Jarret S. Ronning's
Cardassia Prime
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His Father's Son
Teaser
It became silent as Gul Erit Renat strode into the stark conference room, oozing confidence. He had the look of a man who was completely in control, and well into his element. Motioning the other Guls to their seats, he remained standing at the head of the table. Renat gazed at each of them, only for a moment. He seemed to measure them; he always seemed to be measuring. Testing their will with just a look. He found none of them wanting. Finally his silky tenor voice broke the stillness.
"We have been given a special mission by Central Command. On first inspection it will look like suicide." He began to walk around the table. "I however, do not believe in suicide, at least not for myself. I prefer to leave it to captured Klingons." This drew polite chuckles from some of the more sycophantic members of the group. "Computer, display Renat Tactical plan beta two alpha."
The view-screen came to life, displaying a large Starfleet space-station. Overlaid on it were several amber arrows of different sizes, pointing to various sections of the station. "This, is Starbase 21. It is of course the Federations largest type. Housing close to 100,000 officers and crew, it is a dry-dock and supply point for two Federation fleets. Not to mention the lynchpin that holds entire Kalindra section of the front together. If this station were to be destroyed, not only would Starfleet have to find another way to supply her fleets, but it would also rip a hole a sector wide in their front. This would open a path to earth that they would be compelled to defend. Where would they get the ships for this? Places like Chin'Toka."
Renat was still walking around the table, watching. None of the Guls had made any faces...yet. He gave them credit. "We will have my 82nd Heavy Cruiser wing available, with her 24 Galor type 3's. A further 72 Galors of varying types from the 14th, 22nd and 119th Cruiser wings. 256 Hideki class scouts from the 1st, 3rd, 8th, and 11th scout groups. 250 Jem Hadar fighters will also be at our disposal." He paused again. "I'd ask for your opinion but I already know what you'd say." He pointed. "Gul Mekall, you'd say it's an impressive fleet. But hardly enough to knock out a monstrosity like that station." Mekall started to protest, but was quieted by Renats raised hand. "Gul Terretk, you wonder why the Dominion couldn't be bothered to send a few of those giant Battle-cruisers of theirs to strike fear into the very hearts of those Starfleeters." Terretk looked suitably impressed. Renat found Gul Revik's eyes. Revik, you're thinking you should've gone to the washroom, because this suddenly feels like a long meeting." Muted laughter this time, as the Cardassians wrestled with what they'd been presented with. The silent majority thought, "this IS suicide." Renat stroked the new moustache he'd been trying out. He thought it made him look too much like Gul Macet, but his first officer Prenit had told him it made him look even more fearful. That was good enough for him. Unless Prenit was just trying to get his head up his ass again...He could never be sure.
He continued. "As I said, I'm not personally in favor of suicide. Believe me, there are other circumstances here. The Obsidian Order has learned that the fourth fleet, normally operating out of the very sector our Starbase is in, will not be there during our attack. It's planning an assault near ChinToka. Thus the reason there will be few JemHadar with us. They're needed elsewhere. The Federation fifth fleet will also be otherwise occupied. So, what does that leave us? One Starbase, and a few half repaired Starfleet and Klingon ships in dry-dock."
It was silent as night on the deserts of Ultima Thule. Finally Mekall spoke (he knew it would be Mekall). "Gul, it's a sizeable force, no doubt about that. We'll also have one of the best tacticians in history to guide us. However, even an unescorted Starbase such as that is too much for us, even with you Renat. Dozens upon dozens of torpedo launchers, planetary type phasers." He paused, as if still trying to get his mind around it. "They will launch hundreds of Peregrin fighters." Pause. "I haven't said this often before, as a matter of fact I don't know that I've ever said it. It can't be done." Now that someone else had spoke, the rest of the Guls started chattering in a chorus of negativity. Renat half listened while he smiled his knowing smile. He allowed it to go on for a time, then held up both hands. "Gentlemen, please. I'm not finished." Now his smile broke out completely. Not a smile of genuine mirth, but a smile of evil, dark pleasure. "The Obsidian Order has given us something with which we cannot lose." He waited for an aggravating moment. "We have their prefix codes."
Bedlam. Choruses of laughter and shouts of joy. Backs were slapped and kanar flowed freely. What a find! Truly, this was something that could turn the war again in their favor, Dominion or no Dominion. With the prefix codes, the Starbase would be without shields. Even a thing such as that couldn't stand before their Task Force for very long without shields. It was quite possibly the best news of the war.
Mekall shouted over the noisy atmosphere. "How Gul!? How did they do it?"
"Mekall, you know better than to look a gift trager in the mouth."
"Some poor little Starfleet Commander probably gave it up for a Taspar egg and some water." Skirar said.
Revik, ever the questioner, spoke up. "Renat, how do we know it's genuine?"
"I've been informed that several prefix codes were intercepted. Starfleet seems rather confident in their encryption process. Overconfident perhaps. Unlike Cardassians, who deliver such sensitive material by courier. Yesterday one was tested on a Federation outpost near Minos Korva. It worked. There are apparently others, but Central Command has decided, rightly I think, that we should use this one next. We don't want to risk Starfleet catching on to our possession of these codes by trying them on a few other minor targets.
"Sir." It was Mekall again. "A Federation station is unlikely to accept any transmissions from a Cardassian fleet. How will we deliver the codes?"
"We have a captured runabout fitted with holographic emitters and tricorders to give false life sign readings. They will see a runabout, a crew, and detect humans aboard. The Cardassian's life-signs onboard will be masked. They will tell the Starfleeters they have important information to deliver that cannot wait for docking."
"Ingenious. There are still those fighters to deal with." Revik commented.
"Yes." Renat walked back to the display as the room finally settled into a semblance of decorum. Other races thought Cardassians cold, unfeeling. Untrue. Cardassians could be truly joyful, especially when the defeat of their enemies appeared nearer. "They will be left to the Jem Hadar."
