Note: This story was requested by Just a Crazy Man. This is set in a Mirror Universe, in which the Terran Empire never fell. The Empire did not go to war unless provoked, but, the Cardassian Union murdered the Empress, and her successor, her daughter, ordered the Union conquered. Meanwhile, Rear Admiral Sisko is not as concerned with the Cardassians as he is with what could be on the other side of the Bajoran Wormhole.
Prologue
Earth Calendar Year 2373.
Rear Admiral Sisko sat in his command chair, watching the bombardment of the Cardassian planet Yamak 7. This was among the last planets they'd have to subdue before moving on to Cardassia Prime itself. It was truly invigorating for him to watch the 7th and 8th Fleets as they punished this upstart race for their presumption. Did they really think they could get away with killing the Empress so easily?
Not that he had cared for the Empress. He had grown up in Louisiana and it hadn't been given nearly enough attention during her reign. And he doubted her daughter would be able to do much either.
Jadzia Dax stepped through the door to his office, and spotted the live footage of the battle. He glanced briefly over at her and was once again enraptured by her beauty. Captain Jadzia Dax wore a uniform that had a short shirt, and a black leather tanktop that barely covered her attributes. He did not underestimate her however. She was a fighter, and her eight lifetimes of experience made her a tough cookie.
"Are we winning?" she asked.
"Of course we are," Ben said, "Terrible shame this war though. If the Cardassians had just kept to themselves, we wouldn't have to conquer them now."
"We are the front-line defense of the Empire," she said, "The Imperial Planets have an obligation to defend the Empire."
"So what?" Sisko replied, "We don't need more wars at the moment. We need to keep an eye on the Gamma Quadrant."
"You and your wormhole," Dax shook her head, resting her hands on her hips, "I have no idea what you find so fascinating with it and the other side."
"I want to make sure we have as much information on the other side when the Empire decides to get off its fat lazy butt and make sorties into the Gamma Quadrant," Sisko reminded her, "As I have always said. That's why I moved this idiotic station near the wormhole. That and I hated the local populace thinking I was some sort of God figure. I'm simply a man."
"Yeah," she pursed her lips, "I know for a fact that you are only that."
Sisko watched as a Cardassian ship zoomed in out of Warp Speed and began to fire upon a surprised Excelsior. It took heavy damage but before it was destroyed a couple of the mean Korolev Heavy Raiders swooped in from above, blowing apart the ship in half and flying through the shattered middle, although one of the four hit their warp nacelles which caused it to spin out of control into the nearby moon.
"Ooooh!" Sisko clenched his fists and shaking them in excitement, "That was beautiful."
"Are we still on for tonight?" she asked, "Or am I going to have to find another date?"
"Come now," Sisko rolled his eyes, "Have I ever disappointed you by missing out on a date?"
"No," she shrugged, "But you seem interested in the battle more than anything else."
"Tell Quark not to burn the steak this time," he said, standing to his feet and walking around the table slide his hand and arm around her shoulders, "We're coming in."
The Founder rose from the goo and looked at the Vorta that stood on the small island in middle of the sea of changelings.
"Are our troops ready?" she demanded.
"Ready and waiting," he said.
"Then let us begin."