Star Trek: Athena
Unholy Alliance
by Chris Robato
(crobato@kuentos.guam.net)

Return to Part 2

"Captain, I'm detecting energy discharges," Athena observed. "Looks like some ships are fighting."

"Can we get in for a closer look?" Garret asked. "Slowly though, we must maintain our stealth signature."

"Sure thing," Athena replied.

Garret stared at the readouts in Athena's console. "Not that slow, please."

"All right, all right," Athena replied. "Okay, I got it. Looks like the Mage is firing at something. Federation signature this time it's a shuttle, no it's a scout. A Venture class class scout. What's is it doing? I am getting a transmission of help from the scout. Going to put it on screen."

The screen showed a cockpit smoking and sparking, and there were cries for help. The woman in the single seat craft looked like the Khosk girl he saw days ago.

"What do you think is going on?" Athena asked. "Should we intervene?"

"No wait," Garret ordered. "This is fairly unusual."

"We got a Prometheus variant disengaging from the main Cartel formation," Athena warned. "It's heading to engage the Mage. No wait, the Mage is escaping. It engaged warp. The Prometheus variant is not pursuing, I repeat, the Prometheus variant is not pursuing. The scout is docking into the Prometheus variant."

"Athena, can you get a confirmed identification on the Prometheus variant?" Garret asked.

"Aye, sir. Yup, it's the USS Deimos, Ares class," Athena replied. "I may have a slight advantage in engaging her, sir, but even for me, she would be a handful."

"Any sign that the original crew is still alive or in control of that ship?" Garret asked.

"You know as well as I do, Captain, after that Cartel broadcast, it's quite unlikely," Athena said. "The signals I have been getting from the Deimos tells me that a new captain is in charge, and whoever it was, it ain't Fed."

"Now wait!" Athena got up all excited. "A Jem Hadar Strike Fighter and Cruiser patrol has gone into warp. I believe they are trying to pursue the Mage. Should we help the Mage, Captain? ....Captain?"

"Negative, Athena," Garret said. "The Mage can take care of itself. Besides, Hurst's task force will detect it. On the other hand, we need to keep track of the Cartel and Jem'Hadar fleet. If they are alarmed, they may leave attempt to leave the system and we may not find them again. Who knows when they will strike? Ka'nal. Send an encrypted message out to Hurst informing them of our situation to stay and the status of the Mage."

"Aye, Captain," Ka'nal replied.

"Later I'm going to ask you more about the Cartels, since they're linked to the Orion Pirates or Syndicate groups," Garret said.

"I would rather not that you use the term 'Orion' here," Ka'nal said. "For any Orion, associating us with the 'pirates' sounds pretty racist. This is like in your Earth history, when some people associate minority groups with a different racial skin color to crime activity."

"Okay then I apologize for using the term. Just let me know what you know about the 'pirates' and the 'syndicates'," Garret said.

"Since the beginning of its birth, the Federation has strived for a utopian like existence," Ka'nal explained, "believing that by changing the environment to the better, we hope to better the quality of all sentient beings living within that environment, be it Human, Vulcan, Orion or anyone else. This was part of the Humanist movement from Earth."

T'Pak added. "That concept is flawed. There is an intrinsic nature in all beings to be evil, even with a utopia. We Vulcans have realized this fact for ages, which is why, our rituals, our religions, seek to purge and contain this evil. In our daily lives, we use religion, ritual and the supreme logic, to suppress and control this evil."

"What started as a dissension against the birth of the Federation turned into its evil side," Ka'nal said. "What started as a renegade faction of the Orion star military, became mixed and joined with other groups and races of the Federation. In less than a generation, other species have dominated the pirates. It has spread all over the Alpha and Beta quadrants, a powerful but unseen force that has no borders. It thrives on something no technology can stop. It thrives on the inherent evil and corruption of all beings. One of these days, it will be the rot, the decay, and the corruption the Cartels, the Pirates, the Syndicates, whatever you call it, that will bring an end to the Federation."

"Sounds interesting. But I'm looking for a short term solution to our dilemma, however," Garret said.

"Beware," Ka'nal said. "And by the way, I already sent the message, and Hurst is riding to intercept and help the Mage."

"I must advise that Jem'Hadar patrols have stepped up, and their ships are in full alert," T'Pak said.

"Athena, back off from the Jem'Hadar fleet center. Analyze their patrol routes and extrapolate their scanner and sensor ranges," Garret ordered.

"Aye sir," Athena answered. "Okay, I got it. We can move to these positions and we can still shadow them with our sensors."

Garret pointed to one of the positions shown in Athena's console panels. "You can take this position right here."

"All right, executing," Athena confirmed.

* * *

"Admiral, we got the Mage on our scanners," Shelley said. "Two Strike Cruisers and three Strike Fighters are in pursuit."

"Hail the Mage," Hurst ordered. "Bring them on the screen. Engage the Jem'Hadar ships."

"Yes, Admiral," Shelley replied. "Lieutenant, maximum warp."

The young lieutenant grinned, and so did her Tactical officer, so eager for combat. The Kiev streaked into warp speed and hummed as she picked up more speed. The Vanguard and the Boise warped and took position both port and starboard of the Kiev. The Steamrunners and the flotilla of other smaller ships followed.

"Admiral?" The First officer of the Mage answered, his face troubled on screen.

"Where is your captain?" Hurst sternly asked.

"I cannot respond to you now, not with the Jem'Hadar present," the First officer of the Mage replied. "We have sworn to keep her status secret. I can only tell you personally in private, Admiral. Right now we are currently under heavy attack, and our shields are weakening. We request urgent assistance."

The Mage fired a burst of torpedoes from her aft tubes. They missed the Strike Fighters but headed towards the Strike Cruisers. One hit smack right into one of the Strike Cruisers's forward shields, but the other missed as counter measures confused its targeting system.

The Strike Cruisers unleased a barrage of torpedoes. Unable to outrun the Jem'Hadar ships torpedoes, the Mage dropped out of warp, as the torpedoes missed right into empty space. But the Strike Fighters also got out of warp and pursued the Mage. The Mage attempted to loop, putting one of the Strike Fighters within the firing arc of its dorsal beam array, and fired a single phaser beam. The shields of the Strike Fighter held, as the other two fighters pounded on the Mage's ever weakening shields. The Strike Fighters use the maneuverability to keep out of the Mage's pulse phasers, forcing the Mage to continually rotate on its axis and put its dorsal and ventral phaser beams into bear.

The Kiev blasted a salvo of torpedoes towards the rear Jem'Hadar Strike Cruiser. Torpedoes also flew out from the Vanguard and the Boise. With countermeasures set on maximum, some torpedoes flew past the Strike Cruisers, but others hit. Two slammed at the rear Strike Cruiser, reducing its shields to zero.

"We got damage on the rear Strike Cruiser, Captain," said the Tactical officer. "She's breaking off."

"Don't pursue," Hurst ordered.

The other Strike Cruiser turned around as well, with damage to the hull.

The phaser beams were able to hit the Jem'Hadar Strike Fighters, but their shields held. Yet the Mage was unable to hold the agile Strike Fighters long enough on its pulse phasers to do damage. The trio of Strike Fighters moved with unparalleled coordination attempt to strike on one, and the other two will cover it, raking its polaron beams against the Mage's shields.

Then one of the Strike Fighters blew as it got caught in a stream of pulse phaser fire, as another Defiant class came out from nowhere. A Nova class and a Sabre class dropped out from warp, phaser beams reaching out, but the other two remaining Strike Fighters have banked, turned around, and warped their tails out of there. Normally the Jem'Hadar would fight to the death, but the Alphans tend to show a lot more tactical flexibility and a sense of mercenary discipline. In other words, they know when to quit to fight another day. In the grand scale, this made the Jem'Hadar a more formidable race to reckon with, than a warrior race bound with honor baggage such as the Klingons.

* * *

The Kiev beamed the First officer of the USS Mage for a private session with Admiral Hurst. When they left the session, Captain Shelley could not help notice how shaken and pale Admiral Hurst looked. He ordered the First officer of the Mage to repair his ship and join with the rest of the fleet.

"Admiral, are you all right?" Shelley asked.

"I'm fine, just fine," Hurst replied.

"Call it a woman's intuition, but I sense something is terribly wrong," Shelley said. "Let's take off the captain and admiral hats for a moment. If you really need to talk about something person to person, I'm all ears."

"It's quite heartening to know that, Ann," Hurst said. He rarely addressed Shelley by her first name. "If I need to speak about something, I will let you know. But right now I need to get some rest. I'm going back to my room. Keep tabs on the Jem'Hadar fleet but stay out of trouble. We can't fight them with that much power, but we can't lose them either. Let me know if something big comes up."

"Understood, Admiral. We'll handle things from here. Just rest and relax a bit," Shelley said.

Back in his room, Hurst stumbled on the sofa. He felt sick deep inside. Yes, real men don't cry. Starfleet officers don't cry, especially if they're admirals. He put both his hands over his face, and elbows on his knees. He sniffed a bit. Starfleet officially never condoned any religion, and only respect its private practice. If there was a time to believe in God and prayer, he felt this was the time and he held his hands together.

* * *

It was a moment frozen in time. It was a moment where every thing else did not matter, not the Cartels, not the Jem'Hadar, not the Federation, and not the entire damn universe. "Is that really you, my baby?" There was a way a mother would hug a child. She would hug her across the chest, feel the warmth and beat of the child's heart, tap the child softly on the back, assuring, comforting.

Gera held Tonya tightly. "I could not believe this," Gera said. "How did you get here? Look at you, you have become so big. You have grown to become a beautiful woman. If it were not for your face, I almost may not have recognized you. "

"I almost could not believe it was you, Mother," Tonya said, weeping. "For years, I've been looking for you. It's been hard since you left."

"Come, we have much to talk about," Gera said. "This is cause for a great celebration. How did you ever find me?"

