Chapter I
[Dark "1 year later."]
[We move over a half destroyed city. Everywhere people seem to be constructing new buildings or cleaning up the devastated roads. Smoke rises from ruins.]
[Janeway walks through the streets, accompanied by two cautious security officers. She observes her environment. Janeway's voice] : Personal log, Admiral Janeway. Star date 54488,2. I have been assigned by Starfleet to coordinate the reconstruction of Cardassia Prime. I was surprised that I got the job since a lot has happened "at home" I am not really familiar with owing to my stay in the Delta Quadrant. Yet Starfleet thinks that my ignorance about the war, my will to cooperate and my experiences in the Delta Quadrant will give me an unbiased perspective and simplify my attempts to earn the trust of the Cardassian people. Despite my attaché's concerns I wanted to take a first hand look at the life of the population.
[Several Cardassians spot the small Starfleet delegation. Some wave at her, others swear angrily in Cardassian, which doesn't sound very friendly.]
[A Cardassian woman walks towards her.]
[Janeway greets cheerfully] : Prime Minister, it's good to see you!
[Prime Minister, tired and covered in dust] : Good morning, Admiral, I am sorry that we cannot offer you a more quiet quarter. Sometimes I wonder why you don't beam up to your ship when you go to sleep.
[Janeway] : Oh, actually I found my quarters quite convenient. I am used to constant deep sounds in the background. No matter if it is the humming of a warp engine or crunching noises from the factories.
[P.M.] : I am glad you take it so easy. We haven't reconstructed as many flats as there should be or enough agricultural facilities to satisfy everyone's basic needs. The greatest part of the population is occupied with repairing the infrastructure and the industry in order to pay the reparations. But even with the help of the Federation we can only just fulfill the conditions.
[Some children stand along the street who seem to beg for food or something.]
[Janeway] : I thought the Federation has equipped you with 100.000 type 5 replicators a month ago. Why are so many people still dressed in lumps and begging?
[P.M.] : There are not as many replicators left as you think. The humanitarian situation in the cities is actually not that bad in comparison to rural areas, where we do not have so much control. Splinter groups, paramilitary rebels and warlords actually control the greatest part of Cardassia. They have become quite efficient in ambushing our convoys and stealing civil equipments for their own purposes. According to recent counts only 50.000 replicators are left. The extremist groups are well equipped, even better than the official security forces. And last but not least random Klingon raiders disguised as freighters suck out the last drop of our blood. Cardassia has become an insignificant almost prewarp civilization, a paradise for criminals and smugglers, a people that can be abused at will. [Janeway watches worried as the Prime minister dissolves herself into rage, bitterness, and self-pity.]
[P.M. wearing a sarcastic smile] : And do you know what the funniest thing is? Yesterday, we received a threat from the Marquis that they will intensify terrorist attacks unless we hand over our mining colonies! Ha! And do you know what is even funnier? We cannot do anything about it because we are completely defenseless!
[Janeway] : Prime Minister, the Federation does all it can to protect the Cardassian people.
[P.M. loses her temper] : Protect? Then tell me why has there been 2 million crime cases reported last month, ranging from homicide to armed pillage? Why are there raiders and Marquis terrorists all over this planet.
[Janeway looks at her patiently without wincing.]
[P.M. suddenly aghast of herself, covering her face] : I cannot tell you, how sorry I am. The Federation has always been so kind. Without you we would be now a Klingon colony. You help us building up our world and the only thing I can think of is accusing you of security negligence.
[Janeway raising one hand] : No, you are right. We could do more. The Federation Council is only afraid of jeopardizing our relations with the Klingons and the Romulans if we show any more military presence or equip Cardassia with more equipment and resources. Obviously they are afraid of Cardassia regaining its power. Sometimes seem to be more frightened of you than you of them!
[The P.M. grins bitterly] : Irony at its best!
[Janeway grasps her shoulders] : Believe me or not. I can understand you quite well. In the Delta Quadrant we were also forsaken, desperately looking for resources, more often surrounded by enemies than friends. But the important thing, that kept us alive, was . well, maybe you hear it constantly, maybe it sounds like a cliché to you.. But the important thing, that kept my crew and me alive was the believe in our ideals. We never gave up hope. I will try to encourage Starfleet to show more presence in this sector and intensify our aid deliveries. But I cannot promise you anything yet.
[The P.M. nods] : Thank you.
[Behind their backs, a Bajoran with a hood and a long cape has sneaks towards them. He slowly opens his cape over his breast. A Cardassian worker eyes him suspiciously, then suddenly cries] : Marquis!
[He throws himself onto the man and tries to pull the Bajoran's arms out of the cape. But too late. The detonator within the cape causes a firewall which quickly expand from the center all over the busy street. The two security officers push the Admiral and the P.M. to the ground covering them with their bodies.]
[After a while Janeway drowsily lifts up her head. The Prime Minister is unconscious. The street is littered with dead and wounded Cardassians. The two Starfleet ensigns have suffered serious burning. Desperate screams fills her ears as she watches into the flames.]
