shook her head, "No, but they should reach the mercenary encampment within 30 minutes. Hopefully we'll hear something then." END TRANSMISSION Subject: SO: Fearless/Scouting Ahead Lt. Sholek Stardate 9803.12 Engineering "How's it going," Ensign Bradley asked Sholek. He was at his post in Engineering. "Just fine ensign," he replied. "Thankfully we were not rammed by on of those Dominion ships. That would have been just about the only way they could have taken us out." "What are doing latter?" "I will be reviewing damage reports and filling out a report for the captain. After that I have no plans." "Let's do some, together, then." "Hmm," he thought for a moment. "I have a holodeck program. Perhaps you would like to see it. It was Jefferson's and I had stumbled over it when I was going through her stuff." "Sure," she said smiling. ============================================================ Lt. Thoraz Brynaziir Bajor - Dakhur Woods Stardate 9803.08 Ki'lal and Thoraz were following the Bajoran resistance member, Toren Bedai. Suddenly, the Bajoran motioned for the group to take cover. Thoraz wondered why as he hadn't sensed anyone. The answer was soon obvious, 'Of course' Thoraz thought, "There was a Gorn with them. "He must be the perimeter guard.' "Ki'lal", Thoraz whispered, "We've both battled the Captain; how do propose we take out this Gorn without alerting the rest? I'll scan for the rest first, give me a minute" Ki'lal frowned, "Whatever we do, it will not be easy." END TRANSMISSION Subject: SO: Fearless/Fallen Heroes Vigilence Away Team Bajoran forest Stardate 9803.17 "I just received an encoded, burst transmission from the advanced scout team," Ensign Halek reported. He was the officer on the away team who was toting around the complicated communications gear. "Report," Dyer said as the team stopped in the forest. "Brynaziir reports encountering the outer perimeter guard of the merc camp," the Bajoran ensign reported. "He and his team are looking for a way through the guard. He is sending coordinates." "Let's get moving," Dyer said. "We're still 15 minutes behind him." "If we step up the pace we can get their faster," Vehakra suggested. "Let's go," Dyer said. Meanwhile, at the mercenary camp.... Serha could sense something was wrong. His heightened Gorn senses told him someone, or something was approaching the camp. Normally, as the leader of the mercenary group Serha would not be a perimeter guard...but the Gorn found his sense often came in handy for the group. This was one of those instances. He keyed a communicator pin under his tunic, signalling trouble back to the base camp. Slowly, he brought his compression disruptor rifle to bear and activated the built in tricorder device affixed to the top of the weapon. It took him about ten seconds to lock in on the source of his discomfort, and it was three lifeforms approaching from the southeast. They were close...very close. Close enough to shoot him...or for him to shoot back. Serha decide to draw first blood, even though it would be at least two minutes before his men arrived. The Gorn suddenly swung his weapon in the direction of the lifeforms and depressed the trigger. A stream of disruptor bursts tore from the gun and slammed into several trees and burned through the foilage. Amid the hail of energy beams, Thoraz and Ki'lal watched as Toren Bedai, their guide, was cut down by the random disruptor fire. Both the Betazoid and Klingon dove for cover and came up shooting, trying to hit the Gorn who killed their guide. They readied their weapons, but Thoraz suddenly noticed something was wrong with Ki'lal. He could sense a sudden wave of confusion, disorientation and...fear...wash over the Klingon beside him. "What is it!" Thoraz hissed, turning to Ki'lal. "Not well," he managed to mutter. "I'm feeling...disoriented...can't focus." As he heard the pounding of the Gorn's feet through the forest, coming his direction, he realized Ki'lal was suffering from an attack. The rush of adrenaline must have somehow worsened the genetic disease he'd been diagnosed with before the mission. But it was supposed to be months or years before the condition affected him. Then, Ki'lal slumped over, unconscious...leaving Thoraz Brynaziir to fend for himself. END TRANSMISSION Subject: SO: Fearless/Fight in the Forest Lt. Thoraz Brynaziir Bajor Stardate 9803.18 Thoraz hesitated, there was another life in his hands again. Then, his instincts took over. He had sparred with the Captain, Ki'lal and Tyrian. Sure, that was hand to hand, but he knew what to expect from a Gorn, sort of. Thoraz veered away from Ki'lal at top speed, taunting the massive Gorn in order to lead him away from the unconscious Klingon. Thoraz grabbed his hand phaser out of his tunic where he had hidden it, adjusted it fpr heavy stun and then began firing blindly over his shoulder, hoping to at least slow down the Gorn. Meanwhile, he was sending a telepathic message to Tyrian, whom he knew best of all the members of the Away Team; and hoped it worked. 'Tyrian, Ki'lal is down, Toren is dead. Gorn coming'. ============================================================ Ensign Jamie Marcus On Bajor Stardate 9803.18 Ensign Jamie Marcus heard the transmission from Brynaziir over the team's comm link. He was alone to face the enemy. She knew that if it were just him against the Gorn mercenary he was at an extreme disadvantage. Especially if the Gorn was wearing Gorn battle armor, which she knew was composed of an ablative material similar to what Starfleet was plating its ships with these days. Unless Thoraz scored multiple hits or got a lucky shot centered directly over an armor joint the Gorn would have too much of a chance to take Thoraz out. So without waiting for orders Jamie accelerated to top speed. She had excelled at the academy in both sprints and long distance running and she utilized that training as she streaked through the trees and foilage heading toward the advance team's position. Her lithe body snaked around the trees and she hurdled deerlike over stumps and bushes that came in her way as she desperately tried to reach her comrade in time. ============================================================ Commander Michael Dyer Bajoran forest Stardate 9803.18 The team moved quickly now through the forest. The message from Thoraz indicated trouble may be brewing up ahead. At a full jog, it took the team about 8 minutes to reach Thoraz and Ki'lal. Ki'lal was slumped over, their Bajoran guide was nowhere to be seen, and Thoraz was involved in a fire fight with an unknown adversary. Dyer signalled to Tyrian who immediately broke formation and headed off to out-flank the enemy. The rest of the team began returning fire. They were not very successful with any of their shots, but then all of a sudden the opposition's attack stopped. Quickly Tyrian returned to the group. "The adversary was a Gorn. I have neutralized him. His communicator was squawking the entire time. It appears as though his reinforcements are about 1 minute behind." Tyrian was a little out of breath. (FROM THE GM: Gee, I'd like to see how Summers neutralized the Gorn...someone care to write this into an upcoming post?) "Kalahna, can two of your people take Ki'lal to somewhere safe in this area?" Dyer asked. "Sure Commander, there is a safe house not too far away." She replied signalling to the two men who would take Ki'lal. "The rest of you, we've got to make tracks. This group of people is not going to rest until they find out what's happened to their buddy. "We will move back to a clearing that I noticed about 1 kilometer back. There we will set an ambush for these people. They will of course move slowly, being cautious while they follow our obvious tracks through the bush. "I want to split into two groups. We'll head back to the clearing." Dyer paused for a moment. "Tyrian you and Kalahna take everyone. Head East about 25 metres, then South to the clearing. Once there take positions for our ambush. "Veh and I will circle back behind the enemy and make sure they stay on track. We will cut off the possibility of retreat once they reach the clearing." Seeing that no one really had time for questions, he dismissed the group and they headed toward their battle. ============================================================ Lt. Commander Vehakra Rhikal Bajoran Forest Stardate 9803.18 Vehakra and Dyer made their way through the forest and moved to outflank the mercenary group. According to a tricorder sweep, the mercenaries had split into two groups and were moving in the direction where their leader had last been reported. In all, six mercs remained, with the "neutralized" Gorn representing the seventh member of the group. Veh wished in the back of her head she could have seen Tyrian take down the Gorn...that would have been an impressive sight to see. Suddenly, she noticed the mercenaries disappear off her tricorder reading. She tapped the device and then motioned for Dyer to stop. "What is it?" he asked. "They've cloaked or they're scrambling our tricorders," Veh whispered. Dyer frowned, "Scattering field. They must have figured out we were tracking them electronically." Then, from out of nowhere, a figure descended upon them and there was a blood curdling yell. before either officer could raise their weapons, a wild- eyed Klingon with long hair, wielding a bat'leth pounced on them and began swing. The back of his blade smacked Dyer square on the jaw and sent the commander reeling into the underbrush, teetering on unconsciousness. He then slammed the disruptor from Vehakra's hand and came at her with a fierce growl. "Prepare to die!" As the Klingon came at her, Vehakra managed to evade several strokes from the bat'leth. She then waited until the Klingon's guard was lowered for a split second and she drove a hard sidekick into his solar plexus. When he doubled over, she attacked with full force. Vehakra seized the Klingon's right arm in a painful lock and tried to force the blade from his hands, but he managed to draw his d'hktar and sliced it across Vehakra's thigh. She yelped and let go of him and he came at her with the knife. She sidestepped a lunging attack and locked his arm again, twisting at his wrist. She forced the d'hkar dagger from his grasp and then slammed the Klingon in the face with her elbow, smashing his nose. As the Klingon stumbled back, a big, hideous Nausican appeared from the foilage and fired his disruptor rifle at her. She narrowly avoided getting shot and dove for cover behind a tree. She looked around, but couldn't find her own pistol. It was now looking real bad as the Klingon regained his footing and drew his own disruptor sidearm. 