Ships of the Fleet

Jarret S. Ronning's
Cardassia Prime
[ Act 1 ] [ Act 2 ] [ Act 3 ]

Act 1

Gul Erit Renat, Second Officer of the Second Order and Commander of the 82nd Heavy Cruiser wing strode down the Central corridor of his ship. Located amidships on deck 6 was the prison. Truthfully, it was much more than that. Taking up fully fifteen percent of the interal volume, it was a jail, dungeon and morgue all at once. Often the three elements mixed together seemlessly. As he walked further down the bleak hall the moans and cries of the imprisoned grew. Screams could be heard from chamber one, the first of four torture rooms on the deck. There was no morgue per se, but often the dead were left to rot with their cellmates. They'd offer up any and all the information they could, just to get away from their decaying friends. The smell, of course, was repugnant. Feces, urine, blood, vomit, and fear all mixed to make the air a stinking cocktail. Dark, dank, rotten and filthy, it was all orchestrated to make this place as uncomfortable as possible for those being questioned. Every race had a word for hell. They had all been spoken here.
Guards were posted every five meters even though no one had ever escaped from Renat's ship, the Eviserator(Terokena). One adventurous Breen had managed to disable his interrogater and kill several guards. He got as far as shuttle bay two before Renat had the area flooded with an anethestising agent. The Gul then gave him his wish and allowed him off the ship. It was through the airlock at high warp mind you, but there it is.
Finally Erit found what he was looking for. Cell 14b. Little more than a horizontal closet, it measured five feet by two feet. Few races except Ferengi could stretch out in these small areas. Renat hadn't had many Ferengi anyways, as he usually allowed them to buy thier way out.
No sound came from 14b as he asked it to be opened. The guard punched in the proper code, and the door slid open. A horrid smell came flowing out, and Renat nearly covered his nose before he remembered himself. Alittle stench is not something to bother a Cardassian of his standing. "Get her out of there."
The Ensign responded by squatting and looking inside the cell. He was greeted with a boot to the forehead, knocking him on his backside. He recoved himself quickly, embarrassed by this humiliation. "Starfleet bitch, you'll pay" He promised as he reached in again. Renat smiled as he noticed he was more cautious this time.
He pulled her out. She was naked except for her boots, and she looked horrible. Her hair was matted, she was bruised and bloody. One eye was swollen shut. Renat waved his hand in front of his face. "You need to take better care of yourself Captain Rees. You've really let yourself go."
She tried to get up, but her legs betrayed her. She lay helpless on the cold floor. "Inhuman bastard."
He cocked his head quizzically. "What a strange thing to say. Inhuman? Of course, proud of it. Bastard? I can assure you, my lineage is intact."
She looked away and said nothing.
"I have a proposal for you Captain. Become my comfort woman, or die. Which should it be?"
Renat thought he caught a twinkle of hope in her eyes. "I want to die."
"Indeed, I'm sure you do. Most people on this deck would say the same. But it's not really about what you want, is it?" He smiled widely.
She only looked away again, resigned to her fate.
"Well then, it's settled." He looked to the ensign. "Clean her up, and put her in my quarters." He noticed a smile break out on the young Cardassians face. "On the other hand, get a woman to do it. You seem abit too eager."
He started to walk back to the bridge. "I'll see you for dinner Danielle. Don't be late!"

Glinn Tenir Garak crept through the sawgrass of Minos Korva. Stealth was his ally here, he moved literally centimeter by centimeter. He was so quiet in fact, he came within two meters of an indigenous deer like creature before it snorted and ran off crashing through the bush. He was reminded of hunting with his Uncle on the high green hills of Cardassia's Nirna Province. His father would never take him on such a trek, but Uncle Elim would. Every time Uncle came back from wherever his dark duties with the Obsidian Order took him, he'd ask Tenir to go with him to Nirna. As much as Tenir loved the excursions, he was sure Uncle Elim enjoyed it even more. He seemed to revel in the wide open spaces. Tenir still considered Elim more a father than his real father ever could be. He missed him desperately.
Back then he had nothing like the equipment he had today. His ancient projectile weapon of 10 years ago was replaced by a Cardassian Type 3 Sniper Rifle. At just 1100 meters, he was well within its maximum range of over 5000 meters. With his experimental garb supplied by research and development he was almost undetectable to most sensors, unless the Starfleeters knew what to look for. They didn't. He was wearing a bodysuit which absorbed everything that might be detected by sensors. Body heat, co2 emmissions, etc. It was all passive. At most, it would appear to anyone scanning the area that there was a "hole" in the foliage. Kind of a dead spot. It was really quite impressive. Despite all his gear, however, it still came down to his skills. Those skills were at thier peak.
Coming to the edge of the cliff, he took out his binoculars and his scanner. It told him there were fifteen Starfleeters milling about outside the building, with a further 60 or so inside holding thier "secret" meeting. Switching to his bino's, he searched out his target. The high powered optics revealed alot of ensigns, lieutenants, some Commanders, and a balding Captain. His target, however, was nowhere to be seen. As the bright sun shone overhead, he hunkered down for a long wait.

