Chapter
Six – Bright lights
“The San Marino’s shields are failing and the Cardassians are coming around for another attack.”
“I see it.” Dar stared into his holographic display and allowed himself a small smile. One of the Cardassians was hanging back, ready to deter the Valkyrie. That was just what he had hoped for. “Tactical.”
“I am on it, Sir. Adjusting firing pattern now.”
“Good.” Dar let his approval show in his coldly-satisfied voice. “Rishana, take us out of warp and go to full impulse. Tactical, fire when ready.”
“Yes, Sir,” two voices replied in unison
The Valkyrie dropped under warp and ten specks of light shot from her torpedo launchers at the waiting Cardassian cruisers – six in the first salvo, followed by four more half a second later.
The Cardassians were ready – shields raised, evasive maneuvers prepared, patterns for coordinated return fire programmed into their tactical computers. But they were not ready for what headed their way.
The first salvo split up, three missiles aimed at each Cardassian cruiser, their guidance systems not even trying to compensate for most of the evasive maneuvers. Close-proximity explosions showered the Cardassian’s with hard radiation that was easily stopped by their shields but blinded their sensors for a brief moment.
A moment long enough for the second salvo to do its job. Four missiles that were anything but photon torpedoes slowed down and started emitting false sensor signals. The Valkyrie caught up with the probes and together they closed in on an enemy suddenly confronted with five targets where they had expected only one.
Dar Enikal knew that his advantage would only last a few seconds, but the Valkyrie’s primary torpedo launcher still held four missiles. “Fire torpedoes. Helm, maximum impulse, attack pattern Omega Four. Go for his port side.”
The Valkyrie’s targeting sensors were still half-blinded by the first wave of torpedo explosions and the Cardassian cruiser evaded all but one missile, but any plans for a coordinated attack on the Federation ship had fallen apart.
Gul Okora’s Degor returned fire with her own torpedoes, and a second later her sister ship followed suit. Two decoys were destroyed instantaneously and the Valkyrie took two direct hits, but then the range had closed.
Half a dozen phaser blasts stabbed at a Cardassian cruiser as the Valkyrie made her high-speed pass. She was out of phaser range again within seconds, now aft of the Cardassian cruiser that tried its best to turn around and bring its main disruptors and torpedoes to bear again. But, unlike the Cardassian cruiser, the Valkyrie had an aft torpedo launcher that now unleashed a barrage that cut through already weakened shields.
“Get us out of here! Now!” Okora screamed at her helmsman, as the Degor’s sister ship turned into a rapidly expanding plume of fire.
“The
San Marino is launching life boats. Most of her primary systems are
failing.”
“Drop
shields. Transporter room, beam everyone still on the San Marino to
sickbay. Rishana, get us into tractor beam range of those escape pods and
coordinate with the shuttle bay. I want those pods aboard as soon as possible.
If one of them signals a medical emergency have the passengers beamed directly
to sickbay.”
Dar
Enikal deactivated the flickering holographic display and rose. “Well done,
everybody.” He took his time making eye-contact with everyone on the bridge
through the cloud of vapor spewing from a broken ceiling conduit. “Commander
Tucker, have some of your people assess the damage to the San Marino. If
she is beyond repair put together a salvage party. I want us out of here before
Okora can get reinforcements.”
He
walked up the ramp towards the turbolift, looking around the bridge. Half the
monitors were dead or flickering with confused, random displays. It had taken
only one disruptor blast that got through the shields to overload several of the
Valkyrie’s already strained systems. If Lieutenant Alakondra hadn’t
done such a good job of programming the tactical computers they would never have
gotten off the shot that had destroyed the first Cardassian cruiser and sent the
second one into retreat. ‘I’ll have to mention that in my report, perhaps
even thank her in person later.’
“I’ll
be in sickbay, greeting our guests, but I want a damage report as soon as
possible.”
*****
“Remind
me again why we couldn’t have beamed directly into the caves, Kevas?”
The Bajoran raised a hand to shield his eyes from the blinding light of the twin suns and lowered his head as he started moving towards the rock face a few hundred meters away. It didn’t help. The perfectly white sand reflected the suns’ light with a vengeance that even his sunglasses couldn’t block completely.
