It has not been an easy morning for Captain Benjamin Lafayette Sisko. Being roused by bad news early in the morning after a late night is never the best way to start a day. Being roused by the news that you are now at war is worse. Add to that the fact that your only son had been sleeping in the next room and the small fleet charged with their defense is in full retreat... things look pretty grim indeed...
Sisko glanced down at the display screen. It had been roughly 2 hours since the emergency transmission from the USS Trafalgar announcing that the remains of the Task Force were retreating in the direction of Deep Space 9.
Worf, in command of the Defiant was at this moment making high warp for a rendezvous point with the Trafalgar, and twenty more assorted Federation vessels were also making their best speed for that point. It was an incredibly pitiful gesture when compared to the tremendous tide pouring across the border at them.
A full wing of Marine ships departed Starbase 101 an hour ago. At warp 9 it will take them a little less than six more hours to reach DS9. Their presence will not count a lot in terms of defense of the station itself, however. With the upgraded weapons and shields that they've been steadily installing the station now had the equivalent firepower of a good-sized fleet of starships. But the station was pretty well immobile and that was a cause for concern to the Bajorans...
Since the news from the Trafalgar reached them Sisko had received no less than twenty official, and sometimes very panicked, messages from the Bajoran government regarding the status and defense of Bajor. A growing movement in the Bajoran government was pushing to expel Starfleet and make a separate peace with the Dominion. So far Minister Shakaar had been able to silence this group but with each passing hour their numbers swelled.
The sound of a communications channel opening interrupted Sisko's thoughts.
"Captain," came the voice of Dax, filling in as the stations executive officer while Kira was away, "I have Admiral Nechayev on Priority Sub-space."
"Put her through." Sisko replied keying his console. The image of the tactical map vanished to be replaced by the stern demeanor of Admiral Nechayev.
"Admiral." Sisko said with a slight inclination of his head.
"Captain," Nechayev responded. "I have some good news for you, thirty two Starships are mustering at Starbase 63 and should be ready to depart in twenty four hours."
"I'm glad to hear that, but Starbase 63 is four hundred light years away, that means they won't arrive for about four more days... I only hope we're still here."
Nechayev nodded. "The situation is grim Captain, I won't deny that. Dominion forces have crossed the Federation/Cardassian Frontier in 4 major strokes, each pushing towards critical areas. We are assembling our forces as fast as we can but it does not look like there will be any stopping of their momentum any time soon. Should you be able to hold out your forces will form the core of our 3rd fleet."
"If, we manage to hold out..." Sisko said.
"Yes," Nechayev nodded again. "It is about your holding out that I am specifically contacting you Captain. I want you to tell me, honestly, if the ships moving to defend Deep Space 9 from the Dominion forces advancing in your area are unable to stem the tide, how long can we expect you to hold out alone?"
"That's a difficult question, Admiral," Sisko said leaning forward. "I guess it would depend on how much damage the Dominion was willing to do to drive us out."
Nechayev nodded solemnly. "I'm going to issue you orders now, Captain, orders for your ears only. You are NOT, repeat, NOT to share or divulge these orders to anyone who is not a member of the senior staff and a Starfleet officer. That includes your Bajoran liaison officer and your Bajoran security officer."
Sisko looked surprised. What was she up to?
"Captain, if you feel that for any reason you can not adhere to those conditions I want you to tell me now."
"I am a Starfleet officer, Admiral. A Starfleet Captain."
"And you are a spiritual figure to the Bajoran people, and as such you have certain influence and obligations to the Bajoran government. For the duration of this crisis I want you to become a Starfleet officer only and forgo all this Emissary business. Can you do that, Captain?"
Sisko stiffened, as if coming to attention in his seat. "Yes Ma'am!"
Nechayev nodded in approval. "Excellent, Captain. Now, I want to make this perfectly clear. You are NOT to allow Deep Space 9 to fall into enemy hands."
"We'll make a fight of it Admiral, I assure you."
"Captain, if for a moment you do not think you can hold the station I want you to abandon it, and destroy it. Understood?"
"Destroy it?" Sisko asked is sudden shocked disbelief. "This station belongs to the Bajoran people, I don't think we have the right to just destroy it."
"Listen to me Captain, in your opinion what is the single most important asset in the defense of the Bajoran system and the Wormhole?"
"Deep Space 9."
"And if we should loose the Bajoran system, what will be our single biggest obstacle in re-capturing the Bajoran system and the Wormhole?"
Sisko sighed defeated. "Deep Space 9..."
"Captain, I know this is not easy for you, but look at it this way. If the Dominion captures that station it will only be a matter of time before they are able to take down your minefield, and after that the Dominion will have unlimited access to their resources in the Gamma Quadrant. If that should happen then the Alpha Quadrant may be lost."
Sisko nodded in agreement.
"To forestall that end the Federation is willing to risk the anger of the Bajoran people over the destruction of their property. But that station MUST NOT be allowed to fall into Dominion hands. To that end I want you to instruct your engineering teams to design a self-destruct system that is both fool-proof and unstoppable once implemented."
"Unstoppable?"
"It is understood that you would not engage such a system unless you had to Captain, but we don't want any risk that they might be able to capture key parts of the station in a boarding action and halt a standard self destruct sequence."
"I think something along those lines can be arranged." Sisko said.
"Good." Nechayev sighed and for an instant Sisko saw the tired harassed individual behind the stern demeanor. Certainly this was not going to be an easy war for the upper-command structure. "I sincerely hope it never has to be used, Captain, I really do."
"Thank you Admiral, so do I."
"Is there anything else you wish to discuss?"