[The picture gradually changes from one scene to the other. Now we seem to be caught in a gigantic fire storm full of flames with random electrical discharges, thunders and fiery tornados inside. We dive through the gas masses. Hot gas rush around as. We hear a regular sound from the left and the right like huge wings beating. A lightning hits us but nothing happens. From behind we hear a lot retarded the thunder which sounds odd and numb as if the storm is still very far away. We continue our voyage. A melody can be heard. It has always been there ever since we have left the last scene. But now it becomes more distinct from the surrounding. It seems to come from the right. We change course and head into the direction where the music seems to come from. It becomes more audible now. Soon masses of dark iron appear in a quite peaceful area of the fiery storm around us. They are ships which are crazy enough to look for shelter in this monstrous cosmic phenomenon. We speed up ahead straight towards one of the ships. Its details become clearer now. Small windows are nestled in its dark brown hull, two not very conspicuous impulse drives, the orange shining warp nacelles . and a woman in a space suite sitting on the hull, stretching out one hand at us. We soar closely over her.]
[Ro Laren stretches out her hand as the huge creature looking like a ray soar closely over her. Her fingers glide over the animal's skin without really touching it. Electrical sparks spring from her fingers over to the huge visitor.]
[A mid-age human man kneels beside her] : I don't know why 'mantees' like this music.
[He looks around as some more creatures arrive.]
[Ro grinning] : But that's jazz music from earth, Johnny!
[Johnny shrugging] : So what!
[Ro looking back at the animals] : The music must sort of have just the right frequency to resonance in their body. Jackson first noticed it.
[Johnny frowning] : Jackson? The skinny guy who sent his music via loudspeakers into the Badlands? Revealing our position once to the Cardassians? [Grins] Damned! He was nuts. [bit sad] But he was a good man after all! The commander told me he died on the last wave of suicide missions on Cardassia.
[Ro sighs] : Sometimes I wonder why we keep doing this after all those years of relentless fighting and escaping. Don't mention the losses we suffered or the victims who just happened to be near our targets! Is it worth taking it on?
[Johnny becoming determined] : They deny us our home and our property, Laren. They won't listen to our wishes. We must make them notice we have not given up! And violence is sometimes the only method we can resort to. We must stick to our mission until we succeed or all the sacrifices will be in vain.
[Ro] : Until we succeed?! Now we are fighting against the Federation, the Klingons, the Romulans and the Cardassians at the same time, the alliance which has beaten the Dominion! How many sacrifices will it still take?! And actually I am not fighting for my home or my property. I have come into the Marquis because I had the feeling that I can truly help you fighting for justice, for an organization that has become my family. But at the moment I have the feeling this whole family has turned crazy! Do you realize we are now fighting virtually against the whole alpha quadrant? The whole mess is a suicide mission and.
[Ro sees Johnny closing his eyes as if he has been hurt in his pride] : I'm sorry.
[Silence. Then a grin escapes her] : Jackson was somehow still a child. He used to fetch out his guitar, playing in the middle of the night when he could not sleep, making everyone else angry with him.
[Johnny is cheered up a bit] : Yeah, I remember! In the end I was so fed up with him, I pulverized his guitar with my phaser!
[Ro] : You have been working too long with my brother. You should grant them some fun to make them feel at home as far as you can call this home . [glancing around her]
[Johnny] : Your brother doesn't talk much, does he?
[Ro] : Sebek? No! He has always been like that. I have never seen him enjoying himself since he had to go into the mines during the Cardassian occupation. And since the our parents' death, he is even isolated.never makes conversations, play games or do any hobbies or .
[Johnny grinning] : Leer at women!?
[Ro looks at him, smiles lightly] No.
[An Andorrian dangling from a 'mantee' shouts at them] : Hey people, come on! The mantees won't stay forever!
[Ro and Johnny both pick up long rods which have energy cells at the other end shining with a steady yellow light. They present their rods to two mantees, which come rushing towards them. As the creatures are within inches, the two humanoids jump up and activate their tractor beam emitters on their back so they stick tightly to the mantees' underside. ]
[The mantee's body almost consists completely of it's two large wings. It's skin is so smooth that using ropes would be senseless. But as with the tractor beam emitters on her back and her ankles activated, which stick her tightly to the mantee, Ro seems to merge with the creature. She holds her rod in front of the mantee's head, which seems eager to reach the energy cell dangling on the other end. When Ro wants to move faster she pushes her rod farer away from the mantee's little snout or reduces speed by pulling her rod backwards. The mantee seems to be too stupid to see it can never reach the bait.]
[As Ro takes a look around her she sees that 19 other players gather between two huge gigantic force fields, about 1km away from each other, one red, one blue. Ro joins the blue side. There is an old battered American football containing a red flashing beacon floating in the middle of the "pitch".]