Act 2

"She's in my quarters now."
Renat's first officer Solom Prenit didn't try to hide his displeasure. "Sir, are you certain that's wise?"
"No. It should be entertaining though."
Prenit looked at the wall behind Renat. He noted, not for the first time, the wide array of decorations in what would otherwise be another bland conference hall. Tapestries and paintings filled much of the available space. Most of these things had been "appropriated" from other races during the war. One large portion of the wall held a rather unusual conversation piece. Mounted there was a two meter square chunk of the hull of the Federation Starship "Victory". He was rather proud of it. When he turned back to Renat he noted the sly look he'd grown accustomed to. "Just be careful Sir."
"You know what I always say Prenit. I keep my friends close, and my enemies even closer."
Prenit chuckled. "Which am I?"
Renat only smiled.
He wisely decided not to pursue it, as the huge doors of the Conference hall slid open. In walked Commander Elis Kelim, Science officer. She was tall, and almost as big boned as Prenit himself. The best Science officer he'd ever known, without a doubt. Her politics, however, left something to be desired. She was not a full supporter of the war with the Federation/Romulan/Klingon alliance. She found war distasteful, and made it known as often as the opportunity presented itself. Good Cardassians didn't do such things, and the only thing saving her from a posting on some backwater colony was her skill as a Science officer, and Gul Renat himself.
Following her was the Head Engineering officer Grenl Rknal. His facial features were somewhat blunted, smoother than they should be. He was a full head shorter than most Cardassian men.
He was a competent engineer, a respectful officer, and he seemed to be a decent Cardassian citizen. Except he wasn't a Cardassian. Not completely. His mother had been human. Prenit checked his background thorougly, and found no reason not to think him loyal to Cardassia. Still, he kept a close watch. Prenit despised him.
Taking a seat to Prenit's left was Sub-Commander Willa Novoneer. She was the Chief Surgical Officer of the Eviserator. Prenit liked her well enough. She was stunningly beautiful, hated Klingons, and had properly repaired his phaser wounds on three separate occasions. She couldn't seem to fix his bad back, however. All in all, a good woman in his book.
Missing from the group was the subject of the meeting, Glinn Tenir Garak. Prenit had his missgivings about him too, as his Uncle was a well known traitor. Still, he'd proven himself time and again more than willing to kill Starfleeters and Klingons. Prenit gave the little Cardassian the benefit of the doubt. It wasn't like he had human genes in him or anything.
"Prenit, have you plotted our course to Minos Korva?" Renat asked, bringing the meeting to order. "Yes sir. We should remain undetected until we reach the sensor net at the edge of the Relic nebula. Once we emerge, all Starfleet will know we're there."
Rknal spoke up. "Is there any indication of new Starfleet ships at the planet?"
Renat shook his head. "Obsidian Order reports only two Miranda class ships orbiting, with the bulk of the eighth fleet 20-30 minutes distant. We won't need more than five minutes to dispose of the Starfleet ships, and a few seconds to pick up Garak at his rendevous co-ordinates."
"I wasn't aware there would be enemy ships. I should expect casualties." Novoneer said quietly.
Renat shrugged. "You're the C.S.O, do what you will."
"Two Miranda class?" Prenit sneered. "Don't plan on having to use the Holographic rooms for triage."
"At any rate," Renat said, "We're going to be in a fight. Let's make sure the ship's ready." He looked at Prenit. "Plot your course for the nebula. I want to be there in plenty of time."
"Yes Sir."