“I
am sure they had the Tiger on sensors for at least an hour. If we had
beamed down inside the cave they might have shot first and never bothered about
questions later,” he answered Tarin’s rhetorical question.
“I
just hope they will be less inclined to shoot at us, now that we have made our
presence known.” Tarin hurried forward through the glare, one step behind Reto
Kevas. She had always liked the warmth, but she couldn’t wait to get into the
shade of the cavern, even with all the insulation the emergency pressure garment
provided.
And
yet that same shade looked more and more ominous, the more she neared the cave.
Tarin knew her eyes would take a moment to adjust to the different light and
even half a second could be too long when faced with a well-prepared hostile.
“Why
did you sign up with the Valkyrie, Kevas?”
“Ma’am?”
Kevas stopped suddenly and Tarin nearly bumped into him. “What do you mean?”
“Oh
come on. I know Starfleet offered almost everyone from the Eclipse a
choice of plum assignments, but you were one of the first who jumped at the
chance of being part of the Valkyrie crew.”
“I
am not sure.” Reto looked as puzzled as he sounded. “I guess I just wanted
to be with people I knew. It’s not like I wanted to be at the frontlines for
glory or fame or something like that.”
“So
you just wanted to be part of an established crew?”
Kevas
took a deep breath of the hot, dusty air. “Yeah, I guess that’s just it.”
He exhaled and squared his shoulders. “We are almost there. Perhaps we should
just get out of the heat.”
Tarin
nodded and made a sweeping gesture towards the cave. “After you.”
*****
“That’s
far enough.”
Tarin
stopped dead in her tracks and wondered what was more intimidating, the large
gun pointed at her midriff or the harshness of the man’s voice.
“It’s
me, Kevas.” The Bajoran took a step forward and showed his open hands to the
man outlined by the faint light shining around the next corridor bend.
“Kevas,
is that really you?” The man directed a flashlight at Kevas’s face for
several seconds. “By the Prophets, it really is you.” But immediately
delight and surprise made way for mistrust. “Who’s that with you?”
“She’s
a friend.”
“A
friend of your perhaps, but that doesn’t make her my friend. Last we heard you
had joined Starfleet. You are still family so I’ll ignore that in your case,
but Starfleet isn’t very popular around here.”
Tarin
took a long deep breath, before she decided that lying would be no use. “Yes,
I am with Starfleet, but we are only here to talk. You know as well as I do that
we wouldn’t have walked in here without weapons drawn and being a bit more
stealthy if we really meant you any harm.”
“True.”
A little friendliness returned to the voice but the gun remained pointed at
Tarin. “All right, let’s talk. But not here. I want a few more people around
to keep an eye on both of you. Besides, your aunt would never forgive me if I
kept you away from her, Kevas.”
“Thanks.”
“Don’t
thank me. I am still mad at you for leaving us. I am just more curious what
brought you back than I am angry with you, but it’s a small margin.”
*****
“Kevas? I can’t believe it’s you!” Reto Meru flung herself into her nephew’s arms and hugged him fiercely.
“You
are smothering me, aunt Meru.”
“Oh
I am sorry, Kevas.” Meru held her brother-in-law’s son at arms length and
looked him over. “You look just like I remember you. A bit older of course,
but still the same boy I used to know.” From the corner of her eye Meru caught
her husband holstering his disruptor, and she shot a glance at the stranger who
had arrived with Kevas.
“I
think this occasion deserves a welcoming meal in your honor, Kevas. Let me make
you some real hasperat.”
“Is
there anything I can help with,” Tarin offered, before Kevas had a chance to
decline.
“You
know how to make hasperat?” Meru asked, surprised that any non-Bajoran would
be so presumptuous.
Tarin
shook her head. “No, not really. I studied some recipes, but I never tried my
hand at hasperat before. But I could at least help you cut the boratus
stalks.”
“I
guess you could do that, but I am sure my dear husband would throw a fit if he
knew I was handing a knife to a complete stranger.”