"We are in the process of evacuating all non-essential civilians from the station to Bajor, however there are a large number of Federation citizens who wish to be evacuated to Federation space."
"Deny their requests for now Captain, tell them that as soon as shipping space can be spared from the war effort all measures will be taken to deliver them from Bajor back to Federation territory."
"Understood."
"Is that all?"
"I believe for now."
"Good, Nechayev out."
The screen blanked suddenly and Sisko sagged into his seat. He sat unmoving for several long moments before reaching out and keying the communications system.
"Sisko to Dax."
"Dax here Captain."
"Dax, find the Chief and meet me in my office with him in ten minutes."
"Understood."
Captain Lorran tossed the data pad onto his desk and moved quickly out of his office. Chaos. Not an hour ago the Starfleet captain, Sisko, had come aboard the Frigate Aurora and in quick concise terms informed Lorran that the Federation was at war and it was very likely that the war would soon reach DS9 . He also had pointed out that the Dominion was not likely to recognize the Aurora as a non-combatant.
It was time to leave.
It was unfortunate. They were making progress towards getting their bacta reserves replenished.
Lorran was almost to one of the lifts when the Aurora's chief engineer stopped him. "We're ready to leave when ever you give the word, Captain."
Lorran nodded, but before he could take another step the lift doors parted and Doctor Bashir stepped out.
"Captain." Bashir said, the doctors usually jovial manner now somewhat subdued.
"You're just the man I was looking for." Lorran said.
"I heard you were getting ready to leave."
"It seemed like the prudent action Doctor, getting shot at by the Empire is one thing, getting caught here in the middle of your war in another thing all together."
"Have you heard anything more from Yoraph?" Bashir asked.
"Nothing since Qirk made his last transmission." Lorran responded.
"Quark." Bashir corrected automatically. "I would have thought there would be some news."
"I guess bacta is proving harder for your technology to replicate than you we originally anticipated."
Bashir nodded in agreement. "When I found I couldn't replicate it in my lab I thought for sure that one of the Ferengi industrial chemical companies would be able to do it."
"They probably just need more time." Lorran said. "Which we seem to have run out of..."
"Where do you go from here?"
"I'm not sure I should tell you Doctor." Lorran said half-mockingly. "I don't want someone torturing that information out of you."
Bashir seemed to miss Lorran' s weak attempt at humor. "I don't think the Jem'Hadar would bother trying to find you, but you never know."
"Actually Doctor, I'm awaiting orders from Admiral Stardrifter, but I suspect there is a good chance we'll be ordered to rejoin the fleet and return our recovered men to active duty. Speaking of which , Doctor, I want to thank you again for all the help you gave us in dealing with our wounded. I only wish I was in a position to return the favor."
Bashir seemed to sag inward on himself. "I'm expecting a tremendous volume of wounded from the battle that was just fought, and more from the battles to come. A good supply of bacta would, could, save a lot of lives..."
"You have my sympathies Doctor, and my best wishes."
"Thank you Captain." Bashir said, then turned and slowly entered the lift.
Lorran needed the lift but did not feel like sharing one with the depressed doctor so he nodded to Bashir who vanished as the lift doors closed. Lorran sighed heavily, but that was all the pity he had time to spare for the good Doctor. The Rebellion was fighting for it's very survival and THAT was his more pressing concern, that and doing whatever it would take to replenish their depleted bacta stock.
"Isshalla no ruk illth ca rait na..." Major Kira Nerys muttered to herself.
"May the Prophets guide and protect..." Luv Shara translated from behind her. "Having second thoughts, Major?"
"Do you always eavesdrop on people?" Kira asked bitterly.
Kira was perched halfway down the boarding ramp of the shuttle Carashin. A shuttle she would be riding down to the surface of Torvan V in a little less than an hour.
The last day had been a jumble that Kira would never believed possible.
It started with a visit from Shara to remind her of an oath she had made to Tom Riker. That meeting was followed by another with Captain Sisko who said that Starfleet couldn't sanction any action but since Kira was not a member of Starfleet and Bajor was not part of the Federation he could do nothing to stop her, officially. Captain Sisko had also gone on to tell her that Starfleet intelligence, despite the Federations official position, was tremendously curious about the Rebels and their technology and that any opportunity to gather more information about them was NOT to be missed. It was why, for the most part, Starfleet command had turned a blind eye to efforts of Doctor Bashir and Quark to find someone to replicate the healing substance known as bacta. Next Kira found herself on a shuttle bound for the Minos Korva system and a rendezvous with a ship bigger than any she'd ever seen before. The trip to Minos Korva has been an eye opener in the fact that they had made the trip from DS9 to Minos Korva in less than an hour, a trip that would have taken seven hours by conventional Warp drive.
Upon arriving at the cruiser Mon Creyal Kira discovered that Shara had modified one of the Rebel's astromechs to take both Federation isochips and Cardassian isorods. The droid she called Fizz, made all kinds of friendly electronic chirping noises that Kira was not in the mood to respond to. A few hours after the rebels had reviewed the navigational data that she had provided they held a briefing for the commandos who would make up the ground attack element and the fighter pilots who would be supporting them. At that time she was introduced to the leaders of the two squadrons that would be engaged in the assault, Commander Jernigan of Blue Squadron, and Captain Il'Ktharia of Aggressor Squadron, as well as Commander Grodan of Green Squadron, a Y-wing recon unit.
The briefing had been the only thing familiar to Kira and she guessed that no matter how far away one was from and no matter how strange the technology seemed, planning a commando operation was the same everywhere.