"Did you hear?" Rknal whispered.
"Hear what?" Novoneer asked.
Rknal looked furtively around the Mess hall, which was filling with Cardassian men and women coming off shift. "Chin'Toka!" He hissed.
Kelim rolled her eyes. "You don't have to whisper, the lowest waste extraction tech knows about it."
"You can't be too careful." Rknal said as he continued scanning the room. He was after all part human, and had to avoid seeming like a rumor monger.
"What? I can't hear you." Novoneer asked above the noise of the hall.
"He said you can't be too careful, whatever that means." Kelim said, trying to be helpful.
"Bah, he sees O.O operatives in every crewman who looks at him sideways. Anyways, Chin'Toka is just a minor 'front correction'. Or haven't you been watching the Cardassian News Service broadcasts?"
They both knew she was being ironic. The Cardassian News Service was the parrot of Central Command. When Chin'Toka was lost, a grevious blow by any standard, the C.N.S had said the front had become too long to be "manageable" and had to be "straightened" to shorten it and allow consolidation of Cardassian forces. It would be funny if it weren't so sad.
Kelim dug into her Kellian rubarb "What are you going to do if we lose?"
Rknal gasped. "Shhhhhhhhh!" He looked around in abject horror. "We're not going to lose!"
He whispered harshly. "What makes you say that?"
He straightened. "We are Cardassians. We can't lose to that rabble."
Kelim rolled her eyes a second time. "You're either ultra loyal, or ultra stupid. I'll believe the first, because I like you. Of course we can lose. Unless you believe the CNS, we just 'lost' Chin'Toka. We could lose Ultima Thule. We could lose Orias. We could lose Cardassia Prime. Hadn't you ever considered this?"
"Cardassia cannot lose!" Rknal said alittle too loudly. "Victory is in our genes. I tell you we'll be drinking kanar on Earth before the year's end!" He was almost shouting now.
"Who the hell are you talking to?" Kelim asked.
"You of course."
Novoneer was looking behind Kelim. "No, he was talking to Prenit. He just walked in a minute ago." Kelim turned and saw that indeed, Prenit was at a replicator near the back of the room. Rknal tried to protest, but she interrupted. "He'll always hate you you know. You could be the most loyal Cardassian in the Union, but you'll always have that human blood in your veins." She didn't know whether to scorn or pity him. Rknal actually looked at his arm, at the arteries exposed there. He glared at them, as if willing the humanity out of him. She decided to pity him.
"I'd go back to Cardassia Prime, I think." Novoneer said wistfully, breaking the silence at the little table.
Kelim only nodded. It was Novoneer's home. "I think I'd go home too. Do some real science. Not like this." She looked out at the streaking stars. "I'd go home too."
"What if there were no home?" It was Rknal, still staring at his arm. He looked up now. "What if the Klingons decide Cardassia needs to be punished?" He whispered. "What if the Romulans, those conspiratorial bastards, what if they decide Cardassians are just too warlike to be left intact? Have you considered that?"
They were both mildly surprised. Rknal had never spoken like that before. Kelim had to admit, she'd never thought about it. Not really. "But this coalition is led by the Federation. They'd never allow helpless people to be slaughtered."
Rknal shrugged. "You think they'd be able to stop them? Maybe. But after years of war, the more important question is...would they have the will?"
Novoneer felt a sudden chill. She imagined Klingon warriors sweeping through the streets of her home in Lakat City. Raping, looting and killing. Women and children running for their lives, buildings collapsing. She looked up to see Kelim lost in thought too. "You're right Rknal. We can't lose." She whispered.

