‘Captain Tal, if I can proffer an opinion, I still think this is the most stupid stunt you’ve pulled to date. What if the other passengers notice what is about to happen.’

Tal pulled herself up to her full 2 meters in height leant on the edge of the console and slowly leaned towards the helmsman until her face rested only a few centimeters from his.

Got my timing wrong. As the thought passed through his mind, he waited for the verbal onslaught he knew was to come. It never arrived. Tal spoke quietly and firmly as if to an errant child.

‘You’re opinion is neither sought, nor appreciated. And as for the other passengers they all seem content with the explanation they have been given.’ Pulling herself away she turned her back on him and resumed her detailed examination of the viewscreen as if willing something to appear.

The planet filled the viewscreen, its blue oceans and lush green continents hidden behind heavy cloud cover as if it was deliberately hiding its beauty and vibrance from the observers.

Tal Narak gave an involuntary shiver and turned away from the screen. This waiting is getting to me. The longer we wait here in Cardassian space the more nervous I get.

Her helmsman raised his gaze from the control panel in front of him and studied her face, trying to gage her mood. They had worked together for a long time but Bajoran women could be inscrutable and nearly all of them seemed to posses volatile tempers. Judging when to voice an opinion was perhaps the most perilous task for anyone on Tal’s crew. The helmsman had judged the moment to be right, taken a breath and spoke out. - A bad judgment call. For now he just waited for his captain to speak.

‘Now send the subspace signal as agreed to let them know we are waiting and are ready to receive our cargo.’

‘I don’t think that’s necessary Captain. I think they are already here. I registered an energy distortion pattern just appearing across the planetary horizon.’

Tal’s gaze focused on the edge of the planet where it’s atmosphere blended into open space. Space shifted. Slightly at first and then a regular ripple appeared as something solid formed between the ship and the planet. From seemingly out of nowhere a large green vessel shimmered into existence. She had seen it many times before, but the sight of a Romulan Warbird decloaking always made Tal Narak nervous.

*****

Miles O’Brien rubbed his eyes, he felt tired and fatigued. For once this Cardassian scrap heap that had fallen under his care had behaved itself - a whole day when nothing had malfunctioned and he hadn’t even found anything new to tinker with. In short he was bored. Glancing down at his work station the chronometer indicated that he should only have another 10 minutes before he could join Keiko in Quark’s for a much needed drink.

Starting his customary visual check before going off duty, O’Brien gazed around Ops. Jadzia was at the science station deep in solving some esoteric problem. He heard a door hiss open and noticed Captain Sisko step out of his office onto the raised walkway overlooking Ops. However Sisko did not look up, his gazed remained fixed on the PADD he was holding.

"Major, what is the current status of the loading on the Docking Ring ?’ Sisko’s quiet but authoritative tones carried across the open space of DS9’s operations center.

Major Kira Neyrs turned from her work station and standing almost to attention gazed up at the space station’s commander.

‘60% loaded Captain, with 1 Bajoran Transport and 1 Vulcan Science Vessel due to depart in the next 2 hours. We also have an inbound Bajoran Transport requesting permission to dock.’

‘Well give them somewhere to lock onto?’

‘Already done sir. I have allocated Docking Port 6.’

*****

Odo was never really quite sure if he liked this part of his job as Security Chief. Waiting for a new load of passengers to arrive at DS9 held a dual fascination for him. Watching the never ending procession of people from all over the quadrant fascinated the Changeling, comparing shapes and features; while at the same time viewing everyone with suspicion and as a possible source of trouble added to his cynical nature - an aspect of his character of which he was not that proud.

The hiss of the door intruded into Odo’s thoughts. The door to Docking Port 6 rolled back and the passengers began to disembark. Mostly Bajoran, Odo noted to himself, and nothing special about any of them. His gaze however, did momentarily come to rest on one figure, a humanoid female whose features were obscured by a large hooded cloak. Then he heard a voice from behind him and his gaze shifted. It was the voice that he knew he would hear as soon as he’d seen this ship’s name on the docking register.

‘Nice to see you again Shape Shifter, been a long time.’

‘Not long enough.’ Replied Odo in his gruffest voice ‘and I hope you and your disreputable partner won’t be staying too long.’

‘I trust you’ll let me stay long enough to let my passengers disembark ?’ Odo felt Tal Narak’s arm slip around his shoulders as she leant towards him and whispered, ‘Don’t worry Odo, I’ll be out of your non-existent hair in less time than it takes you to melt into that pail of yours.’

Odo didn’t bother to reply, he just held out his hand for the PADD she was carrying.

*****

Quark scuttled down the bar serving several customers at once while simultaneously mentally tallying the previous nights takings and running a holosuite inventory. Then he saw her, a mysterious hooded female, just the sort of challenge no self respecting Ferengi bar keeper could ignore. And all thoughts of business left his head.