'Where's Michael?' she thought. 'I could sure use his help right about now....' END TRANSMISSION Subject: SO: Fearless/Gorn Battle Commander Michael Dyer Bajoran Forest Stardate 9803.19 Dyer and Veh made their way through the forest and moved to outflank the mercenary group. According to Veh's tricorder sweep, the mercenaries had split into two groups and were moving in the direction where their leader had last been reported. Dyer noticed Veh tapping the Tricorder then motion for him to stop. "What is it?" Dyer asked. "They've cloaked or they're scrambling our tricorders," Veh whispered. Dyer frowned, "Scattering field. They must have figured out we were tracking them electronically." Then, from out of nowhere, a figure descended upon them and there was a blood curdling yell. before either officer could raise their weapons, a wild- eyed Klingon with long hair, wielding a bat'leth pounced on them and began swing. The back of his blade smacked Dyer square on the jaw and sent him reeling into the underbrush, teetering on unconsciousness. Dyer landed under a small low bush. He lay there dazed for a moment but then he came to, and realized that that really hurt. He also decided that there was no way he was going to be taken out of commission again, on an away mission. He brought his arm up feel his jaw, and was glad to feel that there was still solid bone under there. It did not hurt any more to touch it, and he could still move it, so it wasn't broken. He retrieved a pahser and a knife from his belt, and slowly sat up to survey the situation. He focused on Veh who was fighting with the Klingon who had attacked them. She slammed the Klingon in the face with her elbow, smashing his nose. As the Klingon stumbled back, a big, hideous Nausican appeared from the foliage and fired his disruptor rifle at her. She narrowly avoided getting shot and dove for cover behind a tree. The nausican moved to help his comrade and as the Klingon regained hisfooting he drew his own disruptor sidearm. Dyer thought, "this is certainly no time to be hiding in the bushes." He activated his sub-vocal communicator, "Veh, are you okay?" The only response he heard was "weapon!!" He understood, and they both simultaneously sprang from the bushes. Dyer threw his second phaser to Veh and she caught it and levelled it at the pair in a fluid motion. Dyer didn't even want to ask these two questions, it was kill or be killed when dealing with Nausicans and Klingons. The two were expecting Veh, but the Klingon was very surprised to see this human he had just knocked on the head with his Bat'leth. Dyer fired on the Nausican with his phaser on maximum setting, the Nausican looked up and then vanished. Veh had the same effect on the Klingon. He just stood there watching himself disintegrate. Trying to fell the rapidly growing empty space in the centre of his body, until eventually, (1.5 seconds) he disappeared entirely. Dyer went over to check on Veh, who was obviously limping. "Are you alright?" He asked her as she clutched her right thigh. "I'll live, he just got me with that knife." She sat down on a rock, while Dyer got his emergency kit out of his pack. "This won't hurt a bit miss, I'll have you back on your feet wrestling Klingons in a couple of minutes." Dyer's attempt at levity seemed to be appreciated. He got out the dermal regenerator and in a couple of passes Veh's wound was healed and her beautiful skin was totally intact. She took a turn at playing doctor, and took out a medical tricorder and scanned his cheek and jaw. It took several more passes with the dermal regenerator before the bruising was healed but eventually the two officers were as good as new. They sat there for about thirty seconds looking into each other's eyes. Dyer knew that there was already something between them, and he knew that it would blossom once this mission was over. Then they realized that the four other mercenaries had a five minute head start on them and they would have to hurry to catch them before they reached the rest of their away team. Dyer activated his sub-vocal communicator again, "Tyrian, If they get there before I do, I want at least one of these mercenaries alive for questioning. Understood?" "Acknowledged sir." Tyrian replied. The two repaired officers then began heading for the clearing and their date with the mercenaries. ============================================================ Lt. Commander Tyrian M. Summers On Bajor Stardate 9803.20 Tyrian broke off from the group in an effort to flank the unseen advisary of Brynaziir's. He ran through the tall trees and thick brush outside the camp towards the enemie's disruptor shots. Tyrian knew he was coming up on the source of the blasts but still could'nt see. Tyrian ran through more bushes into a clearing.......and about fell backwards from what he saw standing there....a Gorn!!! Tyrian had never seen another Gorn other than the Captain, this one was dressed in full battle armor. The Gorn turned his massive head as soon as Tyrian arrived in the clearing. The two were about eight feet away from each other. The Gorn decided not to try to reaim his phaser at Tyrian, instead he lunged at him. The Gorn had incredible speed, Tyrian dove out of the way as the huge Gorn leaped past him into a tree, smashing the small trunk of the tree. The Gorn got up and tried to aim his disruptor at Tyrian, but Tyrian, still on the ground, quickly aimed his rifle and shot the disruptor in the Gorn's big hand, causing him to drop the sparking weapon to the ground. The Gorn only smiled at this as he assumed his fighting stance. Tyrian was able to squeeze off another shot as the Gorn leaped at him again. The blast was mainly deflected by the armor he wore. Tyrian was knocked backwards into some underbrush as the Gorn landed a slash to his torso, destroying Tyrian's body armor in that area, but not harming him other than some deep scratches. The Gorn picked up Tyrian in both hands and tossed him into the huge trunk of a tree, making him a bit dizzy. The Gorn was having fun now, Tyrian knew he was in trouble, Where was the rest of the team? he thought as the Gorn stood over him. Tyrian knew none of his physical moves would work against this large of an opponent with that good of bulky body armor and his phaser rifle was lying on the ground about twelve feet away, he had to think quick, and he did. Tyrian looked up and saw the Gorn reaching down again with both arms for him, as he did, Tyrian whipped out both commando knives he had hidden in his boots. When the Gorn reached out with his arms, the armor came apart a little at the shoulders to make movement in the suit possible. As the Gorn grabbed him, Tyrian thrust the two knives, one into each of the Gorn's shoulders. The huge lizard let go and stumbled back trying to get them out of his shoulders, but every time he would reach up to one shoulder the other knife would dig into the other causing him great pain and made it almost impossible to get a full range of motion in his arms to grab the embedded weapons. Meanwhile, Tyrian rolled over to his rifle and set it on a high setting turned to his target.........a huge tree well off to the Gorn's side, he blasted it and hoped it would fall the right way, it did'nt, it started to fall off a little bit behind the Gorn. Quickly Tyrian started to blast at the armored chest of the Gorn, it would'nt cut through the heavy armor, but it did knock him backwards. Tyrian's shots were on mark, the Gorn looked up to see what was blocking the sunlight all of a sudden, and all he saw was the huge tree coming down on top of him. When the dust settled, Tyrian walked over to the Gorn who was underneath the big tree, trapped. He looked down, the Gorns arm appeared broken and he was unconcious. Tyrian pulled out the two knives, wiped them off and put them back in his boots. The Gorn would not give them anymore trouble for a while so he decided not to kill him, besides, he thought, he would make a great prisoner if they needed one later. Tyrian, out of breath walked back to find the team. END TRANSMISSION Subject: SO: Fearless/Fighting Continues Captain Sortha USS Fearless Stardate 9803.22 Open Space After the battle with the five Dominion ships, the Yamato-A, now escorted by the frigate which had arrived after the battle was well over, moved off toward the heart of the Federation for repairs. Meanwhile the Fearless resumed it's escort of the convoy of Federation marines. Captain Sortha had tractored the debris from the Dominion ships and had it stowed in several cargo bays. He had ordered Lieutenant Sholek to analyze the remains for any clues to Dominion technology. They had salvaged several large pieces, and an entire computer core from one of the ships. They had also retreived numerous Jem'Hadar bodies, and Dr. Ming was busy dissecting them in order to determine the difference betwwen the Alpha and Gamma Jem'Hadar. ============================================================ Ensign Jamie Marcus Bajor Stardate 9803.21 Jamie sprinted quietly through the trees. She thought that Tyrian had headed toward Brynaziir and the Gorn. Glancing at her tricorder she saw a group of four blips off to the flank of Brynaziir and Tyrian. Then they