She was just sitting there. Curled up in his upholstered chair. Not doing anything in particular, just staring. Neither said anything for a long time. Renat finally decided she wasn't going to start the conversation, so he'd better.
"You like these quarters?"
Nothing. Not even the blink of an eye. He didn't see how she couldn't like them. The living room was huge, ornately decorated in brilliant colors and fabrics. The stars could be seen out his large port window, although they were partially obscured now by the Relic Nebula. His bedroom was smaller, but no less impressive. He was especially proud of the Tholian silk sheets. He doubted she'd bothered to look. He tried another tack.
"Care for a beverage? We have a few human drinks. Beer, coffee....what's the other one called....Appla juice? Appa juice?" He walked over to the replicator, and checked the inventory. "Apple juice! That's it. A beverage found on Earth, made from crushing the apple fruit and processing etc etc. I'm sure you know all that. Would you like some?"
Nothing.
"You must be thirsty."
Nothing. He walked closer. "I know you don't get much to drink on deck 6."
Nothing. He stood and watched her. She looked much better now, her wounds healed by Doctor Novoneer. She was wearing a dress Renat had picked out himself. It used to belong to a Vulcan...What was her name? Sanek? S'panek? Bah, she was dead now anyways. Rees looked quite fetching in it, he had to admit. He watched her again in silence for a time.
Finally, "Water."
"Ahh, yes of course." He went immediately back to the replicator. "Cold? Cool? Lukewarm?" He asked.
"Water." She said softly.
"Right, not fussy. I like that Water, large glass. Cold. Red leaf tea for me, extra hot, three sugars."
He handed the glass to her. She drank greedily. When she was finished she simply handed the glass back without a word. "Aren't you going to say thank you?"
She looked at him for the first time since he'd walked in the room and said, "Klat Vu."
Renat was taken aback for a split second. "Your Cardassian is abit rusty, Captain. Klat Vu most certainly doesn't mean thank you. It's actually quite rude, it means..."
"I know what it means."
He raised his eyebrows slightly. "Hmm, well in that case, Klat vu to you too."
She went back into her staring mode. Renat got a chair and sat right in front of her. She averted her eyes and looked out the window.
"Listen, Danielle..."
"Don't call me that. Not ever."
"Danielle, I'm not going to make you do anything you don't want."
She snorted in answer.
"I want you to grow to like me. Most of my comfort women have. It's to thier benefit. Yours too."
It was quiet again. Then, "Do you enjoy it?"
He sipped his tea. "What?"
"Torture. Torturing people."
"I need information, you have it. I'll get it anyway I can. It's not about enjoying it."
"Liar."
He shrugged again. "I don't particularly like it, no. It's a means to an end. Some do take pleasure in it. Prenit for one. Not me."
She turned to look at him again. Hatred boiled in her eyes. "I was down there for a week." She whispered, shivering unconsciously. "I told you everything I know. I even made some things up. I begged you to stop. I had no more to tell you. You knew it, and yet you didn't stop it. You enjoyed it."
"No. You hadn't told me everything, and I knew you hadn't. You're too strong to give up after one day. I know, I know. The deuterium storage yards, the new shipyards hidden near Vulcan, the general specifications of the Prevaricate class ships, intricate explainations of the quantum torpedo. That was especially helpful. We've been having trouble with the guidance system. You've solved that now."
He paused. "There was something else. You told me a great deal, but I have a sense about these things. There was something you held onto. I could see it. Even when you were delerious with pain, there was something you wouldn't give up. That's why I couldn't stop." He knelt beside her. "What was it Danielle? What wouldn't you tell me?"
Staring out the window again, Renat heard her mumble something. "What? What did you say?"
"I said....Klat Vu."
"Yes. Of course."

Act 3

Garak was bored. Absolutely and totally. The Obsidian Order, thorough as always, had said the final meeting should've let out at 1800 hours. It was 1822, and still no Admiral.
He'd been laying on the ground for three hours now. It had rained, then became unbearably hot(his sensor told him it was 41 degrees C.) then it rained again. Even the rain was hot. He'd ate the last of his rations, tracked every crewman and ensign that had walked through his crosshairs. He'd checked and rechecked his weapon and the tripod it was resting on. Then he checked it again. He was still bored.
He'd have preferred the Admiral to walk out to his death hours ago. Better early than late. It would mean he'd have to evade Starfleeters till his ship arrived, but still....
He sipped some water from his canteen and looked through his scope again. Panning back and forth, he still saw nothing was really different than it had been for the last few hours. If he held to form, the Admiral and his lackeys would emerge from the main doors he was looking at now. They'd slowing make thier way to the squat building to the south, chatting all the way. Normally they'd eat supper there, then hold further talks. Not today.
He checked the time again. 1823. One minute?! He was about to start counting the veins in a leaf by his face when he finally saw what he'd been waiting for. Admiral Heinrich Von Manteuffel emerged, trailing his lower ranked henchmen. Garak already had him centered in his sight. He slid his trigger finger to his left wrist and pressed a button.