‘Welcome pretty lady to my humble establishment. I don’t believe that we’ve had the pleasure of your company before. What can Quark offer in the way of services for a weary traveler, a meal, a quick game of chance or some time in the best holosuites anywhere in this quadrant. Something for every race and taste.’

‘Just a drink’, came the seductive voice from deep within the folds of the hood. To Quark this was even more of a challenge.

‘Surely I can tempt you with something more than a simple drink ?’ his fingers began to stroke his earlobes and his crooked grin turned almost suggestive. ‘I could always be persuaded to offer a special discount.’

‘Just a drink.’ This time the voice was cold, a harsh voice that was used to being obeyed without question.

‘Certainly Madam.’ Quark was all business now, he knew when he had meet his match. ‘What will it be ?’

‘Tea, Earl Grey - Hot.’

Quark turned away muttering to himself. The tea materialized in the replicator in front of him, he picked it up, turned back and placed it on the bar in front of the deep dark hood. Except that the hood wasn’t here anymore. In preparation for her drink, the hood had been pulled back and instead of peering into its mysterious depths, Quark was face to face with a human female of undeniable beauty and strength. A face topped by a shock of short blonde hair that seemed to shimmer in the bar’s ambient lighting. But what held Quark’s gaze were the eyes. Piercing blue, ice blue, eyes that made his blood run cold.

******

The message crackled and died away as Jadzia-Dax tried in vain to boost the signal. The Trill Science Officer grimaced as all she managed to do was record the fleeting message. She keyed her communicator.

‘Dax to Sisko, Can I see you for a moment Benjamin ?’

The door to Sisko’s office opened and the Captain strode across to her work station.

‘What’s troubling you old man ?’

I think you ought to listen to this. I picked it up in a routine scan along the Cardassian border. I’m not sure if it’s genuine, but have a listen.’ She keyed the controls to play back the recorded message that had been troubling her a few seconds earlier.

‘This is the Cardassian vessel Kator calling any Cardassian vessels in the area of the Bajoran Wormhole. We have suffered a power systems breach and the singularity core is close to collapse. We require urgent assistance. We have already suffered heavy casualties and the situation is getting critical. We've only...’ the voice was clearly Cardassian and betraying uncharacteristic signs of panic.

‘This is Gul D'Alek of the Kryaton responding, what is your location?’ broke in a second Cardassian, this one full of authority.

‘Close to the Gamma Quadrant entrance to the Wormhole, but......’

‘Give me your exact co-ordinates Kator.’ But Gul D’Alek’s request was met only with silence and then static.

‘That’s all I got Benjamin.’

‘OK Dax, let's find out if this is for real. Open a channel to Gul D'Alek on the Kryaton.’

The Ops viewscreen shimmered into life before the two officers. The face before them bore all the familiar traits of a Cardassian commander, the ridges on his neck and face acting as if to emphasis his natural arrogance. Before speaking Sisko studied the alien commander on the screen in front of him, something seemed out of place, but he couldn’t quite grasp what it was. Gul D’Alek was everything you expected from a Cardassian commander, but there was something about his setting that didn’t fit with the normal bridge view of the type of Cardassian vessel that Sisko assumed the Krayton to be.

‘Gul D'Alek, I am Captain Benjamin Sisko of the United Federation of Planets on Space Station Deep Space Nine. We have intercepted the Emergency call from your sister ship in the Gamma Quadrant. We are prepared to provide whatever help we can in the way of medical services.’

‘Your offer is appreciated, but Federation help is not necessary. We will be in position to render assistance within a few hours.’ D’Alek’s reply seemed wrapped in mistrust as well as the usual touch of arrogance.

‘They may not have a few hours. We can reach them and have already started saving Cardassian lives before you arrive.’

Several seconds of silence greeted Sisko’s offer, until D’Alek replied. ‘Very well Captain Sisko, as the situation is urgent, we will reluctantly accept your offer.’

*****

The PADD lay on the desk in front of Odo. He was looking directly at it but not really seeing it. Since his run in with Tal Narak earlier in the day he’d found it difficult to concentrate on the administrative side of his duties. His thoughts where interrupted by a shadow falling across his work console. He looked up to see the object of his ruminations stood in front of him.

‘I was just thinking about you. Tal’

‘How touching. I always knew I was someone special in your life.’

‘Don’t flatter yourself.’

‘Oh Odo you do know how to wound a girl,’ Tal giggled ‘You’ll be a real heartbreaker someday. I came to tell you that, as you appeared interested in our arrival, we are now departing. I trust this news pleases you ?’

‘It's the best news I've heard all day. I trust you won’t be back ?’

‘Don't worry Odo; we'll be meeting again. Maybe sooner than you'd like.’

