Act Four - "The Siege of Nimbus 3"

Colonel Kira placed her fingers on her temples, trying to fight off the stress-created headache that was baring down on her. The PADDs before were her not helping of course. 'New Maquis' indeed. Being a member of the Maquis could never have required so much paperwork. Never.

"Ops to Colonel Kira," Nog's voice chimed in.

"Kira here. Go ahead, Nog."

"The Enterprise has just arrived with crew from the Romulan and Klingon ships."

Kira couldn't help but be surprised by this. "Starfleet, Romulan, and Klingon on one ship? Certainly some fun. Have a security detail meet them at the airlock. Admiral Ross wants to the see Worf and Sela as soon as possible."

"Yes Colonel."

***

" . . . So, we're in agreement here?" asked Ross.

"Certainly looks that way, doesn't it?" Kira replied.

The meeting had been going on for several hours, trying to decide on the next phase of the conflict against the Kelvans. After a lengthy conversation with Rojan and Janeway two days ago, Ross felt confident now in what they were about to do.

"Then we must attack Nimbus Three," Worf grunted.

"And soon. I'm afraid we don't have much time left," Garek added. "The infected members will only remain on the planet for another four days."

"Agreed," Ross returned. "I've been working with representatives with our different peoples, trying to figure out how this should work. This battle plan should be sufficient."

He handed out PADDs. Sela looked it over carefully. Cunning and quick - the Romulan way. It was a perfect plan.

"This will work."

Ross couldn't help but grin. Everyone - for the first time - was in agreement. "Good. Then, Klingon and Starfleet arms one and two will make the upper orbital reach, while three and two head to the surface. Cardassian and Romulan wings will head up the main route. The Ferengi will handle the lower flank. Dominion ships will take the upper flanks."

***

Kira Neryes pulled herself out of bed, her mind awake, but her body weary. Her eyes searched out for the door and found it immediately. She pressed her fingers against the panel and it zipped open in front of her. She started down the corridor until she reached the turbolift.

"Promenade," she commanded.

Soon enough, the turbolift deposited her off near the Bajoran Shrine. It would be closing up soon, as would the rest of the Promenade. But she still needed to know that this war that she had dragged Bajor into was worth it

As soon as she entered, though, she was shocked to see a young human male. He spun around from the Orb of Contemplation quickly.

"I'm sorry," he apologized. "My name is Wesley Crusher. I was curious."

"Colonel Kira Neryes," she replied.

"Nice to meet you. I was curious about the Orb or 'the tears of the prophets.'"

"I see. What about?"

"I've spent a lot of time in my life, studying the ins and outs of the universe. The interactions between time, space, and mind. It's all connected. Even the Prophets and the Emissary."

The Colonel was a bit surprised to find a human speaking like this, but she indulged him. "What do you mean - it's all connected?"

"It is. Look, here. Before the Kelvans began their war, our galaxy was achieving great and bold new avenues to ways of living. But war interrupted those avenues, forcing new habits. The Kelvans brought war to our galaxy when we were on the track of peace. But all life and ideas spread."

"Can you clarify at all?"

"The Kelvans brought war when we wanted peace. But we're bringing peace when they wanted war in their own galaxy. That's why I'm here. I'm here to see that peace and war balance out."

"Who sent you?"

Wesley smiled then. "No one."

***

Many hours later, Captain Jean-Luc Picard stepped onto the bridge and had a look around at the rest of his crew. They were all so concentrated on their tasks that they barely even registered his presence. Picard hated war. He hated the bloodshed, he hated the lose of life, and he hated the mass destruction it caused. Sighing, he took his seat. Will Riker looked over to him.

"We're all set, Captain. Admiral Ross has asked you to lead us to Nimbus Three."

"Lay in a course. Alert the fleet we'll be heading at Warp Four, Mr. Data."

"Yes Captain."

"Engage."

It was then that Federation, Romulan, Klingon, Dominion, Cardassian and Ferengi joined fleet blasted into warp - heading to Nimbus Three. 'Planet of intergalactic peace.' Picard laughed at the irony. He turned to Counselor Troi.

"How is Dr. Crusher fairing?"

"She and Dr. Bashier are almost done preparing the replication sequence. They report it'll all be ready by the time we reach Nimbus."

"Good. Then maybe we can end this damn thing."

It took a lot of time for the fleet to near Romulan space, where Nimbus Three was located.

Gul Elim Garek spent most of it double-checking ship maintenance on the ships under his command. He was starting to feel cramped on board his Galor-class vessel, but sewing up his uniform seemed to cheer him up.

Grand Nagus Rom was busy making-up his will. As much faith as he had in the success of this mission, he was never one not to make sure everything wasn't in order.

