A fan fiction story written by R. Joy Helvie
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Thank you to "Blooded" for the title of this story.
Disclaimer: Trehn, Dev, and Meredith are characters of my own creation. They belong to me. All other characters in this story belong to Paramount and B&B... although I REALLY wouldn't mind owning Grat... hehehe
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PROLOGUE
"Here is the information you requested, sir."
Colonel Grat nodded his acknowledgement and took the PADD held out to him. The ensign snapped a salute. Grat returned it and sank into his seat as the ensign left the room. Grat perused the data scrolling silently across the PADD's screen. He shook his head sorrowfully. It was just as he had predicted. Eighty-two of the eighty-nine Suliban who had escaped from Detention Complex 26 had been captured and indoctrinated by the Cabal.
Grat slowly curled his fingers into a tight fist. That damn starship captain had really done it. He had been warned, but he wouldn't listen. Now look at what he had caused. He sighed angrily, his nostrils flaring. Jonathan Archer had cost him years of planning, of hard work, of well-spent time. He had caused the colonel a headache on more than one occasion since the incident. But Grat wouldn't let this setback keep him from reaching his goal. He nodded resolutely. No, he wasn't going to let a puny human hold him back.
The door chimed. Grat straightened in his chair and called out, "Enter!"
In walked Captain Trehn, his strides balanced and clipped. He approached Grat's desk and halted abruptly, his arms held rigid at his sides as he brought himself to attention. Grat waved his hand. "At ease." He set the PADD on the desk and folded his hands atop. "You bring news?"
"Yes, sir. Our intelligence on both Risa and Rigel 10 have confirmed that a team of seventeen Cabal agents are scouting a possible site for operations on Atlantica."
"Have they identified the lead of this team?"
"Yes, sir. You were correct. It is Sajen."
Grat smirked. "Prepare a shuttle and a force squad of twenty officers. Be ready by 1400 hours."
"Yes, sir." Trehn saluted sharply and strode out. Grat sat back in his chair, grinning. Retribution was finally his for the giving.