disappeared. "Hmmm two can play that game she thought as she slowed and activated a scattering field of her own. Mercenaries she thought... usually they were pretty two dimensional characters. Two dimensional... she smiled. Holstering her phasers she took up a position between the blips and Tyrian and Brynaziir's position. Most likely they would try to flank her two team mates. Suddenly Kalahna was beside her, panting from the strenuous run. Jamie looked up a nearby tree and glanced at Kalahna, who nodded her head in reply. Jumping up Jamie grabbed a branch with two hands, kicked her legs up and acrobatically swung herself onto the branch. She gave Kalahna a hand up, and the two scurried up several more levels behind a growth of leaves. Several minutes later they spotted the mercenary group running towards Tyrian's position. Kalahna snapped her disruptor rifle on one target. "There's four of them" she breathed. "Not for long" Jamie breathed back. She drew her two hand phasers and holding them together eyed two targets. "Say when" she whispered. "When!" Kalahna whispered after two seconds. Her disruptor took one merc straight in the chest, vaporizing him quickly. Jamie hit one merc in the head with a phaser on full stun... he'd have a concussion at the least when he awoke. Her shot from the other phaser nailed another merc in the arm. He writhed for a second before going down. The fourth merc, well trained, let off a series of blasts into the trees where the shots that had taken out his comrades had come from. At the same time Kalahna and Jamie targeted him and peppered the area around him with multiple blasts, finally hitting him as he continued to send bolts of death their way. One of his dying blasts smashed into the tree next to Jamie, destroying the branch she was standing on. Startled she started to free fall, dropping both of her phasers out of reflex. She started on the long descent down, her arms flailing. Suddenly she felt something grab her wrist. Kalahna had managed to grab ahold as Jamie fell past her. Kalahna had to drop her disruptor rifle to grab Jamie. It fell fifty feet to the tangled terrain below and smashed against a rock. Kalahna had both legs wrapped around a tree branch and was hanging down holding onto Jamie. Jamie looked down at death, and then back up at Kalahna. "Don't let me fall" she whispered. Straining Kalahna gritted her teeth "no way." She reached down with the other hand and grabbed Jamie's wrist as Jamie also reached up and grabbed Kalahna's hands. Kalahna's well muscled forearms quivered as she maintained her grip on Jamie. "Hold on" Kalahna grunted. Still holding onto the branch with both legs she slowly contracted her stomach muscles to do a sit up, pulling Jamie up towards her and the branch. Almost there, Jamie was still inches from the branch. "Swing me!" Jamie said quietly as she noticed Kalahna starting to lose her grip on the branch from the effort. Locking eyes they both nodded, it was their only chance. Swinging her arms in increasingly large pendulems she managed to swing Jamie laterally. "Now!" Jamie yelled at the apex of a swing. They both let go and Jamie sailed through the air toward another branch... closer...closer. She managed to grab it with both hands as she fell past. Quickly she got her body across it and climbed on it. She looked up. Kalahna was hanging upside down like a bat, exhausted. After a while she did a situp from the hanging position and grabbed her branch with both hands, and pulled herself up. After a minute of rest, the two climebed down. Once on the ground they breathed a sigh of relief. "I owe you one" Jamie said. "I've always been afraid of dying in a fall." "Don't mention it, that's what resistance allies are for" Kalahna said with a grin. She picked up the remains of her disruptor rifle, then tossed it aside and scooped up one of the dead merc's blasters. "This will do" she said checking it out. ============================================================ Bajoran Forest Stardate 9803.22 The remaining three mercenaries had regrouped and were hiding in a dense clump of bushes and trees near where their camp had been. What remained now was a blue-skinned Bolian named Krenna. He had assumed command after they confirmed the deaths of the Klingon and Nausican, as well as the capture of their leader, the Gorn. With Krenna was a human named Jason Storvos, he was a hand-to-hand combat expert who also was pretty handy with a sword. There was also Mekual, a former Orion pirate turned mercenary. The big green-skinned alien had his hair shaved on both sides of his head, leaving a long strip down the middle. The remaining hair was long, braided and hung down the middle of his back. He also had a patch-cover bolted over one eye and his right hand was visibly mechanical. A huge axe was slung over his back and an equally huge phaser rifle was firmly in his grasp. "We've got to get out of here," Storvos muttered. "Who are these people anyway?" "Someone who wants us dead...competitors maybe?" Mekual grumbled. "I say we charge them, kill as many as we can." "No," Krenna said firmly. "Storvos, release your two hunter probes and then we'll head for the Temple. While these fools are fighting the probes, we can make it to the Temple, find the Orb and get the hell out of here." Storvos opened a pack he carried and released the two small, but lethal hunter probes. The threesome then headed off deeper into the woods, away from the attacking Shadow Ops team. The probes whisked off in different directions with orders to seek and destroy the intruders... END TRANSMISSION Subject: SO: Fearless/Mind Probe Lt. Sholek Stardate 9803.22 Main Cargo Bay Sholek and his Engineering team were going through the remains of the Dominion ships. "You look worn-out, Sholek," Jennifer said from behind him. He looked up from his tricorder and back at her. "I have been avoiding sleep, as you know. But since the situation has calmed down, I probably should take a rest." "If it would make you feel better, I'll stay in you quarters with you," she offered. "No, that's all right," he replied. "I must face my past, and I must do it alone. Besides, I want you to stay here and examine these remains. "Will do, sir," she said enthusiastically. The dream. Sholek was on board his old ship, the Iron Fist. "Report," Sholek ordered. "All ships report ready, sir," answered the Romulan at ops. "The Borg?" Sholek demanded. "Coming in at warp 9.993." "ETA." "Six minutes." "Tell the fllet to prepare for battle. "Disingage cloak and power-up weapons." The green light indicating they were cloaked went off. On the view screen, the Borg could be seen. "Send a message to Romulus," Sholek said. "Tell them that the battle has begun." As the Borg cube came in, the fleet moved in to fight. The Borg easily pounded the Romulan Birds-of-Pray and War Birds. With in minutes, half the fleet was destroyed. "Begin hit and run techniques," Sholek ordered. "If we stay too close for too long, the Borg pick us off too easy." "Intruder alert," yeled the man at ops. "The Borg have transported into Engineering." "Send a Security team," Sholek ordered. "Intruder on the bridge," the Sholek's Centurian yelped. Sholek jumped off his command chair and onto the Borg. He ripped out cords diabling the drone but not before being poked by it assimilation tubule. "Ahh," Sholek screamed. The Borg nanatite flowed through his vains fighting off his super ammune system. A connection. For a second Sholek's mind is linked with the Collective. And for a second Sholek agrees with the Borg. With the Borg there is total equality. No one is above anyone else. Everyone working for the good of the whole. But only for a second. When the connection is broken, Sholek stands and looks at his bridge crew. They all stared at him. He was still being assimilated, but now he knew he had to stop the Borg and just how to do it. "Order the entire fllet to ramming speed," he ordered. "We'll show the Borg that we will die to stop them. "And send a medic team up here to get these damn nanites out of me." ============================================================ Lt. Thoraz Brynaziir Bajor Stardate 9803.23 After mentally probing the mercenaries from afar, Thoraz was ready to report to Dyer. "Commander Dyer, " Thoraz whispered into his subvocal comm unit. "I have some important information for you. These mercenaries are contracted through the crime syndicate called The Consortium. They never met their contractor. The Gorn knows, but I am unable to interrogate him. The Orb is to arrive at the Temple in a couple of hours. The Vedeks are beaming in from an unkown location. I suggest we be there beforehand, and ambush any more 'competitors' while waiting for the Vedeks. We could divide into two teams, one to grab the Orb and one to run interference. I suggest Kalahna and I be in the group to talk to the Vedeks. This is trustworthy information, but please don't ask for more clarification than that right now. I will answer any questions to both you and the Captain when we return to the Fearless." Before waiting for an answer, Thoraz headed for the temple. END TRANSMISSION Subject: SO: Fearless/Butt Chewing Time Commander Michael Dyer Bajoran Forest Stardate 9803.25 Dyer was outraged. He caught up with Thoraz and grabbed his arm. He began, "Lt. Brynaziir you will not proceed to the Temple unless ordered to do so, andyou will provide me with a little bit more information than that before I let you go off by yourself to attempt an ambush. "Until such time as I am dead, incapacitated, or relieved of my command by Captain Sortha, I make the decisions for this team. Is that understood?" Thoraz just looked at him with a blank stare. By now the rest of the team had reached their position and were surrounding the two officers watching the display. Dyer continued, "If I ask you for an explanation, I expect one. This may be a covert operations group, but it is still a