"I didn't," Tonya said. "It is by great chance. There are rumors around the worlds that an infamous Khosk woman warrior have joined the Cartels, and so I searched. It is a very long story. There are those that say I should join the Cartels. I've been living a hard life, and I am myself wanted across the Federation. That is why that Federation ship is chasing me. I hijacked one of their own ships which I plan to use to travel."

"It is indeed a great chance," Gera said. "Indeed the gods have answered my prayers and handed you back to me."

Gera's communicator broke into a note. "You are wanted on the bridge," a voice said. "The Koxinga is hailing for you."

"Tell them I will be there soon," Gera said to the communicator. Turning to Tonya, she said, "Tonya, we have some business to do first before you can tell me all the stories. You don't look like you're in good shape. My people will lead you to the sick bay so you can get yourself checked up first. Then I will meet you there. "

Back on the bridge, Oblan's face stared out from the screen. "What's going on?" He asked.

"I have good news. The Gods have returned my daughter to me," Gera said.

"Well that is good news," Oblan replied. "I remember that you told me you had a daughter you had to leave behind. I would look forward in meeting her. However, the circumstances of her arrival remains suspicious. Are you sure if she is your daughter?"

"Only a mother knows her child best. She is mine," Gera said. "But if you wish to satisfy your suspicions, she on the sick bay right now being tended to her condition. Any DNA test can prove that. DNA testing is part of the usual medical scanning procedure."

"I believe that she is your child. However, she may have inadvertently exposed our position to the Federation," Oblan said. "The Defiant that pursued her would have seen our fleet. The Jem'Hadar sent a pursuit squadron, and they have returned in failure, reporting engaging more Starfleet ships in the vicinity. We have enabled more patrols now. Our plan now is to move both the Cartel and Jem'Hadar fleets out of the system slowly through impulse and then we will warp out as soon as patrols establish that we have a clear situation. Maybe the Federation may be holding off attacking yet due to the losses they incurred in their previous attempt. As long as we have the Jem'Hadar 42nd Fleet on our side, Starfleet could not muster a sizable force to match our combined fleet for several sectors. This is not counting that we could muster reinforcements from other Jem'Hadar Alphans, and other Cartel fleets, which include several Cartel dreadnaughts of our own design."

"Understood, Citizen," Gera said. "The Deimos is ready for the task."

Gera understood that the Cartels inherited many of the ship technologies coming from the dreaded Orion Pirates. This means the Cartels possess true dedicated warships all the way to a dreadnaught class, and possess the weapons technology of all powers from the Alpha, Beta and Gamma quadrants. The Pirates and now the Cartels, in an ever continuing process, obtained these technologies through hook and crook, capturing the rest through boarding. Like Klingon ships, Cartel ships were true raiders, fast, agile, but whose armor and protection was a bit on the weak side. Like Klingon ships, they're also optimized for boarding assaults. They carry a variety of weaponry, from Federation style phaser and pulse phasers, to Klingon disrupters including the new high yield rapid burst types, Romulan plasma torpedoes, Breen shield disrupters, Dominion polaron weapons and a whole bunch of other races.

By the mid 23rd century, the Orion Pirates were literally, a shadow empire of their own with eight major Cartels at the helm. By the 24th century, advances in Federation technology have weakened the Pirates and forced them regroup to the fringes. So did competition with the Ferengi Alliance. But the Cardassian wars, the Klingon civil wars, the Maquis Insurrection and finally the Dominion Wars gave the Pirates the uncertainty and chaos they could take to their advantage. Knowing that the Dominion was a threat to their trade, the Cartels campaigned against them behind enemy lines, while rebuilding Cartel forces such as through the capture of damaged ships.

And with the Jem'Hadar Alphans on their side, the Cartels have literally reformed a borderless shadow empire. They had struck secret alliances with the Ferengi and the Breen, and along with other races, although a certain measure of suspicion existed in the relationship with the Ferengi, a sort of 'smile in the front, stab in the back' relationship.

* * *

Gera returned to the sick bay. Like all Federation sick bays, it looked clinical but the equipment was always top notch. Federation sick bays were the best of any ship of any alien race, but this one in the Prometheus variant Ares class, was the best she has seen so far even by Starfleet standards.

Her engineers had reprogrammed the Emergency Medical Hologram to be faithful to the ship's new masters. The hologram itself had a geek look and manner that she didn't particularly like, and in contrast to the roughness of the Cartel crewmen. He was scanning on the girl sitting on the table. She had stripped to only her tee and shorts, while the hologram doctor ran scans of her body.

The Doctor walked to her and gave his report. "I have to say, she passes with a clean bill of health. Her wounds were superficial, and Khosk biology has astounding powers of regeneration. However I noted signs of some malnutrition. Also, her DNA. I can't keep noticing that she has a lot in similarity to yours."

"That's because she's my daughter," Gera replied.

"Oh..." the Doctor replied. "In that case, congratulations, you're a mother..."

"I've been a mother for a long time," Gera replied.

"Oh..." the Doctor said again. Gera pushed him back and walked to the girl sitting down on the examination table, exercising her arm joints. Gera noted the dirty rags her daughter wore with her.

"Is everything all right?" Gera asked.

"I'm really fine, mother," Tonya answered with a smile.

Gera stared at her and placed her hands at Tonya's shoulders. "You truly look wonderful. You don't know how happy I feel in my heart to see my baby once again. And she's grown to such a beautiful and strong woman."

"Me too..." Tonya stretched her arms out, and they both hugged each other tightly. "I have been dreaming of this moment for years," Tonya said as she sniffed, a tear streaming down from one eye. "You don't know how much I miss you, how glad to finally see you all these years."

"My daughter, my beautiful daughter," Gera said, brushing the tear off Tonya's face and brushing her short dark and unruly hair. "Come, you're safe here. There is someone I like you to meet, but first I want you to take a bath. I will assign you some quarters. We will bring some new clothes for you. We're going to have a nice dinner in the holodeck."

* * *

They talked a while first, before someone led Tonya to her assigned quarters. When she went inside she was pleasantly surprised. There was a metal tub in the center with warm water for her to take a bath. Oh, no, she couldn't have, Tonya thought. As usual, her mother would think of everything.

To bathe and wash with real water was a nonexistent reality with Starfleet these days, or with almost any ship, thanks to the invention of sonic showers. However, the sound wave based system of washing proved however to be bad to the sensitive hearing of all Khosk. She could almost never take a clean bath, and the producers of the sonic shower never bothered accommodating aliens with sensitive hearing. That's because these aliens were a small minority, and tweaking the frequencies to accommodate the Khosk may in exchange, hurt another species. Without a clean bath, Khosk developed a smelly reputation in starships. Their only hope was to borrow a holodeck and bathe in a holographic stream or pond, where the force fields from the watery hologram also served to clean them.

"If there is anything, please call," the crewman said and left, leaving her completely alone. She looked around the room. There was a set of clothes in the bed. She looked at them closer and the clothes turned out to be a formal party gown. She kneeled to the floor and caressed the fabric. It was satin smooth. This must be what they call silk, she thought. This was beautiful. There were sparkling jewelry around the low neckline. She touched the jewelry, tilting them to see them sparkle by the light. She smiled.

She went to the tub, touched the warm water. The temperature was right. She began to strip off clothes, letting them fall to the floor. Her toes tested the water temperature again. It was good, and she entered into the water. She sank her back to the wall of the tub, splashed the water to her face and hair.

She rested, submerged to her chest, scrubbing her body with her hand and a sponge. The freshness of the water made her think, think about the moment she met her mother again, think about what they talked.

They talked about life, about everything. Gera did ask about Tonya's father, if Tonya ever saw him again. No, Tonya lied. She only heard about her father, who must have worked his way to a higher rank in Starfleet. He was inaccessible as always, in some long term mission or positioned so far away in some base. No, she never had the luck to find him.

Gera told her much about her adventures first as a crewman in a Raider, then an officer, and eventually a captain. She had gone further to leading a flotilla of Raiders. She told Tonya about her battles against the Cardassians as part of the Maquis, then against the Dominion during the war. She never took the rehabilitation program to return Maquis to the Federation fold. Despite fighting the Cardassians and the Dominion, the Federation was equally to blame for Khosk's plight. She fought for Khosk Prime, for the Homeworld, but never, never for the Federation, who abandoned them during the time Khosk Prime needed the Federation most. The Federation, she said, sold Khosk Prime to the Cardassians in exchange for more lucrative border worlds.

When asked about Khosk Prime, Tonya could not lie. It remained a war torn planet stricken with poverty.

"Compare how we Khosk live, and how the humans on Earth live," her mother said. It was a comparison Tonya cannot deny, a hand to mouth existence in one place, near utopia on another. She can remember Earth during her Starfleet Academy days. Had she forgotten her own roots as a daughter of Khosk? Her mother spoke with undeniable bitterness, and the bitterness shook Tonya's faith and loyalty to Starfleet for the first time since she was in the Academy. When Gera asked about Tonya's past, Tonya lied, lied, pretended she was a drifter, a privateer, a cover she had used well.

She was lying, lying to her only mother, Tonya thought. What had become of herself? The act of it alone hurt Tonya, and yet she knew she had a good reason. But knowing the reason does not make Tonya feel any better. She reminded herself of what she must do here. To betray, to fight, or even kill her own mother. The thoughts gnawed painfully at her soul. For what? For the Federation? For the father that was hardly around for her? Her mother was among the few things in this universe that Tonya valued to the extent she would sacrifice her life for.

No, no, no... What was this? Was she being made to choose between her mother and the Federation? She made a vow, did she remember? A vow to Starfleet, to upholding the causes and goals of the United Federation of Planets. Yet here was her mother, her own blood, who cared and loved her as a child. She sank her head under the water, bubbled, then raised her head above the water. Water streamed down her hair.

Tonya washed and washed herself. The water could not wash away the feeling of guilt of what she must do later.

