- THIRTEEN -
Reunions
- December 11th, 2380 -

Doctor Julian Bashir casually worked the controls to the runabout, expertly and slowly piloting the small craft towards the ex-Cardassian space station orbiting high above the planet Bajor. Bashir had spent the last several weeks away in the Gamma Quadrant, volunteering himself to conduct a medical inspection of an industrial planet struggling with major global pollution when a summons arrived for him to return home immediately.

"Approaching runabout, please identify yourself and transmit your security clearance code." A voice rang out from the speakers in the cockpit. Security clearance? That's unusual.

"Deep Space Nine, this is Doctor Julian Bashir on the runabout St. Lawrence returning from the Gamma Quadrant. Security code Bashir Zeta Nine- Five-Zero." Several seconds passed before the response came.

"Welcome back Doctor. You're cleared for Docking Pad 15."

"Thank you Deep Space Nine." Then he continued before the line could be cut, "What's with all the security?" Again, it took a few seconds for the reply.

"I'm sorry sir; I cannot discuss that over an open channel. Commander Kira will brief you when you dock. Deep Space Nine out." Bashir sighed, and looked outside as the runabout cruised past a docked Defiant and then promptly returned his attention to landing his own ship safely.

Several minutes later, Bashir was strolling off the lift and into Ops, the control center of the entire space station. Kira was already waiting for him, and beckoned him towards her office.

"Welcome back Julian, how was the trip?" She greeted him as soon as he stepped into her office. Lieutenant Erzi Dax was already there.

"Could've been worst." He replied as everyone took their seats. Erzi and Bashir both exchanged glances but didn't say anything.

"Sorry we had to pull you out of there so suddenly." Kira apologized as she got comfortable in her chair and pressed a few buttons on her desk.

"Can't say it wasn't unexpected." Bashir answered, "Have things gotten that bad?" He asked the rhetorical question.

"It is Julian." Bashir turned to the source of the new voice, it was from the view screen off to one side of the office, and on that view screen was Miles O'Brien.

"Miles!" Sounded a surprise Bashir.

"Great to see you too." O'Brien looked at Erzi, "Any plans for kids yet?" He said with a wink. The couple have been married for three years.

"You're in more of a hurry then I am!" O'Brien let out a laugh, which made everyone in the room smile.

"You haven't changed a bit Julian."

"Thanks." Bashir replied, but then decided it was time to turn to the matters at hand. "So, what's this call about?"

"It's finally happened Julian... the Federation's at war."

"Civil war?" O'Brien nodded, and Kira, Bashir and Erzi all exchanged looks.

"Starfleet Command asked me to speak to you on their behalf. Kira, how's Bajor handling this?" O'Brien asked. Normally a diplomat from the planet would represent them in the Federation Council. However, Bajor has just recently joined and not all of the official paper work has been completed yet. Thus Bajor has yet to send a representative to Earth.

"Bajor's official stance is with the Federation. We're standing behind you a hundred percent of the way." Kira summed up.

"But..." O'Brien knew she was hiding something as they've known each other too long. In another time she would've been amused but she sighed.

"It's not concrete." O'Brien frowned. "They're worried about a military engagement. The Bajorian government doesn't want to get dragged into a war the instant it joins the Federation, especially if it's an internal conflict."

"So, if the Armia Krajowa happens to show up at Deep Space Nine with a fleet..."

"Then I don't know what will happen. But it's more then likely that Bajor will withdraw its support of the Federation." Kira finished off the sentence for O'Brien, who nodded.

"I don't blame them, or you."

"I'm sorry." Kira said apologetically.

"Don't be."

"What do we do now?" Erzi finally spoke, breaking her silence in the conversation.

"Admiral Janeway wants you to sit tight for now. We're still not entirely sure what the Armia Krajowa is up to, or what they plan to do. So stay on the alert because we don't know if they'll show up there or not." No one in the room liked the sound of that.

"Anything else?" Bashir prodded his friend to continue.

"Yes. Be prepared to deploy the Defiant at any time, if they decide to attack we may need every available ship to fend them off."

"How many have defected so far?" Erzi inquired.

"I can't tell you. Hell they haven't even told me yet, they're being very secretive about that. It's highly classified, but I guess they don't want to put any more of a damper on moral around here. It's already low enough as it is." Everyone became quiet. "Look, I've got to go. Things are starting to get hectic around here, I'll keep you all posted."

"Be careful Miles, and good luck." Bashir said. O'Brien nodded his thanks before ending the conversation.

"You too."
- December 15th, 2380 -

The U.S.S. Titan was safely stowed away in Space-dock orbiting high above Earth. Inside her crew were buzzing about busily repairing all the damage the starship has recently suffered while crews from the station assisted with their task. The word was out, the Federation was at war with itself and the probability of an armed conflict has never been higher. So the Titan's crew rushed to get her back in shape in case a fight broke out, because Starfleet will need every ship it can get.

However Captain William Riker was not able to stay onboard and oversee the repairs, as he and Commander Deanna Riker materialized on a transporter pad in the heart of Starfleet Command. The two were greeted by an ensign who escorted the pair through a series of maze-like corridors before arriving at a set of double-doors marked as the entry to a conference room. The young officer gestured the two to enter, and when they did they were welcomed by Admiral Janeway and a host of other Starfleet personnel.

