"A Separate Peace"
by Andra Marie Mueller

PART TWENTY-FIVE : 'The Plot Thickens'

SUMMARY : An unexpected ally offers assistance to the Federation.

See Part one for author's notes and disclaimer

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CARDASSIAN WARSHIP NIGHTSTALKER

"Explain to me again why we don’t just blow the Federation ships out of the sky and reclaim Terak Nor," Zoltav grumbled.

"Keep your complaints to yourself, Zoltav, or I’ll make certain you’re the first casualty of war," Dukat cautioned. "As soon as the rest of our fleet arrives, we will take the station."

"And then what? Sit back and watch while the Dominion lays claim to everything that should be ours?"

Dukat turned in his chair to face him. "Where is this sudden dissatisfaction with the Dominion coming from, Zoltav? Just a few days ago you were eager for them to help us overthrow the Federation."

"Tell me, Dukat; once this war starts, who do you think the Dominion is going to sacrifice first? The Jem’Hadar or their beloved Founders? I think not. I guarantee you that it is our people whose blood will be spilled into space while the Dominion assumes all the power."

"Why are you so sure that the Dominion is using us?" Dukat prompted.

"Because if they could win this war without us, don’t you think they would have already done so?" Zoltav prompted. "Evek and Ka’Tor are fools if they think we aren’t going to be subjected to Dominion rule just like the rest of this quadrant once they’ve used us to fight their war for them."

"If you’re so convinced this is a bad idea, why don’t you take a sentry ship back to Cardassia Prime and tell it to them yourself? Or better yet, we can beam you over to one of the Dominion cruisers and they can arrange for you to present your grievances to Weyoun."

"Was that a threat, Dukat?"

"Consider it a warning that if you continue to question my orders, I will transport you onto the Maquis ship and let them take care of you for me," Dukat retorted.

Zoltav shot him an angry glare but wisely refrained from responding, and Dukat returned his attention to his computer

 

U.S.S. DEFIANT

"Commander," Nog said. "We are being hailed by Captain Sisko."

"On screen," Worf instructed.

Nog ran a hand along his computer, and Sisko’s image flickered on.

"Mister Worf, we just received new instructions from Starfleet Command. The Tiberius is en route to DS9 to join the Excelsior in its defensive stance against our visitors. Once it arrives, you and Captain Janeway will take your ships through the wormhole and proceed directly to the coordinates following this message."

"Where are we going?" Worf prompted.

"The coordinates are the location of the Dominion’s main military base," Sisko explained. The Defiant and Voyager are to destroy the base and as many of the Dominion and Cardassians ships positioned there as possible. It is Starfleet’s hope that the destruction of the base will be a strong enough blow to the Dominion Fleet that they won’t be able to fight this war."

"A sound plan," Worf allowed. "It is also highly dangerous."

Sisko smiled knowingly. "Just your style, Commander."

"Aye, sir.’

"Captain Janeway will contact you when it’s time for you to enter the wormhole," Sisko replied. "Good luck, Commander. Sisko out."

 

An hour later, the Tiberius had arrived and positioned itself on the opposite side of the Defiant. After a brief final review of the plan with Sisko, Janeway contacted the Defiant.

"Janeway to the Defiant."

"Commander Worf here, Captain."

"Are you ready for departure, Mister Worf?" Janeway asked.

"Aye, Captain. We have locked in a course based on the coordinates provided to us by Starfleet Command and are ready to engage at your discretion."

"Excellent. We’ll ride in tandem until we get within a thousand kilometers of our destination, then I want you to initiate your cloaking device and engage the base from the port side. Voyager will attack from the starboard side simultaneously, and both ships will continue a sustained attack for as long as possible, which loosely translated means until we run out of weapons or they blow us out of the sky. Assuming it’s the former, once your arsenal is gone, set a return course for the wormhole and engage at maximum warp. We’ll be right behind you."