‘You’re just lucky that I’ve never been able to prove your collaboration with the Cardassians during the occupation nor any of your suspicious activities since. Just stay away from this space station Tal !

‘Temper, temper my little Shape-shifter. Be seeing you Constable.’ And she disappeared from Odo’s office as suddenly as she’d appeared.

*****

Miles O’Brien entered Quarks’ in a better frame of mind than he’d left Ops. Typically something had decided to go wrong just as his shift was due to finish and he’d just had to stay behind to check on the repair. Now he was late and could see Keiko sat at the back of the crowded bar waiting for him. Two drinks were on the table in front of her as she anxiously scanned the crowd for her errant husband..

Threading his path past the Dabo tables Miles O’Brien sat down next to his wife.

‘You're late.’ She admonished, but her tone indicated that she wasn’t too angry with him.

‘Why, on a day when nothing happened, do I always get delayed when I'm trying to go off duty ?’

‘Oh Miles, admit it you never find it easy to leave Ops, you’d sleep and eat with your head in an access panel if you could get away with it.’

‘As if you, or Molly, would let me.’ he smiled.

Keiko finished her drink with a light smack of the lips and placed the empty glass down on the table in front of her husband. Giving him the sort of smile that could only be read as a sign that she wanted another drink.

‘Kids give you a hard time at school to-day ?’

‘That Nog is enough to drive anyone to drink. I found out to-day that he is running a book on how many times I say "Really" !’

‘It'll be a flask of Romulan Ale for ye then?’ chuckled O’Brien over emphasizing his Irish brogue for comic effect.

‘Thank you, Miles, but ocha will be fine.’ came the sweet voiced reply.

Picking up the two empty glasses, Miles O’Brien headed towards the bar.

Among the many customers in Quark’s bar at that time, the one that still fascinated him the most was the mysterious blonde human woman. Although his charms had failed, there was still something about her that fascinated him. He couldn’t help keeping glancing in her direction. He told himself he was just being an attentive bar keeper - but there was something else.

‘Another Earl Grey when you are ready.’

The words where a request, but the tone was not. Quark knew an order when he heard one. He set to making the tea just as Miles O’Brien arrived at the bar. At least here was someone he could hold a civilized conversation with.

‘Quark, when you’ve got a second’ the Chief Engineer raised the two empty glasses.

‘Be right with you Chief.’

Quark suddenly leaned forward across the counter. Inclining his head towards the blonde he added in a conspiratorial whisper ‘What do you think she’s her for ?’

‘Just the drinks.’ Replied the disinterested Engineer, without even looking in the direction Quark had indicated. ‘ A green tea and a coffee; Jamaica blend, double strength, double sweet; thanks Barkeep.’

‘Some people have no sense of adventure.’

Placing the two drinks on the counter in front of O'Brien the Ferengi snorted in disgust ‘One green tea, one coffee. I'll never make a profit off you people’ He paused as if some straight thought had crossed his mind, then added. ‘Has Mrs. O'Brien mentioned how that nephew of mine is getting on in school ?’

O’Brien smiled to himself remembering Keiko’s remarks about the young Ferengi and his betting pool. ‘Yes.’

The bang of a glass being forcibly slammed onto the counter top caught their attention.

‘Thank you bar tender’ said the mysterious blonde.

Quark and O’Brien both immediately turned their gaze to stare after her.

‘She’s a strange one’ noted the Ferengi. But O’Brien wasn’t listening, now he was paying attention to the blonde woman, his cup of coffee was half raised towards his mouth, but it never completed the journey as his voice forced out a strangulated whisper ‘Sela !’

******

Odo stared at the ceiling of his office as if expecting it to divulge the secrets of his long time opponent. ‘What is she up to ?’ he thought out aloud.

‘I was wondering the same thing.’

Odo was startled to hear Chief O’Brien’s voice as he hadn’t notice him enter the office. Twice in one day thought the security officer, there was a lot to be said for squeaky doors. I must fix a sensor to the doorway.

‘I didn't realize that you knew Captain Tal Narek.’

‘Who ? I don't.’ replied O’Brien ‘I'm talking about Sela.’

‘Who ?’ responded the confused Constable

‘Commander Sela’ and when Odo didn’t react O’Brien added ‘of the Romulan Empire.’ That small addition had the desired effect, thought O’Brien. Odo is suddenly interested.

‘I think that you had better explain Chief.’ Said Odo indicating the chair on the opposite side of his desk.

As he sat down the Chief asked ‘Before I make a fool out of myself can I have a look at a list of any female humans that have arrived on DS9 in the last 24 hours ?’

Odo ran the request through his console..