"Gul." Revik said as he too walked to the display. He pointed. "We could use a wing of the Heavy Cruisers, maybe my 14th, in a stand off position. Here. Outside the range of the Station. Have the JemHadar hit them on the z-axis, while we engage them at a distance."
Renat was impressed. "I'd thought that exact thing Revik. But why use such firepower on weak little fighters? The quicker we're done with the Station the better. Besides. Torpedoes cost Cardassia money. Why not use up the Jem Hadar?"
Revik could only smile and nod as he retook his seat.
"Anything further?"
Nothing.
"This attack plan is already being sent to your ships. We depart tomorrow, pending the arrival of the 22nd. Rally at Arawath at 0600 hours. Get some sleep gentlemen."
* * *
"Hello my love." Renat whispered softly.
His wife, Silim gaped at him over the subspace channel. "Erit! I can't believe it! Oh, I'm so happy to see you."
"I'm sorry it's been so long, but subspace is rather restricted right now." He smiled widely. "You look wonderful."
"You're lying! It's three a.m. here. I look awful."
"You're water to a dying man."
She blushed, then rolled her eyes. "I miss you so much. When are you coming home?"
"Not for awhile I'm afraid. We're a bit busy with the war you understand."
"Now don't get sarcastic with me, it's a valid question."
He sipped his red leaf tea. "It is, and I apologize. Not anytime soon, anyway."
"Well, it'll have to do I suppose." She said as she wrapped her nightgown tight. "Have you heard from Terit?"
Terit was Renat's oldest boy. Man, he corrected. He was a man now. Eighteen years old, and just out of Military College. Renat had made sure Terit was assigned to an area unlikely to see action. "Actually no, not yet. I do know he's been placed at a new listening post near the Celtris system."
She took on her concerned mother tone. "That's not near any fighting is it?"
"Not nearly my love. I took care of it. He'll be safe."
"Is he in charge there?"
Renat's chest puffed almost imperceptibly. "Indeed he is. As the only commissioned officer there, he's automatically the ranking man. He has twelve people under him."
"That's wonderful dear. He takes right after you, you know." She stopped for a second. "He's so proud of you Erit."
"I know. I am of him too."
"Have you ever told him so?"
Renat shook his head. "Of course not."
"Men."
"He knows sweetheart. Why make it uncomfortable?"
She changed the subject to their other son, Javis. "He's growing a bit now you know. He'd be up to your waist."
Renat tried to show interest. "Is that right?"
"Mmmm hmmm. Oh! He got 62 percent on a language test the other day!"
"Oh." Pause. "Do you remember when Terit scored perfectly in that class? Was it that one? He was the first to do that, wasn't he?"
Silim crossed her arms. "We're talking about Javis dear."
It wasn't Renat's favorite subject. He was 12 years old, but was about as tall as a normal 7-year-old. He was also about as smart as one. Renat did admire his effort, but he always fell short. Though he'd never said it to anyone, he considered him an embarrassment.
"He's always asking about you. 'When's Papa coming home? Where is Papa now? Has Papa gotten any more medals?' I have to tell him I don't know all the time, but he asks every day anyway."
"Well, tell him I don't have anymore medals. Not yet."
She frowned. "Do you have something big coming up?"
"No." He lied. It did no good to worry her. "Just an escort mission. Far behind the line. Nothing to worry about."
"Hmmm. That's good." She stopped, thinking. "Do you suppose I should send some food to Terit? Maybe some Delevian chocolates? I have some here actually. They're so much better than those replicated ones."
"I suppose you could, if you want his men to laugh at him."
She snorted a protest. "What do you mean?"
He parodied a young Cardassian soldier. "Mama sending her little boy chocolates.... Oooooo mama's boy needs his care package. Maybe mama can come and tuck him in, keep those nasty Klingons away with her frying pan!"
She held up her hands in protest. "All right! No food for my boy!"
They talked like that for another hour or so, until it was time for Renat to go to sleep. Satisfied he'd consoled her about Terit and himself, he dreamt of nothing, confident of a crushing victory in the morning.
* * *
Station Commander Tenir Renat's personal log, time index: 1411.2. I'm not sure I know what I'm doing. I graduated a month ago. I shouldn't have graduated for another two months. The College's Chief Inquistor felt I was ready now. That's no great feat of course, forty others graduated early. While the Dominion can breed more Jem Hadar whenever they need them, Cardassian mothers have to do it the old fashioned way.
I'm an Ensign in charge of men who've been serving for anywhere from three months to fourteen years. My Sergeant, Felrik is the most senior man. He's twice my age. He's huge. Highly intelligent, and a great organizer. He scares me to death. Apparently he's only here because he had "inappropriate relations" with a rather important Gul's youngest daughter. He's told the men "His daughter seemed to think my relations were absolutely appropriate." They seem to trust him implicitly. As for me, they feel I'm a half-schooled child. Which of course I am.
We received the last of our shield generators today. I had no idea how to install them. Thankfully Felrik saw this and took care of it for me, without a fuss. So we now have shields, though I don't think we'll ever need them. That's just fine with me. We began listening yesterday. Mostly we intercept encrypted computer babble, which we forward to the Obsidian Order. What they do with it, I don't know. Don't much care either.
I just don't want to embarrass myself. It's a goal I know I can't achieve. Actually, what I fear more is shaming my Father. No guarantees there either.
Well, it's time to eat. Hope I don't slop soup down my chin. End Log. Encrypt. Save.
* * *
Renat's men sat around a simple table, gorging themselves. "He's green as a my little nephew's shite." Corporal Chik said as he stuffed himself with more Wisslek loaf.
"How old is he anyway?" Gril asked. "Sixteen? He's a boy."
Felkik had had enough. The fact he agreed with them was irrelevant. This kind of thing could be bad for morale. "Soldier, that boy is your Commanding officer. He decided to go to Cardassian Imperial Naval College, you were too lazy to do that. Thus, he's your boss."
Gril was unimpressed. "Why couldn't we get someone with experience?"