"Were getting his signal Sir." Commander Kelim reported.
Renat nodded to Prenit. "Take us out Ensign." Prenit ordered.
"Yes Sir."
Renat walked up the three steps to his Command chair. "Fire on any sensors within weapons range as we pass."
"Aye."
Renat looked around his bridge. He had a good view. His perch was directly behind Navigation. To his left was Tactical where Ensign Herink sat in place of Glinn Garak. Looking right about three meters away he could see Commander Kelim busy at her Science post. Behind him to his left, the Engineering station. Behind to the right were spare stations, usually used for damage control. Prenit had his own chair below Renat's at his right hand. Directly behind him, up eleven steps, was his office. The deck was dominated by the huge viewscreen, and of course by Renat himself. There were none of the decorations that adorned most of the other areas of the ship.
"Firing disruptors." Herink reported as they passed close to a sensor platform. The amber glow of the Spiral wave disruptor briefly filled the screen.
Prenit chuckled. "Somewhere there's a sensor platform being built that's supposed to go to Sector such and such that's going to have to be diverted here."
Renat smiled.
"Sir!" Kelim yelled.
"What Commander?"
"Trouble. There's more than two frigates orbiting the planet. I'm reading a Defiant class ship too."
Prenit ran over to her display and hung his head. "Damned Obsidian Order! She's right. Two Miranda class frigates and a Defiant class escort." He squinted at the screen. "Sir, it's...the Defiant herself!"
Renat said nothing for a few seconds. The Defiant. Dammit. That tipped the scales. It would be a near thing, but the Defiant was a legendary ship, and rightly so. Renat had and evil feeling about it. Despite all that, he still had a man on that planet. He wouldn't be left behind.
"Best speed. Take us in."
Prenit walked quickly back to Renat. "Sir!" He hissed. "We're going to fight?"
His answer was non-chalant. "If we have to." Prenit was the only one on his bridge that was allowed to question his orders. Even then he only questioned once.
"Yes Sir."

His breathing and heartrate slowed. His awareness and reaction time sharped to a level that a Jem Hadar soldier would be envious of. If they felt such an emotion at all. Garak was a finely tuned instrument of the Cardassian Union. There was now a Bajoran Colonel and several Starfleet security personel milling around. Garak also recognised the changling from Terok Nor. He noticed the 'god' was the only one who seemed to be paying any real attention to security. Despite that, as the Admiral stepped into his line of sight he knew nothing could stop him now.
Except his Uncle. "Uncle Elim?" He whispered. He looked away and blinked, then went back to the eyepiece. There he was, talking with the very Admiral he was charged with killing. Now his Uncle moved in between them, blocking his shot. Glinn Garak had a decsion to make. The State or the self. Killing his Uncle would probably do more for Cardassia than killing ten Admirals. He had to decide quickly, as the group was moving again.
"Mr Garak, thank you for all your expertise. The Federation and her allies will find it most helpful."
"If I can be of any more assistance, by all means...."
"Certainly." The Admiral began to take a step away.
"Oh, and Admiral."
He stopped and stepped back. "Yes?"
"I hope that when the Federation and her valiant co-horts finally do claim victory over this trecherous Dominion alliance that I will be...remembered...for the help I've given."
Admiral Von Mantueffel smiled thinly and said, "Of course." He turned to walk away.

"Weapons and shields at maximum Sir."
"Weapons range?" Prenit asked.
"60 seconds." Herink paused. "Sir, I feel it my duty to inform you that the Starfleet ships out gun us by a ratio of 1.5 to one."
The bridge fell into silence. Kelim shook her head sadly and chuckled. Renat finally spoke. "How many times have you seen duty on this bridge Herink?"
Herink felt panic. "Sir?"
"YOU HEARD ME!"
"Sir, yes Sir. I believe this is my eigth bridge shift Sir!"
"Then perhaps you're unaware I'm an intelligent individual. I've forgotten more about tactics and Starfleet strengths and weaknesses then you'll ever know. I'll tell you this once. Don't EVER tell me the odds again. If you're frightened, go to your quarters and crawl in bed with a picture of your mommy. Do you need to see your mommy Ensign?"
"Sir, no Sir. Thank you sir!"
Prenit made a note to smack Ensign Herink on the back of the head when this was over.
Despite the fact he'd just dressed down Herink for it, Renat had been thinking the same thing. This was Defiant. He probably couldn't fight his way to the planet. There had to be another way. He sat brooding, while his disciplined Cardassian mind went to work on the problem. It hardly ever let him down. "Prenit. I have an idea."
Prenit smiled. He always liked his ideas.