‘Just the three indicated here’ then glancing around he spotted the Tal’s Bajoran PADD, picked it up and passed it to. O’Brien ‘ and one on the latest Bajoran Transport to dock.’. He handed the PADD to the Chief

‘ "Selina Yar" - How dare she.’ The normally placid Chief Engineer suddenly raised his voice and thumped the desk. ‘HOW DARE SHE !’

‘Calm yourself Chief.’

‘What's all this about, Chief ?’ came the voice of Major Kira from over O’Brien’s shoulder. Damn, thought Odo, that’s three times. But O’Brien ignored the station’s second in command and concentrated on the Security Officer sat opposite him.

‘Which transport ?’ demanded the agitated Chief, ‘I want to talk to the Captain. Find out where she boarded.’

‘Captain Tal has already departed.’

‘Who boarded what ?’ asked Kira becoming intrigued as to what would inflame Miles O’Brien so much and also involve the station’s constable.

‘Sela is here on DS9.’

‘Who’s Sela ?’ asked the confused officer.

‘That's what I've been trying to find out.’ Shrugged Odo.

*****

‘Come on Doctor ! Grab what you need and get a move on !’ shouted Sisko through the open doorway of DS9’s infirmary. The harried form of Dr. Julian Bashir emerged with a medical kit and various bags slung over his shoulders. Fresh of the wall tennis courts his flushed look was a combination of physical exertion and embarrassment at being caught unprepared.

‘That should be enough.’ The young Doctor announced ‘Come on Captain what are we waiting for ?’

‘You, Doctor.’

Sisko and Bashir turned and hurried down the corridor, on the way they passed the figure of a human woman draped in a traveling cloak. Neither officer taking much notice, except that the young Doctor with an eye for the ladies couldn’t help but make a mental note of the stunning blonde hair.

As Sisko and Bashir passed, the woman slowly turned her head and watched their departing backs. A smile crossing her lips And so, it begins...

*****

‘…. And that’s about it until I saw her sipping tea in Quark’s bar.’ Concluded O’Brien leaning back in his chair. Kira stayed silent as she studied Sela’s records on the terminal screen in front of her. Odo also leant back and gazed at O’Brien as if pondering whether to believe the fantastic tale he’d just heard. Nobody said anything for several seconds until Kira turned away from the monitor and looked directly at O’Brien.

‘That’s one hell of a story Chief.’

‘And you believe she poses a threat to the security of this station ?’ asked the constable.

‘Damn right I do !’ replied the engineer his accent getting thicker as he became more agitated. ‘She isn't here for the good of her health, or just to sample Quark's Tea making skills. Detain her for God's sake and find out what she is up to.’

‘ "Selina Yar" hasn't done anything wrong. What grounds do I have to detain her Chief ?’ asked the Security Officer.

‘ Odo, she isn't Selina Yar ! Can't you detain her for booking passage in a false name ?’

‘If I did that the security cells would be overflowing.’ Odo laughed, ‘I'd have to detain half the people who come through this station.’

‘ I don't think this is a laughing matter, Constable.’ Interjected Kira.

‘ Neither do I Major.’ Replied Odo feeling just a touch of admonishment.

‘If this woman truly is who the Chief says she is.’ Continued Kira, ‘She is dangerous and ruthless.’

‘ SHE IS !’ O’Brien almost shouted, ‘ Why don't you believe me.’

‘ I'm not saying I don't Chief.’ Odo waited for O’Brien’s temper to subside before carrying on. ‘But admit it; you came in here after catching a brief glimpse, in a crowded bar, of a woman that you've never met. In fact you have only ever seen her on a viewscreen ... and that was over three years ago. I think the phrase is "circumstantial evidence". Now get me some real evidence and I'll act.’

Kira’s gaze switched from O’Brien to Odo. ‘What sort of evidence ?’

‘Like getting her to admit that she is a Romulan in front of witnesses.’ Odo added, ‘And then she becomes a genuine security risk and I can detain her.’

‘ Come on then lets go ask her.’

‘ Ask her what ?’ said Kira.

‘ If she's Sela.’ Explained O’Brien.

Odo explained the obvious ‘First we have to find her.’

‘ No problem,’ explained O’Brien as if sharing a secret. ‘Keiko has been following her since I spotted her in Quark's.’ His hand went to his uniform and activated the communicator.

‘ Keiko where is she ?’

*****

‘I lost her for a while, Miles.’ Admitted the school teacher in response to her husband’s question. ‘But she's shopping on the Promenade at the moment.’

Hidden in the shadow’s Keiko O’Brien looked out across the Promenade towards the row of shops and stalls owned and operated by a myriad of races offering goods and services from twice as many worlds. Starfleet assumed that Operations was the center of activity on DS9, but all it’s inhabitants really knew that this is where anything of real significance happened.

Just as Keiko spoke the unmistakable figure with the short blond hair moved onto a stall operated by a Klingon of dubious ancestry, well known for his dealing in stolen artifacts.