The plan itself was simple and straightforward, a good omen, Kira thought. The Mon Creyal would jump to the outer edge of the Torvan system, make a quick scan then jump to Torvan V. Once there the starfighters would launch followed by the 6 shuttles. The Maquis had reliable intelligence that indicated that there was only a single Galor class destroyer in the Torvan system and the Mon Creyal and her fighters would move to prevent it from interfering with the shuttles. Everyone in the room knew that meant they would be attacking the Destroyer, because there was little chance the Cardassians would just sit back and watch as their prison was raided. Shara gave a detailed lecture on the strengths and weaknesses of the Galor class ship that impressed Kira. There were things in Shara's briefing that Kira didn't know and she filed them away in her memory to make sure she brought them up with Sisko later.
The ground assault was simple enough. The shuttles would descend through the electro-magnetic field that was the prisons primary defense against transporters. There were sure to be heavy weapon emplacements as well but the shuttles were armed to deal with that, and in the even the prisons defenses proved to much for the shuttles, several X-wings from Blue squadron could be there in a few minutes to bring heavier weapons to bear.
Once on the ground there would be a standard assault, seize key facilities, access the computer and get the prisoners they wanted. There were far to many prisoners to fit on the 6 shuttlecraft and the ugly topic of who to take and who to leave behind was something Kira was glad she had no voice in. The topic also came up of what to do if there were prisoners who insisted on being rescued. A brief plan was laid out incase it became necessary to sub-due the prisoners. It was also decided that if it looked like they had the time the shuttles would shuttle as many prisoners as they could up to the Mon Creyal, and the prisoners would be set free at the first friendly or neutral port that could be found to take them.
After the briefing Kira sat through the first little bit of the pilot briefing being held for the fighter pilots before being led away by Commander Mojari.
"I'm curious to know what you think Major." Mojari said in his gravely voice. "I couldn't help but notice that when you arrived here you were somewhat skeptical about our chances for success."
"You read my emotions pretty good." Kira said. "I'm impressed, I thought I hid it rather well."
Mojari chuckled. "I have spent much time among humans and for my people reading your moods is as much a survival trait as anything."
Kira nodded. She remembered being told how the Mon Calamari were for all intents and purposes enslaved by the Empire. It was only a matter of years when the same could be said for the Bajoran people.
"It would seem that when it comes to how you display your emotions Bajorans and humans are strikingly similar." Mojari continued.
"I have to say I'm impressed Commander." Kira said after a moment. They were walking down a long corridor that had a large transparisteel viewport that overlooked one of the large landing bays. Techs and droids scurried over the X-wings and Y-wings that littered the bay in a seemingly random pattern.
"If what Commander Jernigan was telling me about those X-wing fighters of yours is correct I can only wish the Bajoran resistance had a few squadrons when we were fighting the Cardassians."
"The X-wing starfighter is one of our big hopes for the future, it and ships like this one. But that's now what I wanted to talk to you about Major, I wanted your impressions of the planned operation."
"I think you have a good chance of pulling it off." Kira said. "The size and power of your ships is one thing, but being able to move without being tracked is really your best defense."
Mojari nodded. "It's strange to think of a starfaring culture that doesn't use hyperdrive. I have read some of the material Captain Luv has provided us with and I am amazed that you have expanded as far as you have considering the limitations on speed and the average humanoid life-span."
"Warp drive has its pluses." Kira said. "Being able to scan ahead of yourself while at warp and make course corrections and changes is a handy ability. If you were capable of it I wouldn't be here would I?"
Mojari nodded. "Let's set the merits of each technology aside for a moment, shall we Major?"
"Let's, I'm not a technician or scientist and any kind of debate like that is well beyond my abilities."
"You are unique on this ship, Major, in that you are the only one who has made a career out of fighting these Cardassians."
"Captain Luv is a Maquis, and they fight the Cardassians." Kira pointed out.
"True, but Luv was never a member of your underground movement on Bajor and actually has not had that much combat experience against the Cardassians except in the last few years. You were a member of the underground, and if what I'm told is correct, a very successful member."
"What have you done, planted a spy?"
Mojari laughed out loud, a disturbing sound. "I like you Major, we think much alike. No, we haven't planted a spy, some of the information I have did come from Deep Space Nine's computer, but much of it is considered common knowledge. Like it or not you are somewhat of a celebrity among your people. I have spoken with other Bajoran Maquis and between them I have put together a rather interesting portrait of you, Major."
"I'm flattered Commander, I think..."
Mojari nodded. "If I were hearing that someone I didn't know had taken such an interest in me I would be worried as well. However this time there is nothing to worry about. I made it a point to try and get to know you when Captain Luv first suggested that she approach you about this mission."
"What did your keen sense of humans and Bajorans tell you about me?" Kira asked.
"I said there was a 95% probability that you would help us in the end." Mojari replied. "I felt that you were an honorable being and a creature of action."
"I'm not here for the action, Commander. I'm here to fulfill a promise I made."
"I understand Major."
They were silent as they continued their walk down the wide comfortable corridors of the former luxury liner.
"So what is it you wanted to know from me about Cardassians that Luv couldn't tell you?"
"I wanted your impression of them as an adversary." Mojari replied. "I wanted to know the impressions of one who had spent nearly a lifetime fighting them."
"Do you want the long version or the short version?" Kira asked.
Mojari laughed again. "Whatever version you would care to part with."
Kira was silent for a long moment.
"The Cardassians are fighters, driven and ruthless." Kira said. "They will contest you for every meter of ground."
Mojari nodded. "I gathered as much from what I've learned from the Maquis. But what of the Cardassians themselves?"