Worf and Alexander spent the quiet moments training with the bat'leth. The boy still had much to learn.

Sela didn't spend a lot of time on the bridge, but instead prepared herself for a new drama to play out. The direction of the Romulan Star Empire was changing. She wasn't sure if she was ready for it. The war against the Dominion had placed in a new Senate. Surely, this conflict would as well. There was neo-traditionalistic movement among the political activists. One that called for old traditions and new ideas. Her being only half-Romulan felt like a conflict towards that. Her mind was spent trying to hold onto the Romulans, but her own humanity insisted the opposite. And as much as she tried to hate that, she just couldn't.

At long last, the fleet reached Nimbus without barely a problem. The fleet at Nimbus Three was only half their size (400 to their 800), but was still considerable and no doubt strong enough.

"Admiral Ross," reported Dax on board the Defiant. Colonel Kira was commanding, but Ross was along for the ride. "We're receiving a transmission from the surface."

"On screen."

"Don't do this, Bill," President Decker chided.

Ross sterned. "You're not yourself, Mr. President. I'm afraid we have to."

"What are you talking about? Give this up!"

"No sir. End transmission."

The screen was replaced with another shot of the golden planet surrounded by a monstrous fleet. Before Admiral Ross could even speak another word, the Kelvans opened fire. That battle was joined.

The Jem'Hadar ships surged forward, weapons ablaze against the gigantic attack ships. Explosions were everywhere, but mostly for the Dominion. The Vorta named Veela felt nothing as their own forces were demolished, except for a note of sadness for the fact that the Founders were gong to be disappointed with these statistics.

Garek pushed his ships onward. With the Jem'Hadar taking the brunt of the attack, the Romulans and the Cardassians were to swoop in and damage the center of the Kelvans lines. At another explosion filled the bridge, he couldn't help but wonder how he ended up here of all places. After a life-time of murder and subterfuge, then fighting against the Dominion, Garek would counted himself either dead or retired. After all this, he figured he would be one of those.

Sela's new vessel tore forward, unleashing volley after volley with the other Romulans. Damage was being done, but the Kelvans were taking the most of it. She grinned, knowing what was happening. Success and victory for the Romulans. But there was a part of her that seemed to remember what her mother once said to her - all life was important. She ripped away the memory, but it still lingered. So, Sela turned back to the battle and continued with the orders.

Rom's fleet of Ferengi battle cruisers swung around and dove into the fray. The fleet broke up and launched their attacks on the Kelvans. They were to keep the flank occupied while the Klingon and Starfleet ships moved towards the atmosphere. Easier said then done. Rom made a bet, then, with his first officer. He bet it would the last deal they would make.

The Federation and the Klingons moved closer to the planet. Ships began to explode as the Kelvans bore down on them, but the joined fleet pushed. Worf and Alexander soared their twin birds-of-prey closer to the atmosphere than an Attack Ship had wanted. They had opened fire.

The Enterprise and the Defiant swept in, unleashing their weapons upon the Attack Ship. The two birds-of-prey joined with another pair and the four made for the surface. Following them directly was a Runabout, with two Intrepid-class vessels in tow.

The four Klingon ships zoomed over the main settlement and began to drop large capsules to the ground. As soon as the capsules dropped, panels on all sides opened up - unleashing a strange, green gas. Weapons from the Kelvans on the surface shot at the Klingons, but the four ships swung around once more, dropping the capsules all throughout the settlement. The gas was all over place.

When members of all four alien delegations began to pass out, High Commander Gagh knew exactly what it meant. The 'New Maquis' had some how figured out a way to mass synthesize the vaccine to their mind-controlling agent.

He scrambled to find away to turn things around, but when he spotted Starfleet and Klingon ground troops marching and transporting into the settlement - well, Gagh beamed aboard his ship and took off.

The settlement emptied, all the Kelvans heading up to the join the fleet. The Kelvan fleet was, without support from the planet, falling apart. The fleet was ordered the pull back.

***

" . . . Mind control," muttered President Decker, as he had over the past three hours. "I can't believe it."

"It's the truth, Mr. President," said Ross.

"Well, if it is, then I'm ending this war right now."

"What do you mean, sir?" wondered Picard.

The room that once served at the conference and meeting hall for the Kelvans and their puppets was now filled with political leaders free from the mind control. They were trying to recollect themselves and get a full understanding of the events that had occurred.

"I'm considering the treaty null and void. The Federation is now in a state of conflict with the rebels of the Kelvan Empire. And Admiral?"

"Yes sir?"

"We're open to your return."

Admiral Ross smiled grimly. "We'll take you up on that offer sir."

"Good," President Decker said. "Because the people in this room have just changed the direction of this galaxy. And we would life to change it back."

And somewhere . . . Wesley Crusher smiled . . .