*****

‘.......honestly Captain, this is a complete unknown for me.’ Indicating the vast array of containers behind him , each adorned with the caduceus of Starfleet Medical services, Julian Bashir sounded like he was desperately trying to justify why he had overloaded the Runabout Ganges and delayed their liftoff from DS9 - which is exactly what he was doing. ‘Starfleet Medical may have extensive knowledge of Cardassian physiology, But I don't.’

‘You do not need to explain, Doctor. Just ensure that next time we are required to answer a medical emergency, you are better prepared.’

‘Yes Captain.’ The admonished Doctor sat staring out of the shuttle’s window watching the awesome spectacle of Bajor’s stable wormhole opening in front of them, trying to decide if he should carry on the conversation. This wasn’t the time for his normal light bed side manner type banter, better stick to business.

‘Do we have any idea of the number of casualties and the nature of their injuries ?’

‘The message was distorted and only mentioned a request for medical assistance, ‘ responded Sisko, ‘though I can't imagine that they will be too pleased to receive it from The Federation.’

‘Help for the wounded and dying is universally accepted - I hope.’

Sisko’s voice betrayed a suggestion of laughter as he responded to the young medical officer’s eternal optimism. ‘Your confidence in the Cardassian’s gratitude is refreshing Doctor, but I doubt....’

The cabin was suddenly filled with the over-riding, yet disturbingly familiar sounds of a systems alert. Deep inside the wormhole with it’s multicolored kaleidoscopic environment enveloping it, the Federation runabout known as "Ganges" came to a sudden and complete halt.

Like a becalmed naval ship of old, it hung dead in space.

From within the gloom of the cabin came a voice mixed with the conflicting emotions of trepidation and excitement. ‘Well Captain, what is it ?’

‘You're guess is as good as mine on this one Doctor.’ Sisko was examining the blank consoles in front of him his profile illuminated by the ship’s emergency lighting and the electro-static discharge from within the wormhole. ‘I can only guess that it might be connected to the area of sub-space distortion we registered outside the wormhole. It may have affected the runabout's systems in some way. Switch in the Auxiliary Power.’

‘Auxiliary Power on line Captain.’

‘Now let's find out what the problem is. Running a Level 5 diagnostic.’

The tension in the runabout cabin rose as the two officers spent a few uncomfortable seconds waiting for the on-board computer to complete it’s task. In fact the answer was almost instantaneous.

‘Level 5 diagnostic complete. Port Warp Nacelle is experiencing a breakdown in the containment field.’

‘Computer, how long till full containment breach ?’

Remarkable how calm the captain sounds, despite the stress levels. Thought the Doctor.

‘Two hours and 20 minutes.’ continued the calm female voice of the ship’s computer. Bashir began to wonder who the woman was. There was a rumor that she was the wife of Starfleet’s founder….

‘Communications ?’ The captain’s question interrupted his train of thought.

‘Off-line.’

‘Wonderful.’ Muttered the young physician with an air of sarcasm; ‘The perfect end to a perfect day.’

*****

‘What do you call this ?’ demanded the blonde woman as she waved some sort of artifact under the nose of the Klingon stall keeper who was easily twice her height. Despite the size difference it was obvious to the observing Keiko who was the dominant character in this exchange.

‘It is the best example in this quadrant. If you cannot appreciate it then maybe I'll sell it to a customer who can.’ Responded the Klingon though gritted teeth - in a less than convincing manner. Despite their love of Opera and Shakespeare, Klingons were not natural thespians.

‘If you can't show me better, I will not honor you with my business.’ Unseen by Keiko O’Brien the blonde woman handed back the artifact along with several bars of latinum. Dropping her voice to a whisper she added ‘Here is the first half, if your information on the Federation Runabout was accurate, the House of Duras will receive the balance after I confirm the success of this mission.’ Turning on her heels the woman strode off down the Promenade in the direction of Quark’s Bar.

Behind the concealed school teacher a turbo-lift door opened and, accompanied by Odo and Major Kira, Miles O’Brien stepped out to join his wife.

‘Are you all right, my love ?’

‘Fine, thank you Miles." Keiko pointed towards the figure moving towards Quarks, ‘She's over there.’

‘Thanks, ‘ Odo said ‘We'll take it from here.’

‘No, I want to take her in.’ protested the Chief Engineer

‘I think that you're too involved, Chief.’ added Kira, ‘Odo and I will handle it.’

After looking to his wife for guidance he agreed. ‘OK, Major.’

The Security Officer and the station’s second in command set off at a brisk pace trying to catch up with the blonde woman before she entered the crowded bar. Getting to within a few feet of her, Odo raised his voice and called a name.

‘Selina Yar ?’