military organization. There is a chain of command in the military Mr. and I don't want you ever to forget it again, you're acting like an ensign. No offense Marcus." Dyer added looking toward Jamie. "What do you have to say for yourself?" Dyer was not moving until Thoraz gave him an answer. His comments and actions were direct insubordination. Dyer couldn't believe he heard that from one of his Lieutenants. He was angry and disappointed. ============================================================ Lt. Thoraz Brynaziir Bajor Stardate 9803.25 "Commader. I understand the proper protocol. I thought the need for urgency was more important, besides, i did not want you to get into trouble as well." Thoraz said, standing at attention. "Lt, what are you talking about?" the Commander demanded. "Well, Sir. I violated Starfleet code ... I intentionally did deep mental probes on the mercenaries to find out the necessary information. I did not want any else to die before we could complete our mission. When we returned, I fully intended to inform both you and the Captain of my actions, and accept whatever reprimand the Captain felt was necessary. Now, having taken more time to explain all this than we can afford, I would suggest we hurry, SIR!" Thoraz stated flatly as fast as he could, while still remaing coherent. ============================================================ Lt. Commander Vehakra Rhikal Bajor Stardate 9803.25 Vehakra had never seen Dyer angry before...not like this. But it had been a long time coming. Many of the Fearless crew had shown acts of insubordination in the past. Before she arrived on the ship a Changeling named Ayer, who worked for Starfleet, had been busted down in rank and transferred to another ship for insubordination. Sholek's antics during the mission to Romulus had also been grossly insubordinate...even if he was under the influence of a telepath. Now Thoraz was trying to run off an be a hero. She understood Thoraz was trying to press hard to become more of an asset to the security department, but this certainly wasn't the way to go about it. As she thought about security, Veh suddenly realized Ki'lal was missing. As Dyer continued to scold Thoraz, Vehakra used her tricorder and tracked Ki'lal's life signs to his crumpled body spawrled under a huge tree. She checked his vitals and found him to be OK. She gave him an injection of stimulants and a moment later he awakened with a start, bolting up from the grass and nearly knocking the Orion woman over. "Commander!" he snarled, looking around with a crazed look. "What has happened?" "We engaged the mercenaries, three of them are neutralized, three more escaped into the woods," Vehakra said. "Was I stunned?" he asked. "According to these tricorder readings, you weren't stunned," Vehakra said grimly. "It was the K'Vak Syndrome. Your heightened adrenaline must have triggered some kind of attack." Ki'lal scoffed, "You are no doctor, commander." "No, but I have a little basic medical training from the academy," she said. "And Dr. Ming briefed me on your condition before we left and asked me to check you out once in awhile. You're going to have to ease back on this one, commander." "I am fine!" he snapped, standing up to his full height. "Let's rejoin the others." Veh sighed. This was going to be rough. He was in no shape to continue on this mission...not in a front-line capacity. She'd have to talk to Dyer about it before they went much farther. She put away the tricorder and followed the staggering Klingon back to the rest of the group. ============================================================ Bajoran Forest Stardate 9803.25 The mercenary Storvos crawled back to the other two mercenaries, through the brush, and smiled as he rejoined them. "They are arguing amongst themselves about 300 meters southeast. We should attack and kill them all now while they are distracted," the human said. Krenna shook his head, "No. Let's continue on. We can get far ahead of them if we go now, while they fight among themselves. Let's move out." The human, Bolian and Orion mercenaries then plunged into the thick forest and began a brisk run toward the direction of the Bajoran Temple of the Prophets -- leaving the Shadow Ops team behind. END TRANSMISSION Subject: SO: Fearless/The Temple Captain Sortha USS Fearless Stardate 9803.25 Sortha was relieved to be rid of the marines as they reached their destination. He ahd seen to it that a lot of able bodies fighters had reached the front without casualties. Now it was time to go back to Bajor and pick up his away team. He hoped that all was going well... ============================================================ Commander Michael Dyer Bajoran Forest Stardate 9803.26 "Very right Mr. Brynaziir. You and I will discuss this upon the completion of this mission. And for the duration of this mission, please allow me the courtesy of deciding for myself how best to keep myself out of trouble." Dyer was livid, but silently agreed that they had to get moving so as not to lose the mercenaries. "We will proceed as Lt. Brynaziir has suggested," Dyer addressed the team, stopping and glaring at Thoraz when he got to him. "Proceed with extreme zeal and caution." Then turning to Thoraz, "Mr. Brynaziir, lead the way." ============================================================ Lt. Commander Vehakra Rhikal Bajor Stardate 9803.26 "Commander," she said, catching up with Dyer as the team started off toward the temple again. "I need to talk to you." "What is it, Veh?" he asked. "It's about Ki'lal," she said, looking up the line of officers to where Ki'lal was walking. "He collapsed during the conforntation with the Gorn. I checked him out and he had an attack of the nervous system caused by the disease he has. It has left his brain in a state of electro-chemical imbalance. Dr. Ming told me to watch for this if he started acting strangely." "What does this mean?" Dyer asked. "I can't guarantee he won't pass out again if he gets a rush of adrenaline...or if his blood pressure and heart rate gets boosted," she said. "There are a number of things that can set it off. I don't think he should be in on the next confrontation with these mercenaries. Its too dangerous." She then awaited Dyer's reply.... ============================================================ Bajoran Forest Stardate 9803.26 The three mercenaries arrived on the edge of an ancient stone temple which seemed to stick straight out of the forest. It was the Temple of the Prophets. They hid in the dense brush around the edge of the temple and set up a scattering field to hide their sensor images. They then scanned the temple for signs of the Vedeks. "They're here," Storvos said, eyeing his tricorder. "They're in the main chamber of the temple. There are 10 Vedeks in all." "Let's do it, before whoever that was who attacked us at the base camp catches up with us," Krenna, the Bolian said. "Storvos, you go that way, stay out of sight and get yourself in position to..." The Bolian's words were cut off as six figures emergeed from the trees around them and trained weapons on them. Before they could react, the mercenaries realized they were surrounded...by a team of Cardassian soldiers. "Identify yourselves," a Cardassian who looked like the leader of the group announced. "Who wants to know?" Krenna snapped back. "We are with the Cardassian Fifth Order Special Forces," the Cardassian said. "I am Glin Evek. We were sent by Gul Dukat to oversee your operation. Where is Serha?" "Dead or captured," Krenna said. "How?" Evek asked. "We were ambushed in the forest a short time ago by a group of people...a mix of humans, Bajorans, at least one Betazoid, Orion and a Klingon," Krenna said. "We figured they were a rival mercenary group looking to claim the orb." Evek scowled. "Unlikely. More likely is they were sent by the Federation to stop us. How far behind you are they?" "Ten to fifteen minutes, tops," Storvos added. "Hey, where do you guys get off intruding on our operation? We still get paid, right?" "If you live," Evek muttered. "I have additional payment with us as discussed between myself and Serha. We're here to make sure everything goes as planned...and apparently it is good we came...since you've managed to lose half your team." Krenna glared at Evek, "Are we going to take the Orb or not?" "Let's go," Evek said. "Lead the way, gentlemen...its your show. We'll cover your backs and wait for the intruders to show up. Activate personal scattering fields. Let's surprise them when they show up." END TRANSMISSION Subject: SO: Fearless/Sick Leave Lt. Thoraz Brynaziir Bajoran Woods Stardate 9803.28 "Aye sir! This way", Thoraz stated and began to lead the group, scanning with his tricorder as he went. "Sir", he said quietly to Commander Dyer who was keeping a close eye on him , "Ki'lal collapsed, I believe, due to his medical condition. I am worried about him, but having studied Klingon culture I know that to openly approach him about it would cause a loss of honor to him. I thought you should know. You might be able to assign him some approriate duties in a way that honor is satisfied?" ============================================================ Commander Michael Dyer Bajor Stardate 9803.26 Dyer didn't take very long to consider Veh and Brynaziir's concerns. He wished there was an easier way to handle the situation, but he had to think of the lives of the entire team, and Kalahna's people. "Kalahna, I need two of your men to take Ki'lal back to your base camp, until this mission is over. I'm worried that another battle will over- stimulate his nervous system, and he may collapse. I have one officer who doesn't seem to need my orders any more, I don't need one who passes out." "No problem Commander." Kalahna signalled to two of her people and the three of them went off into the forest while the rest of them continued their journey toward the temple. Dyer was walking behind Vehakra. "Thanks Veh, Thoraz