Kira thought again. "Supreme arrogance is one of the most proliferate traits you'll find amongst most Cardassians, at least in the Cardassian Military. Their belief in their own superiority leads them to consider all other races as beneath them, as lesser forms of life."
"I am familiar with that trait as well Major, but not in the Cardassians... Please continue."
"While the Cardassian sense of superiority can be used against them the Cardassians also believe that almost every other race is as perfidious and as unscrupulous as they are themselves. They don't often underestimate their enemies. Cardassians have an almost genetic paranoia and believe that every other Cardassian, and every other race is secretly plotting against them. This is what led to the rise of the Obsidian Order. The Dominion played the Cardassians perfectly when they infiltrated the order and orcestrated the attempted destruction of the Founders. The Dominion eliminated all of their major opposition in both the Romulan and Cardassian Empires."
"A move worthy of the Emperor." Mojari commented more to himself than to Kira.
"Show no mercy, Commander, and give no quarter because none will be given to you."
Mojari nodded. "Thank you Major, while I was able to glean much of the same information from other sources I'm glad we had this moment to discuss it."
Kira inclined her head. "I'm glad to help."
"I suppose this is as good a time as any to mention it Major," Mojari said after a while, breaking the silence. "But Captain Fedel has extended an invitation to you to join the mission, strictly as an observer."
Kira looked at the Mon Calamari hard for a moment trying her best to see if she could read anything in the large bulbous eyes.
"An observer?"
"Of course you would be authorized to carry weapons for your personal protection, but documents would be prepared to indicate that you were along as a strict non-combatant."
"Documents that would be worthless if the Cardassians or the Dominion took us prisoner, you realize."
"I understand that Major, but they are at the very least a gesture of good intent on our part."
"Spare me, there are to many people in the Cardassian Military, and I imagine the Dominion who would like nothing better than to interrogate me, documents or not."
"I understand, shall I tell Captain Fedel that you have declined?"
"I wasn't eavesdropping Major." Shara said walking over and putting one foot on the ramp. She was dressed in a uniform obviously supplied by the rebels. It consisted of a dull gray jumpsuit, a protective utility vest, heavy belt and boots and one of their blaster carbines with a folded stock. They had offered to outfit Kira similarly but Kira opted to go dressed as she was and carry her faithful Bajoran phaser. "You were talking out loud and I was headed this way. Having second thoughts?"
"I always do." Kira replied. "Especially when headed for a situation where someone is likely to be shooting at me."
Shara nodded. "I remember my first firefight, actually, my only firefight... I was petrified, I still to this day don't know how I made it through it."
Kira nodded remembering the first time she had been allowed to go with the underground on a strike... They had ambushed a Cardassian flitter just as it had set down to drop off a patrol. She had fired her phaser without really aiming and had kept firing until the weapon was exhausted. She had no idea if she hit anything, but when the smoke cleared there were a lot of dead Cardassians and they made it away without a scratch.
"Everything will be fine Major. These Rebels are pretty good at this sort of thing." Shara said.
"I hope so." Kira replied. "Some of them are going to die an awful long way from their homes."
Shara frowned. "I guess that's a risk we all take."
Shara turned and called across the hanger bay. "Fizz! Get over here!"
The small red and gray domed droid beeped an electronic acknowledgement and started towards them.
"You're not taking that with us, are you?" Kira asked indicating the droid.
"Of course!" Shara beamed. "Fizz has been specially adapted to slice into Cardassian computers, we'll need him if we're to take the prison complex."
"You're getting pretty good at that." Kira said.
"Good at what?"
"Adapting their robots to breaking into computers..."
"Oh, you're talking about Quark. Listen I didn't adapt that droid to break into your computers. I adapted this one, Fizz adapted the other one so if you have a complaint take it up with him."
Kira gave Shara an incredulous look. "Take it up with your robot?"
"Droid." Shara corrected at the same moment the little droid launched into a stern sounding electric reprimand. "He's sensitive."
"Well, tell him to stay clear of DS9's computer, or else he'll just be so much scrap." Kira replied.
The droid rolled back a few feet and chirped a question at Shara.
"Don't worry Fizz, you're one in a billion. I won't let her hurt you."
Kira could have sworn the droid made a sound that sounded like a relieved sigh. The droid rolled up the ramp giving Kira a wide berth and Shara followed it into the shuttle. Kira only shook her head. The number of droids and their seeming sentient like behavior was a difficult adjustment. She was not used to machines that talked back.
A group of three Rebel commandos came over the shuttle, manhandling a crew operated weapon that Kira remembered being described as an E-Web during the briefing. Kira also remembered that there were going to be three of the crew served weapons brought with them to provide the heavy firepower. The commandos and their E-Web disappeared up the ramp and Kira glanced at the chrono mounted on the wall of the hangar bay. Twenty-five minutes until reversion to realspace. Kira stood up, stretched and headed for the Mon Creyal's bridge. She wanted to see what their sensor data told them when they dropped out on the edge of the Torvan system.
Kira slipped into the bridge and found an empty spot where she could watch. Captain Fedel and Commander Mojari were deep in conversation with two other officers, but that didn't stop Mojari from giving Kira a small nod as she came in. Kira acknowledged him and looked out at the strange distorted view of hyperspace. It's a lot like the wormhole. she thought. I wonder if the Prophets make their home here too?
Fedel and Mojari finished their conversation and both came over to where Kira was standing.
"The last hour is always the toughest." Fedel said in a friendly casual voice.
"Not as tough as the first moments of battle." Kira replied.
Fedel and Mojari both laughed.
"True enough Major." Fedel replied. "True enough. We're about to revert so I should take my position. Good luck Major."