The figure carried on walking for a few paces without reacting, as if the name had no meaning to her. Then as the significance of what she’d heard dawned, she stopped and slowly turned to face the two pursuing officers.

‘How may I help you, Constable; and you, Major ?’

‘You are Selina Yar,’ asked the constable, ‘ recently arrived on a Bajoran Transport ?’

‘Yes. Is there a problem ?’

‘It's rare for a human to arrive on DS9 via Bajor.’ Noted Odo.

‘ Even rarer for a Romulan.’ Added Kira

The blonde woman assumed as mask of innocence, proving that her acting skills where far greater than those of her Klingon compatriot. ‘I beg your pardon Major, I'm sorry ... I don't follow you.’

‘I think you do Ms. Yar ... or should I address you as Commander Sela of the Imperial Romulan Forces ?’

This was a formal challenge , and no Romulan officer would avoid a formal challenge. Commander Sela of the Romulan Secret Service drew herself to attention and gracefully bowed in the direction of Kira and Odo. With this wordless acknowledgment of her true status she stepped towards them.

*****

‘Any luck, Chief ?’ Dax’s question hung over Ops for a few seconds without getting any response. ‘Chief ?’

The recently returned Chief Engineer looked up from the console where he had been engrossed in studying something for the last few minutes.

‘Something is definitely not right with the Cardassian distress call, Lieutenant. I can't quite place it. There is a wave form signature underlying the message that appears to be a mix of Cardassian and something else. I'm trying to isolate the other wave form.’ Suddenly his expression lightened as a thought occurred to him. ‘Have the Commander and Dr. Bashir arrived yet; maybe they can help solve the mystery ?’

‘No let’s give them a call.’ Turning to her console the Science Officer ran her hand over the Cardassian built controls. ‘DS9 to Captain Sisko.’

Dax's message was met with silence. Glancing at O'Brien she hailed the Runabout again. This time her voice betraying the beginnings of concern.

‘DS9 to Ganges, can you hear me Benjamin ?’

Dax quickly ran a sensor sweep to confirm the location of the Ganges and the damaged Cardassian ship.

‘They're not there ! Neither the Runabout, nor the Cardassian ship. The Ganges definitely entered the Wormhole but there is no indication that it ever came out.’ Reanalyzing the scan results Dax became puzzled. ‘That shouldn't be there.’

‘We've got trouble.’ Miles O’Briens’ comment floated across Ops.

Dax nodded in agreement, ‘I know the Commander and the Cardassians appear to have disappeared, but all I have to show for it is a sub-space distortion near the Wormhole.’

‘ It wasn't a question’ countered the Chief Engineer and added as if in explanation, ‘that underlying wave form.’

‘Yes ?’ responded Dax as she waited for the rest of the explanation.

‘I've isolated it, and’ O’Brien paused just long enough to make it seem like he was doing it for dramatic effect, ‘it's Romulan in origin.’

*****

Doctor Bashir sat in the left seat of the Runabout Ganges trying to monitor the instruments and watching them flicker on and off. All that could be seen of his commanding officer was the lower half of his body, his head and shoulders being pushed through an open access panel.

‘They keep flickering on and off Commander, I don't think it's working.’

‘Thank you for the vote of confidence, Doctor.’ Came the muffled response.

Suddenly a gush of pressurized gas shot out of the access panel around Sisko's shoulders. Horrified the Doctor watched as Captain Sisko collapsed backwards onto the Cabin floor.

An alarm sounded.

It was followed by that damn woman’s voice as the computer added ‘Field breakdown accelerated. Containment breach will now occur in 45 minutes.’

‘Come on Commander, a little blast of coolant shouldn't keep you out for too long.’ Bashir gently shook Sisko. With a groan the Captain slowly woke up and propped himself up on his elbows. Without a word he staggered back on to his knees and crawled back to the access panel picking up a discarded hand probe on the way. With a slight grin playing across his usually emotionless face he looked over his shoulder at the young physician.

‘Now, where was I ?’ , and with that his head and shoulders once more disappeared into the open access panel to be followed by a muffled ‘That's it, the coolant conduit junction.’

Julian Bashir sat back on his haunches, feeling particularly useless. With nothing else to do but wait he began to gaze around the cabin of the disabled runabout. His gaze passed over the stacked crates of medical equipment and held. In contrast to his commanding officer, the Doctor’s emotions usually played openly across his features, and this time was no exception as a huge grin developed. I wonder. Could I ? Should I ? Come on Julian; it won't work. On the other hand it might. But I haven't got the skills, it would need Chief O'Brien, but then what have we got to lose ?

As the thought raced through his mind Bashir suddenly leapt towards the containers, opening them in a frenzy, pulling out various pieces of medical equipment and assorted power packs. To anyone watching it would have appeared as if he had started to lash them together in a haphazard many.