"You really are dumber than I thought Gril. Everyone with experience is on Galor class ships fighting for the greater glory of Cardassia. The stupid, horny and inexperienced are given shit jobs behind the front."
Erigaset, who'd obviously decided to become the outpost's cut-up chimed in. "Which are you Sarge?"
Felkik, without batting an eye said, "I'm not inexperienced."
Chik began choking on a chunk of loaf. Gril slapped him on the back, dislodging it.
Felkik laughed heartily. "I forgot to mention the fat ones. They get sent to do the shit jobs too, right Chik?"
Chik, with a tone of deep respect. "Screw you. Sir. And pass the yamok sauce."
"That will be your epitaph."
* * *
Renat could hear them laughing as he walked through the tunnels of the planetoid Birgan Bok. Stopping just outside the entrance to the mess hall (the soldiers called it the mess hole) he checked himself to make sure all was in order. Satisfied, he walked in as confidently as possible. It fell silent. Renat cringed inwardly, as he made his way to the replicator. "Wisslek loaf meal with a Taspar egg and red leaf tea." He cringed again. His voice sounded like a small boys in his mind.
He turned with his meal, only to find all the seats taken. He could feel his face getting hot. They only looked at him.
Finally, "Here Sir." It was Chik, the fat one. "I've got to check on those shield generators anyway."
Renat nodded and started to smile. Then he thought 'maybe I shouldn't smile'. What he ended up doing was kind of a half smirk, half frown. It probably looked idiotic. He managed to take the seat without falling out of it.
One of the other soldiers got up. "I'm busy today too. Excuse me."
"Me too, Klingon waste disposal reports wait for no one. Excuse me Sir."
One by one, they all left as unobtrusively as possible, until only Felkik was left.
"They hate me, don't they Felkik."
He rubbed his beard, making sure of his response. "Hate is too strong. They hate Klingons. They hate Human food. They hate unfaithful wives. They only mistrust you."
That stopped Renat up short. "Mistrust me!? Why? I haven't done anything to earn mistrust."
Felkik moved to get up too. "You haven't done anything to earn their trust, either Sir. Excuse me."
Young Renat was left alone, wishing for some of his mother's cooking. Wishing he was home.
"Goooooood morning Danielle. How was your sleep?"
Captain Danielle Rees, formerly of the Federation Starship Columbia, ignored him. It had been a month since she'd been captured, tortured, and made the concubine of one Gul Erit Renat. Except she wasn't his concubine. He hadn't touched her. Well, actually he had once. She broke his one of his fingers. She knew he could just take her if he wanted, but apparently that just wasn't his 'style'. He wanted her to want him. Not likely. He'd told her "other women have learned to love me." She'd slept in another room in his quarters since the start.
She made her way to the replicator and ordered a coffee. It was awful stuff, not close to the real thing. There was no way she'd drink anything Cardassian though. It seemed like a betrayal. So she drank the disgusting brew and pretended to like it.
"Would you care for some breakfast? He asked, positively chipper. "You've lost a lot of weight in the past month or so. I like my women with a bit of meat on them.
"Well, nothing for me then." She didn't like him happy. That probably meant bad things for her Federation. Let's see if I can find out what's up, she thought. "How can you be so gleeful at 4:45 a.m.?"
"Because my darling, we're about to deal your Federation a grievous blow. One it may never recover from." He turned to the replicator. "Breakfast number 4, with.... coffee." He sat at the table with his food. "You seem to like this coffee so much, I'll give it a try. Breakfast number 4 is what I eat before every battle. It's lucky. Unlike Romulans, Cardassians believe fully in luck."
"There's to be a battle today?" Rees prodded.
"Yes, have a look out the window, dear." He sipped the coffee. "Wonderful! Bitter! I've got to tell my crew about this." He drank again.
Rees walked over to the large window, facing the starboard side of the ship. What she saw frightened her. Dozens, no hundreds of ships of all descriptions. "Where are we going?"
"Ah, you'll see soon enough." He slurred with his mouth full. "You need only know, the Federations defeat begins today."
She believed him.
* * *
Terit Renat walked around, useless. He tried to act busy. Mostly he felt lost, and very alone. He longed to be home again, with his family. He needed to talk to someone. His father. He'd straighten him out. Every time Terit had been afraid in his life, his father would somehow smooth things out just enough to make things tolerable. All he needed now was to talk.
"Soldier!" He almost shouted, trying to sound authoritative. "Get me the Terokena on subspace."
Chik replied, "Certainly sir. That's your Daddy's...I mean your fathers ship, correct?"
Terit's face glowed with embarrassment. "I don't remember asking you who the Gul of the ship was, do you?"
"Sorry Sir. I'll see what I can do."
"Right. Hop to it." He swore inwardly. Hop to it?
Terit paced back and forth with his hands clasped behind his back. It was a pose he'd seen his father use.
A few minutes later, Chik reported. "I can send Sir. However, the Terokena is currently on silent running. It cannot transmit.
Terit hid his disappointment well. "Very well, I'll use that terminal over there."
Erigaset tried not to laugh. "Um, Sir? That terminal is for parts remember? You'll have to use something else."
"Oh. Right. That one then?" He didn't want it to come out as a question, but it did anyway.
"Ok, Sir."
Terit felt their eyes on him as he sat at a relatively out of the way terminal and began transmitting. Even just talking was better than nothing. "Hello Father...."
* * *
"Sir!" Tactical officer Tenir Garak shouted across the bridge. "I have an incoming message for you."
"If it's Yersask whining about his transporters again tell him he won't need them anyway."
"No Sir, it's from...Birgan Bok?"
Renat's head swung around. "Are they under attack? Is it a distress call?"
"Um, no Gul. It appears to be a personal message for you."
Renat was out of the chair almost before Garak had finished the sentence. "What's our ETA?"
"One hour."
He ran up the stairs. "In my ready room. Prenit, you have the bridge."