has me so irritated, I didn't even notice Ki'lal. Some Commanding Officer I am, Huh?" ============================================================ Lt. Commander Vehakra Rhikal Bajor Stardate 9803.27 Veh looked at Dyer and smiled, "It's OK. We're not used to looking after Ki'lal anyway. He can usually take care of himself." A moment later, the team stopped in the forest again as Ki'lal broke formation and approached Dyer with Kalahna at his side. "I must protest, sir!" Ki'lal demanded. "I am capable of continuing with the mission." "Return to the base camp, Ki'lal," the already irritated Dyer said. "This is not the time to argue." "But sir," Ki'lal persisted. "Ki'lal," Veh said, placing a hand on his forearm. "There is no honor to be had losing consciousness in the midst of a battle. We can't afford to have it happen again. You'll be safe back at base. We'll see Dr. Ming when we get back to Fearless." Ki'lal looked down at the ground and sighed. Veh could feel his pain. A Klingon unable to fight was not a Klingon at all. She feared he might do something drastic, but it wasn't something she could dwell on at the moment." "Very well," Ki'lal finally conceded. "Good luck." Dyer slapped him on the shoulder and Kalahna motioned for one of her men to escort him back to the camp. "Let's move out!" Dyer said, and the group got underway again. END TRANSMISSION Subject: SO: Fearless/Holy Ground Lt. Sholek Holodeck 3 Stardate 9803.28 The next blow knocked the creature onto a boulder overlooking the cliff. Violet blood poured down from its nose. "I seem to have you put, as the human expression goes, between a 'rock and a hard place'. I suggest you surrender." "Sholek," Ensign Jennifer Bradley said. "This program was designed to test your fighting skills, not your diplomatic skills." Sholek looked at his opponent and sighed. He grabbed the creature by the foot and twirled it around him in an arch and threw it over the cliff edge. "Computer," Jennifer said slightly disappointed, "end program." The scene disappeared back to the yellow grid of the holodeck. "Maybe we should try a different program," she suggested. "How about one in which you can't win?" "There is no such thing as a no-win scenario," Sholek replied. "What about the Kobashi-Maru?" she questioned him. "I have not had an opportunity to try that particular scenario, but if I get time I will try." He walked out of the holodeck leaving her behind him with a look of disappointment on her face. ============================================================ Lt. Commander Tyrian M. Summers Bajorian Woods Stardate 9803.29 Tyrian was getting a little impatient at the delays the team was experiencing. Commander Dyer was having to explain how rank works with Brynaziir in the middle of an important mission, what was worse was the display took place in front of the entire team, lowering morale. Then, on top of that, Ki'lal's medical condition made him unfit for combat, which wasted more time tending to him and making him go back for medical attention. Tyrian also had issues with having to fight side by side with these Bajoran resistance "fighters", he did'nt respect them to much and certainly would not count on them in a firefight. The sooner this mission was completed and he was back on the Fearless, the better he would feel. Tyrian followed the group as they took care of all the internal problems as they once again started the short distance to the temple. Hopefully the Orb would still be there, considering all the time they had wasted already. ============================================================ Temple of the Prophets Bajoran forest Stardate 9803.29 Glinn Evek joined the mercenaries and headed into the temple grounds. They left the other five Cardassian special forces operatives hiding in the forest, ready to intercept the Away Team when they arrived on the scene. The mercenaries and Evek made their way cautiously acorss the temple grounds, moving between statues and walls within the ancient site until they reached a huge set of stairs leading into a raised temple section. On the stairs of the temple were two Bajoran vedeks standing as lookouts. "I'll take care of this," the Orion pirate, Mekual, said, drawing a huge blade from his belt. He slipped behind a pillar and climbed a statue which deposited him on the stairs right behind the vedeks. The first Vedek died quickly and without much effort. Mekual merely slipped up behind him, brought the short sword around to the front of him and sliced it across his neck, nearly severing his head. The vedek collapsed without a word or sound into a pool of his own blood forming on the marble steps beneath him. The other vedek saw his friend go down and turned in time to see the big green Orion charging him. He went to swing his disruptor pistol toward Mekual and to shout for help, but the Orion rammed his blade right through the vedek's midsection, forcing the point of the blade through and out the back of the Bajoran. The vedek gasped in pain, dropped the pistol to the step, and slid backwards off the blade and off the side of the raised stairs. He was dead by the time his body landed 10 meters below on the ground. The others followed Mekual up the stairs and together they reached the entrance, weapons held ready. They slipped into the entry of the temple and heard the prayers of the Vedeks echoing from deep inside. Slowly they inched inside and saw a group of about ten Vedeks assembled in an open area, a box in front of them upon a raised dais. It was the box containing the Orb, it had to be, Evek thought. The mission was nearing completion. "Move in," Evek whispered. "Take no prisoners." END TRANSMISSION Subject: SO: Fearless/Thieves in the Temple Commander Michael Dyer Approaching the temple Stardate 9803.30 Thoraz led the team through the woods. It took them about 12 minutes to reach the perimeter of the temple grounds. Dyer moved to crouch down in the underbrush beside Thoraz. "Do you sense anything Lt.?" Dyer asked. "The mercenaries are here." Thoraz responded, without really acknowledging the Commander. "I sense exhilaration, they believe that they have found the orb and are moving in on it's position." "I also sense something else. I can't quite place it, it's as if some very strong minds are near. Minds with something to hide." Just then a disrupter blast came out of nowhere and got one of the Bajoran's right in the chest. He flew backwards and landed on his back with a smoking hole in his chest. "Take cover!" Dyer commanded. The team responded by diving for cover behind some rocks and bushes, and returning fire toward the location of the original blast. Dyer activated his subvocal communicator. "Commander Rhikal, you're with me, Commander Summers, take the rest of the team, get inside and stop those mercenaries, whatever the cost. The Dominion cannot get their hands on this weapon. We will circle back and try and out flank our attackers. Good luck." Then to Veh, "Set two hunter probes to move back and forth at this position, firing a random pattern. We'll try and trick them into thinking we're still here." Vehakra set the probes and then while the rest of team moved in on the Temple, She and Dyer moved to intercept the attackers. "Activate you cloak," Dyer said over the Sub-voc. The two figures moved away from the probes and them vanished, as if into thin air. The moved silently through the forest trying to pinpoint the other party. They could hear the fire fight still being waged between the probes and the attackers. Dyer was in the lead and he stopped short and signalled Veh, "There are four Cardassians firing Jem'Hadar attack rifles at our previous position. You take the two on the left, I'll take the two on the right." "Roger that Commander," Veh responded. The two moved slowly and quietly through the underbrush. Dyer signalled when he was right behind the two Cardassians who were his target, "Now!!" He deactivated his personal cloak and shot one of the Cardassians in the head with his phaser on maximum. The Cardassian didn't even get a chance to fall down, he simply vanished in a twirl of orange. The other Cardassian turned to shoot Dyer, but Dyer deflected the man's rifle with a fast forward kick to his right forearm. The shot went wild. Dyer grabbed the man by the throat and attempted to block his airway. The neck ridges made that difficult. The Cardassian dropped his rifle and hit Dyer across the face with a double fisted blow. Dyer staggered back. As the Cardassian rushed him, the Commander fell to his back and threw the Cardassian over by placing his feet on the man's belly as he lunged him. Dyer sprang to his feet and unleashed his D'k'tahg from it's sheath strapped to his back. He lunged at the Cardassian plunging the blade into the man's belly and twisting it 90 degrees. The wound might not have been fatal, but that twist, bunched up the organs, and made it impossible to close without immediate medical attention. The Fallen Cardassian soldier looked at Commander Dyer, with disbelief, and then his eyes went blank. Dyer got up to see if Veh could use any help. ============================================================ Lt. Commander Vehakra Rhikal Bajoran Forest Stardate 9803.29 Vehakra Rhikal ducked just as a blast from a Cardassian weapon seered above her head and impacted on a tree behind her. She ducked behind another tree for cover and fired her compression phaser rifle twice in the direction of the shot. Her blasts kicked up some dirt, forcing one of the Cardassians to pull back further into the brush. After a short exchange of fire, Vehakra sensed there was only one Cardassian shooting at her. From the corner of her eye she saw movement and realized the other Cardie was trying to flank her. She brought her rifle to bear on the stealthly Cardassian and the first glimpse of him she got through the trees, she opened fire. Her blasts struck near the Cardassian, but missed the mark. He returned