“And
if I used that knife on you I am certain he would throw that fit after he’d
shot me in the back.”
“He
certainly would.” Meru chuckled and saw her husband grinning behind Tarin’s
back. “All right, let’s get to the kitchen. You don’t strike me as the
suicidal type.”
*****
“Now
this is...” Tarin looked around the huge kitchen and studied every piece of
furniture and equipment. The room was at least as large as her quarters on the Valkyrie
and the two great tables provided seating for twenty. With a well stocked bar
taking up one corner and a large
fitted
kitchen running along a wall the room looked more like a tavern or diner that
just a kitchen.
“Yes,
it’s huge, but it’s also something of an unofficial town hall, so it has to
be as large as possible.” Reto Meru busied herself assembling all she needed
for her cooking, as she added: “Taros and I have a smaller room we use for
private meals. Say, how do you like the windows?”
Tarin
turned to the wall at her side, and looked out at the windswept desert. She
could almost feel the heat overwhelming her through the windowpane. “Very
realistic. If I didn’t knew we were at least a hundred meters underground I
would never suspect this to be anything but a real window.” She studied the
display even closer and could just make out the faint trace of footprints,
almost covered by the shifting sands. “But I wonder what made you place a
surveillance monitor in your kitchen.”
Meru
ran her eyes over her cooking utensils and selected a small knife. “Now if you
really want to help me you better let me show you how to cut the boratus. It’s
not as simple as it looks.”
*****
“I was expecting my parents to be around.” Kevas looked out the living room window at the small plaza below. He knew it was just a covered mine shaft, but seeing it turned into a hydroponics garden made that hard to remember.
“They moved off right after the Cardassians occupied Bajor again.” Reto Teros tried to divide his attention between the kitchen door and his nephew for a moment, before he decided that his wife could take care of herself. “Last thing I heard they were operating somewhere along the coreward Tzenkethi border. Perhaps it’s for the best they are not here. All you would do is piss them off again.”
“At
least I don’t have to do anything to make you mad at me. But I
should have expected that. You’ve always been like my parents – trying to
decide what’s best for me without allowing me any say in it.”
“By
the Prophets, that’s no way to speak to me, boy.”
Kevas
smashed his fist into the window. It took him a second to realize that the
cracking sound had not come from the window – transparent aluminum was
stronger than bone. He flexed his fingers and breathed a sigh of relief. Nothing
was broken – yet.
He
spun around and glared at his uncle. “I am no boy. And don’t you ever
mention the prophets like that. All you ever did was pay lip-service to them.”
“Oh
and just because you had your five seconds of enlightenment I am supposed to
defer to you in these matters?” Teros sounded more confident than ever. “I
never had no Vedek teach me, but there is one thing I know. Our culture and
our religion will go down the drain if the Bajoran people can’t survive. You
took the easy way out when you ran off to Starfleet, but for those of us living
here surviving ain’t easy.”
Kevas
sat down on the windowsill and stared at the floor. “So you are saying that we
can either stick to our traditions and perish with them, or throw morals out the
window and survive as a people? If that’s what you think, why didn’t you
move to greener pastures with my parents?”
Teros
started to scratch his chin, his anger suddenly derailed by Kevas’s subdued
tone. “You know I could never say no to Meru. She wanted to settle down, so we
did it. And...”
“Yes?”
Kevas asked when the silence started to grow uncomfortable.
“Forget
about it.” Teros looked over his shoulder at the kitchen door. “I wonder how
Meru and you friend are getting along.”
*****
“Not
bad for a beginner.” Meru closely examined the pile of red and green
vegetables on the plate. She shifted through the pieces and threw three of them
in the trashcan, before she murmured, “you sure you haven’t made hasperat
before?”
“You
are a good teacher,” Tarin replied, bowing her head.
“I
have never been accused of that before, but perhaps being both mother and leader
to a small community has changed me more than I thought.” Meru didn’t even
realize she had spoken out loud until Tarin replied.
“Now
that you mention it, there is something I would like to ask you about this
place, if you don’t mind?”