The crew looked around at each other, wondering what could pull their Gul off the bridge at such a time. Prenit knew. "His boy." He said, as if it explained everything. Actually, it did.
* * *
"Hello Father. I know you can't transmit, so I'll just talk." He paused and looked around. "I'm afraid. I know you've said you've been afraid before, so I don't feel shame in saying it to you now. I don't feel like I know what I'm doing. My men think I'm a fool. I am the least experienced. I feel like I'm in the way..."
Gul Renat listened intently. He wished he could soothe him, tell him everything he felt was normal. He'd tell him he was the same way as a young ensign, and that it eventually gets better. He'd tell him he was proud of him.
"Gul," Prenit's voice cut in. "We need you on the bridge."
Renat sighed, but lingered for a few seconds. So proud. "I'm on my way. Computer, record this message."
The cold voice of the computer assured him that everything was under control. Renat walked back into the war.
* * *
Things went as expected. The runabout was about five minutes ahead. It was timed so that when the transmission was complete, the Cardassian fleet would start showing up on the Federations sensors. By then of course it would be far too late. With fifteen minutes left before the shooting started, Renat decided to see if his son was still talking.
When he walked in, he was horrified. He could hear men shouting. "Someone running, carrying a phaser rifle." Then a young soldier's voice. "They're firing!"
* * *
Ensign Renat talked and talked. What he didn't know, was that his men were listening. Chik had tapped into his transmission. The entire crew sat in the mess hole, as the Ensign poured his heart out to daddy. Chik laughed so hard he fell out of his chair, which of course made everyone else laugh harder. Even Felkik was shaking his head with amusement. To hell with morale. This was probably good for them, even if it was at the Ensign's expense. What else was there for entertainment on this rock, after all?
When the hysterics died down momentarily, Chik spoke between giggles. "He sounds like scared little boy!"
Gril reminded him, "I told you, he IS a little boy! Damn sarge, I'm glad you're here to run things."
Felkik was about to tell them to turn it off, when Diran stormed into the room. "I think I have something."
* * *
"Ensign, I think you need to hear this." Felkik said.
"I'll be back." He said to the screen as he got up. "What is it?"
"We're not sure Sir." They made their way to another terminal, where nonsensical babble was spewing from a speaker. "K'Ton Garnag L'T'oog. Grwo G'n's n' f'n KLon"
Renat frowned. "It's encrypted obviously. Sounds Klingon. Why is this important? I mean, that's why we're here, to intercept this stuff right? We'll just send it along to the O.O and let them deal with it."
Felkik responded gravely. "Yes, of course. The thing is though it's not so much what's being said, but where it's being said."
"Where would that be, Sergeant?"
Felkik pointed straight up. "'Bout 45 kilometers, that-a-way."
Young Renat's eyes widened. He felt a thrill of fear ripple through him. "No. You're sure?"
Diran responded with an undeniable answer. "Three Klingon Birds of Prey decloaking! Forty-five kilometers directly overhead. They're charging weapons!"
Felkik was steady. "Shields, quickly."
Chik ran to a panel across the room, which made him rather breathless. "Shields...up."
"They're firing!"
Gul Renat gripped the arms of his chair. For the first time in his life he was paralyzed by indecision. He could only look on, as if in a dream. His son's station shook as Klingon energy crashed down on them. He caught a flash of him, running down a hallway. He waited a few seconds, hoping to see him again. Had he been crushed? Rocks tumbled from the top of the cavern with every blast from the Klingon bastards' disruptors. He held his breath. Then.... there he was! Passing out phasers. He realized he had to do something. Anything.
"Prenit." He rasped.
"Sir?"
"Find out how whether there are any ships closer than us to Birgan Bok."
Prenit knew better than to ask questions. He nodded to Garak. Garak checked his console, then shook his head. "No Gul. No other ships. Why?"
His voice was a whisper. "My son, they're trying to kill my son."
"Who is?"
"Klingons. Three BOP's. We have to go to him."
Pause. "I'm on my way."
Ten seconds later Prenit burst through the door. He saw what looked like an underground cavern. It was shaking violently. Renat had loaded the blueprints for the Birgan Bok listening post and was alternately studying them and glancing up at the screen. Prenit said nothing as he walked up beside him.
"Damn Klingon raids. Here, look Prenit. They have terrible shields, but BOP's aren't exactly built for bombardment. I'm thinking they can hold out for at least fifteen minutes.... Garak!"
"Sir."
"How long until we could reach Birgan Bok at maximum warp?"
"Fifty-two minutes Sir."
"Oh no." Renat looked back at the schematics. His disciplined Cardassian mind worked overtime. "Wait. Wait a second. The Klingons, they can't transport in! Too many heavy metals. They'd have to beam to the surface, and then work their way in through the main entrance to the cavern. Maybe they could hold out, until we get there!" Renat looked up at Prenit.
Prenit looked back at him, and was upset by what he saw. His Gul seemed out of control. He had a wild look he'd never seen before. Prenit chose his words carefully. "Sir. Respectfully. There is no guarantee the Klingons won't just destroy the installation from orbit once the shields fail. Also.... we can't go to Birgan Bok. What about the Task Force?"
Renat was still feverishly studying the plans in front of him. "No, no they'll invade. I know Klingons. If they think they have enough time, they'll invade. It's more honorable than simply destroying from afar. They like to get bloody."
"Perhaps, but we still can't go Sir. You're the leader of this mission."
"Bah! A first year tactical student could do what this fleet is about to do. How hard is it to pound an unshielded station to dust? No, we're going."
Prenit rubbed his hands together anxiously. He could feel his career slipping away. Prenit had tied his advancement in the military to Renat's. If Renat did well, so did Prenit. Going off on some fool's errand while he should be leading one of the most vital missions in Cardassian history was a good way to get bucked down to Glinn. "Why can't we send another ship...."
"Because it's MY boy, Prenit. We're wasting time. Inform Gul Mekall he will be leading the task force. Then set course for Birgan Bok, best speed."
"Sir, I still..."