fire and nearly got Veh, forcing her to move to better cover. As she belly crawled to a cluster of boulders, she heard someone crashing through the woods behind her, she rolled over and went to shoot, but it was too late. A Cardassian lept on her from the woods and knocked the rifle from her hands. The Cardassian struck her hard across the face as he pinned her by practically sitting on her chest. Glaring down at her, the Cardassian sneered and punched her again. She could sense the other Cardassian she'd been fighting with approaching and she realized they were about to take her prisoner...and she wasn't about to become a prisoner for these bastards. Veh swung her legs up behind the Cardassian and grabbed each side of his head with her feet. He gasped as she pulled him backwards, off her chest, and slammed him hard to the forest ground. "Orion bitch!" the approaching Cardassian yelled as he broke into a run and charged at her as she landed on top of the first Cardassian. She spotted a dagger in the prone Cardassian's belt and quickly grabbed it, turned and threw it at the approaching soldier. The knife spun point over hilt several times through the air until it impacted blade first in the Cardassian's neck. The soldiers cried out briefly and stumbled, falling to the dirt clutching his penetrated neck. She watched the life ebb from the Cardassian as his blood poured from his wounded neck into ahuge pool underneath him. The Cardassian she had landed on top of came up swinging and threw her off, sending her tumbling into the brush. He rose to his feet and drew his sidearm, which he trained on Vehakra's fallen form. "When I get finished with you, Orion whore, you will wish you were dead," he hissed. "Don't move, I promise to make this quick." "No problem," Vehakra said, noticing movement behind him. From out of the trees one of the hunter probes she'd set loose appeared and it was training its phaser unit on the Cardassian looming over him. He heard the whining of the probe's anti-grav generators a split second too late. The probe fired and the Cardassian dropped over...dead. As Veh got to her feet, Dyer appeared from a nearby thicket and looked around cautiously. "You OK?" he asked. "I'm fine," she told him. "We'd better move. The temple is just beyond the edge of the trees up ahead." ============================================================ Temple of the Prophets Bajoran Forest Stardate 9803.30 The Vedeks were putting up a better fight than Glinn Evek thought they would. Unlike the religious figures he remembered from the Occupation, these Vedeks were trained fighters and they were armed. They were not the peaceful, non-violent people vedeks were supposed to be. As he and the mercenaries entered the temple, an alarm sounded and the Vedeks came out of their mediation with a vengeance. Grabbing up disruptors and long swords, they attacked with a ferocity Evek was not expecting...they weren't going to roll over and play dead like he'd hoped. The battle inside the temple raged. Three vedeks went down quickly, but the mercenary called Storvos soon met his maker as he was gunned down in a fight with another of the protectors of the Orb. The Orion, Mekual, killed another vedek and Krenna, the Bolian, managed to kill one, but not before he took a bad disruptor blast to the abdomen. Wounded, the Bolian crawled for cover, leaving Evek and Mekual to deal with the remaining five vedeks. Three of the holy men continued to shoot it out with the Orion and Cardassian, while the other two grabbed up the Orb in its box and headed out the back of the temple. "Evek to Team One," the Glinn said, tapping his comm-pin, "I've got two vedeks with the Orb heading out the south exit of the temple. Don't let them get away." END TRANSMISSION Subject: SO: Fearless/Jamie's Thoughts Ensign Jamie T. Marcus Bajoran Forest Stardate 9803.30 Jamie was disturbed at the bickering of the goup. '"This surely isn't good for the mission she thought." Still they had to go on. Trying to be as positive as she could, she said. "We'll be in a firefight soon, and we have to trust each other, now let's get down to business and kick some mercenary butt!" Unlike Tyrian, Kalahna trusted the Bajoran resistance fighters...especially Kalahna. Well, we'll see how they do in combat she thought. END TRANSMISSION Subject: SO: Fearless/Entering the Temple Lt. Commander Tyrian M. Summers Bajorian temple Stardate 9804.04 Tyrian and the rest of the team charged into the temple's front entrance per Commander Dyer's orders. A tricorder scan showed that the Orb was moving with two Bajoran life forms towards the southern exit of the temple, followed by an Orion and a Cardassian. But there was about ten more Cardassians headed towards that exit from the outside of the temple, the Bajorans were going to be ambushed!! Tyrian ordered the Brynaziir and Marcus to take the majority of the team around the outside of the temple in an attempt to flank the Cardassian team as they entered the temple. Tyrian took three Starfleet officers with him and headed towards the Orion and Cardassian who were in pursuit of the Orb. Tyrian and his team caught up quickly. The two Vedeks were pinned down behind some tall statues in a huge room on the bottom level of the temple. They were exchanging fire with the Orion and Cardassian on one side and the ten Cardassians who had entered from the southern entrance. The Vedeks were going nowhere, the Cardassians were slowly closing in on them, going from one statue to another. Then the rest of Tyrian's team came through the southern exit, led by Brynaziir. All hell broke loose in the huge room, phaser fire shot off everywhere in all directions. Suddenly, the room went dark as stray fire hit a power conduit on one of the walls, blowing it up. The room would get flashes of light through it as the phasers went off, giving mommentary illumination. Tyrian made his way towards the Orion who was hunched behind a statue not far from him. Tyrian shot him in back with his phaser rifle, before the Orion even knew he was there. The Orian's partner, a Cardassian was nearby and charged at Tyrian. Tyrian turned as he caught someone moving out of the corner of his eye, it was difficult to see as the only light was provided by someone shooting a phaser. The Cardassian fired several shots at Tyrian, who lunged out of the way behind another statue. Tyrian regained his balance and looked out behind the statue in the direction where the Cardassian had been........but he was not there. Tyrian got a sinking feeling in his stomach. He quickly turned his head, the Cardassian had managed to get come around the statue undetected in the darkness. Tyrian was in no position to shoot his rifle, he quickly hit the Cardassian's gun hand with the butt of his rifle, knocking both guns to the ground. Tyrian and the big Cardassian wrestled on the ground, rolling about. The Cardassian was well versed in combat, Tyrian could not get a hold on him or strike him as he blocked all Tyrian's blows. Tyrian managed to get up and distance himself from the Cardassian and drew his commando knife with a 10" blade. The Cardassian drew his own knife and smiled at Tyrian, and said "I have never lost a knife fight you foolish human." Tyrian dropped his knife to his left onto the ground, as the Cardassian looked in disbelief at the knife Tyrian quickly drew his handheld phaser and blasted the Cardassian in the chest. The Cardassian fell backwards with a look of stupor on his face. Tyrian looked down at he dying Cardassian and said, "You should never bring a knife to a gunfight". Tyrian picked up his rifle and turned to rejoin the battle waging in the big room. END TRANSMISSION Subject: SO: Fearless/Temple Fighters Lt. Thoraz Brynaziir Bajoran Temple Stardate 9804.07 Thoraz led the team as Tyrian instructed. When they rounded the corner the team saw a group of Cardassians about to take out two Vedeks, ...who were holding the Orb. Thoraz instructed the team to open fire and take out the Cardassians, but not the Vedeks. Meanwhile, Thoraz's face began to show signs of concentration as he tried to telepathically contact one of the Vedeks to inform them Starfleet was there to help without letting the Cardies know. He passed on the information the team had as well as what they learned from Kalahna. Thoraz hoped the Vedek believed the message, instead of thinking of it as a trap or something worse. ============================================================ Lt. Commander Vehakra Rhikal Bajoran Temple Stardate 9804.07 In the midst of the fight, Vehakra and Dyer broke away and pursued the fleeing vedeks who had the Orb. Both knew the Bajorans were likely headed into a trap outside. And sure enough, when they arrived at the back exit from the temple, they found the vedeks in a pitched battle with group of Cardassians. Vehakra and Dyer waited for the vedeks to seek cover behind a huge row of stone pillars, and then moved to join them. As they approached the two vedeks, they noticed the vedeks not only seemed aware they were coming...but welcomed them. "Thank the Prophets help has come," the elder Vedek said, panting to catch his breath as the Cardassians continued to barrage the pillars with disruptor fire. "A voice spoke to us in our heads just a moment ago. It told us help was on its way." Rhikal smiled as she moved up beside the vedeks and readied her pulse phaser rifle. That had to have been Thoraz communicating with the telepathically. Good move, she thought to herself. "Bajorans!" a Cardassian down below the temple shouted up. "Surrender the Orb and we shall let you live!" "They don't know we're with them," Veh exclaimed, glancing at Commander Dyer. Dyer nodded, "Get ready with your phaser. I'm going to toss a grenade." Veh watched as Dyer drew a grenade and armed it. She then counted to three and edged around the side of the pillar and saw three Cardassians making their way slowly up the marble steps to