"Thank you Captain, and good luck to you." Kira replied
Fedel moved to his command pedestal and studied a readout. An officer came over and handed him a datapad, which he quickly scanned and then handed back. He keyed a button on the pedestal and a chime sounded over the ships comm system.
"This is the captain speaking. We're less than ten minutes till real-space reversion, battle stations! All pilots man your craft, repeat, all pilots man your craft. Captain Fedel out."
Ten minutes later, on cue, the stars returned. Mojari headed quickly for a bank of consoles that monitored the ship's sensors. Kira followed behind him.
"Full scan." Mojari ordered a crewman sitting at the console.
"Full scan sir." the crewman responded. "We appear to have arrived at the proper coordinates... I've located the target planet."
"Are there any ships in orbit?" Kira asked.
The crewman looked at Mojari who gave curt nod of his head before replying. "Reading one large metallic mass in high orbit around the fifth planet. Sensor profile matches that of a Cardassian Galor Class Destroyer."
"Any sign it's detected us?" Mojari asked.
"None." the crewman responded.
"Our course is laid in for Torvan V." Fedel said. "Ten seconds till hyperspace."
Kira looked out of one of the large viewports to see the starts stretch and then revert back to normal.
"Microjump complete." another crewman reported.
"You should get to your shuttle." Mojari said.
Kira nodded as she jogged for the lift, in the background she could hear Fedel's voice. "Launch all fighters!"
Kira left the lift at a dead run. The flightdeck was an eruption of activity and Kira had to dodge a few droids and automated load lifters as she headed for her shuttle. She could hear the high-pitched screeching wine of repulsorlifts as the X-wings and Y-wings maneuvered for the openings in the docking bays. Shara was at the bottom of the Carashin's ramp beckoning her to hurry. Kira charged up the ramp as it started to close.
"I thought you might have changed your mind." Shara said to the panting form of Kira.
"I said I'd go." Kira replied.
Shara nodded and guided Kira back to a seat. All the other commandos were strapped in and Fizz was nestled in a spot in the rear. Kira glanced around at the faces surrounding her and saw nothing but grim determination.
"What was the report?" Shara asked from her seat next to Kira's.
"One Galor, like you thought." Kira replied.
"The fighters have all cleared." reported T'Rik, the Galor is closing to engage.
"30 seconds..." Grevas said studying his controls.
Ahead of them Kira could see the other 5 shuttles hovering in the hangar bay but slowly gliding towards the open bay door.
Commander Il'Ktharia checked her instruments and noted that the rest of Aggressor squadron had formed up perfectly. She switched her comm. to the tac frequency and clicked twice.
"Aggressor leader to Blue leader, we're in position and starting our run." she said.
"Copy Aggressor leader, we're right behind you." came the voice of Commander Jernigan.
Il'Ktharia switched back to the squadron frequency. "Okay Aggressors, here we go, lock S-foils into attack position!"
"This is Green Lead, we've cleared the hanger and are forming up." Commander Grodan put in.
The formation of fighters drew closer to the orange alien vessel when suddenly a beam of energy lanced out towards them.
"Aggressors break!" Il'Ktharia shouted hauling back on her control stick.
Kira couldn't see, but she could hear the battle on the shuttles comm. system. So far the X-wings had lost 3 ships and had failed to do significant damage to the Cardassian ship. But that was about to change as the report that the Mon Creyal had closed enough to open with it's main batteries came through.
"Wow, look at that!" Grevas said looking out his window. "She's really lighting them up!"
"Heads up." T'Rik said. "We're approaching Torvan V."
Commander Jernigan adjusted the course of his X-wing slightly, selected Proton Torpedo's and linked them for dual fire. He was angling in near the back of Galor as the Mon Creyal battered it with heavy turbolaser fire. The heavy fire from the cruiser was forcing the Captain of the Cardassian ship to strengthen his forward shields at the expense of the rear shields. This was good for Jernigan and the other X-wing pilots. The shields were now weak enough that Proton Torpedo's could do a fair amount of damage. However there was danger in flying so close to a ship taking the full brunt of a cruiser's fire. Turbolaser blasts were notoriously unhealthy for snub-fighters. The Y-wings were hanging back, waiting for the X-wings to clear. A lucky shot had vaped Grodan and his wingmate, so the Greens were leaderless for the moment.
Suddenly, the comm crackled. "This is Kibitz, Green Six. One and Two Flights form up on me. We're going in."
Jernigan dropped his nose a little and brought the crosshairs onto the Galor. The R2 unit sounded a solid tone indicating a lock and Jernigan touched the trigger sending the two torps away on jets of blue flame. Around him several other X-wings got torpedos off as well and their combined blast overloaded the weak shields and ripped great holes in the hull of the ship.
"That's it!" Jernigan cried. "Close and hit it with your torpedos!"
A beam flashed from the top of the Galor and an X-wing was reduced to incandescent vapor, but thankfully the main phaser array was still exchanging fire with the Mon Creyal.
The losses among the X-wing were starting to mount. The Aggressors had lost 4 ships while Blue Squadron was down by 5, one shy of 50%. Green was still relatively intact, with only 3 losses, but the Galor had noticed that the Y-wings were slower than the others and was beginning to concentrate on them.
"Remember the firing arcs from the briefing, present them with as little a target as possible." Jernigan said rolling over and diving under the Galor, a place where it had no weapons to attack.
Jernigan pulled out and headed away from the Galor. He cast a quick glance at the planet and wondered how the ground elements were doing...
The shuttle buffeted as a beam of energy touched it's shields.
"That damned tower!" T'Rik snarled.