She wore a beautiful silk gown. The fabric flowed down from her shoulders, around her figure, then streamed down her legs. It was not often she got to wear the traditional Earth styles, even though she was half human. She would prefer the traditional Khosk costumes, but they gave her this, and this, she will wear. She completed her attire with a pearl pin on her hair, and a choker with a cameo around her neck. She turned around on a mirror, studying how her clothes matched her figure and her overall appearance. She was pleased. It was rare for her to go into a social occasion, the last time being in the innocent days back in the Starfleet Academy, where they held a "prom" ball in honor for those about to graduate. She smiled.

The door slid open. Her mother walked in with a magnificent ball gown of her own of blue satin silk embedded with jewelry around her neck collar. A beam of pride shone from Gera's face. She walked next to Tonya and adjusted Tonya's gown. "My daughter has grown to be so beautiful," Gera said. "It seemed only yesterday when you were a rough street kid, fighting for your turf, hunting your prey. Now, you are beautiful woman all men should desire. Come, they all await us in the celebration."

"Where is the celebration?" Tonya asked.

"Unfortunately we do not have a functioning holodeck in both the Koxinga and the Deimos," Gera replied. "Both were purposely built warships with little regards for such luxuries, even though there exists enough accommodation for such. But we have a holodeck on board the Tumanjal, our great carrier, one of the largest ships ever built on two quadrants. She's over fourteen hundred meters in length, literally a flying base capable of launching and sustaining over two hundred fighters. That is where we are going now."

As they walked towards the shuttle bay, Gera asked. "Have you heard anything about your father lately?"

"Not that I know of," Tonya lied.

"I've heard he's become admiral," Gera said. "As usual, he placed his career above his family. I hope it was worth it for him."

Tonya stayed silent. Instead Tonya asked, "Aren't we not going to use the transporters?"

"Actually, I'm a bit afraid of using transporters, and I won't use one unless its absolutely necessary," Gera said. "Accidents you know. Where there is no occasion to use transporters, I would rather use shuttles."

In the shuttle bay, Tonya saw crewmen fixing the Venture class scout she used to come here, thinking they may find it useful in the future. She herself may find it useful as well for another purpose. A Type 11 heavy shuttle waited to take them aboard to the carrier. "Are you ready for the scenic route?" Gera asked.

"Ready as always, mother," Tonya replied.

"Then let us go," Gera said.

Aboard the Type 11 and watching through its large canopy, Tonya saw for the first time, the giant ship that was the Tumanjal loomed ahead of her. It was almost as big as a Jem'Hadar Warship class, but had a larger cross section that must give the ship even more mass compared to the Warship, at least to Tonya's mental estimates. It appeared like a immense column set on its side with a control hull on the front, and an engineering hull with engines on the back. Like swift birds, fighters launch off the docks in the carrier's surface, and land into it too. Two fighters took port and starboard positions next to the Type 11. Tonya could finally see them closer and see the details of each ship. They appeared like small shuttles, with the wing extensions housing the weapons, impulse and warp engines. Without those extensions, the standard shuttle layout could only carry a pittance of weapons, impulse and warp engines. But with the wing like housings, the engine and weapon ratio to the size and weight of the craft must be overwhelming, almost to the point that the ship was literally a cockpit riding onboard a set of engines.

"We simply call them Attackers," Gera said. "A brutal example of simplicity and efficiency, something the Federation had long forgotten how to build."

The giant ship loomed larger and larger, until everything in the canopy was nothing but the ship. The shuttle headed under the ship, a tiny insect seeking an opening in the giant monster it wished to enter. It found the lighted orifice and headed inside it.

A man in white robes awaited them with arms outstretched. As the shuttle doors opened, Gera rushed to the man's arms. Tonya felt strange to see her mother in the arms of another man, a jarring contrast to the images of love she displayed with her father so long ago. Tonya remembered this man from the broadcast they intercepted. One thought she had about this man said "psycho", but she kept this pretentious smile on her face.

"You are always, a lovely sight, Gera," Oblan said. "Lovelier even more, with the dress you wear. But who is this?" Oblan turned to face Tonya. "Is this beautiful lady the daughter you say? If she is, the resemblance is remarkable. She inherited all the good qualities you have."

"Indeed she is," Gera replied. "My daughter, Tonya." She turned to Tonya. "Tonya, this is the great Citizen Oblan Sironon, Prime Speaker of the Cartels."

"Much obliged," Oblan said with a short bow. Tonya bowed in response.

"Your return to your mother must be a great blessing, almost an unbelievable opportunity. Come to the holodeck, we must celebrate!" Oblan said. 'Ladies?" He raised his right elbow, and Gera took it. He raised his left elbow, and Gera signaled Tonya to take it. Tonya slipped her forearm into it.

"This is a great honor to have two lovely ladies in both my arms," Oblan smiled.

They walked to the holodeck but all the while, Tonya kept a wide eye on things. When the door of the holodeck opened, Oblan entered with wide arms, with Gera and Tonya at both his sides. Inside the holodeck was a classic 19th century Victorian ball, at least that's what appeared to Tonya based on her recollections of how the period would look like from the movies they showed in the Academy. Lovely and romantic, Tonya thought, if not opulent and pretentious. A large crystal chandelier took center stage and a large staircase descended to the center where a crowd awaited them.

The audience clapped as they descended down the grand staircase, satin red carpet lining their way. Everywhere she walked, Tonya kept an attentive eye, analyzing and memorizing details. Yes, even in an evening gown, she's still a reconnaissance machine. Old habits don't die at all they become automatic on the subconscious level.

There were many faces among the crowd. There was the whole spectrum of races from the Alpha and Beta quadrants, and they literally meant "specturm". From the green of Orions to the blue of the Andorians, anyone of every color was there. But there was some that took her attention more than others. Tonya could clearly make out renegade Klingons, who could never accept the peace that Chancellor Martok had fallen upon them. They still hungered for war, even when that was over, their taste for battle never abated, and they seek it, never mind who the opponent was. The sense of danger, of being so close to death, and the sheer fury of war were as addicting as any drug.

Then there were the Ferengi, who would do anything for a buck. They're a natural where pirating and privateering was done. Ferengi and Klingons don't mix together, but if they do, then that common interest must be so dominating that it would eclipse their common animosity.

But it was another race that took her attention most of all, their tough, scaly, grey reptilian look and their bland mercenary character. She counted each of the Jem'Hadar that moved through the crowd, their cold eyes studying the many faces. The animosity the other races had upon them, and they upon these other races, were the greatest of all. Yet they were here for a common purpose, that all these races meet for an unholy alliance. Everything hinged on a single principle the enemy of my enemy is my friend. And she can bet just who that enemy was.

"Come, come," Oblan said, pulling the two women to his side. "I have an announcement. Our loyal compatriot, Gera Khidan, is now in command of our newest acquisition, the Deimos. The Deimos will make a fine addition to our fleet, along with the other three newest captures. In addition to this, the gods have chosen to favor us with the return of her precious daughter to us, Tonya."

The audience clapped. Tonya grinned and waved to the crowd of alien faces and strangers.

Turning to Tonya and Gera, Oblan said, "Please feel free to mingle with the crowd."

"I prefer to stick by your side," Gera said.

Tonya hesitated for a moment, deciding again what was the best course of action. "I guess I will stay with you for a while too," she told Oblan.

"Come tell me more about yourself," Oblan asked to Tonya. "I've heard from your mother here that you've had a difficult life. But you were a tough child."

"What do you wish to know?" Tonya asked. "I've been a nomad and freelancer. So far, I've shown that I could take care of myself."

"I can see that. You look quite strong and you sound independent. How did you ever find us?" Oblan asked.

"Hasn't anyone out there who has not heard of the Cartels yet?" Tonya replied. "There are many out there who still aspire to join your ranks. Me included. I also aspired for searching my mother for my whole life, and I heard that she has joined you. It was really a matter of finding the right connection to lead me here. Unfortunately, Federation agents have been tailing me and any lead that would lead to the Cartels. I must say I am relieved and happy to be here. This ship is wonderful it's size and power. To see your fleet, this must be the wave of the future."

"Indeed it is. We are the wave of the future. The Federation is in reality, a Human Empire that has reached its zenith," Oblan said. "Like they say, what goes up comes down. The Dominion War has stretched the economic resources of the Federation, and the clandestine wars around its borders will stretch that even further. We are here to take advantage of the situation, or perhaps accelerate the decay process further."

"What's your grudge on the Federation?" Tonya asked.

Oblan smiled. "You're a half breed, are you?"

"Yes, I am," Tonya said.

"Part human I suppose, given the way you look," Oblan said.

"Yes," Tonya replied.

"You probably know the great disparity of wealth and the quality of life between Earth and the border planets or many of the member worlds," Oblan said. "Humans dominate Starfleet, and even with other races, they still account for over seventy percent of staff. So is much of their admiralty and captainship. It is not an equitable fleet."

"Your mother told me stories before how hard you lived, how your father left you all to pursue his Starfleet career. That was my story too, when I was a child. We were left to live on a border planet on a far colony. We survived in fairly rough conditions. Starfleet hardly ever bothered to patrol in those areas, citing other excuses."

"Then one day, pirates came along and raided the colony. Destroyed it clean. Wiped it out. My mother died, but the pirates adopted and raised me as their own. I climbed up in the ranks, became my own ship captain, then up the syndicate ladder and finally here I am."

"I grew to realize that the pirates themselves are like an act of nature. The killing and the dying they do, it's strictly a phenomenon of what they are. Nothing personal. Despite causing the death of my own mother, I grew to like being a pirate, being free like nothing else in this universe. Instead I have blamed Starfleet and the Federation for the neglect they caused, their ignorance of our plight. They should have protected us, gave us some assistance in the lives of the colony. Instead, they fly aboard those luxurious flying hotels like those Galaxy classes, or sit in comfortable offices inside a starship, a base or back on planet Earth, while their citizens suffer. The Federation is a utopia but only for the humans and the habitants of Earth, paid for with the backs of the ignored members of the Federation who probably only joined due to the greater fears of Cardassia, Klingon or Romulan and other hostile powers. The Federation is like one galaxy wide extortion racket. I blame them for indirectly for my own mother's death, but nonetheless the blame is greater, for the sin of ignorance is a far greater sin."