"Captain, glad to see you made it back in one piece." Admiral Janeway said as she stood up to greet them.

"Thank you, although it was a bit of a close call." He replied.

"Please, have a seat." The admiral gestured the two to sit down as she introduced everyone else in the room. "I believe you already know Lieutenants Harry Kim, Tom Paris and B'Elanna Torres."

"Your crew from Voyager?" Deanna asked and the admiral nodded.

"I've called you all here for an update on the crisis." Janeway started immediately, jumping to the point right away. "Since the Armia Krajowa's declaration of war on the Federation six days ago, we've lost contact with over a hundred of our ships." She paused before continuing, "That's not the only bad news, since then over a dozen planets have also ceded their membership, and support, from the Federation."

"What's the council doing?" Paris asked.

"They're... not reacting well." Janeway sighed, "They've ordered Starfleet to recall every ship we can back to Earth immediately. And anyone showing any signs of defection are to be arrested."

"They're panicking." Riker himself didn't mince words.

"Any idea what the Armia Krajowa's planning?" This time it was Harry Kim who asked the question.

"Nothing solid yet. There have been rumours that they're amassing a fleet. We just don't know where."

"And they're most likely going to head for Earth." Again Riker jumped to the conclusion and Janeway nodded in agreement.

"That's also why we're bringing back as many ships as we can, in case they do decide to attack here. But we're also leaving as many as we can deployed throughout Federation space if they attack somewhere else." Janeway said in a serious tone.

"With all the ships that's defecting, we're stretched extremely thin as it is." Torres said, stating a point that's becoming more obvious by the minute.

"That's why I've brought you here." Janeway said as she looked at her former crew. "I'm re-commissioning Voyager." Paris, Torres and Kim were more then a little surprised.

"But she's been sitting in a museum for three years!" Kim objected.

"We don't have a choice." Janeway cut in, "I need you all to get her ready for combat again as quickly as possible." She said, referring to the three. After a few seconds of exchanging looks, they nodded their support.

"You can count on us admiral." Torres said firmly, bringing a smile to Janeway.

"I know. I have to speak with Captain Riker privately; I'll catch up with you later. Dismissed." The three nodded again, stood up and left the room quickly, leaving just Janeway, and the two Rikers behind. The admiral cut right to the chase.

"How's Jean-Luc?" She asked, sounding a bit concerned.

"He's holding up, we've stowed him somewhere safe for the time being." Riker didn't volunteer the location, nor did Janeway ask since she knew it was best if the knowledge didn't get spread around. But she was still relieved.

"Good. I've dug up something on this Apokalypto he mentioned." She pulled out a data chip from her pocket. "It took a lot of arm twisting and about two dozen of our best techs to get this." She handed the chip to Riker. "There used to be a file on Apokalypto but it was erased long ago. I was able to recover a set of spatial coordinates that points to somewhere well outside of the Federation, in uncharted space."

"Nothing else?" Janeway shook her head.

"That's all I was able to recover, just barely. Whoever wiped it out did a damned good job, just not good enough. But whatever it is, they certainly didn't want anyone else knowing about it." Riker nodded as he pocketed the chip. "Unfortunately I can't spare the Titan to investigate those coordinates." Riker already knew where she was going.

"I'll get it to Captain Picard. He can check it out with Enterprise." He finished for her.

"I've had it for a few days but I couldn't transmit the information under these circumstances, and I suggest you don't either." Riker nodded in agreement. "You'll have to find a way to get it to Jean-Luc somehow."

"Don't worry, I'll find a way." He replied confidently, giving the admiral some reassurance. "Oh, and one more thing. I've been told that the real leader behind the Armia Krajowa is a certain Captain Lauren Dougherty but a search through my ship's database turned up nothing." Janeway frowned slightly at the prospect of having to spend more time prodding around Starfleet's massive archives.

"You have to tell him to stop giving me bits of vague information." She said half-jokingly, Riker smiled upon picking up the sarcasm.

"I'll let him know. Now if you'll excuse me admiral, I have a package to deliver."

"Good luck then captain." She said as they got up to leave. "I have a feeling our entire future may rest on that data chip."
- December 17th, 2380 -

"Captain, we're arriving at the Klingon border." Lieutenant Kimberly Perry reported from her console at the front of the bridge. Finally. Picard stood up from his chair, as did Commander Madden beside him, and gave his shirt a pull. The Enterprise had to avoid all the major routes so as to not encounter any Federation or Armia Krajowa ships along the way. As a result they were forced to take a number of back roads and the trip took much longer then usual.

"Very well. Disengage the warp engines." The Enterprise promptly dropped out of warp and back into sub-light speeds. The view screen showed an empty star-field. Picard turned back to the operations officer.

"Are we at the correct coordinates Ms. Perry?" She checked her console for a few seconds before confirming that they are. Where are these escorts that Martok promised us? It only took a few moments before Picard's answer arrived in the form of three de-cloaking Klingon warships directly facing his ship. On the view screen, Picard could clearly identify a Vor'Cha class cruiser flanked by two smaller Birds-of-Preys.

"Sir, they're hailing us." Perry against spoke as she turned to face her captain. Picard nodded his acknowledgement as she swivelled back to her console. The view screen flickered changing the view to show, to Picard's astonishment, Lieutenant-Commander Worf.

To Be Continued...