"What if one of our ships is disabled?"

"Than we transport as many crewmembers as we can onto the other ship and make a break for the wormhole. We can’t afford to slow ourselves down by attempting to tractor the crippled ship."

"Acknowledged, Captain."

"See you on the other side of the galaxy, Commander."

Janeway severed the transmission, than instructed Harry Kim to open a channel to the Cloud Dancer.

"Channel open, Captain," he announced after a moment.

"Janeway to Captain Darjenko."

"Go ahead, Captain," Darjenko responded.

"We’re about to head into the wormhole, Captain. I just wanted to extend my thanks for your assistance a final time before I go."

"I wish you luck with your mission. I am certain it will be a successful one."

"I hope so. In any event, when this is all over, get in touch with Admiral Bruce Morgan at Starfleet Command. He’s the person you’ll want to go through to ensure Starfleet adheres to its promises this time around, and he’ll arrange for you to present your request regarding your homeworlds to the Federation Council."

"Thanks for the tip," Darjenko replied. "I expect to meet your children when you return, Captain. Someone has to ensure they get an appropriate Maquis influence early on."

Janeway chuckled. "I’ll keep it in mind, Terven," she allowed. "Janeway out."

Janeway glanced at Cavit. "Well, Mister Cavit, if you’re a religious man, now would be a good time to pray," she suggested, "Because its going to take a great deal of divine influence to get us out of this alive."

"It will be worth it if our mission prevents or delays the start of this war," Cavit responded. "But I’ll send a few pleas in God’s direction just in case."

Janeway smiled, than the two assumed their seats in the center of the Bridge as Janeway addressed the helm.

"Lieutenant Stadi, take us through the wormhole, than proceed toward the Dominion base at maximum warp."

"Aye, Captain."

"With your shield or on it, Kathryn," Janeway muttered under her breath.

"Captain?" Cavit prompted questioningly.

Janeway afforded him a brief glance. "Just something my father taught me, Commander," she clarified. "When ancient Romans sent their sons into battle, they would offer a brief instruction: ‘With your shield or on it.’ The belief was that if the soldier were a coward, he would leave his shield behind when he ran from battle. If he were a true warrior, however, he would return from battle with his shield or be carried home on it to indicate he had died an honorable death."

"Hence the saying, ‘with your shield or on it’," Cavit surmised. "Very apropos, Captain."

"I try."

Shifting in her chair to again face forward, Janeway released a deep breath as she said a final, fleeting prayer in her mind as Voyager drifted toward the wormhole.

If you are listening, God, please watch over my children and these crews. I leave them in your care.

 

MALTA OBEX MAQUIS COMPOUND – YEVETHA SECTOR

On a large moon on the border of the Alpha and Beta Quadrants, Tom Paris was in a meeting with his Maquis comrades when B’Elanna Torres burst into the room. "I’ve got big news," she announced.

"What kind of news?" Paris prompted.

"The Freedom’s communications relay just intercepted a long-distance subspace message on one of Starfleet’s channels," Torres told him. "The Federation is about to go to war with the Dominion, and they’ve recruited the Maquis to help them ward off the invasion."

From beside Paris, a female Romulan named Rasara pressed, "The Maquis have realigned themselves with Starfleet?"

Torres nodded. "Apparently Terven has taken the Cloud Dancer to Deep Space Nine and is part of the defensive blockade to protect the station."

"I’d be interested know what kind of bone Starfleet could have tossed his way to convince Darjenko to even give them the time of day," Paris replied. "Did you get any other information from the message?"

"No; we only intercepted a portion of it."

"Commander," Rasara said. "You’re not thinking of taking the Fleet to Bajor, are you?"

Paris afforded her a brief glance. "It beats sitting around here waiting for the Federation to track us down," he responded. "Besides, if the Dominion wins this fight, we’re as good as dead anyway. We might as well take a few of them with us."

"So much for our freedom," Ean muttered to himself.