"The Federation is a disease worse than the Borg. At least the Borg is upfront and sincere in their beliefs that assimilating you is good for you. Everything is equal once you are a drone. But they, the Federation, are all smiles in the front and daggers at the back. They send good tidings and deliver empty gifts. There is no real equality."

"Here I gathered the dregs of every society, just as you and I are dregs of Federation society," Oblan said to Tonya. "Look at the faces around you, the scraps, the ignored..."

"And the Jem'Hadar?" Tonya asked.

"They were enemies once, like the Klingons were enemies once," Oblan said. "But these are Alphans. In the eyes of the Founders, they have become too strong for their own good. Or in the eyes of the Alphans, they feel that the Founders and the Vorta are no longer worthy to take their orders from. As we speak, the ever crafty leaders of the Dominion are scheming with the Federation, Klingon, Romulan, and even Cardassians for access rights in the Gamma quadrant and reparations, especially for the Cardassians. But in exchange, and the Dominion doesn't grovel for a good reason, every power in the Alpha and Beta quadrant must collaborate with them to hunt down the Alphans, who went renegade after the end of the Dominion War."

"The end of the War only meant an end to the war with the Dominion and the Founders themselves, but not the Alphans, whom every major power in two quadrants continue a campaign of 'mop up' operations against," Oblan continued. "At least that is what it was euphemistically called. In reality it was a war of extermination and genocide, a war that the Dominion encouraged against their former soldiers. Even these Alphans deserve a refuge and a right to life, but the Federation only selectively chooses, like a god, who has the right to live or die."

"The Dominion now wants restore better relations with the powers in the Alpha and Beta quadrants in the light of other powers that may begin to threaten their own supremacy, such as the fear of an actual Borg incursion to their quadrant. Now they want to pull a thinly veiled publicity stunt by shifting the blame of war atrocities against the Alphans from themselves, even though it was the Dominion leaders themselves who ordered these atrocities. Call it scape goats. But the Federation and the other powers were all willing to buy the Dominion line for the sake of improving relations with the Dominion for commerce, exploration and of course, exploitation. Justice is damned."

"The Dominion have reason to fear the Alphans. They are stronger, more intelligent, but also more autonomous. As you can see, they got rid of the shackles that are the Vorta. The Dominion fear that such insolence and insubordination will spread to the Gamma Quadrant, creating a revolution and chaos that will tear the Dominion apart. Which is good, so now enslaved races will be free."

"We the Cartels thrive on Chaos. And Chaos is what we will create," Oblan said.

Suddenly Gera cut in. "Oh my, I am getting jealous from being ignored."

"I apologize," Oblan said. "I must have babbled and blathered. I am merely explaining our circumstances to your daughter. We have much alike, your daughter and I, we're both half breeds, and the Federation had ignored our plight."

There was no useful information here, Tonya thought. Nothing that she didn't already know about, but it did give her insights about the man.

"Don't you think you have another announcement to make?" Gera said to Oblan.

Oblan lowered a glass of wine. "I believe I do. Excuse me ladies," he said as he walked to the center of the staircase and climbed a few steps to put his height above the crowd and see the entire view of the room in one glance.

"Ladies? Gentlemen? May I have your attention please," Oblan said. "I have another important announcement to make, and one that will tip the balance of power towards the Cartels in the years to come. History will know this event as the one that fill finally turn the tide against the Federation. History will know this event as the rise of a new empire in the shadows."

"We are pleased to welcome the Jem'Hadar Alphans of the 42nd Fleet to the Cartels. We are currently in negotiations with the other Alphan fleets and it is very likely that they would join us in a great alliance that promises to create a new order in the Galaxy."

A Jem'Hadar, above average for his size, stepped forward to join the Citizen Oblan in the stairs. He wore a uniform modified to show rankings unusual for a Jem'Hadar, but the first steps in developing their own command and organizational structure independent of the Vorta.

"My dear fellows, I introduce you to the First of the First Warship of the 42nd," Oblan said. "At least this is what he is currently called. This means he is first ranked of the first ranked Warship class vessel of the 42nd the overall commander of the 42nd in other words." Oblan turned to the Jem'Hadar.

"My dear friend, one of these days, you should learn how to use ranks like captain and admiral just as we do in this quadrant. Make some names too, so it will be easier to keep track of yourselves," Oblan said. "But i guess you will learn and evolve to using that. Which reminds me..."

A bunch of children ran to the room. They appeared normal except for the hard scaly horns in the middle of their forehead.

Someone said from the crowd. "Jem'Hadar children?"

"That's right," Oblan said. "My brothers and sisters, these are Jem'Hadar children, the first wave of a new generation of genetically improved Jem'Hadar. These children were only born today, and as you can see from their extremely fast rate of growth, they would be adults in no time, about three days approximately."

"To keep Jem'Hadar subservient to their needs, the Dominion genetically engineered the Jem'Hadar to have a short life. While they mature rapidly, this keeps the amount of experience a Jem'Hadar can accumulate to be quite limited before he dies. This will affect their capability and capacity of command, forcing them to rely on Vorta for valuable experience. For the Alphans to have stable, consistent leadership of their own, they need a breed of leaders among themselves that could live much longer lifetimes."

"This limitation will end now. As part of our alliance with the Alphans, on their request and as part of their continuation evolution, our scientists have worked with the Jem'Hadar to create an even more improved breed. By removing a special gene that forces Jem'Hadar to die early, we have managed to create a new generation of Jem'Hadar that will live a normal lifetime relative to a natural human being without any enhancing implants.

There was commotion in the crowd, many asking questions or carrying a puzzled look in their faces. Tonya herself leaned over to her mother and asked. "Is that kind of dangerous? That's like playing with fire, tampering with evolution."

Oblan raised his hand to halt the questions buzzing from the crowd. He said, "I know what you are thinking. Am I out of my mind? Are we endangering ourselves by helping the Jem'Hadar to be a better race?"

"I say no. The Alphans were destined to evolve as a separate race from their Gamma quadrant brothers still living under the Dominion's heel. For them to have an enlightened, consistent, and stable leadership, they need to have a normal lengthy life span, and that's what we need for them to develop as stable partners and brothers, as proper citizens under the Cartels."

Someone asked from the crowd. "But isn't their short lifetimes are what that gave the Jem'Hadar their willingness to die, their ethusiasm for sacrifice?"

"Courage and the willingness for sacrifice has nothing to do with life spans," Oblan said. "Just ask our Klingon brothers. Next question please."

"I still have second thoughts about this," someone said. "About being able to control the Jem'Hadar and everything..."

"If we can accommodate Ferengi and Klingons, we can accommodate the Jem'Hadar," Oblan said. "This is not like we have never incorporated a fierce warrior race into our ranks before. The addition of the Jem'Hadar Alphans into an alliance with the Cartel fleets will greatly improve both our chances against the Federation. We are in the brink of becoming a dominant power of our own. Our partnerships here are based on mutual respect and dependency. That is more than enough to hold us together."

"Now that questioning is done, let's roll out our last offering," Oblan said. Someone rolled out trays, carrying bricks of white ice.

"Ketracel Ice," Oblan said. "This is the future. We have improved upon the original Ketracel White formula, which our new friends the Jem'Hadar had been kind to provide us samples, and turned it into a new potent formula, an energy boosting fad drink, the most revolutionary since beer, wine and soda was invented. We have made it acceptable and pleasurable for all other races to consume. We currently have exclusive production of the liquid, and it cannot be replicated using a replicator or analyzed for duplication. How it's unique taste is produced remains highly confidential, using an undisclosed intricate multistage process from high quality secret materials. Currently it needs to be frozen, but we're working on a process that will let us ship the material in powdered form. "

"While we currently supply our Jem'Hadar brothers here, we have assigned a number of dealers to distribute the product over two quadrants, and we have plans to make it available on the Gamma Quadrant. Our brothers here have demonstrated their preference for the new product over the traditional Ketracel White supplement, providing a superior energy boost, greater nutritional concentration, with supplementary hormones that aid in physical regeneration and of course, stress relief."

That thing could wreak havoc to the Dominion command structure if the Jem'Hadar Gammas get a hold of this, Tonya thought.

Oblan finished his speech. This was getting interesting, Tonya thought. If she can only get some gene samples of the Jem'Hadar children or that Ketracel Ice. The crowd mingled again and this was the time to socialize. Tonya stood up and followed one of the Jem'Hadar children playing among the party.

She managed to follow the little brat, even though her tight figure hugging satin gown limited her mobility. The damn children will be fully mature soldiers in no time; she could imagine them growing every hour. The brat stared at her, and already he had the cold merciless eyes she remembered every Jem'Hadar had. "Excuse me," she said. He only blinked while her talons flashed for a quick moment. "Go, go!" Tonya shooed away the brat with the wave of her hands. When he left in a jiffy, and Tonya raised a few hairs to the light, gloating at them as she studied them. She took the hairs in a flash from the brat's head. Hmm, she thought, and she slipped them into a tiny sample bag.

Someone startled her as she turned around. Someone, or something tugged at her gown, then started to caress her thighs. That caught her with a chilly surprise. She quickly looked around but there no one there. But as she cast her eyes downward, a dwarf with large ears stood with the best of a devilish grin he could achieve with his sharp teeth. "Hey cute baby," the Ferengi said. "Would you mind scratching my ear lobes. I pay handsomely."

She unsheathed the talons from the back of her hand, and she made sure the Ferengi saw ever centimeter of sharp Khosk claw. He saw it with wide open, startled eyes. "Now tell me honey, where do you want me to begin?" She said with an evil grin of her own.

