Disclaimer: The characters of the Four Orders are entirely my own. The characters and universe of Star Trek belong to Paramount Pictures but the words are mine.
AU/DS9: It has been years since everyone left – Benjamin, Worf, O'Brien, Nog, Julian and Odo. But then why Kira kept dreaming of them being together? And most disturbingly she kept seeing Jadzia, an old man, and a young commander playing tongo.
Old Friends never leave: Part XI
Nerys stood in the briefing room of the USS Enterprise, the pride and flagship of Starfleet Command. She was alone and waited for the others to come. The reports they received from Bajor were not encouraging.
The battle above Bajor still continued. The numbers of Borg ships had increased almost twice as have the enemy's. The Borg ships however have somehow managed to destroy one of the intruders' ships. Perhaps, the overwhelming numbers were finally paying off.
The doors opened and Starfleet officers poured in. Nerys recognized some of them but the others were complete strangers.
"Colonel Nerys,"
Nerys turned around. It was Captain Troi (the former Will Riker). He had command of one of the new type of Starfleet ships – a battle cruiser. The increased level of threats roaming the Federation had forced Starfleet Command to change their view and started building warships instead of the standard stream of exploration vessels.
"Captain Troi," Nerys greeted extending a hand that Captain Troi promptly took and kissed. Some things never change. The man was gallant to a fault.
"Please be seated," Admiral Nechev announced. "Commander Tucker, would you please?"
Commander Tucker nodded and stood next to the view screen that he promptly activated. The image showed Bajor, the wormhole and Deep Space Nine. Nerys relaxed visibly. The station was still intact.
"The Borg presence in the Bajoran sector has increased to four hundred cubes and spheres over the last few days. The unknown intruder's fleet's size also has increased to thirty-six ships.
We know the Borg have destroyed at least one enemy ship and damaged three others. So far both keep ignoring Bajor and DS9, and our scout ships. The latter have provided us with information about the enemy's ships.
I should tell you now it is not pretty. Our analysis of the enemy's firepower is complete and it is very frightening."
"How is that?" Captain Troi asked.
"We, Captain, use phasers. They use zero point energy based weapons."
"Zero point energy?" Captain Picard exclaimed stunned. "But this is almost..."
"Indeed," Commander Tucker said gravely. "Their ships' defences are also something terrifying. It may seem to look like an iceberg but it isn't. It is an alloy that according to our analysis is stronger than anything we have ever met. It is not invulnerable as the Borg have proved but it is extremely hard to penetrate and phasers won't do it."
"So what did the Borg use?"
"We believe the Borg used tricobal devices to penetrate the hull and then old-fashioned phasers. The tricobal device used by the Borg had a yield about a thousand times more powerful than ours."
Everyone looked at Commander Tucker dumbfounded. They all had the same thought. Who were these beings, their ships so powerful? Where did they come from? And how did they miss a race this powerful? But more to the point how were they going to defeat them should the Borg fall?
"Starfleet has a problem." Commander Tucker shared. "They are not sure on how to deal with an enemy this powerful. The Borg, we found a way but these beings, their ships are too powerful."
"Or we can let the Borg finish them off." Commander Riker said.
"We could do that Commander but…" Commander Tucker said. He did not really need to finish the sentence they all understood too well. The dilemma, Starfleet had, was the same they had now. If they let the Borg win, they will get their hands on very powerful technology while on the other hand if the intruders win they would go on rampage and no one can stop them.
"You are right, Commander." Captain Picard said. "We do have a problem."
"How do we solve it?"
Nerys was half listening to them. Her eyes were open but she was no longer aboard the Enterprise. She was instead on the green grassy hills. Jadzia and an old man stood before her playing the annoying Ferengi game Tongo.
"Ah, Nerys, it is nice of you to finally join us." Jadzia said and smiled.
Nerys watched mesmerized and rooted. She could not move, well she could but she did not know what to say fearing it would show in the briefing room. She had enough embarrassing moments to last a life time. So she chose only to nod.
Jadzia continued playing. She turned the wheel and it span. "Evade." She said. The old man spun it on his turn. "Confront." They continued playing until the pile of gold pressed latinum was no more.
On the last game, the old man confronted. Jadzia showed her hand. "Damn, you got the mystery. It is not polite to beat your elders."
"You are after all a sore loser just as Benjamin said you would be."
"Mind your words, young initiate." The old man said but he was not serious. Soon the two laughed. "The lord of all…"
Jadzia in this moment turned at Nerys and whispered. "Call his name to the stars and he shall come. You are nearly there, Nerys."
"Face the Ichorians and call his name."
"The who?" Nerys whispered.
"The Ichorians, you know the iceberg ships." Jadzia replied.