 Hearing the noise, Sisko pulled his head clear of the access panel, and turns to look at the Doctor with a stare of astonishment.

‘Doctor, try and be helpful, messing around with Medical Kits isn't going to contribute much to us getting out of this situation.’

Ignoring Sisko's comment, Bashir smiled and returned to his construction.

*****

Walking through DS9’s security area, Constable Odo and Major Kira Neyrs walked towards the rearmost cell. En-route the Security Officer looked at the prisoner, as he often did, trying to gage her emotional state from her body posture and her reaction to confinement. But this particular prisoner was giving nothing away. She was lay back in a very relaxed attitude her head resting on hands folded behind her head.

‘Commander Sela, may we have a few words with you ?’

Kira was stunned at Odo’s polite inquiry, ‘By the Prophets Odo, don't you know who this woman is ? Why be so damned polite ?’

‘ A little civility can go a long way towards easing a tense situation, Major.’

Swiveling herself around to sit on the edge of the cot, Commander Sela of the Imperial Romulan Forces, looked back at the pair of Bajoran officers in front of her, although one, while wearing a Bajoran uniform, was obviously not Bajoran by birth.

‘You are so correct Constable. I take it from your looks that you are the Metamorph ?’

Odo bowed his head in silent acknowledgment.

‘It must be a supreme advantage for a law enforcement officer ?’

‘It helps.’ Odo agreed.

‘ Enough of the repartee Odo,’ Kira interjected, ‘ just find out what she is doing here.’

‘ A little shopping.’ Came the smart reply from within the cell.

‘ Don't play cute with me you Romulan ......’,

Responding to Kira’s challenge, Sela stood up and walked right up to the edge of the holding cell’s force filed almost in open defiance of its existence.

‘And you are beginning to get on my nerves, Bajoran !’ The hatred between the two women was almost palable. ‘And as for what I'm doing here, that's simple: I'm here to destroy your precious Wormhole.’

‘ How ?’

‘ By destroying a ship deep within the vortex of the Wormhole itself; thereby causing the anomaly to collapse.’

‘ There’s no trace of any Romulan vessel having entered the Wormhole.’

Sela’s expression changed to a cold icy smile and her tone became almost patronizing. ‘Why risk Romulan lives, when I could use a Federation ship and let you do it for me.’ This revelation was followed by a pause, then Sela’s smile widened as she asked, ‘By the way where is the Runabout designated "Ganges" at the present time ? ‘

Kira’s reaction was immediate. ‘Captain Sisko !’

‘A Federation Captain as well’ murmured the Romulan ‘ - how sweet. An unexpected bonus.’

*****

‘Containment Breach in 20 Minutes.’ The computer on the Ganges continued its relentless countdown.

‘Computer, inform me when the time reaches Ten minutes, otherwise keep quiet.’ Muttered Sisko, Damn that voice I’m trying to concentrate. Suddenly he felt a tap on his shoulder.

‘ I think I can help Captain.’ came the Doctor’s voice. ‘Please move aside.’

‘This had better be good Doctor, I can't afford to lose any time.’ As he withdrew his head from the access panel opening, Sisko turned and looked at the Doctor. He stared at the mass of equipment and wires that Bashir was holding. It appeared to be about the size of a human leg and was roughly cylindrical in shape, but its original shape and purpose had been hidden below a variety of power packs and odd circuits cannibalized from various pieces of equipment which now lay scattered around the runabout’s floor.

‘ What the hell is that Doctor ?’

‘ Well Commander,’ started the Doctor as if addressing a class of medical students, ‘ it started life as a basic issue Portable Medical Containment Field Generator used for immobilizing the broken limbs of severely traumatized patients until they could be transported to a full medical facility.’

‘As neither of us have broken anything ... yet; How is it going to help us now ?’

‘By patching in the various power packs from the other equipment,’ continued the Doctor warming to the opportunity to explain his ideas to a captive audience, ‘ and cross matching their phase converters, I believe I have boosted the potential sufficiently to slow down the containment breach. It won’t repair the damage to the nacelle or even get us home, but it may just buy us some more time ... I hope. I was never that good at engineering.’

Pointing to the open access panel, Sisko looked at the young medical officer, who never ceased to amaze the veteran commander. ‘ What are you waiting for Doctor, get in there.’

‘ Yes Sir’.

*****

Dax was still leaning over her monitoring equipment in a frantic, yet controlled search for the Runabout. O’Brien walked over to Dax. ‘Have you located the Commander and Julian yet ?’

‘ No’

‘ Try the Wormhole.’

‘I've looked Miles, they didn't come out.’

‘ Have you looked inside the Wormhole at the Vortex itself ?’

Following the Chief’s line of thought, Dax exclaimed. ‘Of course if we launch a remote probe into the Wormhole. We may be able to use its scanners as it goes through the Vortex.’