"Ooh my, sorry," the Ferengi said with terror in his eyes. "I can't afford ear surgery right now, baby, maybe later." He skimped away.

"Increase power to field suppressors," Garret ordered. "That would reduce our emissions signature further, and improve our cloaking even against cloak detectors."

"Aye sir," Athena said. "I got a Prometheus class signature in my sensors. She's not in any alert right now. I believe we can get close to her, scan and determine an entry point."

"Entry point?" Garret asked.

"Yes, entry point," Athena said. "The Deimos is a sister ship to mine. I have managed to get specific information about her and her systems. If I can get close enough to her, I can link myself into her computer system, disable her hologram and download a copy of myself into her computer system. From there, I can try to gather information. Like my ship, the Deimos appeared to have retained holoemitters throughout the ship. This would enable any medical hologram to immediately attend to any wounded in any part of the ship."

Wait..." Athena said.

"Wait what?" Garret asked.

"I got readings of a Venture class scout inside the Deimos," Athena said. "Didn't we detect the Mage pursuing a scout a while ago?"

"Yes, the same scout inside the Mage's shuttle bay," Garret said. "And launched from it, no doubt. The whole firing was a ruse to throw off suspicion and plant an operative inside the Cartel."

"How do you know that?" Athena asked.

"Been reading some of the exploits of clandestine operatives working for the Federation," Garret said. "They're Section confidential and they coded the actual names to maintain anonymity, but they make interesting reads. You should try it some time. Whoever that is in that scout craft, he or she is good."

"So what about it? Are we a go?" Athena asked.

"Any negative aspect if you try a download?" Garret asked.

"This is what I am guessing," Athena said. "They just newly captured the ship, so engineers are still fingering there way through it, and they probably won't fully master the intricacies of the system for weeks, maybe months. In short, I know the Deimos better than her captors do, and I can take advantage of it."

"We would need to know where the operative went, and if the Cartels are still possibly holding captives," Garret said, even though inside, he acknowledged the possibility for the latter may be dim. The Cartels were not known for keeping prisoners alive unless they can use them or trade them as hostages. "If you duplicate yourself, would that result in having two of you?"

"Not really," Athena said. "My center of consciousness resides on this ship, partly hardwired in a combination of positronic and isolinear circuits, then extended into the bioneural gelpacks. My duplicate is actually an extension of my real consciousness, just as the hologram you see of me right now. I will have full control and accountability of her actions. We will use low energy, low emission subspace links that are virtually undetectable for our mutual interfaces."

"Is there any catch to this?" Garret asked.

"If the computer systems in the Deimos goes into a complete hard reset, it would wipe out my uploaded duplicate and restore her original programs," Athena said. "That's conventional policy against computers infiltrated with virus attacks, so I say, it's pretty vulnerable and countered with an easy measure. My point is that we do not need to reveal ourselves at first. The opposing crew may not notice that we made a switch over except for a momentary glitch. They won't know, and we will keep that ace in our cards."

"Clever, let's do it," Garret said. "Maximum power to cloaking systems." He noticed that the Jem'Hadar Strike Cruisers were all patrolling the perimeters of the system, not deep inside where they stay hidden. "Steady as she goes."

"Aye," Athena said.

After a moment, the Deimos loomed large in her screen, unsuspecting of the intruder nearby. "I don't even think her scanners are up," Garret said.

"It's probably on maintenance," Ka'nal said. "Or the crew is on leave. Whatever the reason is, that ship is just sleeping there. We could just blow it out of space."

"And get the rest of them after our tails and risking our operative," Garret said. "Athena, begin your upload."

Garret played his thumbs in the next few minutes. He tapped his foot and hummed a few notes. He looked around at the crew, each of them concentrating on their stations. "Are you finished, Athena? I'm getting tense here."

"Uploaded completed," Athena affirmed. "Begin takeover now. It will be all over in a few minutes."

"How will we know if it's successful," Garret asked.

"I will tell you," Athena said.

* * *

The lights inside the Deimos dimmed. The crew startled, stared their eyes at the ceiling, looking around. Then as suddenly as the outage started, the lights returned, and they headed back to their normal duties, safe in the assumption that it was but a temporary glitch. This ship was new to them and such glitches were to be expected in the meantime.

Athena materialized near the shuttle bay, hidden in some stores. "Hmm," she said, "my costume is not right." She searched her database of proper Cartel uniforms and picked herself a neat engineering uniform. "Neat, huh?" She said as she stared at her butt and examined her new look.

She walked out to the main shuttle bay, explaining herself as a new recruit. The Venture class sat there, repaired. Garret was right; the Mage were only attempting near misses, faking an attack on the scout. If it were truly in anger, the scout would not have stood a chance. She wondered if the Cartel officers have figured the same line of logic. Maybe not. A short access on the Deimos memory logs told her that the person that came onboard the scout had left in a shuttle to visit another ship. Hurst did not provide much information about the operative; it was strictly need to know basis. But the operative a woman seemed familiar. That's right, Athena recalled, she was the fighter that took down that Romulan bitch.

* * *

It had been uneventful, Hurst thought as he relaxed on his chair. Instead of running away, the Cartels and the Jem'Hadar Alphans choose to momentarily remain in the system. They must have suspected they were detected already. There must be some reason for their staying. The best reason Hurst could think of, was that they were sufficiently confident of their strength in numbers, and who wouldn't, especially with that Jem'Hadar fleet on their side. They were probably building, repairing and upgrading ships, and as time flies, they will only get stronger. The Jem'Hadar can build and repair ships as quickly as they could grew their young into adults. The Federation and its allies would never have won the War with the Dominion if the Jem'Hadar were left to breed their soldiers and build their ships in vast numbers uninterrupted. The Federation set up long range ships as deep strike groups to carry the war deep into Dominion territory, to strike deep against their bases, breeding and production centers.

The Federation's earlier programs to develop ships against the Borg paid off. The Defiant, the Akira, Sabre, Norway and Steamrunner classes help beat off the relentless hordes of Jem'Hadar. If it were not for such programs, the Dominion would have overrun the Federation. So the earlier Borg incursions had an indirect effect of helping to save the Federation by waking it up.

But even that wasn't enough. Designing for area point defense against the Borg wasn't enough to handle a more strategically complex opponent like the Dominion. The need to bring the war deep into Dominion territory required a different set of specifications. Few proposals were considered. Shortly after shipyards built first few Sovereigns, including the Sovereign herself and the Enterprise E, the Sovereign program underwent an overhaul, intended to create a cheaper, simplified warship. Engineers removed niceties such as the Captain's Yacht and laboratories, in exchange for more armament, shuttle and torpedo inventory, boarding transporters, armor and tactical analysis systems. The stripped down Spartan version of the Sovereign didn't have enough changes to merit the designation of calling it a full refit, but enough to call it a variant. Most large ships were never fully alike with each other anyway, and always had changes particular to that ship.

But the 'Spartan' Sovereign wasn't enough either. The Federation needed another design that had the Sovereign's firepower but was cheaper to build even than a simplified Sovereign. The result was a battlecruiser called the Achilles class. But even that wasn't enough either; the Achilles was a large ship, just slightly smaller than a Sovereign in length, but not in internal volume. Starfleet needed something with more stealth, smaller, faster, but with equal to greater firepower than a Sovereign. Starfleet turned to the ultra secret Project Omega, whose cynical purpose was to create a long range strategic weapon intended to strike and bring the war into the heart of an enemy empire. Project Omega wasn't an anti Borg weapon as much as a stealthy tactical deep strike weapon designed against the industrial infrastructure of potential hostile powers such as the Klingons and the Romulans. It was a ship design and concept that would have been politically untenable and unpalatable for a Federation voicing the ideals of peace and universal brotherhood. The main Dominion war was, however, over before engineers finished the first prototype of a deep space tactical strike cruiser and penetrator that was to become the Prometheus.

They have finished the Prometheus. Then another prototype, who was to become the Athena. After extensive testing thanks to the Prometheus and the Athena, Starfleet approved the Ares variant as the final, definitive mass production version of the Prometheus class. The Ares class removed the expensive and complicated multiple vector mode capability in exchange for the simple stuff more armor, primary armament, torpedo stocks, boarding transporters, simplicity in production and ruggedness in construction.

But even tactical strike cruisers were not enough. When the technology and the equipment wasn't available yet, there was the simple sheer audacity of ships, crews and operatives working deep behind enemy lines, fighting their own guerilla war against the enemy's supply lines, logistical resources, command centers and means of production. These special forces were the heart and soul of the Section. While Section 31 laid the coup de grace against the Dominion Founders with biological warfare, the contributions of other Section groups in helping to win the War could not be overstated. The War itself was formally over, but a secret war remained to be fought.

Using his authority and access, Hurst obtained vital documents of one such operative. Reading them, he discovered a daughter he never knew before, a stranger made of his own flesh and blood. It was this strangeness he wanted to dispel. By knowing, he hoped he can be closer to her, and if she returned, maybe his hope to rebuild and catch up to a past he so abandoned.

But his reading may have to take a break however. There was a red light flashing on his terminal. He pressed it on.

"Admiral, I think we have a situation," Shelley said, her face in the terminal.

"Right away," Hurst replied. "But what is it?"

"Ships, lots of ships, not ours, but Cardies. You better hurry up," Shelley said.

The first thing Hurst had in mind were reinforcements. "Has the Hiryu rejoined us with the two Steamrunners?" Hurst asked, clicking his communicator.

'Yes," Shelley. "Our fleet has been reinforced. But as you ordered, the USS Normandy and the Lionheart has returned to the shipyard to protect it."

"Ah, we need every ship here, but we can't leave the shipyard unprotected," Hurst said. "Have you detected any hostile intention from the Cardassians?"

"None what so ever, sir," Shelley replied. "Standard protocol requires that we are on yellow alert, but there is no justification at the moment to go into a more provocative red alert stance."

"Very good," Hurst said. "I'm on the turbo lift right now and I will be joining you shortly." Hurst reached the bridge. "Report," he ordered.