Renat turned his cold gaze on him. "Prenit, you've been a good first officer. I'd hate to have to cut your throat right now. But if you say one more word, or waste one more second, you'll die this morning."
Prenit almost ran from the room.
* * *
Gul Mekall sat heavily in his chair, as he watched the Terokena break formation and leave the fleet at high warp. He'd commanded multiple ships before, of course. He'd been in charge of the 22nd Heavy cruiser wing for four years now. He had never even dreamed of commanding such a large force before. He took a breath. "Time till weapons range?"
"Nine minutes, Gul."
He took another breath. "Must remember to breathe." He thought.
* * *
Things were deteriorating on Birgan Bok. Felkik somehow managed to be an island of calm in an ocean of panic and fear. "How are those shields Corporal?"
Chik was positively panting now. "It's not good Sergeant. Failure...in" He tried to catch his breath. "Failure in less than six minutes."
Felkik managed not to swear.
Ensign Renat ran to him. "Felkik, how long can we hold out in here?"
"Dunno Sir. We have three cloak mines, and three portable force field generators. That will help us some."
Renat looked around desperately. "Ok." He was thinking hard. "Ok. Listen, let's set up..." Renat stopped again and rubbed his face with both hands. "Why don't we put all the mines at the entrance, and the force fields...." He stopped again, seemingly over his head.
"Sir, I have some recommendations." Felkik said calmly.
"Oh, yes Sergeant please, suggestions."
"Right. Mind if I issue the orders Sir?"
"No, quickly, go ahead."
Felkik turned. "Chik. Get your fat ass down to the armory. Get our mines and force-field generators. Take two men with you. Bring them to me."
"Yes Sir!" Chik went lumbering down the hall.
"Gril, here's what I want you to do."
Gril listened intently.
"We're going to leave the entranceway alone. Let the Klingons think we have nothing. With any luck, they won't be as careful twenty meters further in. That's where the first mine goes.
"Yes Sergeant."
"Then, ten meters later, I want a force field. Immediately afterwards, about three meters, another mine. Got it?"
"Ten meters, force field. Then mine."
"Right. I want nothing for a further fifteen meters. Then another force field. Follow that with our last mine, the same distance away from the field as the first."
"Understood."
"Our last force field is three meters back from the entranceway to this room. We'll have no mine to follow it, but the Klingons can't know that. Do you understand my orders?"
"Understood!"
Felkik put a hand on Gril's young shoulder. "Good man. You'll do fine. Here comes Chik now. Have him help you. If he has a heart attack, prop him up behind a rock with a phaser in his hand. That'll slow the Klingons further." He saw he had the desired effect, as he smiled. Just a little. Now the hard part. "Erigaset!"
"Here Sarge!"
Felkik turned to the schematics of the station. "You and Diran will be the first line of defense. Follow Crik down that corridor. Place yourselves eight meters behind the first force field, at this bend here."
Erigaset frowned. "But, Sergeant, won't there be a force field behind us?"
"Yes, there will." replied gravely as the station shook again.
"Then, we'd be trapped wouldn't we?"
"Yes, you will." Felkik was hard as stone.
Erigaset looked around nervously for a second. But only for a second. "I understand."
Felkik smiled as warmly as possible. "Thank you, Erigaset. Go on now."
He collected his phaser and scanned for Diran. He found him and ran over to him. He appeared to be explaining their duty to him. When he was finished, Diran only looked to Felkik and nodded, before running down the hall.
"If we survive this," Renat said softly, "I'll buy you all the kanar you can drink."
Felkik didn't look at his commanding officer. He was still looking at the corridor. "If we survive this...Sir, I'll be too busy crying like a child to want to drink with you." He turned and left Renat alone.
* * *
Gul Renat made a rare appearance on the bridge. "Why haven't they received our message?"
Garak scanned his panel. "I'm not sure Sir. Their communications array may be damaged."
Renat shook his head. "No, my boy.... Ensign Renat had been sending me a personal message. It's still transmitting."
"I don't know what to tell you, Gul. I know the new communications arrays have their receiver and transmitter packaged in different areas now. It could be that only the receiving portion was damaged."
The Gul clenched his fists in useless rage. "Time."
"Thirty minutes Sir."
* * *
Gul Mekall felt somewhat more in control now. Somewhat. "What is the status of our runabout?"
"It's transmitting to the Starfleeters now Sir."
The entire bridge was filled with icy silence. Mekall thought his heart may have stopped. No one dared breathe. The entire fleet waited, stopped outside Federation sensor range. Seconds passed, then minutes. "Too long." He thought. Then...
"Sir, message incoming from the runabout. It reads "Go!"
"Put me through to the fleet."
A Glinn nodded.
"Maximum warp, NOW!"
Minutes later the powerful fleet dropped out of warp, just outside the Station's weapons range. Fighters danced out of it like angry bees from a hive. Mekall opened a channel to the fleet.
"Jem Hadar attack craft, make your heading 090 mark 121. Engage the Federation fighters."
Mekall looked to his tactical officer. "Are they launching any Starships?"
"Negative."
Strange, Mekall thought. They should be sending everything they had. Or at least evacuating what they could.
"Anything else on scanners?"
"No Sir, my scope is clear."
The Jem Hadar streaked towards the fighter group, cutting directly through it. Several Jem Hadar collided with their Starfleet counterparts. Mekall admired their bravery, even if it was genetically engineered. The Station opened up on them too; destroying several with single shots. However, the attack had its desired effect, as the Federation craft appeared disorganized, while the Jem Hadar simply regrouped and attacked again. It was enough for Mekall.
"Bring us to weapons range."
* * *
"They've arrived at the entrance."
Renat listened intently. He could hear nothing. He thought the Klingons would have ran into the chamber screaming. Not so.
A few minutes passed before the explosion. A loud "whump". Then nothing.
Felkik whispered to Renat. "The first mine."
* * *
Gul Renat watched the screen intently. "Computer, ETA to Birgan Bok."