"Who are they? How did we miss them?"
"They are from a far place. They are also a vicious race. They cannot get a foot here, Nerys. The Borg, you can deal with, them not so much."
"Call his name?"
"Yes, Nerys," Jadzia nodded. "You have everything you need. Now go and then come join us."
The green grassy hills faded away. She was back in the briefing room of the Enterprise. The discussion continued. Commander Tucker argued passionately with Commander Riker. Nerys got the impression it was a cock-fight.
"Commander Tucker," Nerys said aloud interrupting the two.
Commander Tucker turned away from Riker and looked at her.
"Prepare the Ardent for immediate departure we are done here." Nerys said with authoritativeness.
"Yes, Colonel," Commander Tucker nodded. "Until next time, Riker,"
"I can hardly wait." Commander Riker replied belligerently.
"Colonel?" Captain Picard looked at her questioningly.
"It is obvious today we achieved nothing new. This discussion is pointless meanwhile Bajor runs the risk of paying the greatest price."
"Colonel, Starfleet…."
"I have had enough of Starfleet policies, Captain Picard. If I wait for them to get something done, I will die of old age." Colonel Nerys said. She stood up and left the blinking hard Captain Picard.
The USS Ardent left the Enterprise and jumped to warp.
"Where are we going, Colonel?" Commander Tucker asked.
"Back to Bajor,"
"With the enemies fighting it off?"
"Yes, Commander,"
"I take it you have a plan."
"Sort of,"
"It is very reassuring."
Nerys entered her quarters. She began pacing. A plan she did not have. She had a part plan – get there. Her visit to the grassy hills suggested she had everything she needed. But she was uncertain what she had. Jadzia suggested she did.
Nerys recalled the entire experience but she obviously misunderstood it. What did she have? She saw games of Tongo but how did this help her. The memory shifted. She remembered now more clearly. Most of the games were uneventful. It was the last game.
This time she did not focus on the exact words used. Words describe different things in different context – a metaphor. If she interpreted correctly their meaning, Jadzia and the old man described their situation.
"Aha!" Nerys exclaimed loudly. Now it became clearer. What did the old man say? 'You got the mystery, the lord of all.' She did wonder at the time what he meant. Could it be this simple – Mystery, Lord of all or was it Lord of all Mystery or simply Lord Mystery? And then she remembered what Odo told her and all became clear or so. 'Face the Ichorians and call his name.' And that was what she would do.
The Ardent arrived in the Bajoran system. The space around planet was filled with debris part Borg part Ichorian. It was now a graveyard and yet the two continued battling. How many had to die before they stopped? Was this technology and wish for conquest worth all this death?
"Bloody hell," Commander Tucker exclaimed. "I'm not sure what your plan is Colonel but I don't think we should stay."
"Take the Ardent right before the Iceberg fleet." Colonel Nerys commanded. Commander Tucker however turned to face her. He stood before her with all the signs of utter fear and confusion.
"Would you care to repeat?" He asked finally finding some words to express his feelings about this order.
"You heard me, Commander." Nerys replied adamantly.
"You can't be serious?"
"I am!"
"Colonel…"
"Execute my order, Commander or I will find someone who will." Nerys narrowed her eyes and Tucker saw in their fiery 3.
"Yes, Colonel," He ceded. He pushed the pilot away and took his seat. "Will the lead ship do?"
"Yes, it would."
Commander Tucker exhaled loudly and executed her order. The Ardent headed straight for the hostile forces. The ship zigged and zagged dodging enemy fire until it finally stood before the mighty number one iceberg ship.
"Open the channel," Nerys commanded.
"Channel is open."
"Ichorian vessel, this is the USS Ardent actual speaking. Your ships violate Bajoran space. Leave immediately or suffer the consequences."
A sound reminding of laughter filled the speakers onboard. A figure in magenta attire filled the screen. "This galaxy belongs to the Ichorian Imperium now. We scanned your planet and your defensive and offensive tools. We are no match for us and neither are these cybernetic beings. You are now under the rule of the Ichorian Imperium."
"Oh, well, you had your chance. Now you will suffer the consequences." Nerys replied with flames in her eyes. "Commander Tucker, direct the signal towards open space."
Commander Tucker looked at her and then turned around. There was a small smile on his face but no one saw it. "Yes, Colonel," He said. "Channel is open."
Nerys gathered her strength and courage. She did not know what to expect next but this was probably the last stop on her crazy journey. In a way she would miss seeing faces in the crowd. "LORD MYSTERY!"
Her words amplified resonated in the cosmos and even the Ichorians heard her. The Borg ignored everything. To them this name meant nothing.
"LORD MYSTERY!" Nerys repeated and sensed hope.
A white green rift in space opened and…
To be continued…
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