"B’Elanna, I want you and Jarias to have the ships ready to go in twenty minutes," Paris instructed. "I’ll round up the rest of our people and tell them what’s going on."

Torres nodded in acknowledgement and left the room as Tom turned to the others.

"Well, boys and girls, it looks like its time to pick up where we left off. Let’s go show our Starfleet friends how to kick Cardassian butt."

 

STARFLEET HEADQUARTERS

Nechayev was in her office finishing her notes for an upcoming meeting with the Admiralty when the door chime signaled the arrival of an unexpected guest. Nechayev bid her visitor enter, and Owen Paris strode into the room. "Admiral," he greeted. "Am I disturbing you?"

"Not at all," Nechayev responded. "What can I do for you?"

"I just came from a meeting with Bruce Morgan," Paris said. "He tells me that you’ve asked Internal Affairs to begin an investigation to uncover a suspected mole within the hierarchy."

"Yes. Someone has been feeding Edward Janeway confidential information, including details about our agreement with Captain Chakotay."

"That someone is me," Paris confessed quietly.

Nechayev’s eyes widened in astonishment. "You? Owen…why?"

"Edward and I have been friends for close to thirty years, and his daughter once served under my command," Paris reminded her. "I felt I owed it to both of them to alleviate his fears about her safety, and the only way to do that was to tell him the truth about Chakotay."

"Surely you didn’t throw away forty years of Starfleet protocol for the sake of friendship?" Nechayev prompted.

"Not entirely, no. It was also because I finally realized that the way we’ve handled the situation with the Maquis is a colossal disaster. If we had read between the lines sixteen years ago we would have realized the Cardassians had no intention of abiding by our treaty, and the Maquis would never have existed."

"I’ll grant you that we could have managed the situation in the Demilitarized Zone with a bit more aplomb, but you had no right to discuss Starfleet business with Janeway. He’s a civilian, Owen; he lost his security clearance when he retired five years ago. Combined with his own personal issues due to his daughter’s involvement, he was the last person you should have gone to with your information."

"Do you remember what Kathryn said to us the day we debated what happened at Cornellia?" Paris asked. "She said that there wasn’t a person in the room who had never let their personal feelings interfere with their professional judgment. She was right. My son is out there somewhere in the midst of this mess, and there hasn’t been a day that’s gone by when I haven’t let that knowledge affect how I do my job. It’s time I stopped pretending otherwise."

"I sympathize with your personal predicament, Owen, but quite frankly I wish you had come to me with it instead of leaking information to Janeway."

"I gave him the information as one father to another, Allyna, not out of any desire to spite Starfleet."

"I understand that," Nechayev conceded, "but it doesn’t change the ramifications of what you’ve done. Now more than ever we need Starfleet to present a united front to the rest of the Federation, but we can’t do that if we have to keep censuring our own."

"What do you intend to do?"

Nechayev sighed. "At the moment there’s nothing I can do," she said. "Our focus is on stopping the Dominion invasion. Once that’s accomplished, however, you’ll be brought before the Admiralty for a full review of your conduct. It will be up to them to decide your fate."

"My loyalty to Starfleet hasn’t changed, Admiral."

"It isn’t your character that concerns me, Owen; it’s your behavior. You violated your oath as an officer and the Admiralty’s faith in you. What kind of example does that set for the rest of the Fleet?"

"I’m sorry."

"So am I. Dismissed."

Paris wordlessly left the room.

 

DEEP SPACE NINE

Sisko was in his office staring out the window at the ships when the door chimed. At his invitation to enter, Dax walked into the room.

"Hello, Benjamin," she greeted. "Do you mind some company?"

"Not at all," Sisko replied. "Anything interesting to report?"

"No. The Dominion ships are still just sitting out there doing nothing."

Sisko sighed. "I’m getting rather tired of this little waiting game, Old Man," he said. ‘If they’re going to attack the station, why don’t they just get it over with?"