Meru took her time double-checking her preparations. “The dough needs a few more minutes before we can proceed, so why don’t you have a seat and ask your question? I’ll decide if I’ll answer it after I hear it.”
“I
was, and still am, a little surprised to find so many people here.” Tarin took
the offered seat and looked up at her host, who had leaned against the counter
with crossed arms. “I expected this place to be just a small base, a stop-over
for smugglers, not an underground village. There must be at least two hundred
people living here, maybe more.”
“More.”
Meru took a deep breath, before she sat down opposite Tarin. “But you are
right, and I don’t think answering your question could hurt us. We started out
as a small temporary base when Teros was still working with Kevas’s parents.
But I never liked that unsteady life and this seemed as good a place as any to
settle down. At first there were just the two of us, and I liked it just fine
that way.”
Meru
started toying with her traditional Bajoran earring. “I guess we weren’t the
only ones who knew about this place and during the last few months a lot of
refugees from Bajor ended up here. It’s not like we really own this place, but
almost everyone treats us as if we did.”
“I
guess I know what you have to deal with. Sometimes being in charge isn’t all
that easy, but it can have its rewards, especially when you can use your
position to do some good.”
“True.”
Meru rose and turned to her cooking again. “I am afraid you can’t help me
much with the next part. Getting the spices right takes some training.”
*****
“And
now we wait?”
“Yes,”
Meru replied, “now we wait. It should take about ten minutes before dinner is
ready, but you look like you have more questions to fill the time.”
“I
do. For example, what still puzzles me is how you maintain a place like this.
Even with a lot of refugees from Bajor to help with the necessary work, you
still need some outside support. This colony is just too small to be
self-sufficient.”
“Oh,
that. You know the history of this place?”
“Only
what Kevas told me. He said this was a magnesite mine years ago, but that it
stopped turning out a profit long before he first came here.”
“That’s
true, but there is just enough magnesite ore left in the rocks to make sensors
scans useless. That’s one reason we settled here in the first place.”
“And
the other being…?”
“The
other reason is that it allows Teros and me to make a little profit. We rent
storage space to… spacefarers who want a place to let some cargo...
cool off a bit. It’s not enough to make us rich, but it’s enough to keep the
settlement up and running.”
“That
makes me wonder why the Cardassians haven’t taken you out. A Bajoran refugee
camp that provides support to smugglers couldn’t have escaped their
attention.”
“I
guess we are just not important enough. “Meru shrugged. “If you want to know
why the Cardies are doing something you should ask them, not me.”
“I
wish I could. Nobody we’ve talked to the last two weeks seems to have any idea
what the Cardassians – or the Maquis – are up to.”
“That
doesn’t surprise me. With the Cardies expanding their influence over the
neutral worlds along the border the Maquis have tightened their security.
Finding any non-Bajoran in this sector who’s ‘in the know’ would be pretty
difficult for an outsider like you, even with Kevas’s help.” Meru’s voice
was deadpan, but Tarin saw her lips twitch in an almost-smile for a second.
“I
guess you are right, but there are a lot of Bajorans here. ... If only I knew
whom to approach.”
Meru’s
hearty laughter filled the huge chamber. “Oh, come on, why don’t we stop
this little dance now? Talking with you is... refreshing, but we should get
business out of the way before the hasperat is ready.” She leaned forward and
locked eyes with Tarin. “I could tell you a few things about the Maquis. Just
convince me that I should.”
*****
“Before
we start talking about the Maquis, there is one thing you should know, Meru. I
am with Starfleet, but I think you suspected that from the start.”
“Yes,
I did, but thanks for telling me.”
Tarin
leaned back and looked out the window at the shifting sands. The shadows had
started to grow longer and the wind had picked up, rippling across the dunes and
throwing up a fine mist of sand.
“You
must be aware that Starfleet is in no position to check Cardassian influence in
this sector, at least not now. Sooner or later that might change, but the
Cardassians will do everything in their power to stop it. It’s hard to predict
how it will happen, but there will be war between Cardassia and the
Federation. The more we know, the better chance we stand.”
Tarin
paused and tried to read Meru’s face, but the Bajoran remained deadpan.
“And...?”