Glinn Garak exhaled slowly. He'd risked everything and waited. His uncle was no longer blocking the shot. The next seconds passed like minutes. Everything happened very slowly, at least as far as Garak was concerned. As the Admiral cleared his Uncle fully, his finger rested on the trigger. The Admiral's left foot came down, and his right came up. A Starfleet Lt. blocked his view again. It wasn't a problem. From over a kilometer away Garak squeezed the trigger. While Garak was finishing speaking with the Admiral, Colonel Kira was busy talking with her ship. "Colonel, we've detected one Galor class Cruiser heading directly to the planet."
"Understood Chief." She replied calmly. "Can you intercept?"
"I don't see how we couldn't. They're headed right for us."
"We're on our way up. Prepare to beam us...."
There was a bizarre sound. It was as if someone had dropped a couple of fat Earth watermelons from a height. Kira turned towards it, and was horrified. Lt. Jameson and Admiral Von Mantueffel were both still standing there. Both, however, were missing something. Thier heads. Garak and others who'd been standing close by were covered in bits of bone and heated grey matter. Before either hit the ground, Odo had formed into an eagle and was taking flight to scan for the killers. Terrified people were scrambling for cover, or searching nearby. Everyone except Garak and Kira. Kira watched him walk over to her as he wiped the mess from his face.
"That was most unpleasant."
Kira didn't answer. She'd seen it all before.
"They're looking in the wrong place."
"I agree." Kira said. "You've been a sniper in your time haven't you?"
"Actually yes. A good one too. Now, if you were an assassin...not that you ever were mind you, where would take your shot?"
She scanned the surroundings as the panicked ran all around her. Then she saw it. "There, that ridge. It's perfect."
"Indeed." Only a kilometer or so. Well within the range of any Cardassian with a decent sniper rifle."
"Cardassian? What about Dominion? Or Flaxian?"
"No, not really there style is it? We're looking for a Cardassian I'm afraid."
Kira snagged a Lieutenant and instructed her to beam search parties to the ridge. Then she touched her commbadge. "Chief, are there any Cardassian lifeforms on the ridge a kilometer east of my position?"
Pause. "No, I get nothing. The only Cardassian on the planet is Mr. Garak."
Garak had finally gotten most of the blood off his face. "I'm certain I didn't do it."
"You'd better get up here Sir, the Cardassians are hailing us."
Kira and Garak exchanged a glance. "I'll wager these two events are related." Kira said.
"Very astute." He replied with a straight face. Glinn Garak noted with no small satisfaction the pink mist that still hung in the sun. The shot had passed right through the unfortunate lieutenant's head and right into the Admiral's, just as he'd known it would.
Now the hard part. He was about to leave his position when he heard multiple beam ins nearby. "Defiant, my name is Gul Renat, commander of the Terokena."
"You're not getting to that planet." It was a Bajoran Colonel.
Prenit laughed out loud. "Starfleet must be desperate. A Bajoran woman commanding a starship?!"
If it bothered the Bajoran, she didn't let on. "Chief, lock weapons."
Renat held up a hand. "I don't think that's a good idea."
"I don't care what you think."
What a shock, he thought idly. An uppity Bajoran. "You will shortly. Bring them out."
She saw them then. Ten Starfleet officers were led onto the bridge in shackles.

Act 4

Glinn Garak slid up to a huge tree, behind a woman Starfleeter. Raising his silent weapon and fired once into her back. She hit the ground face first, and Garak jumped lightly over her body. He was hoping to break through their perimeter, otherwise he'd soon be surrounded completely.
To his right he heard a human yelling. "Ensign Tooms?" Garak shook his head. Too easy. The man called again. "Lisa? Where are you?" Garak spotted him standing 100 meters away beside a tree barely big enough to cover him. No matter. He fired through the tree. The officer toppled over into the weeds. He congratulated himself and kept moving, the way seeming clear now.

The Starfleeters, all officers, were lined up in front of Renat. There were two Bolians, two Vulcans, a Bajoran, and five Humans. One of the humans was a female Captain Kira thought she recognized.
"I'll make this simple, so even a Bajoran can understand. Allow us within transporter range..." He pulled out his phaser and put it to the temple of one of the Vulcans "and I won't shoot anyone." The young Vulcan showed his horror by raising an eyebrow.
Colonel Kira wasn't ready to give in to those kind of terrorist tactics. "You're bluffing."
"Are you sure?"
Kira's eyes never left Renat's. She studied him for a long moment. "No. No I'm not."
"Then I think your duty is clear."
Prenit leaned close. "Just in case I forget to tell you later Gul...great plan."
"Thank you."
"On the other hand." Kira said, "those officers realized the dangers when they joined Starfleet. Death would be a better end for them than the labor camps I'm sure they're destined for."
Renat shrugged.
"I'm sure you're right." He fired into the head of the Vulcan ensign, who fell like a stone at his feet.
"NO!" Kira shouted. There was pandemonium on the bridge of the Defiant. A Klingon screamed some meaningless drivel about honor. Some red haired enlisted man demanded they fire on them. Someone else in a blue tunic was calling him a monster.
It hardly registered. He glanced down at the fallen Vulcan and said,
"I have blood on my boots Colonel. It seems you have it on your hands. Care to test me again?"