On the viewscreen the operations staff watched as the stable Bajoran wormhole flashed into existence to enable the probe to enter. No matter how many times they witnessed this splendid act of nature it always impressed them.

The first to pull his gaze away from the spectacle was the always practical Chief Engineer who was soon analyzing the probe’s readings.

‘I've got them,’ he exclaimed but the joy in his voice soon turned to concern. ‘and they've got trouble. The Runabout’s energy signature indicates an imminent Warp Nacelle Containment breach. I’d say they’ve got 5 minutes at the outside.’

*****

 The Runabout Rio Grande lifted off from the docking ring, rising above DS9 it turned towards the Wormhole. Instead of observing it from Ops, the crew of the runabout experienced the opening of what the Bajorans called "The Celestial Temple" close to. To the observers left on the space station the little craft soon disappeared from view and all that was left was cold space.

The view from inside the Rio Grande was very different, all around it the kaleidoscope of colors continued as they traveled down the mysterious conduit linking the Alpha and Gamma quadrants of the known galaxy. But they had no time for sightseeing as in front of them floated the Runabout Ganges. Even at this distance it was obvious that the Warp Nacelles where dead, but O’Brien was relieved to see lights shining through the cabin windows.

*****

‘Are you sure about this Doctor ?’

‘Well it should work,’ smiled Bashir, looking straight at Sisko ‘ in theory anyway.’

‘ You haven't tried this before then ?’

‘ Well, not exactly. In fact I've never looked inside a Runabout access panel before. Interesting isn't it? You know the concepts of engineering aren't really that far removed from physiology, and.....’

The Doctor’s second impromptu lecture was curtailed as Sisko pointed out the containment stream emanating from the jury-rigged device was starting to waver.

‘It doesn't look too stable Doctor.’

‘It's only designed to stabilize trauma patients, not fix Runabouts. It won't hold much longer. What we need is an engineer.’

The familiar hum of a transporter filled the cabin of the runabout and from the golden light materialized the figure of Miles O’Brien complete with his ever present case of tools.

‘ Right on cue...’ whispered Bashir before turning to his friend and sometimes tennis partner, ‘We were just talking about you Chief.’

‘Only good things I hope Julian. What's the situation Captain ? The Port Warp Nacelle containment appears to be breaking down.’

‘Cause unknown at the moment Chief,’ responded Sisko, ‘though we did detect a sub-space anomaly before entering the Wormhole, I don't know if it affected the systems.’

‘ Try Romulan Sabotage.’ added the O’Brien darkly.

‘ Romulan ? Care to explain Chief ?’

‘ Let me get you out of here first. How long have we got ?’

‘ About 3 minutes, we've managed to slow the breach to some extent with this.’ Sisko gestured to the maze of equipment protruding through the open panel.

‘ I don’t know what you did but it seems to be working. It seems I may soon be out of a job.’

‘ Actually you will have to congratulate the Doctor, this was all his handiwork.’

‘ I am impressed Julian.’

‘See I told you that Engineering extension course would prove useful one day.’ smiled the Doctor.

O’Brien arrived at the open hatch looking at the strange device with renewed admiration.

‘OK Julian you've proved your point in spectacular fashion, but you can switch your creation off now.’

With the containment stream deactivated O’Brien squeezed his head and shoulders into the access panel.

‘Well Chief ?’ inquired the Captain stood anxiously behind him.

Withdrawing his head O’Brien turned towards Sisko and just smiled.

*****

The remaining Ops staff watched the viewscreen with concentrated stares as if willing the two runabouts to appear.

Space shimmered and then exploded into the familiar kaleidoscope of colors as the Wormhole opened. A runabout appeared over the event horizon trailing the blue effect of a tractor beam. Riding on the end of this energy lifeline was the second shuttle. The two small craft continued towards DS9 and home as the hole in space closed behind them.

A cheer went around the space station’s control center. But to the few staff members still watching the viewscreen, things looked far from normal. Space continued to shimmer.

Suddenly the shuttles were no longer visible, for between them and the station sat the menacing presence of a decloaked Romulan Warbird.

*****

The green bridge of the Romulan ship looked like the bridge of any other Warbird with one notable exception. The Commander’s chair was empty.

Despite the absence of their leader the crew continued to operate smoothly and efficiently, impressing the figure watching from the shadows at the back of the bridge. The Security Officer broke the silence.

‘ Transporter ..... Now !’

A minute passed before the door opened and the ship’s commander stepped onto the bridge.

Barely holding her temper Sela settled herself into the vacant chair.

‘ Let’s get out of here.’

The figure stepped forward out of the shadows. Gul D’Alek smiled the sickening almost reptilian smile of a Cardassian.

‘ So much for your famed Romulan planning.’