“And,”
Tarin continued, “as we can hardly ask the Central Command what they are
planning, we need other sources of information. Knowing what the Maquis is up to
could give us some idea how long the Cardassians will keep their attention on
them, instead of moving against us. Not to mention information the Maquis may
have that Starfleet lacks.”
“You
do have a point.” Meru rose and turned her attention to the oven. Her back
turned on Tarin she asked, “but why should I help you? What difference would
that make to us?”
“It’s
simple. The more Starfleet knows, the better our chances to fight off the
Cardassians. But if the Cardassians invade the Federation – and manage to
conquer some of our worlds – they will need troops to control their new
holdings, troops that have to come from somewhere.”
“The
hasperat will be ready in about a minute.” Meru still didn’t turn to Tarin.
“But that would mean less troops in the Bajor sector. Perhaps it’s in my
best interest if you don’t learn anything about the Cardassians or the Maquis.”
“And
what do you think will happen when the Cardassians move some of their troops out
of the Bajor sector? They will come down hard on any possible source of
resistance, wipe out all potential troublemakers, just to make certain they can
stay in control here, while they harden their grip elsewhere. No,” Tarin
stepped to Meru’s side, “right now pretending most worlds along the border
are neutral serves Cardassian diplomacy, but that will change, once the
Cardassian sphere of influence widens.
“Should
the Cardassians manage a decisive victory over the Federation they will be
spread thin. They can only turn that into a success by pulling out all the
stops.”
“Yes,
I guess that is what the Cardies would do,” Meru replied without inflexion.
“But the hasperat should be ready now. Let’s talk some more after dinner.”
“This looks worse than I thought.”
“That’s
because you are an optimist,” Commander Westmore replied, but in the face of
all the wounded around him his voice fell short of the sarcastic tone he had
aimed for.
Dar
was spared a reply by the two officers who approached him. “I am Lieutenant
Commander Izquierdo, executive officer of the San Marino,” the dark
haired woman introduced herself. “This is Lieutenant Blackman, our chief
engineer.”
“Commander
Enikal, acting captain.” Dar looked the pair over while they shook hands.
Apart from a few bumps and bruises the two seemed to have suffered no injuries.
“This is Commander Westmore, our strategic operations officer.” He gave
Westmore just enough time for a courteous nod before he gestured for the door.
“Let’s find someplace quiet. There is a lot we have to talk about.”
“Agreed.”
Izquierdo and Blackman followed the Bolian out into the corridor, with Alex
Westmore following a few steps behind.
“You
said acting captain, Commander. I thought captain Veal was in command of the
Valkyrie?” Bob Blackman asked.
“She
is not available right now.” Dar Enikal stopped at an intersection and tried
to get his bearings. The only parts of deck twelve he knew well, were the
holodecks and gyms, but he knew there was a lounge nearby the sickbay personnel
used for their breaks. “Speaking of captains, how is your captain Sterling?”
“He
suffered a concussion during the initial attack. He is still unconscious, but
your CMO assured me that he will recover soon.”
“Good.
If Doctor Jascar says so I wouldn’t worry.” Dar found the small lounge as
empty as he had hoped. “Now why don’t you two have a seat and tell me what
has happened?”
“Neither
of us saw what really happened, but we’ve been able to piece most of it
together from the accounts of our crew.”
“Weren’t
you on the bridge during the initial attack?” Commander Westmore interrupted
Izquierdo.
“No.
I was on my way to deck five to take a look at a problem with our ODN grid. I
was in the turbolift when the attack started, but when I left the bridge there
was no sign of another ship nearby.”
Dar
Enikal’s eyes widened in surprise, but the rest of his face showed nothing but
anger. “A cloaked ship?”
“Yes.”
Carla Izquierdo nodded. “And unless the Cardassians have developed a cloaking
device I know only one ship in this sector that can cloak – the Defiant.”
*****
“I
must say I am a bit disappointed with you, Okora. Running away from a fight
isn’t like you at all.”
Okora
had seen the effect Dukat’s displeasure sometimes had, but she let her anger
fuel her natural stubbornness and stood her ground. “With all due respect,
Legat Dukat, as you can see from my report there was nothing I could have done.