The prison complex was startlingly nondescript. It seemed to be a mating between a large cube blockhouse and a domed administration building surrounded by a walled courtyard. As they approached the complex, it raised a small shield, designed more to prevent transport than anything. There were also two gun towers that mounted heavy crew operated phasers and at the moment they were taking pot shots at the circling shuttles as the shuttles pummeled the facilities shields with their laser cannons.
"I think there's a weak spot opening up." Grevas said as the shuttle banked suddenly.
"We'll take it, target that tower and fire when ready." T'Rik commanded.
The shuttled banked again the sprayed the shield with laser cannons. As the scarlet beams smashed into the shield a small opening appeared and Grevas homed in spraying shots at one of the towers which was shredded by the high energy bolts.
"Got it!" Grevas said as the shuttle climbed away to make another pass.
"The shield is almost down." T'Rik said. "Set it down in the courtyard."
Another shuttle made a strafing pass that collapsed the shield protecting the facility. Immediately the shuttles started to descend towards the small courtyard. Before the first shuttles landing gear touched the ground the ramp had dropped and the first two commandos dropped to the ground. A phaser shot from the blockhouse struck the ground near one of the commando's. The commando sprayed blaster fire towards the source of the phaser shot as the shuttle landed and the remaining commandos streamed out.
A commando set Shara down gently in one of the chairs in the control room. Kira went over to the central computer and started to key rapidly on the control panel, thankful now for all the years spent on Deep Space 9 getting familiar with Cardassian computer systems.
"We're locked out of the central computer." Kira reported. "There's no way to call up a prisoner list or deactivate any of the other security fields.
"Fizz can slice into the system." Shara gasped as a Commando medic checked the pressure bandage on her thigh and injected something. Early in the fighting Shara had taken a nasty phaser hit to her right thigh. They should have taken her back to one of the shuttles with the other wounded but she insisted that they continue on and take her with them.
There was the sound of phaser and blaster fire from up the corridor, Kira drew her weapon and stared at the open hatch half expecting to see a Cardassian or even a Jem'Hadar come charging through.
"If it can do it, now is a good time." Kira said looking down at the droid as it rolled towards the control console.
"He'll have to be manually connected, Cardassians don't use..." Shara's speech started to slur, "...don't use R2 compatible computer ports."
Kira kneeled down and tugged an access hatch off the main computer console. She stared at the innards. Apparently sometime between the construction of DS9 and now the Cardassians had changed their engineering somewhat. The innards looked totally alien to Kira.
"I don't know how to hook it in." Kira said. "They've changed everything!"
Shara nodded with a glassy eyed look on her face. "I'll...."
"What did you give her?" Kira asked the medic.
"Ordphal and Tricomaline." the medic replied. "It shouldn't have put her out that badly."
"I guess it's never been tested on Bajorans." Kira said glancing back down at the computer's innards.
The medic touched his helmet and nodded his head. "I'm on my way." he turned to Kira and said "They've got wounded, I've gotta go."
Kira nodded and the medic dashed down the hall towards the sound of the fighting.
Kira was about to start yanking things at random when something metal bumped her from behind and she was assaulted by a torrent of electronic beeping.
"What!?!" Kira demanded of the small droid wishing she could understand its electronic voice.
The droid beeped and warbled at her and pushed her again. Kira got the message and stepped aside.
"All right, if you think you can do any better be my guest."
The droid rolled up to the open hatch and immediately extended several mechanical arms and started tinkering around.
"Been special..." Shara slurred. "Designed to break into Cardassian systems... pretty good... pretty..."
Kira looked at Shara as she slumped in her chair, to be sure Kira went over and quickly checked to make sure she was breathing all right.
A commando came charging into the room. He was the 2nd or 3rd in command, Kira couldn't remember exactly but she did remember his face from the briefing. He looked over at Shara then at Fizz.
"We've secured the cell block and have driven most of the Cardassians back to their barracks. The cells are still all sealed with forcefields, we could probably blast them open, but that wouldn't be to good for the occupant and besides, we don't know which one to open."
"It's working on it." Kira said indicating the R2. "Unless we can get access to the central computer we'll have to go cell to cell. I can recognize Tom Riker, but none of the other Maquis."
The commando nodded. "We should be able to hold, unless they get help from the outside."
It was Kira's turn to nod. "How many casualties?"
"I don't have a firm count," the commando said. "It looks like six dead and maybe fifteen wounded."
Kira nodded again unsure what to say. It still amazed her, these peoples willingness to die for someone else's cause.
Fizz warped out a short stream of noise and Kira took that as her cue to check the computer.
"I've got access to the cells." she said. "Tom Riker is in D-4-19, there are almost a dozen other Maquis and a small scattering of Starfleet officers as well."
"We'll take all we can." the commando replied.
Kira quickly dumped the info into a Cardassian Padd and handed it to the commando. "Do you want me to go with you?"
"No," the commando replied. "Stay here and watch her."
Kira nodded, knowing a dismissal when she heard one.
The commando dashed out of the control room and Kira slumped down on the chair. Fizz chirped questioningly at her.
"See if you can bring the external sensors on line." Kira said. "I'd like to know what's going on above us."
Fizz beeped in acknowledgement and turned back to the open access panel.
"What's happening?" Shara asked trying to sit up.
"We've got limited access to the computer, they're freeing the prisoners now."
"How many?"
"Eleven Maquis, not counting Riker, four Breen and four Starfleet officers."
"Why did you free the Breen? They're not on our list. Neither are any Starfleet officers."
"The Breen because they would rather die fighting then remain in captivity, and the Starfleet officers are a little bonus, we're taking them."