"Cardassian armada, possibly an entire Order," Shelley said. "I could not imagine they still have this many ships left."

"Oh they do," Hurst said. "Despite the massacre on Cardassia Prime, the Union has many densely populated colonies within the planets and moons of that system all over the space they control, not to mention many shipyards and bases. Towards the end of the War, the Cardassians have learned more than a few tricks or two, such as efficient mass production as reflected on their newer ships, such as Tonga and Norin classes and even improved on their weaponry. Intelligence operations have noted that even as they rebuild their society and industry from the war, they are rebuilding their own forces as well. They are on their way attaining the same strength as they had before the war."

"Why don't we hail the commander of the fleet?" Hurst asked. "Have you determined the Order these fleet belong to?"

"I believe it's the Eight Order. There is something more though. The fleet isn't just Cardassian. They're reinforced with Romulan ships," Shelley said. "Why are the Romulans involved?"

"The Romulans have a working scheme with the Cardassians towards a possible alliance. Their similar cold temperament, similar views and philosophies, practical, mercenary, even treacherous approach to things," Hurst said. "They know enough of each other as a counterbalance against double crossing. But most importantly, both of them dislike the Klingons, and both of them are into this, 'the enemy of my enemy is my friend' philosphy. Both of them don't like the Federation much either, so that's another commonality. I'm not surprised if the Romulans popped up. Hail the Romulan commander as well."

Two faces popped up in the Kiev's bridge screen. "You!" Hurst exclaimed.

"Why, are you not surprised?" Riana said with a devilish grin. No doubt her image came from her Shadow class, the IRW D'PakThau.

"Let me see, you placed a tracking device on that cloaking device you borrowed us, didn't you?" Hurst said. "I should have known earlier."

"Very perceptive for an old man," Riana said. "The Romulan Star Empire has some interests and dues to pay against the Cartels. And of course, a glorious victory here will help raise my rank."

"The Cardassian Union has dues to pay against the Cartels," said the Cardassian.

"Gul Kassak of the Eight Order!" Hurst said in recognition.

"Major Riana, you do know who this Federation admiral is?" said Kassak.

"Of course, he's an old acquaintance of mine, emphasis on old," Riana said.

"That bitch," Shelley remarked.

"Temper, temper, human," Riana said. "Yes, Gul Kassak, he is Admiral Hurst. Just Admiral Hurst. Quite interesting, I never knew your first name."

"You know the business, Riana, it's a need to know basis, and you don't need to know," Hurst said. "Especially you."

Hurst turned to Gul Kassak. "You may not have heard of an insignificant admiral like me, but everyone in the Dominion War knows of Gul Kassak. You are one of the most brilliant commanders the Union ever fielded. We also know you to be fair and just, even in a time when we had lowered opinions on the Cardassians. What brings you here and why would you collaborate yourself with the likes of Major Riana of the Tal Shi'ar?"

"The Cartels brought me here, and as I said before, it's time to pay them back," Kassak said. "Maybe you will understand it more if I can explain the situation better."

"Ever have a child of your own, Admiral?" Kassak asked.

For a moment Hurst froze and then made a denial his answer. "No." In a business like his, he cannot reveal his family or even acknowledge them to the open public or he would risk their safety. There were always those who were unhappy with the consequences of his actions, and they can seek retribution by assassinating members of his family.

"That is too bad. For having children is the greatest joy in one's life," said Kassak. "If you have a child you would understand my actions."

"Understand? What does having a child have to do with this?" Hurst asked.

"The Cartels have been selling drugs of various addictive qualities in this years," Kassak said. "Dangerously addictive. They would create it in one form or another. Stop one form of the drug, they create a substitute that would slip by our patrols and police."

"I had a son, and with him, lies all of my love and hopes of my family," said Kassak. "One day, someone sold him a drug, and now he has become a shriveling, disgusting mess. If you are a father and you see your child like this...there is no sight in the universe that can hurt your soul even more..."

"I swore vengeance on those who did this thing," Kassak cursed. "They will pay."

Hurst kept silent for a moment. It was not normal for a Cardassian to be driven with deep emotions. Hurst believed what Kassak said. However, this was a situation that can only be driven, and won with cold tactical logic.

"I understand your plight," Hurst said. "But you're interfering with a Federation surveillance operation. You understand that there is a massive Jem'Hadar Alphan fleet in there, most possibly renegade. They are building up in that system and we suspect they have aligned themselves with the Cartel. There also has been a steady influx of Cartel vessels, implying they are also conducting a build up on their own."

"Even for our force, we have estimated that it was far too great for us alone to handle them. We have called in reinforcements," Hurst said.

"Not even the Jem'Hadar can deny a father's revenge," Kassak said. "Let me see the disposition of your forces. An Akira, three Intrepid variants, three Defiants, two Steamrunners, a Sabre and a Nova variant. That should boost our combined forces. I do not see any reason why we should hold off our attack."

"We suspect a number of Jem'Hadar Warships, Super Carriers, and Battle Cruisers supporting squadrons of Strike Cruisers and Fighters," Hurst said. "Looking at your forces and even combined with the Romulan ships on hand, we can't handle the Jem'Hadar alone, much less combined with the Cartels."

"So when did sheer numbers ever frightened a Federation Starfleet officer, eh?" Kassak said. "If you have been in my command, I would shoot you for cowardice."

"Since when did a Cardassian Gul act like a reckless Klingon?" Hurst countered. "Look at your forces. While your Hutet class flagship may be a match to anything that in that fleet, there is only one of that, and the rest of your fleet, your Galors, Keldons, Hidekis, Tongas and Norins are all out matched gun to gun, size to size, by every Jem'Hadar ship out there, not mentioning the Cartel pirate ships. And your Romulan helpers, are you that gullible? There is not a single D'Deridex there. The largest ship is a Shadow. The rest of Major Riana's fleet, Shrikes, Talons, Raptors and Griffins, are equally no match, gun to gun against most of the ships in that system. They out power and they outnumber all of us."

"Point taken," Kassak said. "But I suspect there are other factors that you are not tell me."

"All right," Hurst said. "If you are going to get killed, then you should realize the odds. The Cartels have managed to seize a number of powerful Federation ships and are using them to bolster their forces."

"How strong?" Kassak asked.

"Let us say, we can presume that two of these vessels are stronger than any vessel I have in my fleet currently," Hurst said.

"It can only mean that the Cartels have two of these in their possession---top flight flagship, dreadnaught, or battle cruiser, with the firepower one can expect of a Galaxy or Sovereign," Kassak said. "But since you have declined to tell me precisely the class, I will presume they got one or two of your precious elite strike ships, let's say an Achilles class. That would be a major embarrassment and I can understand now your reluctance in letting us go in."

"I'm not going to deny or affirm anything, but only to say, you got a fight in your hands," Hurst said. "In addition, we have an unconfirmed report that the Cartels may have fielded a super ship in the system, nearly as big as a Jem'Hadar Warship, but we have not determined if it is a dreadnaught or a carrier type. It is so big we can detect it by its mass alone, and it has more mass than a Warship class."

Kassak sank into gentle thought. "There is too many random variables even for a head strong attack, what do you suggest, Admiral?"

"Gul! You are not falling for this man's propaganda," said Riana, outraged.

"Major Riana, for a Romulan, you seemed determined to die quickly," Gul Kassak said. "As I was saying before I was rudely interrupted, what are you saying, Admiral?"

"Let's wait for reinforcements," Hurst said. "Before we move in. We are in the middle of an important intelligence gathering operation. We cannot jeopardize what we are about to learn. I cannot overstate the importance of this."

"Waiting for reinforcements can take forever," Kassak said. "Even a Cardassian's patience can be tested. I will wait but only for a while, but if there is a slight movement in that, a disturbance, or any sign of an attempt to leave the system, we will attack regardless of the odds against us."

"The Tal Shi'ar have always battled against overwhelming numbers. This is not new to us," Riana said. "They don't know we are here. That is the most important advantage. Surprise. We must use it. Now. We can lose that surprise through hesitation. I am sure while we wait, they will have perimeter patrols out there, and if they detect us, not only will we lost our element of surprise, but the element of offense shifts to their side. I say let us not heed this human. We must attack now."

"Only your vessels can cloak, not ours," Kassak said. "We would have lost the element of surprise anyway if they patrol the perimeters. We shall wait in caution and strike only at my command."

* * *

While their attention focused on socializing, Tonya slipped out of the holodeck. The tray contained the white crystalline substance frozen in solid blocks. A worker had pushed it out of the holodeck and was now returning the tray and the stock inside to where it was either made or stored. Like a cat slinking in the shadows, she stalked the worker pushing the tray. Into a room they went and she followed.

There were machines whose purpose was beyond her understanding. There were workers in white suits, gloves and face masks checking the equipment. This was a factory if she ever seen one. There were conveyor belts moving crystals of various colors, tubes containing various chemicals, mixing stuff in ways she would never understand. This was not science. This was alchemy. This was magic.

Then she saw what she was looking for. There were rows of that stuff all in test tubes. When was the last time she saw old fashioned test tubes? It was the science laboratory back in the Academy where they taught the old style basics of science where a bare hand measured and mixed the fluids, not scanners or instruments or machines. Each tube glittered, like a jewel in liquid, the light bouncing off the tiny glass walls, and off the spherical bubbles that rise to the surface. The Ketracel White she knew was white and foggy. It was dirty, it was less than pristine, not like this Ketrace Ice, which in its concentrated essence was as clear and as pure as a diamond in liquid.

She looked around, making sure there was nothing remotely like a camera that could be recording what she was about to do. The workers were like robots, concentrating only on their work, their movements like in a trance. She took a tube and slipped it into her dress. She walked out as swift and silent as she came. Then back to the party, where she mingled once again among the smiling, happy faces.