"Fourteen minutes, twenty five seconds."
Nothing happened for awhile after the shields had fallen. Then the muffled sound of an explosion. He heard someone off camera say, "The first mine." He was running out of time.
* * *
"Weapons range now Sir."
"Very well," Mekall said, positively cocky. "Inform the fleet they may fire at their leisure...."
His tactical officer smiled like a fool. Then, crease formed in his forehead. Then an outright frown. "Sir. Their shields just came up."
Mekall turned. Horrified. "What!? You're mistaken. Check again."
He scanned his readouts. "I'm showing the shields online Gul."
"Fire a torpedo."
A second later the amber glow of a Cardassian torpedo sped towards the unbelievably large station. It seemed to take hours to arrive. When it did, it didn't open a gaping hole in her side, spilling out atmosphere and bodies. It bounced harmlessly against what appeared to be perfectly operational shields.
"How?" Mekall asked.
It got worse. "Sir, we have ships decloaking everywhere!"
Mekall closed his eyes. "A trap."
"Gul, incoming message from the fleet."
Renat huffed impatiently. "Yes, I'm sure everything is going wonderfully. Send our congratulations."
"No Sir. The station has raised shields, and the fleet is now surrounded by hundreds of ships."
"What! Patch the tactical data to my holographic imager."
He turned to see death in miniature. There was the station, intact, and firing volley after volley of torpedoes. Klingon and Romulan ships of all descriptions surrounded his hapless task force. Now it was the Cardassians turn to be disorganized. The Klingons and Romulans were the hammer, while the Station itself was the anvil with which they pounded the Cardassians to bits. Already Renat worked on an escape plan. Mekall was obviously panicking.
"Get me Mekall, put it in here."
Renat's screen split. Mekall was there, on his smoking bridge. "Gul, it was a trap!"
"I know you fool. Pull yourself together and listen closely. Use the Jem Hadar as a suicide wedge. Order them to crash their ships into the Romulans at grid 32beta. Have your scout wings form up on the cruiser's flanks, and follow the Jem Hadar through." Mekall didn't seem to hear him. "Mekall! Do you understand?"
"Gul, what should I do?"
"Mekall, can you hear me?"
"I think we're being jammed, I'm getting only a fraction of what you're saying..." Mekall's bridge shook with another impact. "What do we do?"
Renat restated what he'd said before, but Mekall didn't understand.
"Gul, do we stay and fight, I heard something about suicide. Are you certain?"
Horrified, Renat tried again, with a much shorter message. "Get out! Get out NOW Mekall!"
Mekall must've heard him. "Mekall to the fleet, retreat as best you can!" His ship was hammered again, and that portion of the screen turned to static.
Renat wondered how much of his precious 82nd would be left upon his return. He turned back to watch what he could of the horror on Birgan Bok.
* * *
Ensign Renat listened, terrified. The Klingons were now upon the two men in the corridor. Erigaset had left his comm-badge channel open, so that he could give them updates and intelligence. "I can see something now, but it's dusty. Just a second." Renat heard him fumble with something. "My tricorder is detecting about twenty Klingons, strung out along the corridor. One is about 5 meters ahead of the others."
Felkik whispered to Renat. "They're using the lead Klingon to blow up mines." Then he talked quietly to Erigaset. "Soldier, wait as long as you can. See if you can get two or three of them by surprise."
"Ok." He replied, his voice shaking. "Quiet now. I see him."
There was nothing for a time. Then suddenly two distinctive blasts from Cardassian rifles. "We got two! They're firing on us now, taking cover."
More phaser sounds came from the tunnel, joined now by disruptors. It went on for a minute or so, with no word from Erigaset. Finally, "Diran is dead! I'm wounded. Bad. I'm all alone!" They could hear him firing wildly now.
Renat opened his channel. "You're not alone Erigaset! We're with you!"
Nothing. Renat repeated, "We're with you Soldier."
Renat was greeted with a response. From a Klingon. "You're next, Cardassian."
* * *
"You're next, Cardassian."
Gul Renat was querying the computer again. "How long to Birgan Bok?"
"Eleven minutes, eighteen seconds."
Renat turned to look at his holographic display. It was dead. It had been for some time. Every transmission was jammed, and Renat had no way of knowing what was happening. So he stared impotently at his little screen, wishing for more speed.
"Computer, ETA to Birgan Bok."
"Eleven minutes, four seconds."
"They're at the next force field!" The screen told him.
* * *
There was nothing to do but wait. They had all taken positions in the first large room. They exchanged glances and encouragement. Everyone knew they would soon be dead, just like Diran and Erigaset. They'd burned through all the force fields but one. There were no more mines.
Suddenly they could hear the shuffling of feet, and the sound of someone walking into a force field. They could hear charges being set. It took some time. Thirty seconds later, an explosion. Their last line of defense was down.
From his position, Terit could see a Klingon cautiously take a step forward. He was obviously expecting to be smeared against the walls by another mine. He took another step. Then another. Finally he was fully in the open. He went back for a moment. When he returned, two more Klingons were with him. They covered each other, both bold and cautious at the same time. Felkik had told everyone not to fire until he did. When the enemy was fully exposed, Felkik sprang up from his hiding place and fired a shot neatly through the lead Klingons head. He fell in a lump, while the other two dove for cover. One didn't make it, as he was cut down by a shot from Chik's phaser. The other had found himself a decent spot, and began laying cover fire for his comrades, who flowed into the room with a precision any Cardassian General would be proud of.
The entire area was awash in phased energy. Two Cardassians were killed in the first few seconds by effectively tossed grenades. Several more were hit by disruptors. Before Renat really realized what had happened, there were only four left. Chik, Felkik a soldier whose name he couldn't remember, and himself. He hadn't even fired his weapon yet.
His position was becoming untenable. He decided to relocate. "Felkik, cover me!"
He did, rising again and firing a few wild rounds at the Klingons. Renat ran for his new firing position. Right beside the console where he'd sent the message to his father. It seemed like so long ago.