There was a brief tense silence then Shara slowly nodded. "There's room enough I guess."
There was a slight commotion in the corridor, and then two commandos entered propping up a tall thin gaunt faced man with intense blue eyes and a scraggly beard. The man looked very confused.
"Whaaa?" he croaked then his eyes settled on Kira. "Kira..."
"Tom!" Kira gasped surprising herself at the depth of emotion she felt upon seeing this man again. She rushed forward and helped the commando's ease him into an empty chair.
"What's going on?" Tom Riker asked looking around and only recognizing one face. "Who are these people."
"Friends." Shara said trying to get to her feet but only managing to sit up straighter. "I'm Luv Shara, of the Maquis."
"Maquis!?!" Riker looked surprised. "I thought... I was told you were all dead."
"Not all." Shara said. "Not yet."
Riker looked at Kira. "And you?"
"I'm not a Maquis, if that's what you're asking." Kira said.
"And them?" Riker asked looking at one of the commandos.
"Friends." Shara said. "We couldn't have done this without them."
Just then the room started to fill up as commandos escorted or carried in the remaining prisoners.
Fizz started to chirp madly and Riker gave the small droid an intensely curious stare as Kira spun around and checked the computer.
"We've got external sensors." she announced then started to scan to see what was happening in the space above them.
Fedel nodded to the helmsman who eased the big Mon Calamari starcruiser closer to the planet. The ten surviving X-wings formed a blocking force midway between the Mon Creyal and the Galor Class Destroyer. The Y-wings, down to 6, patrolled the edges of the formation, only loosely organized in any fashion.
The battle had gone almost exactly as Commander Mojari predicted, which impressed Fedel tremendously. The fighters had closed and damaged the Cardassians shields with repeated torpedo volleys while the Mon Creyal closed. At optimum firing range the Mon Creyal opened up with it's heavy turbolasers forcing the fighters to scatter. The Galor had returned fire very effectively and it packed a fairly heavy punch burning through the Mon Creyal's shields in several places. But the big former pleasure ship had the mass to absorb the damage, as well as several backup shield generators to restore lost areas, while her own guns rocked the smaller craft mercilessly forcing it to withdraw badly damaged. Now it hung in space well out of weapons range licking its wounds. Fedel had no doubt that it had called for help and that more ships were on their way, but if everything else was going according to plan the shuttles should be preparing to lift-off any moment and their withdrawal could begin. If things did not go according to plan each snubfighter and each shuttle was already pre-loaded with the necessary navigation data to make their own jump back to Minos Korva. Eleven hours in the cockpit of an X- or Y-wing would strain the snub-fighters life-support systems, but they were pretty confident that they could hold out for the journey. The shuttles, even as crowded as they were would have a much easier time.
"I expected them to attack again." Fedel said to Mojari as the Calamari walked up and took his place beside Fedel.
"We dealt them a few blows that they'll be feeling for a while." Mojari said. "It's our losses in fighters that has me worried. There is no replacing them."
"Not here, in this universe." Fedel agreed.
A junior officer, a young round faced Lieutenant came trotting quickly up to them.
"Begging you pardon sir!" the Lietenant said to Fedel.
"What is it?"
"We have a communication from the planet, condition Dog, repeat Dog."
Fedel nodded and dismissed the young officer with a wave of his hand. Condition Dog was the code that only one flight of shuttles would be needed to transport prisoners, that meant they could leave as soon as the craft were recovered.
"So far so good." Fedel said.
"That's what worries me." Mojari said in his gravelly voice. "That's what worries me."
Kira scanned the Mon Creyal and noted that it had taken damage but was to unfamiliar with the ship to guess how much. The Galor on the other hand was beaten up pretty good based on the readings she was getting. She sent a quick computer query to the Galor hoping to bluff a status report out of the ship but the Galor's computer quickly rejected it.
"I demand to know what's going on!" someone shouted, a prisoner but Kira couldn't tell if it a Maquis or Starfleet. Two Breen pushed their way through the group, each held a Cardassian phaser and had two more slung over their shoulders. They were busy organizing a resistance out of the remaining prisoners.
"Please take me with you!" a short purple skinned humanoid pleaded tugging on Kira's leg. "Please!!"
"Come on!" A commando said grabbing the alien. "Leave her alone!"
The prisoner immediately started bleating in fear as the Commando forced it through the door with a less than gentle shove.
There was more Chaos as Commando's tried to herd the Prisoners out towards the shuttles. The wounded were already loaded and most of the walking wounded were in motion. It was the remaining few that were proving to be remarkably troublesome.
Shara pulled out a com-link and selected a channel. "This is Alpha team to Mon Creyal, Condition Dog, repeat Condition Dog."
Kira glanced at her then returned to scanning. She expanded the scan starting to check and see if Cardassian reinforcements were on their way. What she saw nearly stopped her heart.
"In the name of the Prophets..." Kira gasped.
"What?" Shara demanded. Riker moved away from a small group of men he was talking to and looked down over her shoulder.
"My god!" he breathed. "What are all those ships doing?"
"What!?!" Shara demanded angrily.
Kira turned, her face ashen. "We have to go, NOW!"
"What?"
"Call them up and tell them to get moving, we have to leave now! There is no time!"
Shara hobbled over to the computer and looked at it. Kira snatched the com-link from her hand and started talking into it.
"Mon Creyal, Mon Creyal, this is Major Kira, get moving, you're in danger, multiple Jem'Hadar attack craft closing at high warp."
"There must be two hundred." Shara said in disbelief. "Maybe more."