Things had deteriorated for Garak. Stealth was out the window completely now. He'd been set upon by three Starfleeters, then six, then ten. His pickup was three minutes late. He'd decided simply to run, dodging orange phaser blasts all the way. He noted grimly they were set on kill, as tree splinters were imbedded into his face from near misses. He was physically exausted. So was his weapon. This rifle was not meant for sustained combat, and it's power cell was nearly empty. Despite all that, he'd managed to put some distance between himself and his pursuers, and crouched in a patch of long grass to assess the situation.
He was now over two kilometers away from his hide at the ridge. He'd managed to kill or wound six of the enemy, but there were many more. Too many. He lifted his head above the grass and scanned around desperately for a good place to make a stand, and was greeted with another phaser blast. The first missed was close enough to singe the hair on top of his head. The second pummelled the ground in front of him, kicking dirt into his eyes. A though flashed across his mind. "It's over". He threw himself hard to one side, but the next shot caught him squarely on the thigh. He greyed out as a wave of pain washed over him. The stink of burned flesh filled his nostrils. He gagged and retched, more from the pain than the smell of it. He had the presence of mind to drag himself to a small outcropping of rocks and inspect the injury. When he saw it, he knew he was in trouble. "Oh no."
There was a hole at the thickest part of his leg, through bone and all. He could see the grass underneath. "At least I won't bleed to death." He thought vaguely. The heat of the energy had cauterized it completely. He was slowly slipping into shock, but had enough of his faculties remaining to hear someone creeping up to the rocks.
"Renat!" He hissed through the pain. "Where are you?"

"Take us to transporter range Ensign." Renat said smoothly. "Oh and Colonel?"
"What?" She hissed.
"Don't try any Starfleet transporter tricks. I'm moving the rest of my guests to a specially shielded area. You won't be able to detect them, much less beam them out when we lower our shields." He held his weapon to a human's head. "Colonel, do you understand?"
"I understand."
"I love an obediant Bajoran. Good. Helm, let's go."
They slipped past the enemy ships unmolested.
"Transporter range in one minute Sir."
Renat indicated Herink should cut the transmission to Defiant. "Let's hope we're in time."

Complete silence. Even the birds were still. It was so hot, he could see waves of heat rising like a mirage from the rocks around him. Yet Garak wasn't sweating. He knew he was in shock. He wondered what the Starfleeter would do to him. He'd killed several of his collegues. If someone had done that to Garak....
He didn't have to wait and wonder long. He knew his senses were becoming blunted, because he was unaware anyone was near until a figure stood over top of him. He tried to raise his rifle, but his arms were useless. It was a woman. She said something he didn't understand. "What?"
"Are you ready to die?" She repeated.
He tried to see her face, but couldn't. The blazing sun was in his eyes. "I need to see your face."
Pause. "Why?"
"I want to see who....kills me. I can't see your face."
"Shut up. Shut up you Goddam spoonhead! My friends are dead."
He saw the sillouette above him raise a weapon to his face. Garak was on the edge of unconsciousness. "Please. Don't." Using the last of his energy he managed to raise a hand, as if to block the shot. It actually blocked the sun, and he saw her. She was unbelievably young, maybe 19. She had red hair and big, green eyes. Tears streamed down her cheeks.
"Don't look at me!" She snarled.
Garak didn't say a word, but held his hand in place. She knocked it away with her rifle. Garak put it back up. "My name....Is Tenir."
"Shut up!" She was sobbing uncontrollably now. "Shut up damn you!" He could see the weapon shaking in her hands. She seemed to steady herself for a second. "Look away!" A few more seconds passed. "Look away!" She screamed.
"Please....." He slipped into unconsciousness.
Relieved of his gaze, the young woman put the end of the rifle directly against the Cardassians...Tenir's head. She closed her eyes and prepared to pull the trigger.
"You can't do it." A voice said behind her.
She swung around, only to see another Cardassian. He had his weapon pointed at her. It was that Cardassian that had been talking with the Admiral. "Why not?" She turned back towards the unconscious young man at her feet.
"Because." He said as he walked closer, lowering the phaser. "It would haunt you all your days. Believe me. I know."
"This...man killed some of my friends. He deserves the same."
Garak shrugged. "You're probably right. But the way you're about to do it is murder, not war. There's a difference. It's the difference we're fighting for."
She laughed darkly. "Right now I need a better reason than that. 'Cause it sure feels right."
"I'll give you two reasons. One. He's my Nephew."
She turned and stared in disbelief.
"Two." He raised his weapon again.