"You don’t mean that," Dax chided.

"Of course not, but patience has never been my strong suit."

"I’ve noticed."

Sisko afforded her a brief glance. "You seem to be holding up rather well considering Worf’s on his way to ground zero of this party," he observed.

Dax smiled. "Don’t judge a book by its cover," she replied. "Underneath this calm exterior, my stomach is doing somersaults."

Their conversation was interrupted by the beep of Sisko’s combadge, and Kira’s voice filtered into the room. "Kira to Sisko."

"Sisko here."

"Captain, we’re receiving an incoming transmission from the Orias System," Kira told him. "It’s coming from a Romulan ship."

"Romulan ship?" Sisko echoed. "Are you sure?"

"Yes, sir. It’s being sent by a Sub-Commander R’Vek."

"Put it through to my office, Colonel."

Sisko crossed over to settle himself behind his desk then turned on his computer, and R’Vek’s face filled the small screen. "Captain Sisko," he greeted. "Thank you for accepting my call."

"What can I do for you, Mister R’Vek?" Sisko prompted.

"My government is aware of your current situation with the Dominion," R’Vek began. "And I understand there is a trio of their ships threatening your station as we speak."

"Good news travels fast," Sisko said dryly. "With all due respect, Sub-Commander, I fail to see why that concerns you or your government."

"Oh, but it does, Captain," R’Vek returned with faint sarcasm. "You see, Romulus is perfectly happy with the truce we’ve maintained with your Federation for all these years, and quite frankly we don’t want to see the Dominion replace the Federation as the ruling faction in this quadrant. I’ve been authorized by my government to offer my services to help prevent the Dominion from invading your space."

Sisko was clearly skeptical and discreetly glanced at Dax, who merely shrugged. "We can use all the help we can get," she whispered.

Sisko glanced back at his monitor. "I appreciate the offer, Sub-Commander," he said evenly. "How soon can you be here?"

"I should arrive within the hour," R’Vek told him.

"Until then. Sisko out." Shutting off the computer, Sisko again glanced at Dax. "What do you think?"

"I think there’s more to R’Vek’s offer than his government’s sudden willingness to protect the Federation’s interests in the Alpha Quadrant," Dax replied. "They certainly weren’t overly distraught about our fate when they aligned themselves with the Maquis."

"Any theories as to R’Vek’s real motivation?"

"Given my past experience with Romulans I’d say he’s looking for revenge of some sort, but for who or what remains to be seen."

The door chime interrupted their conversation, and Sisko bade the new arrival enter. Bashir strode into the room, and flashed Dax a smile of greeting before addressing Sisko.

"Excuse the interruption, Captain, but I was in Ops when I overheard Colonel Kira relay the message from R’Vek. I don’t know what he wanted, but I should warn you that he’s trouble."

"I take it you’ve crossed paths with him before," Sisko deduced.

"Yes, sir. R’Vek was part of my Maquis contingent, and was constantly causing problems within the group by abusing prisoners and disobeying orders. Captain Chakotay kicked him off Cornellia and out of the Maquis after he assaulted Captain Janeway."

"The plot thickens," Dax remarked.

"Did he know you and Chakotay were really Starfleet?" Sisko queried.

"No, sir. Other than Commander Paris and Captain Janeway, no one else on the planet knew."

"How did Janeway find out?"

"Captain Chakotay told her."

"That’s no surprise," Dax interjected. "When it comes to honor, Dorvanians can give even Klingons a run for their money."

"Well it looks like we’re going to have to keep a close eye on our new benefactor," Sisko said. "In the meantime, let’s take advantage of his impending arrival. Dax, inform Colonel Kira of our ‘alliance’ with R’Vek and have her send the Maquis ship to assist our strike team in the Gamma Quadrant. I’d like to tip their odds of success a little more in our favor."

"Yes, sir."

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Part 26