* * *
"Engineering!"
"Rknal here Sir."
"I want emergency warp for as long as it takes to get to Birgan Bok."
Pause. "That's a dangerous amount of time, Sir. It could..."
"No excuses Rknal. Do it."
"Yes Sir."
"Garak, assemble your men. Prepare for a planetary assault."
"On my way."
Renat hoped for two things. First, to get there before his son was killed. Second, he wanted to catch some of these Klingons before they could reach the surface and beam out. Once the Klingons detected his ship, they would begin to evacuate. Renat hoped he'd be on them before that happened.
"Computer, ETA to Birgan Bok."
"Three minutes, eight seconds."
* * *
"Keral!"
So that was his name, Renat thought. The Cardassian lay gasping for air against the wall. He'd been hit in the stomach. One Klingon moved in on the defenseless man as the others covered him. There was nothing Felkik, Chik or Renat could do. The Klingon stood over him for a moment, before unsheathing his Bat'leth. A second later he was holding Keral's head high above. The others cheered wildly in between firing. Chik half stood to fire and was hit in the midsection. He went down and did not stir.
Felkik moved to fire at the cocky Klingon, but was hit in the shoulder. He too was now useless, as he slumped to the floor. Terit was seized with horror as another Klingon unsheathed his bat'leth and moved for his sergeant.
* * *
"Stay down boy." Gul Renat whispered. "Don't be a hero. Please. Don't move." Renat was shouting now, as though his son might hear him. "We're coming! Oh no..... What are you doing Terit? No!"
* * *
Terit felt his fear melting. He thought of his Father, and what he would think about his cowardice. He'd hid the entire time. He still hadn't even fired. Shame ruled fear. He stood, fully in view of eight angry Klingons, and fired. His mind didn't register that he'd killed one. He just kept firing. All of them turned their attention on him. He was hit. Some part of his mind knew this, but he didn't fall, or stop firing. He was hit again, in the leg this time. He fell to his knees. "It doesn't even hurt," his energized mind thought idly. He was hit a third time, in the chest. As lay on the floor, he could feel his life fall away from him. He thought of how proud his father would be right now, as darkness grew.
* * *
"Oh no. Terit. Hang on."
Prenit broke in. "The Klingons have detected us Sir. They're moving to transport their men off the surface, but I don't think they'll make it."
"Garak." He heard himself say. "Set weapons for stun. I want prisoners."
Renat watched his son's chest rise and fall. Anyone looking closely would see he was breathing in synch with his boy, willing him on.
The Klingons made a hasty retreat from the room, trying to beat the Cardassians out of the system.
* * *
On the bridge Prenit saw the Klingon ships cloak and disappear from view. They'd had to leave their men on the surface. "Mr. Garak, we are in transporter range. Good luck."
"Beaming down now."
* * *
Gul Renat could hear the sounds of fighting once again from the tunnel, but this time Cardassians were the attackers. It was decided quickly. Even Klingons couldn't hold out long with odds of five to one.
He watched his son, his breathing labored now. His sergeant, kneeling beside him. "Thank you Ensign. You are a great soldier."
Ensign Renat, proud now, tried to smile, but choked on his own blood. He clutched at Felkik's arm, and exhaled. Then he was still.
Gul Renat's face was like stone.
He knelt by his fallen son, holding his hand. He sat for a time, he didn't know how long, and just looked at him. He wiped some of the blood from his face, and stood. "Glinn, take him and the others up to the ship."
Wordlessly the Glinn moved towards the young cold Cardassian and beamed away.
Renat shuffled over to where Felkik had fallen. He was standing now, his wound having been temporarily repaired by the medical crew. They looked at each other for awhile, before Felkik spoke. "He was very brave. I underestimated him."
The Gul smiled briefly. "So did I, I suppose." He scanned around the room. "You fought well. You should never have held out as long as you did. What is a talented Sergeant like yourself doing here?"
Felkik looked down at his boots. "It's embarrassing Sir."
"Never mind. Tell me. I've heard it all."
Felkik paused uncomfortably. "It has to do with a Gul's daughter."
"Ah. Which Gul?"
"Lemakkr."
Renat grasped the man's shoulder. "Don't worry about Lemakkr. As of this moment you are transferred to the Cardassian Imperial Vessel Terokena."
The Sergeant smiled widely. "Thank you very much Sir." Pause. "What about Chik?"
"By all means, him too. Although my tactical officer may require him to lose some weight."
"He'll be ok, right Sir?"
Renat nodded. "Yes, my surgical officer tells me it was mostly a gastro-intestinal injury."
"I suppose that's as good a way as any to lose weight. If you don't mind Sir, I'll go see him."
"Go ahead."
Prenit walked up as Felkik vanished. "What should we do with the Klingons Sir?"
Renat looked past Prenit at the defiant Klingons behind him. "Interrogate them, torture them, then kill them." He said flatly and quietly.
"Yes Sir. What about the one who...um....fired the final shot on your son?"
"I'm not sure yet, Prenit. I want him to suffer."
"They'll all suffer, I'll see to that."
"Yes, yes I know, but it seems a little to conventional for the murderer of my son. Something else troubles me too. When these Klingons die, they believe they go to Sto'vo'kor if they die in combat." He clasped his hands behind his back, indicating he was working out a problem. "This is true even if they are executed, as I understand it, because it's also considered combat."
Prenit shrugged. "Let them believe what they wish, they're just as dead."
"I know, but it's the fact that even as they die, they have hope. You see, you can't truly kill someone like that, because they think they will live beyond the death we inflict on them. It's all very troubling."
"Sir, I really don't see a way around this. We have to kill them. It's sure to happen during my interrogation."
Renat answered with a grunt, still chewing on the problem.
"Should I take them up now? I could begin immediately."
"Mmmm hmmm."
Prenit turned. "Prepare them for transport..."
"Prenit wait." Renat said it so quietly that he could hardly be heard.
"Sir?"
"I have an idea."