"There's Starfleeters all over down there." Herink reported.
"Do you have him or not?" Prenit demanded harshly.
There was an infuriating five second pause before..."I have him!"
"By all means." Renat said in a level voice. "Beam him directly to the surgical ward."
"Yes Sir! Right away!" Herink almost shouted.
"Navigation." Prenit ordered. "Take us out, on a direct heading for the nebula. Best speed."

Garak allowed himself a small smile as his favorite nephew was transported to relative safety. "I'll forget this happened if you will."
"I'll never be able to forget this." She added an exclaimation mark by smashing the but of her rifle to the spot where Glinn Garak had laid only seconds before.
Elim looked up to the sky and wished Tenir Godspeed, even though it was a decidely un-Cardassian thing to think.

Act 5

The Crest of the 82nd Heavy Cruiser wing was replaced with an image of an aging Cardassian man. Fat, balding, slouched in his padded chair, he breathed with obvious effort. Yet looking at him for only a few seconds anyone would be able to see wisdom beyond even his many years. His name was Ranin Renat. One time Legate of the Second order, Commander of the invasion fleet in the first war between Cardassia and the Federation, the fleet that cost Starfleet so dearly. Liberator of Ultima Thule, defender of the State, and Erit Renat's father.
"Papa," Erit said fondly, "You look well."
Ranin's laugh turned into a wet, ugly cough. "You can't lie to me Erit, I'm an tired fat old man who's outlived any possible usefulness. They should've taken me out behind the waste extraction towers and shot me long ago."
"Father, you know I hate to hear that kind of talk."
"I've always given you the truth, I'm not about to lie to protect your feelings now."
Erit changed the subject. "How's mother?"
He snorted. "She's making a career of complaining about the restrictions the war puts on her. In private of course, she's not that senile yet. Yesterday she went on for two hours about not being able to get Bolian tonic water anymore. Bolian tonic water!" He shook his head in mock sadness. Erit knew his father worshipped his mother, and protected her at every turn.
There was a pause, then "what is it?"
"What?" Erit asked.
"What's troubling you?"
"Can't a son just call to see how his father is doing?"
"He can, and you have. Now, what is it. Don't make me waste some of my remaining breaths asking you again."
He smiled. He always seemed to know when he was bothered by something. "I killed a Vulcan today."
Ranin was unimpressed. "Only one? That would trouble me too."
"No father, it's different."
"It's never different."
"This one was unarmed. He was a prisoner. I've done it before, but it seems to get into my mind lately. He was defenseless. His hands were tied!"
"Did you do it for pleasure?"
Erit cocked his head. "I'm not that way. You know that."
"Then why?"
He explained the entire mission to him, right up to the point they reentered the nebula and made good thier escape.
"It was the Bajoran's fault, Erit. You see that don't you." It was more a statement then a question.
"I'm not sure."
There was a long pause. His fathers eyes bored into him. Erit felt five years old again. "My body may be betraying me, but my mind is still sharp as it ever was. So if the war has been called off without my knowledge, I'll be somewhat upset. There is still a war is there not?"
"Yes father."
"Then anything you do to further the cause of the State is allowable. I thought I raised you well enough to realise such elementary things."
"I understand that on one level, but on another it....feels wrong."
There was a loud CRASH from the other end of the transmission. For a second Erit though the old man had fallen over in his chair. But he hadn't. A large stand that had housed several exotic plants was on the floor behind his chair. He'd knocked it over with his cane in a rage. He hadn't seen anger like that from him since he was a teenager, when he'd been caught attempting to monitor Obsidian Order data transfers.
"Boy, you listen to me now. You are describing a human weakness. Compassion. It's thier problem. NOT YOURS. Do you suppose for a second a Klingon would think such things as he defiles your wife? Would a Romulan stop himself from lining up and shooting Cardassian women and children? Your children? Don't ever forget for one second, NOT ONE SECOND what you fight for. The next time you have such a crisis of 'conscience' think of the family, of all the familys you protect. Because it is you, and men like you who are the thin barrier between slavery and freedom."
With that he cut the connection abruptly. Renat stared wide eyed, unblinking at the crest that once again filled the screen.
He realised, after a time, that he'd needed to hear exactly what his father had told him. He resolved himself to never show such weakness again. For his family, and for all Cardassia. He would be feared.