"Oblan, Tonya, we have to go," Gera said. "I have just been notified that there are disturbances just outside of the system. If that Federation escort discovered us, enemies may be amassing somewhere in that part of the system. We need to get ready and be alert for any confrontation."

"I concur. I will do some inspections on the Tumanjal before returning back to the Koxinga," Oblan said.

"Come with me, Tonya," Gera said.

"All right," Tonya acknowledged.

"Again, it's a pleasure meeting the beauteous daughter of a beautiful woman," Oblan said, lifting Tonya's hand, then bowing and kissing the back of her hand. Not sure what to do to express politeness and respect, Tonya tilted her head forward instead.

They returned to the shuttle bay and back to the Type 11 shuttle. The Type 11 departed from the bay of the Tumanjal, into space, and at the direction of the Deimos.

"So what do you think?" Gera asked.

"To say quite the least, most interesting, mother," Tonya said. "I still somehow don't understand why you wanted to join them."

"I thought for the same reason why you're here, Tonya," Gera said. "To escape the Federation, and to get even."

"Yes, I remember. I remember the honorable pirates part, the honorable thieves part. I just didn't remember being an unscrupulous drug lord part," Tonya said.

"There are times that I privately question the wisdom of the Great Citizen himself," Gera said. "But in the end, his decisions have always worked for the better. He had rebuilt the Cartels to the former glory they once were, and to a peak in power they have never attained before."

"But mother, we're talking about drugs," Tonya said. "The whole place smells of it. The criminal underground of two quadrants are openly talking about how the Cartels were spreading drugs. For all you know, I can bet the Cartels are feeding drugs to the Jem'Hadar Alphans."

"That is nothing new," Gera said. "The Vorta has a chemical they put on the Ketracel White to help make the Jem'Hadar continuously dependent on them. It's not just a standard food supplement you know. The drug contains inhibitors against pain, and gives the one who consumes it an ecstatic high. They lose their fear of death, their senses elated, sharpened, aggression intensified, passion magnified, their mind boosted to overdrive, their metabolic rates will run past their peak. When you have that in battle, it creates an unstoppable soldier. The stuff is wonderful both food, medicinal drug and stimulant all into one."

"We discovered this intricate mix of chemicals," Gera said. "However, due to makeshift production facilities built during the war, their purity leaves much to be desired. But the Cartels have been brandishing fashion drugs for the illegal market for quite some time. The Cartels have the superior facilities and purification equipment. During the War, long range attacks against Jem'Hadar bases seriously impeded Ketracel White production. They shifted their production inside their Super Carriers but it wasn't enough. After the war, with the Dominion's blessing and encouragement, the Federation and other Alpha and Beta Quadrant powers continued their campaign of harassment and destruction of Ketracel White facilities. The Dominion wanted the renegade Alphans to return to their fold and a campaign against their independent Ketracel White facilities would be the best way to do it. And of course, everyone wanted to be friendly with the Dominion once again to obtain rights of exploration and passage in the Gamma Quadrant, including the Federation."

"So you see, the partnership was natural," Gera said. "We do the production for them, and they help protect us. We took the Ketracel White, discovered the drugs in them and purified almost to a hundred percent crystalline form, which we discovered can be stored in frozen form. We're working on powdered form too. That became Ketracel Ice. The compound is much more concentrated. Even with the powerful physique of a Jem'Hadar, they experience 'highs'."

"But what if the Jem'Hadar found out you're trying to addict them with the new stuff?" Tonya asked.

"The Jem'Hadar had been addicted to the Ketracel White in the first place," Gera said. "Being addicted to the Ice don't mean a thing, so long as we appear more benevolent masters than the Dominion Founders. With us producing their food and drug for them, they could concentrate on rebuilding their numbers and ships without worrying about their logistics."

"So that's how they're able to rebuild so quickly," Tonya said.

"Exactly," Gera said. "At the same time it allows us to keep them in relative control. The Jem'Hadar is like a wild animal better to be kept under anyone's lease than allowed loose in the neighborhood. Wouldn't you agree?"

Tonya nodded in agreement. "I heard Oblan say 'dealers'," Tonya said. "What exactly does that mean? Like those Ferengi and Andorian merchants that I saw. You sell the stuff to other races?"

"Yes as a matter of fact I think, as the humans might say, we hit the jackpot on the fashion drugs," Gera said.

"But..." Tonya interrupted herself, preventing her feelings get the better of her. Starfleet history also taught her about the Earth drug wars of the late 20th century, the Opium wars of the 19th century, and parallel events that took place in other Federation worlds.

"You know Tonya, as a parent and mother, we have to talk about your future now," Gera said. "Now that we are together, I want you to stay and live with me in the new ship, the Deimos. I will train you to be an officer and eventually join me in whatever I am doing." Even as Tonya stared out of the windows of the shuttle craft, Gera hugged her. "You will be all right," Gera said. "I will take care of my baby from now on."

* * *

"Take a look at this, Great Citizen," said one of the workers. "Our cameras took this a while ago during the celebration. She is dressed like she came from the party. She took a tube and slipped it in her dress. Our inventory count revealed a missing tube. "

"What were inside these tubes?" Oblan asked.

"Ketracel Ice. Quality control samples we use for the batches," the worker said. "We're also experimenting with various permutations of the formula."

"I know the girl," Oblan said. "Inform the Deimos and prepare to detain her. Get me a shuttle and some guards. We're going over to the Deimos."

* * *

The Type 11 shuttle entered the shuttle bay of the Deimos. As the shuttle landed, a company of guards ran out and surrounded the ship, phaser rifles raised.

Gera got out of the shuttle. "What is this all about?" She asked.

"I'm sorry, Captain, it's not meant for you. It's for her," the guard said, pointing his rifle at Tonya.

"This is preposterous," Gera shouted. "She's my daughter."

"She's also a spy," said the guard. "A spy for someone, the Federation, Klingons, whoever. All we know is that the Great Citizen has given his orders to arrest her."

"The Citizen? Let me talk to him right now," Gera insisted.

"He's on his way here on a shuttle," the guard said. "Captain, please move away from her. We have orders to take her to a holding cell while we await the Great Citizen."

One of the guards groped around Tonya's lean curvaceous figure and her thin satin gown. "Hey!" She objected. "I'm not wearing much underneath there!"

"Found it!" The guard said. He lifted a crystal vial to the light. It glistened.

"Tonya!" Gera looked at her. Tonya replied with silence. "Give me that!" Gera shouted as she grabbed the tube from the guard. "What is this doing with you!" Gera demanded an answer. Tonya stared down at her feet. Gera grabbed a gun and pointed it at Tonya. "Answer me!" Gera shouted. "What is this doing with you?"

Tonya wiped the wetness from her eyes, gathered her own courage and spoke up. "Mother, what are you doing here?" Her voice was calm and it cut to the bone.

Gera breathed hard, shaken. "I already told you why I'm here. The Federation, and everyone it ruined my life. It ruined my family. It ruined my world. I swear with every breath I have, I will be a part of its destruction."

"You!" Gera continued. "You're my daughter. Yet you're like someone I never knew. You're become a stranger. Who are you?"

Ever since she met her mother once again, there was a burden Tonya carried. Every lie and deception she made to her own mother was a dagger to Tonya's own heart. A Starfleet operative would never reveal under any circumstances what he or she truly was to any captor. Even under torture, she would never reveal this. But this was more than torture, this was more than Starfleet matters. For a moment, the rest of the universe disappeared. All that stood there before was a mother and a daughter, and what was left of the trust between them. Someone said that in the most troubled situation, when you were most trapped, it would be the truth that would set you free.

"Mother," Tonya answered. "I am a ranking officer of Starfleet."

Gera's eyes froze. The grip around her gun loosened, and the gun fell to the floor with a loud thud. Her face grimaced, her mouth frowned, her eyes began to tear. "You...you are lying.... How dare you lie to me?" Gera shouted. She raised her hand with an open palm, and with a swift downward stroke, she slapped Tonya across the face, knocking Tonya to the floor.

Tonya sobbed on the metal surface, as she struggled to lift part of herself to the floor. Gera snapped the fallen gun from the ground, and aimed at Tonya's head.

"Tell me you're lying!" Gera shouted, the phaser shaking, her finger on the trigger.

"I'm not, Mother!" Tonya shouted back, her belly prone on the floor. "I am a Starfleet Commander. Yes, not just a simple crewman or ensign, but a Commander, and damn proud of it too."

"No, you're lying! No daughter of mine can be a commander of Starfleet," Gera shouted, her hands with the phaser trembling. "No way! It can't be." Tears began to stream down Gera's own eyes. "Why would you do this? Why would you betray me?"

"I am not betraying you, Mother," Tonya said as she grit her teeth. "But if that is what you think, why don't you just shoot me? Get it over with! Shoot me!" Tonya stood up, then laid her shaking hands on Gera's phaser, and pulled the barrel next to her heart. "Shoot me, Mother! Why don't you shoot me if you think I betrayed you, if you think I'm not worthy of being your daughter!"

"Take her away, take her away!" Gera screamed. "I don't want to see her anymore. I don't want to see you anymore. You're not my daughter anymore. You're not..." Gera broke down and sobbed. "...my daughter..."

The guard grabbed Tonya on her wrists, and strapped them to her back with metal handcuffs. As the guards led her away, Tonya struggled to get one last look at her mother, who had turned her back away to the wall, weeping, one hand still holding a phaser. "Get out!" Gera shouted. "Get out... I have lost my daughter...my baby is gone..." Close by, a girl wearing an engineer's uniform watched the entire event. As the guards led their captive away, it was time for her to send her message. "Athena to ship, Athena to ship," she said. "The eagle has fallen, I repeat, the eagle has fallen."

* * *

The Type 11 shuttle landed in the bay. The doors opened and a figure in white robes stood out. "Gera...." Oblan greeted.

"I'm sorry, I didn't know she was a Federation agent..." Gera admitted. "But please, she is still my daughter."