* * *
A gorgeous Cardassian woman, Chief Surgical Officer Willa Novoneer made her way through the caverns to Gul Renat's side.
"Gul, I have taken care of all the injured. What else can I do for you?"
"Do we have a portable stasis chamber on the ship?" He asked darkly.
Novoneer was confused. "Yes, but..."
"Good, I need you to make some adjustments..."
* * *
Two hours later everyone was back on the ship, as it streaked toward a nearby cluster of asteroids. Renat, Prenit, Novoneer and Felkik had all assembled in one of the smaller secondary shuttle-bays. Shortly after a group of Cardassians dragged a beaten Klingon into the bay. Renat looked him over coldly.
"How are your accommodations? I hope everything is satisfactory."
The Klingon spat at Renat's feet, which earned him a hard backfist to the forehead from one of the young men assigned to guard him. Renat sighed inwardly at the progressively younger and younger replacements he'd been sent recently. Too many losses. If only Cardassia weren't in such dire straits, maybe his son would still be alive....
He looked down at the spit near his boots. "A typical Klingon reaction. We'll have to disinfect now, you realize." He spun around and walked over to the stasis chamber. "At any rate, we're not here to discuss poor Klingon hygiene or your awful manners. We're here to discuss your punishment."
The Klingon laughed in his face. "You have nothing that could break my spirit. Soon I will be dead, and in Sto'vo'kor!"
Renat rolled his eyes, and pointed to the stasis chamber. "Do you know what this is Klingon?"
He looked at it momentarily. "It looks like a stasis chamber."
"Ahh, a smart Klingon." He looked to Prenit. "Never thought I'd use those two words in the same sentence, but there it was. Smart Klingon. Someone note the date and time. Now, where was I Prenit?"
"Stasis, Sir."
He snapped his fingers. "Stasis, yes. Did you know that there are several settings for stasis tubes Klingon?"
He cocked his head. "No, I did not."
"Hmmph. Well, there are. Sometimes they are used to slow metabolic activity. Certain diseases actually accelerate in a full stasis field. Strange isn't it? Anyway, sometimes doctors like our own Novoneer only want to slow metabolic activity, not stop it altogether. Do you follow?"
He only frowned.
"I'll talk slower then. The only thing is, apparently this has a rather nasty side effect for the un-anesthetized patient. You see, it's possible to be fully conscious in a partial statis-field. This can be a bit off-putting, to say the least. Imagine, having full mental function, yet not being able to move. Wouldn't that be horrifying?"
Now the Klingon began to understand. "What are you going to do?"
"All you've been thinking about since you were captured is an 'honorable death'. All I've been thinking about is a way to deny you that. There is no problem that cannot be solved by a disciplined Cardassian mind, I'm sure you've heard it said. Well, to put it bluntly I've solved the problem of your honorable death. You're not going to die at all. At least, not for a very, very long time. The doctor has set the stasis level at 99.95 percent. You will be able to move, but only at .05 percent of your regular pace. You mind, however, will continue to function normally. You'll very likely outlive me, my children, their children, and their children's children, and so on. It's quite a gift really. You will be taken by shuttle to the center of one of the most unremarkable asteroids in the quadrant, in one of the most unremarkable asteroid fields in the galaxy, in one of the most unremarkable sectors in the universe. There are no mineral deposits, no anomalies, nothing that would ever cause any ship to ever want to stop by. You will be covered by a dampening field, and we have included several fusion generators, to ensure you have enough power to last 2000 years."
The Klingon was quiet for a moment, and then did something no one in the room had ever seen from a warrior before. He fell to his knees. "Sir, please. You can't."
"Of course I can. Put him in."
The shackled man was dragged to his feet and forced into the chamber. He struggled mightily, everyone had to help hold him down while the cover was closed. He kicked and screamed, "Mercy, please!"
Renat stared down at him blandly. "Mercy is a human attribute." He looked at the doctor. "Initiate stasis."
Novoneer input some commands and counted off. "15 percent. 25 percent. 50 percent...."
The Klingon slowed noticeably. "75 percent. 95 percent. 97, 98, 99, 99.5, 99.9, 99.95. Stable at 99.95 percent."
"Take him." Renat ordered.
The two soldiers took the chamber and loaded it onto a shuttle, and set off without a fuss.
* * *
The Klingon lived his nightmare. He was staring up at the ceiling of a Cardassian shuttle, trying to move something. Anything. Before he knew it, the young Cardassians were with him, preparing to eject him from the cargo hold. They put on their suits, and escorted him out into what looked like a rocky cavern. It was difficult to see as the only light was from the Cardassians helmets. He lay there as the Cardies worked, listening to them hook up the generators to his stasis chamber. He thought he'd been there for an hour, though it could've been four. It was difficult to tell. He realized he didn't want the Cardassians to leave. Finally, one of them came to him. He looked straight down, and waved, laughing.
The Klingon watched the lights wink out. The thrusters of the shuttle came to life, fully illuminating the cavern, but only for a moment. Then, that light too was gone. He lay there, in the inky blackness, more alone than anyone in the universe. He started to scream. Six months later, he finished. Three hundred and twenty nine years after that, his asteroid was crushed by an impact from a much larger one. Of course, he'd gone quite mad three hundred years before.
* * *
"What will happen now?" Prenit asked.
Renat sat slouched in his chair. "An inquiry no doubt. Depending on who is on the panel I could be executed, stripped of my rank, thrown out of the military, sent to the other side of the Cardassian Union in a freighter, or given a commendation and promotion."
Prenit sighed. "It will be difficult for Guls to rule against a man defending a son."
"I suppose." Renat let it drop.
"What news of the fleet?" Prenit asked tentatively.
Renat shook his head. "Mekall fought like a Pakled. It was smashed. Fifty percent losses. The 82nd lost four ships."
Prenit decided to lighten things up a bit. "What do you suppose the Klingon is doing right now?"
Renat smiled thinly. "Probably nothing."
THE END