the exit of the temple. Seeing Veh, they fired, but she fired first, killing one and scattering the other two. Dyer followed with a grenade, which exploded on impact. The blast caught the first Cardassian and ripped him to shreads, while the other Cardie was knocked off his feet and went tumbling headlong down the stone stairs. "I would advise hanging back with us," Veh told the vedeks. "There could be more Cardassians in the forest." "Thank you," the elder Vedek said. "I am Vedek Kero Tyuvan, this is my aide, Vedek Olaan Detrest. We are the keepers of the Orb of Victory." "Nice to meet you," Veh said, as the figithing inside died down. "Let's wrap up in there...maybe this thing is finally over." END TRANSMISSION Subject: SO: Blue Squadron/T'Reija Departs for Fearless Lieutenant T'Reija Transporter Room, USS Retribution Stardate 9804.09 "Well, bye and take care of yourself," Haught just told T'Reija. She would miss him, him and Jeremy Johnson and Elocin Shea. They had only been together for a month, but even though she had never thought it would be possible for her, they had become... friends. But she was confident they would all meet again sometime, perhaps not in the next few months or years, but she was sure they would not part forever. T'Reija outstretched her hand and parted her fingers to the traditional Vulcan greeting. "Live long and prosper, Ryan." Then she stepped back onto the transporter platform, and nodded to the transporter chief. A second later she dematerialized. "Permission to come aboard?" T'Reija asked with a solemn voice. "Permission granted. Welcome on board of the USS Bantic, lieutenant." the young man replied. "If you will please follow me, I will lead you to your quarters." They walked silently. T'Reija had never thought a lot of small talk. As they arrived to the quarters, the man addressed her. "The Bantic will meet with the USS Fearless in exactly in 4.3 days." "Thank you, ensign." END TRANSMISSION Subject: SO: Fearless/Standoff Temple of the Prophets Bajoran Forest Stardate 9804.10 The fighting had stopped. A number of vedeks lay dead on the stone floor of the ancient temple. Among them were the bodies of an Orion male, a human male, a couple of Kalahna Jarnell's resistance fighters, and two dead Cardassians. The Shadow Ops unit from the Fearless stood around the temple, weapons lowered, and rested after the long fire fight. Vehkara and Commander Dyer soon reappeared from the rear of the temple, escorting an injured Cardassian along whom they'd disarmed and handcuffed. "This," Kalahna said, nudging one of the fallen Cardassians with her boot, "is Glinn Tovan Evek. He's a member of the elite Third Legion...Dukat's personal commandos. In fact, all of these spoonheads are likely from the Third Legion." "This means the Cardassians can be implicated in the attack here, and that won't sit well with the Dominion," Vehakra Rhikal commented. "We found this one below the temple. He was knocked off the stairs by our grenade. He appears to be the only survivor." "Who are these vedeks?" Summers asked, motioning to the two men with Veh and Dyer. "This is Vedek Kero Tyuvan, and his aide, Vedek Olaan Detrest," Dyer said. Everyone then noticed Kero carried the Orb, enclosed within its ornate box. "What about Vedek Abil Miran?" Thoraz asked. "He was the one whom we were supposed to get the Orb from." "Vedek Abil is among the Prophets," Kero confirmed. "He died last month. I was the next in succession among the vedeks to take responsibility for the Orb. Your intelligence on our organization was a little outdated." "And you'll join him real soon if you don't give me that Orb!" a voice echoed through the temple from nearby. Out from behind a stone pillar stepped Krenna, the Bolian mercenary. His was still clutching his side where he'd been shot in the battle. In his other hand, however, was a disruptor set on maximum...and it was aimed at Vedek Kero and his aide. "Everyone back off," the Bolian said, pain evident in his voice. "Give me that Orb, or this old man will be spending a lot of time among the Prophets!" Meanwhile... The Fearless hauls into orbit around Bajor cloaked... END TRANSMISSION Subject: SO: Fearless/Surrender Lt. Thoraz Brynaziir Bajoran Temple Stardate 9804.11 As soon as the Bolian appeared, Thoraz extended his mind, telepathically, and entered the mercenary's mind nonintrusively ... send calming, peaceful thoughts. He tried to make him relax, or at least be distracted. ============================================================ Lt. Commander Vehakra Rhikal Bajoran Temple of the Prophets Stardate 9804.11 Vehakra tensed as the Bolian appeared and aimed his disruptor at the vedeks. She could see he was wounded and becoming desperate. He was quite possibly the last of the force sent by Dukat to seize the Orb, and he knew it was over. "Put down the weapon," Vehakra shouted, aiming her own disruptor at the mercenary. She saw Kalahna Jarnell and the two remaining resistance fighters do the same. "It's over for you. There's no way you're getting the Orb and getting out of here." "Shut up!" Krenna snapped. It looked like he was becoming more confused and distracted, and then Vehakra could tell from the look on Brynaziir's face that the Betazoid might have something to do with that. It looked like he was concentrating on the Bolian, possibly filling his head with thoughts and ideas of surrender. "Look," Veh said, taking a couple steps toward the merc. "Just surrender. We promise you won't be harmed. But if you shoot either of these men, you'll be killed." Krenna shook his head. "Have to...complete the mission. Failure is not an option." "This Orb is not worth your life," Vehakra said. "Besides, why would you want to held the Cardassians win the war. That can't benefit you in any way." The Bolian shook his head and tears started to stream down his face. Thoraz must have really messed with this guy's head. "I...I can't. The Consortium will find me. I will be punished for failing." The Consortium? What the hell was that? Veh then remember Thoraz mentioning earlier that when he scanned the mercenaries mentally that it revealed they were contracted by Gul Dukat through a criminal syndicate known as The Consortium. Interesting, she thought. "If you persist we will kill you," Veh reminded him. Krenna took a couple steps back, looked around at all the weapons trained on him and finally dropped the disruptor. Kalahna and one of her soldiers stepped up and forced the Bolian to the ground, then began to secure him as a prisoner. Veh signed and turned to Commander Dyer, "Finally, one we didn't have to kill. Now, commander...can we wrap this thing up and go home?" ============================================================ Deep Space Nine Bajoran Sector Stardate 9804.11 Gul Dukat had been monitoring Starfleet and Klingon ship movements all day when he was suddenly summoned to operations by Weyoun. It was urgent. He set Benjamin Sisko's baseball down in its stand on the desk and walked out of his office into ops. He found Weyoun, the female Changeling who had recently arrived on the station to see Odo and Major Kira gathered around a sensor console. Behind Kira stood Demar, his aide, who looked rather irrate...as usual. "What is so urgent?" Dukat asked. "I thought you might like to know we think we may have a visitor," Weyoun said, sarcasm boiling over as he spoke. "Something set off one of our anti- proton beam emitters. We think it might have been a claoked ship of considerable size." "Perhaps the Klingons have sent a scout ship to have a look around," Dukat said. "Mobilize a patrol to have a look." "This mysterious ship was heading toward Bajor," Demar added. "Perhaps Major Kira knows why?" Kira rolled her eyes, "In case you've forgotten, Demar, Bajor is now an ally of the Dominion. We don't have contact with any outside worlds. How would we know if the klingons had sent a ship?" "How do we know its even a Klingon ship?" the Founder asked. "The Federation has some ships equipped with cloaking devices." Dukat smiled, "Maybe my old friend Sisko has come to try and liberate his station?" "The image we detected was not the Defiant," Weyoun said. "It was too big." "I can think of no reason they'd send a cloaked ship to Bajor," Dukat said, suddenly realizing there was a possibility Starfleet had learned of his little plan to take the Orb. If so, maybe they'd sent a ship to investigate, or to capture the orb a keep it away from him. "But...to be certain, I suggest we send an entire tactical wing to Bajor to investigate. Blanket the system with anti-proton beams and see what's out there." Kira suddenly shook her head, "No way. We may be friends now, Dukat, but there's no way Bajor wants that many Dominion or Cardassian ships parked in orbit or flying around the system." "But Major," Dukat began, then silenced by the Founder who waved him off with a sweeping gesture. "Send six Dominion ships to investigate," she ordered. "Increase our border patrols around the system and raise the station's shields to be safe." "Yes Founder," Weyoun said without hesitation. He bowed and set off for the nearest terminal to set to work. Dukat was going to say something, but decided not to. The Founder had spoken and that was all there was to be said. Instead, he told Demar to keep him abreast of what was going on and he returned to his office to begin destroying any evidence connecting him to the mercenaries and the Third Legion soldiers he'd sent to Bajor. END TRANSMISSION Subject: SO: Fearless/Departing Bajor Lt. Commander Tyrian M. Summers Bajor Stardate 9804.12 Tyrian took his hand off his phaser and secured his holster again. He had been ready to vaporize that Bolian, but unfortunately he surrendered before he had the choice. Tyrian was sure he could have gotten him before the Bolian could get a shot off. Team members secured the injured Bolian quickly. Then Tyrian heard a beep go off from his tricorder. He turned