Dark Plots

Posted on 16 Feb 2017 @ 12:31pm by Commodore Juliana Terlexa & Commodore Harvey Geisler

1,435 words; about a 7 minute read

Mission: Endgame
Location: Deep Space 11
Timeline: MD 11 || 1400 hours

The last hours had been anything but quiet. News of their defeat at the hands of the Dominion had reached Deep Space 11. Despite their efforts to contain the news, much of both the Starbase and New Bajor had already learned of the events. Less than fifteen percent of the starbase’s population knew the truth, that the Consortium was the group in control of this sector. Everyone else thought that Starfleet and the Federation was still in charge.

Regardless of fact and fiction, one item rang true: What would happen next?

This was the question that now fell to Commodore Terlexa and her staff. With the elimination of one third of their forces, there was barely enough to defend both Deep Space 11 and the wormhole. And, with Starfleet’s successful effort to send the Nogura through the wormhole, there was no telling how soon Starfleet would arrive in force.

And then there was the report that arrived less than ten minutes ago. A Starfleet/Dominion Task Force was on the way to Deep Space 11 right now. They’d arrive in less than three days.

Terlexa walked into the conference room, quickly followed by Alan Stanton, her Executive Officer. Of course they'd known that a report like this was imminent, ever since the defeat at the battle for Starbase Unity, but to her knowledge, no one had expected it to be quite this soon. But regardless, they were prepared.

"How many ships?" she asked before she sat down.

"Looks like seven Starfleet," Alan replied, rubbing his temples. "And at least twenty Dominion. Not to mention, if the early reports are true, it looks like the Black Hawk and the Cochrane just emerged from the Hadyn Nebula. Neither ship is responding to our discrete hails."

"The Black Hawk," she repeated. This was a surprise. Williams had sent the Chimera and the Cochrane to what she herself had perceived as a fool's errand, to chase a Romulan weapon rumored to have been present at the Battle of the Omarion Nebula, over ten years ago. Now it appeared as if Geisler's ship had not only survived the encounter, but regained control of the Cochrane, and eliminated the Chimera as well.

She looked at the officers gathered around the table. Her Chief of Security and Tactical, Commander Taborlin, cleared his throat. "We have the remainder of our Fleet guarding the planet, and the station as well. And our allies will also be sending in reinforcements," said the Bolian.

The Chief Medical Officer was the next to speak. "Why would the Dominion ally themselves with the Consortium?" asked Doctor Baker.

"The Dominion has always been opposed to Starfleet's presence in the Quadrant," said Terlexa. "It's only natural that they'd side with the Consortium to drive us out."

Commander Nakan, the Vulcan Operations officer spoke next. "It is quite logical, Doctor. The Consortium have stopped at nothing to oppose us in their endeavors. One could argue that the Dominion could not have kept quiet all this time. Perhaps they had something to do with the uprising and waited long enough to think that we had a chance?"

Alan wished he could have verbalized his pleasure in the irony of the Vulcan's remarks. As true Starfleet members were in the room, he could only display his disgust with the situation before them. "We're going to need every ship we can get," he stated. Alan also wondered if he should suggest an evacuation, specifically of some of the higher ranking individuals. He could care less in regards to the civilians. They at least would serve as cannon fodder and slow down the true Starfleet troops to buy them all time to flee.

Terlexa sensed Stanton's contempt at his crewmates who were entirely unaware of the true current situation. It was clear that Starfleet now had the upper hand, given her fleet's demise at Starbase Unity. The Consortium forces were now at half strength, while Starfleet had gained the support of the mighty Dominion. She was no fool. There was now only one way this battle would end, but she would do her best to ensure this victory would be one of Starfleet's costliest victories in history.

"How long until our allied reinforcements get here?" she asked. A small data padd in her hand suddenly started chirping.

"Sixty-five hours," Alan voiced. "But freighters and smaller attack craft won't last long against the might of the Dominion."

"The Selamat battlecruisers might," replied Terlexa, looking up from the data padd. "Ambassador K'Worl informs me that they will be sending a fleet of six battlecruisers to help defend the station."

Commander Nakan arched an eyebrow. "That does increase our chances of survival by seven point nine percent," he informed the room. "It does not, however guarantee our survival."

"Nothing can really guarantee our survival," pointed out Terlexa. "But I like the idea of improving our chances, and cutting down on theirs."

Alan could not conceal his grin. "A fighting chance," he muttered. "What are your orders, Commodore? Should we consolidate the fleet around the starbase? Or should we set up a perimeter that the Consortium would have to break through?"

Terlexa examined the manifest on the data padd. She read the list of ships and classes that were at her disposal, and she knew the situation was dire. An aging Excelsior-class, two old Miranda-class starships, and two Nebula-class starships wouldn't be able to do much against the Dominion fleet. But perhaps they might still be of some use.

She looked at the long-range sensor scans. The Dominion fleet was ahead of the Starfleet task force by a couple of light-years. Some of the slower and weaker Starfleet ships were falling behind... Isolated.

"Have the Hammerhead, Bozeman and T'Pava head for the Chamra Vortex, and hide out for six hours," she instructed. "Then they are to head out of the nebula and attack the Cochrane and the Callisto. Destroy the ships, and then head back here. Bite off the tail of that attack fleet, abd naybe get them to turn back, which would buy us a few hours. As for the rest of our fleet, assign the Invincible, the Hastings, Ticonderoga and Antares to the outer perimeter. The rest of the Fleet is to regroup with the allied reinforcements and defend the starbase."

"What about New Bajor?" asked another officer, concerned for the well-being for the thousands on the planet below. "There's Jem'Hadar Battleships in this attack force. Surely they'll be landing troops on the planet surface. Wouldn't it be better to intercept those ships before they're in transporter range?"

"There's nothing we can do about New Bajor," she declared. "With the forces at our disposal, we can't possibly defend an entire planet. Let's consolidate what we have and defend this base. But that's not to say we should let them get their hands on the installation. Destroy everything," she ordered.

"Now wait a minute," said Doctor Baker, suddenly alarmed by Terlexa's order. The elder Chief Medical Officer half-rose from his chair.

Terlexa shot an annoyed look at Commander Stanton.

So much for our cover," thought Alan as he withdrew his phaser and shot the Doctor. A wave of red energy washed over the doctor, vaporizing his body almost immediately. As he was formerly station security, he'd kept his hand in the inner workings there. There was always a Consortium agent watching the sensors, ready to silence the alarm.

The other Senior Staff members who were aligned with the Consortium withdrew their phasers as well and eliminated the remainder of their colleagues.

"I wish it hadn't come to that," Alan muttered, speaking freely for the first time in weeks.

"At this point it can't be avoided," replied Terlexa tersely. "Destroy the Federation installation on New Bajor," she said, repeating her order. "But first..." She let out a sigh. Her thoughts were filled with images of Jem'Hadar soldiers beaming down on New Bajor, weapons drawn, ready to open fire. Of evacuation transports leaving the surface. Of her own children boarding one of those doomed transports... "Make sure the children are sent to safety. All of them."

"The children?" Alan repeated. He didn't understand the order, but he'd follow it. Most children only grew up to walk the path of their forefathers. This could have further repercussions if they were not careful.

She sensed his reticence, but chose to ignore it, instead firing him a warning with her eyes not to challenge her on this. "See that it's done," she said simply. "Then destroy the Federation embassy, the Starfleet installation, the Bajoran temple... Everything."

Alan nodded. "Consider it done."

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