"Yes, and twenty are headed straight for us and will be in weapons range in less than ten minutes."
"Yes..." Shara nodded.
"This is the Mon Creyal," came Mojari's voice on the com-link. "What's going on down there, where is Shara?"
Shara snatched the com-link. "This is Shara, do as Kira says, retrieve all your fighters and prepare to flee. There are twenty Jem'Hadar ships on their way, ETA is less than ten minutes, and there are more behind them."
Riker was studying the sensor data. "Look at this, Fighters, Battleships, support craft, freighters, troop ships. It looks like an invasion armada and it's headed straight towards the Federation border."
"We have to go." Kira said. Riker and Shara nodded.
Shara changed channels on the com-link again. "This is Shara, we are in a code One, repeat code ONE."
Pandemonium erupted as commandos and prisoners started for their shuttles. Those prisoners who were initially balking found themselves swept along none to gently. Kira and Riker help Shara hobble out of the building. Riker stared at the Lambda shuttles for a moment before climbing up a boarding ramp and finding a seat next to Kira. Fizz rolled up and was secured in the rear.
The air was filled with the high whine of repulsors and the shuttle started to lift even before the ramp retracted. Riker took a look out of the front window as the craft pivoted and started to accelerate.
"I hope never to see this place again." he said.
Kira nodded in agreement. The shuttle rocked slightly as the craft pitched into a steep power climb.
"The last of the fighters have been recovered." Mojari reported to Fedel. "We're tracking the shuttles lifting off now."
Fedel nodded. Things were extremely tense on the bridge. The Jem'Hadar were an unknown fear. From what they had learned from Shara and others they flew small powerful craft and would attack and fight with a fanatic thirst for victory that would shame even the most devout Imperial stormtrooper.
The fact that twenty shiploads of them were about to drop in on them caused an ever-tightening twinge of fear deep in his guts.
"Sir!" came an excited shout from a crewman monitoring a sensor scope. "Multiple contacts have just appeared, 0466, and closing fast!"
"Move us to cover the shuttles." Fedel ordered.
"All weapons, stand bye to fire." Mojari ordered the gunnery officer.
Then the Jem'Hadar were upon them. Shields that could withstand the strongest hits from the heaviest turbolasers and proton torpedos were useless under the onslaught of Polaron Phasers.
Despite her great size the Mon Creyal trembled and shook as a few blasts bit deep into her hull. However the Mon Creyal was not without a bite of her own. Jem'Hadar ships flared and were consumed in balls of destruction as turbolasers hammered away at them. Several of the small Jem'Hadar attack craft broke off from the attack on the Mon Creyal and headed for the shuttles just emerging from the planets atmosphere.
"Don't even try." Kira said. "You'll never make it past those ships to get to the Mon Creyal."
"Agreed." T'Rik said from his seat. "Grevas, pull the nav data from the computer and compute the course to Minos Korva."
A blue beam flashed by the canopy and the shuttle rocked from the near miss.
"We're under attack!" Grevas shouted unnecessarily.
The shuttles broke up their formation and scattered as the Jem'Hadar ships dove through them seeking them with their deadly Polaron Phasers. One caught an unlucky shuttle as it dodged to avoid another.
T'Rik tossed the shuttle into a wild pitching spin as a phaser narrowly missed them.
"What about that nav data?" T'Rik cried.
"Almost got it!" Grevas replied.
Suddenly the Carashin lurched terribly and there was a tremendous explosion. The interior lights failed at the same time a control console exploded in flames.
"We're hit!" Grevas screeched in terror.
Kira looked around wild with panic. This ship was to unfamiliar, to strange. She didn't know what to do and was unable to help. It was that feeling of helplessness that really bothered her. That and Grevas's needless shouting of the obvious.
"We've got to make the jump to light-speed or we're all dead!" T'Rik snarled.
"The nav computer is fried!" Grevas shouted. "We have no navigation data!"
"What's going on!?!" Riker demanded from his seat next to Kira.
"Without navigational data we're helpless." Kira replied suddenly calm now that she knew that she was going to die.
"To hell with navigation, just go to warp, we'll worry about navigating later!"
"This ship doesn't use warp drive." Shara said. "Without the proper navigational data... WAIT!"
"What!?!" T'Rik snapped.
"Fizz, he's got navigational data, I downloaded it into him so I could use it later!"
"Get him up here!" Grevas shouted.
"FIZZ!!!" Shara shouted at the droid as it rolled towards the front of the shuttle. A blue beam flashed past and the shuttled was pitched again. Fizz came a few inches up off the floor and crashed into Kira's leg. She felt searing white-hot pain and knew immediately that the leg was broken.
The droid chirped something that might have been an apology then extended its computer probe and plugged into the Carashin's computer. Navigational data filled one of the smaller screens on Grevas's control panel.
"Got it!" Grevas exclaimed in glee.
"All right, here we go!" T'Rik said making a final adjustment in course just as a Jem'Hadar fighter lined them up in their sights.
"The last of the shuttles have entered Hyperspace." Mojari said across a smoke filled bridge to Fedel.
"Then it's time we left as well." Fedel said.
The Mon Creyal was a battered ship. All the work done in the last 4 months to modify the craft had been endangered by the attacking Jem'Hadar ships. The Mon Creyal's gunners did take quite a toll on the Jem'Hadar before falling silent, but true to their reputation they attacked without regard for themselves and one damaged Jem'Hadar ship had actually tried to ram them, striking a glancing but damaging blow across their underside.
"Course to Minos Korva ready." A crewman responded.
"Helm, make our run to lightspeed." Fedel ordered.
"Aye sir!"