Losing one ship was... unfortunate, but fighting a hopeless fight and
losing a second ship would have been criminal.”
Dukat’s
mien saddened. Okora was a useful officer, both cold and ferocious. She had been
almost ready for command of her own task group, perhaps even a battle wing, but
now Dukat would have to find some other use for her.
“Sir.”
“What
is it, Damar? Can’t you see I am busy right now.”
Damar
came to attention and concentrated on the wall just above Dukat’s head. “I
am sorry to intrude, but we have just received a message from one of our...
contacts in the Federation. It’s marked for your immediate personal
attention.”
“Why
didn’t you say so right away?” Dukat turned back to the monitor. “I’ll
get back to you Okora. Right now more pressing matters require my attention.”
*****
Commander
Enikal shot a glance at Alex Westmore, but all he saw was the same anger he
felt, only that Westmore hid it much better. “I think you are right, Commander
Izquierdo. If the Cardassians had a cloaking device I doubt we’d have this
conversation. No, it must have been the Defiant, but don’t you have any
eye witnesses or sensor logs of the attack?”
“No.
And I haven’t told you the worst part yet.” Carla Izquierdo pushed her chair
back with some force and started to pace up and down the small lounge. “The
reason there are no eye witnesses is that right when it started a stun grenade
took out the bridge crew. The last thing anyone saw before they were knocked out
was a sort of ripple on the main viewer and the first phaser salvo.”
Bob
Blackman took over for his now fuming superior. “And we don’t have any
sensor logs of the attack, because at the same time the stun grenade went off on
the bridge someone detonated a Cabrodine bomb in our computer core. Before we
could re-route through secondary systems it was all over.”
“But
how could anyone smuggle a bomb aboard your ship?” Commander Westmore asked.
“Nobody
had to smuggle it aboard, Commander.” Lieutenant Blackman stared down at the
table and his shoulders sagged. “On older ships like the San Marino
Cabrodine is used in all emergency jettison charges, be it for airlock and
hangar doors or life-boat launches. And whoever took it did so right under my
eyes. My maintenance crews never noticed anything missing.”
Izquierdo
stopped her pacing and placed a hand on Blackman’s shoulder. “Don’t blame
yourself, Bob. You told me yourself that it didn’t take much explosives to
blow up the central junction. And we have all been fooled, not just you.
“You
see,” she locked eyes with Dar Enikal, “we think the one who sabotaged the San
Marino was Lieutenant Vijayak, our second officer. He was the one who
reported the problem with our ODN grid that lead me from the bridge. He had
unlimited access to the computer core. He knew the maintenance schedule, so he
could have taken the Cabrodine where no one would notice it.
“And
he is missing. We did our best to locate him after the attack, but he was
nowhere to be found. He sold us to the Maquis, and the only thing we don’t
know is why he did it.”
“I
think I can answer that,” Commander Tucker cut in from the door. “Sorry to
interrupt, but I thought you should hear this as soon as possible.”
He
turned to the San Marino’s officers. “How many photon torpedoes did
your ship carry?”
“Eighty.
Why?”
“Because
someone blew out the loading hatch of the torpedo bay and there are only two
pallets left. Someone jettisoned forty fully armed photon torpedoes from the San
Marino and we checked all sensors. They are gone.”
*****
When
Dukat reappeared on Okora’s viewer he wore a jolly smile. “I have a new job
for you, Okora, one you should find to your liking. It seems a group of
Starfleet officers are roaming the Bajor sector aboard a civilian vessel. We do
not know the name of the ship, but I have cleared you for full access to all our
diplomatic channels and monitoring stations. That should provide you with more
than enough information to find them.”
“And
once I do?”
“Oh
I am glad you ask. Please try your best to capture at least some of them alive.
Dead people are a bit hard to interrogate.” Dukat’s smile widened with every
word. “Besides, a public execution of those... spies would be much more
satisfying, don’t you think?”
“Understood, Sir. We’ll try not to kill all of them.”
To be continued...
Prologue Chapter 1 Chapter 2 Chapter 3