to Dyer, "Commander, the Fearless has just entered Bajor's orbit." ============================================================ Lt. Commander Vehakra Rhikal Bajor Stardate 9804.12 Vehakra joined Kalahna Jarnell outside the temple, on the great steps, while Michael Dyer negotiated with the vedeks about the Orb. "Why don't you come back with us?" Veh asked. "I'm sure Captain Sortha would be more than happy to reactivate your commission." Kalahna smiled and shook her head, "The war isn't over yet. There's no telling what we might have to do for Bajor yet." Veh smiled, "You aren't kidding anyone, Jarnell, you aren't here for Bajor as much as you are Starfleet. They sent you here to spy, didn't they? I'm only guessing because Bajor isn't occupied and the Dominion seems to be keeping its end of the non-aggression pact...with the exception of this little incident involving Dukat's people." "Yes. Starfleet asked me to come here and organize a group of resistance fighters," she confirmed. "But I'm here more because I feel I owe it to Bajor. This is my home." Veh thought about her own home and wished she could feel the same way about Orion. But she wouldn't blink an eye if her homeworld was invaded and occupied. With the exception of her family, she had no reason to want to see her people again...ever. In that, she felt envious of Kalahna Jarnell. "Well, I hope you and your group continue to do well," Veh said. "Stay out of trouble." "You know me," Kalahna smiled. "Send the captain my regards." "He'll love that," Veh said. "He thinks the world of you." "He's a big pussycat," the Bajoran said. "And you take care of yourself too...and good luck with Commander Dyer." Veh smiled. It was that obvious? She liked him and she was pretty sure he liked her, but did it show that much? Oh well, maybe they would soon find out if there was anything to those feelings or not. ============================================================ Commander Michael Dyer Bajor Stardate 9804.12 Dyer quickly concluded his business with the Vedeks. They were happy to have the Orb removed from Bajor until the war was over. The word of the Kai and the assurances of the Emissary were enough to convince them to relinquish the powerful relic. He instructed Tyrian to round up the two prisoners, then activated his sub- vocal communicator. "Are you ready Commander?" He asked. Everyone looked puzzled as they tried to figure out who he was talking to. "Ready Commander." The voice was Ki'lal's. "Energize!" With that the team and the prisoners were beamed onto the Vigilence. Dyer had signalled Ki'lal just before the fighting broke out to retrieve them in the runabout. "Tyrian, take our prisoners aft and secure them. Veh, open a channel to Kalahna." Dyer waited. "Go ahead Commander." "Thanks for your help Kalahna. We'll see you when this war is over. And assure the Kai, if you see her, that we'll have this in the hands of the Emissary tonight. Dyer out." Dyer then activated his sub-voc again. "Dyer to Sortha." "Go ahead Commander." "We have the Orb, we have the Vigilance. We'll rendezvous with Fearless once we're all safely inside Federation space." Then turning to Ki'lal, "Commander, take us home. Good work people." END TRANSMISSION Subject: SO: Fearless/Back Aboard the Fearless Commander Michael Dyer U.S.S. Fearless Stardate 9804.14 Fearless left Bajor's orbit with Vigilance close behind. Both ships narrowly missed detection by an intensive sweep of the sector by Dominion forces. A small group of ships had been sent from DS-9 to investigate what must have been anomalous sensor readings. But expert piloting by both crews made their escape possible. Now back in Federation Space, and onboard Fearless, Dyer had submitted his report to Captain Sortha, and met the Captain in his ready room. "I assume you have read my report Captain." Dyer began. "I have. What'ss on your mind Commander?" Sortha responded. "It's about Lt. Bryzaniir. I'm fully aware of what Starfleet regulation calls for, with respect to disciplinary action against such a breach of protocol." Dyer probably knew better than most people on the ship, with the exception of the Captain. He had after all been in Starfleet for 13 years, including the Academy. "But the truth is I don't really want him brought up on formal charges of insubordination. This unit is made up of very strong individuals, and, although I was upset by Thoraz's actions on the Planet, I have had some time to think about the entire situation. "I was just wondering if you had any suggestions about how to proceed. I think a formal reprimand in his Starfleet record citing the insubordination with extenuating circumstances would be prudent." "I'm not convinced of the necessity to mention the Telepathic activity." "What's your opinion sir?" Dyer waited while Sortha considered Thoraz's actions. A little later... Having concluded his discussion with Captain Sortha, Dyer left the bridge on the way to the forward lounge. "Computer," he asked, "locate Lt. Commander Rhikal." "Lt. Commander Rhikal is in her quarters." The computer replied. Dyer changed his direction and headed toward Veh's quarters. He chimed, and waited. Veh came to the door momentarily. Dyer noticed her beauty even more when she wasn't in uniform. "Hi." he began. "I was wondering if you would like to have dinner this evening?" She smiled and considered Dyer's invitation. ============================================================ Lt. Commander Vehakra Rhikal USS Fearless Stardate 9804.14 It was good to be home. Finally back on the Fearless after the mission to Bajor, Vehakra had gone to her quarters, cleaned up and changed into one of her black jumpsuits. Overall it had been a good mission. None of the team was killed, they had accomplished their goal of retrieving the Orb...nothing could be better, she thought. As she lounged around her quarters, relaxing, the door chime suddenly sounded. Veh got up off her couch and crossed the room to the door. When it opened, there stood Commander Dyer. "Hi." he began. "I was wondering if you would like to have dinner this evening?" Vehakra was surprised. She hadn't expected him to ask so soon after the mission. But, what the hell, she thought. There was no time like the present. "Sure," she smiled. "I'd love to." ============================================================ Lt. Thoraz Brynaziir USS Fearless Stardate 9804.14 Thoraz had prepared his statement for the Captain and Commander Dyer. He put his PADD down and reflected upon the mission and his role in Starfleet. He 'awoke' from his daydream when he realized Ki'lal was talking to him. "Thoraz? Are you alright? " "I'm fine ki'lal. Just thinking about facing the Captain, that's all. How are you doing, Ki'lal?" "As can be expected. A klingon should be in battle, not in support! If this disease prevents me from doing that, then what is my purpose being in Shadow Ops?" "We all have to weigh that question. We're not all Klingons, nor do we have the same motivations, but we all have to face that question. I can see at least one other member who is also struggling with the same question we are. Anyways, you did good under the circumstances, K'lal. I am proud to have served with you on this mission and all the others before. You served Honor well. As an objective observer of Klingon culture I am sure of that." After Ki'lal left Thoraz reread his report: 'Captain Sortha, Commander Dyer. Mission Report of Lt. Thoraz Brynaziir. While on the planet Bajor,, i took it upon myself to use my racial abilities of telepathy to secure valued information pertinent to our mission. I disregarded Starfleet protocols and procedures in doing so. In the same situation, I believe I would do exactly the same thing. I am presenting myself for disciplinary measures and I am prepared to face an official inquiry into my behavior. I undertook these actions on my own. No other officers conspired with me. The consequences, therefore, should be mine alone. I will add that I feel those actions, wrong, were the only appropriate actions necessary to fulfill the mission, in my judgement. I acted alone because I felt there was a need for urgency. Waiting to report my intentions and get approval might have wasted precious time and prevented us from completing the mission. This is what I thought at the time, and still do. Respectfully submitted, Lt. Thoraz Brynaziir.' "Well, I guess that says it all", thought Thoraz. "Gee, won't mom and dad be impressed? Kicked out of Starfleet for illegal use of my telepathic abilities. Oh well, there are other ways to fight for our freedom.' Thoraz once again became lost in his thoughts. ============================================================ USS Fearless Bridge Stardate 9804.14 The Fearless was out of Cardassian space and cruising back toward Starbase 374, the Vigilance safely back aboard and the crew in one piece. Captain Sortha sat in his command chair and watched reports rolling in from Starfleet. It seemed Starfleet was assembling a fleet of ships at Starbase 375...which was nearby, but not Fearless' destination. Given the proximity of Deep Space Nine and Bajor, Sortha could only guess where those ship would be heading...he wished to himself the Fearless was part of that task force. "Sir," Ian Quilman reported from his station. "Incoming transmission from the USS Defiant. They are outbound from Starbase 375 and will rendezvous with us in three hours. We are to hold position and await their arrival. Captain Sisko wishes to take possession of the Bajoran orb." Sortha nodded, "Acknowledge them. Bring the sship to full sstop." "Sir, also a transmission from the supply ship USS Bantic," Quilman continued. "They will rendezvous with us at these same coordinates in five hours. They ask if we'll wait. They have a new crew member aboard. A Lieutenant T'Reija." "Very well," Sortha said. "Remained cloaked and await the arrival of the two sshipss. I will be in my ready room." END TRANSMISSION