Oblan raised his hand to stop her from saying any further. "It is okay. It is understandable," Oblan said. "Your daughter deceived you. She deceived me. She deceived us all. Where is she now?"

"She is in a holding cell," Gera said.

"Take me to her," Oblan said. "I must question her personally to see what she knows. We can still save her. We can still make her see the light. I will return the daughter to her mother. Gera, wait here."

They walked to the holding cells. Tonya was still in her party dress, now looking a bit torn and dirty. She had her head held in her hands, her elbows on her knees. She heard a sound and she lifted her head to see who was there.

The force fields separating her cell from the outside world lifted. The man with the white robes entered, with a few guards. There was something sinister in his eyes, in his smile. But this was the moment she was waiting for.

Her talons unsheathed from her hand and she leaped, her arm extended to strike him for one fatal blow. Then a massive electrifying shock knocked her to the ground just inches away of her talons cutting his life giving arteries out of him. She hurled headfirst to the ground, hitting with a resounding impact, screaming.

"You don't think I will be that easy," Oblan said. "Personal force fields. It's a copy of a device used with Borg drones, and the Jem'Hadar are experimenting with their own versions. I'm trying out one myself."

Tonya grimaced in pain, tending to her wounded arm, pushing herself away from him, backing into the corner of the wall.

"Just confession that you're a Starfleet officer isn't enough," Oblan said. "We need to know who assigned you, where are your ships, and where are your bases. All the pertinent information and details.

"No...no...I will not talk, other than my rank. Get away from me!" Tonya cried.

"Believe me, it pains me to hurt a child of one of my most esteemed colleagues," Oblan said. "So we have subtle ways to obtain information. After this, I assure you will sing like a bird."

Four of the guards grabbed her by the limbs and pinned her to the bed. Tonya screamed and screamed, while her muscles still convulsed with muscle spasms from the shock of Oblan's personal force field. "I'm sure when you took that vial from our production lab, you want to know what Ketracel Ice truly meant. Well, I'll oblige you with a first hand experience," Oblan said. "You will talk plenty after this."

Oblan signaled with his hand and a helper came in with a small chest. Oblan opened the chest and revealed seated vials within. He took a vial and held it against the light, its clear liquid contents glistening with its purity.

"We've been working on different concentrations of the Ketracel Ice," Oblan said. "But we need a human subject to test some of the most concentrated ones. I'm sure you won't mind. This could be helpful with your own intelligence work. Write about it." He joked.

The guards seemed strong enough to pin her down on all her four limbs, and not every alien species have strength like that. A fifth guard came in, lifted her head and forced her mouth opened. She screamed as the vial approached her mouth. She coughed and gasped as the liquid rushed down her throat, like burning hot acid flowing down her esophagus. For something that was supposedly icy cold, it burned like corrosive sulfur acid. She watched in utter horror as Oblan opened more vials, and held another one to pour down her throat...

She screamed, but the liquid muffled her vocal chords as Oblan poured one vial after another. It was sweet, like Terran natural honey grew from bees which her father brought from Earth to Khosk Prime to give to her when she was a child. After the first two, she could not maintain the presence of mind to count anymore, and she could not feel nor taste the remaining liquid being poured down her throat.

A demon filled her mind, and she began to laugh for no reason, laughing at her own insanity. Her mind flew up like the clouds in the sky. Her moods alternated like a dynamo, from laughter to sadness to rage to pure delight to horrid fear. She cried, laughed, screamed, shouted, finally tossing like a drunk.

"Give me more!" Tonya demanded. Oblan gave her another vial. She grabbed it and dunked it down her throat. "More! More!" Tonya demanded.

"She became addicted pretty fast," observed one of the guards.

"That's because I fed her with an especially concentrated formulation, far more concentrated than what the Jem'Hadar is getting," Oblan said. "This would screw her mind in no time at all."

"I said more!" Tonya said before screaming out obscenities.

"Not before you tell us anything we like to know," Oblan said. "Such as who sent you here."

"But if you don't give me the vial, I'll hurl," Tonya said, heaving like a drunk. "I promise I'll tell you. Give it to me."

Oblan sighed and handed her another vial. She dunked it down her throat. "Ahhh... okay, I'll tell you, some admiral sent me here...." Then Tonya screamed out various obscenities about the admiral and Starfleet in general. When she finished cursing, she said, "Does that answer your question?"

"Yes, it only answers my question how well you curse," Oblan said. "Tell us."

"What do you want to know, that the admiral in question is my own father?" Tonya said. "Oops," she said before she laughed long and hard. She's insane, Oblan thought, she lost not only her self control but all facility of rational thought.

"I am serious," Oblan insisted. "Who sent you?"

"Like I said, my father," Tonya said. "Who would never admit to Starfleet that he had illegitimate children, that he sired a bastard girl while he was on a peacekeeping assignment against regulations so he could keep his career and promotions." Tonya burped. "You think I'm lying."

Oblan stared at her. For all practical purposes, the girl was both drunk and addicted. She had no purpose in lying. It was a sad story that reflected his own.

"I' m here to look for my mother, for my father and me," Tonya confessed. "And I found her..." Tonya laughed. "Now she probably hates my guts..." Tonya cried all of a sudden. She's mad, Oblan thought, but he must resume with the questioning. "How about ships, how many Federation ships are out there stalking us?'

"Give me more, please..." Tonya begged.

"All right," Oblan handed her a vial.

One of the guards said, "I think she's too messed up to think and answer coherently."

'Yum, yum," Tonya said as she gulped down another vial. "Yes, I'm Superman!" She produced childish sounds as she swung her hands around like she's flying in the air.

"Oh ships?" Tonya said. She swore more obscenities, this time about how Starfleet wouldn't even let her know about how many starships were out there. Then she swore obscenities on them about how stupid Oblan and the guards were for asking these questions, since Starfleet would never divulge any information to any operative in danger of being captured such as her.

"That's the only thing she ever made sense about," said the guard.

"Please give me more," Tonya begged.

"She's really messed up," the guard observed.

Oblan sighed. "I do not think I can get straight answers from her. But there is enough to go on. Let's leave her for a while."

As they turned their back away from her, Tonya screamed obscenities at them. "You can't leave! Not without giving me more of that stuff. They're really good..." She laughed and laughed. Then she shouted more obscenities and threatened to kill them if they didn't bring any more. They walked out and the force field regenerated behind them. Tonya cursed with sexual innuendos and threw the empty vials against the force fields where they shattered into tiny fragments on impact.

"What did you do to her?" Gera demanded, her eyes in horror.

"Nothing physically," Oblan said.

"But her mind, she was screaming..." Gera said.

"We only fed her with a concentrated version of Ice," Oblan said.

"A concentrated version of the Ice? The standard stuff we have now could send four Klingons could drive insane, much less a single girl," Gera said.

"Do you know any man in Starfleet by the name of Hurst?" Oblan asked. "You never told me his name."

"Did my daughter tell you?" Gera paused for a moment. "I didn't want to bring up the past. My relationship with you was supposed to start clean. "

"I thought so, at first," Oblan said. "I thought I could leave it be. But I would never expect that it would come back to haunt us."

"Hurst, Captain Hurst?" Gera said. "He was my lover, long time ago. I begged in the streets by day, hunted the woods at night. Cardassians destroyed my home, and I have no where to go. I was young, naive, poor, hungry, and in need of companionship, and he was young, dashing, a person with authority, resources and power, complete with a Federation starship to boot. As humans say, one thing led to another."

"But the question is, do you still have feelings for him," Oblan said.

"No, of course not. That's a long time ago, why do you ask?" Gera said.

"Because it is your former lover her father that sent his daughter to look for you," Oblan said.

Gera froze silent. She gathered her words, "How?"

"Your Captain Hurst is apparently now an admiral, and if he has operatives like her, he's probably a Section admiral to boot," Oblan said. "That makes him doubly dangerous. Right now, our sensors in conjunction with Jem'Hadar patrols have detected mass fluctuations around the perimeter of this system. We know they're out there, but we don't know precisely where and how many. Is that your old lover, Hurst?"

"That can't be. It's a long time ago," Gera insisted. "He sacrificed me and his young daughter for his vows and career in Starfleet. Why would he bother now?"

"Obviously he bothers enough to send his only daughter your daughter to find you," Oblan said. "He must feel enough of you to still do that. But what about you, what are your feelings with him? Is the old truly dead and buried?"

"Of course, it's all gone away," Gera said.

"Maybe Hurst thought the same way once too," Oblan said. "Are you sure it's gone? I will find a study to rest and ponder our next moves. Your daughter shall remain in the holding cell till we determine what we to her. Under any circumstances she is not allowed to leave. But you may tend to her if you wish." He waved his hand, and his entourage left to find their resting quarters.

Gera ran to the cell. She found her daughter lying in the floor, her body convulsing in spasms, her eyes wide and empty, her mouth foaming, saliva wetting the floor. "Open up!" She shouted at the guard, who let the force fields disappear. Gera ran inside to pick up her child.

"By the forest gods," Gera shouted. "What have I done?" As she began to weep, she caressed her hand over her fallen child. "What am I going to do?"

A short haired blonde girl, probably human, with a engineer's uniform walked in and placed her hand over Gera's shoulder. "I heard everything," she said. The girl held a medical scanner and began scanning over her daughter's body. "This is not good. She may be overdosed."

Gera placed both hands over her mouth. "Oh, the gods... If we bring her to the sick bay..."

"I've checked your sick bay," the girl said "A lot of the equipment has either been vandalized for other ships, or broken. There is some damage on the medical computer systems. We can still tend the wounded in the sick bay, but not cases like this. I'm not sure if bringing her there would help her."

"What do we do?" Gera asked.

"The best thing to save her life is bring her to a Federation medical facility," the girl said.

"Federation medical facility?" Gera asked. "Just how do you expect to do that? Who are you?"

"Just a friend with a mutual interest. I can help you in ways you won't believe. Trust me," the girl said.

Continue to Part 4