[A signal. All players activate their tractor emitter in their remaining empty hand. A second signal. Three players from each side rush towards the ball at quite a dangerous speed. Several mantees indeed crash into one another. Johnny seizes the ball as the other 'forwards' try to get back control over their mantees and rushes towards the opponent force field. A blue player comes storming towards him. He passes the ball to another red player. The ball flies straight ahead as there is little gravity in the gas cloud. The colleague catches it easily with his tractor beam and veers of to the right flank trying to storm through the blockade. He dodges another player. But suddenly a mantee crashes down from the top into him and he drops the ball.]
[Ro reaches it and storms into the opposite direction. She passes the ball to another player, confusing an incoming opponent. A second later she gets it back and is soon within 150 meters of the opponent force field. At this moment three defenders rush towards her from different directions. She peers around. But her team mates are too far away to pass the ball. She smiles for a second then deactivates her tractor beams and kicks herself away from her mantee. The nearest opponent is completely flabbergasted and flies right through the two. Ro's mantee, still eager to get the energy cell it has been hunting for the last ten minutes, hurries after her. Laren reactivates her emitters and is torn back to her mantee again. Finally the two of them rush through the force field, which only serves as a mark and doesn't have real power on.]
[Ro triumphant through her microphone to the still bewildered defenders] : Touch down, boys!
[Defender 1:] Isn't that against the rule or something?!
[Johnny in her ear phone] : The only rule in a Marquis community is there are no rules! Nice move, Ro! But I bet you've looked it up from me?
[Ro] : Yeah, of course! And thanks you taught me how to tie up my laces!
[As the game goes on we move slowly to a bulkhead on the of the bigger ships. A man is sprawled over on his bunk snoring irregularly. We come nearer to his face. It's Sebek. His face slowly dissolves into another scene.]
[It's a clear and pleasant night. Thousands of stars, which sting out of the darkness, can be seen as the background of small lovely hills that are covered with tall trees with corpulent tops and dark green long grass. Both wave gently under a cool breeze. We come nearer to one of the hills. Under the shadow of a Bajoran oak two children are sitting in the nature and watching the stars. Both of them have gaunt faces, most of all the boy who is quite tall and husky for his age. His nose ridges are also most prominent, even for a Bajoran. He like the girl wears the traditional earring of their heritage on the right lope. He lies like a skinned animal with four limps all stretched out right in the grass, making his appearance even more gigantic. The girl on the other hand has drawn her legs tight to her chest with her arms wrapped around them. Her face is smoother in comparison to her companion. Her limps are more wiry. She wears a red band around her brown-red smooth hair. Her body is also well trained, yet scrawny, like the boy's.]
[Girl looks up at the sky and squints] : It's strange the longer you look at them the more appear. I wonder why you cannot see them at daytime. Perhaps I have just not looked long enough then.
[She turns around to the boy] Hey, Sebek are you sleeping?
[Sebek mumbles a bit annoyed] : Yes, Laren. I am . unless you have really important things to say apart from that rubbish.
[Laren offended] : You just have no sense for beauty and fascination. Sometimes I wonder how I can be a sister of yours or anyhow related to you . to a huge mechanical ugly and not to forget a stinking toad which only lives to work in the mines at daytime, to gulp down its food without relishing it in the afternoon and to sleep or in fact to pretend to sleep whenever it gets dark. Do you ever perceive anything from your environment or have any fun or behave anyhow like a living being?
[Sebek tired] : Nope!
[Laren aghast] : You are so boring!
[Sebek] : Yep!
[Laren] : Nope! Yep! Positive! Negative! Just like a machine as I said!
[Sebek] : Positive!
[Laren dreamy] : I wonder, if I could ever get to one the stars and .
[Sebek] : You cannot get onto a star, stupid! You would burn!
[Laren sharp] : Oh, shut up! You know exactly how I mean it! [Dreamy again] To be on any of those planets, finding out how the people there look like.
[Sebek pushes himself up a bit] : On any of those planets?! Do you know how small the probability of accounting another intelligent specie is? You have to be a bit more selective if you don't want to . "wish" yourself onto a blank rock around any of your stars!
[Laren sneeringly] : At least I have the ability to form some wishes. Unlike you, I don't want to be on this dull planet for the rest of my life, being tormented by Cardassian overseers and kept in imprisonment.
[Sebek suddenly becomes thoughtful for a while. He starts ripping out bunches of grass. A tiny frog happens to get into his rough hand. He squeezes it until it is merely a mixture of broken bones, squashed organs and orange liquid. He mumbles to himself] : You filthy little Bajoran.
[A flash out his mind comes up quickly and disappears again: Sebek being kicked by a huge Cardassian guard into his side.] You filthy little Bajoran .
[Laren aghast, interrupts his thoughts] : Sebek, your hand is bloody.
[Sebek turns at her and wears a slightly malicious smile]
[Suddenly there are distant screams from behind them. The children run down the hills towards their village. Several phaser blasts streak across the houses. Sebek and Ro run through dusty streets. Apart from the frightened screams a magnified voice from a loudspeaker can be heard.]
[Speaker] : To all Bajorans! This is a security operation for your own safety! We have information that Bajoran terrorists are hiding in this village! Don't fear! Stay in your houses, wait for the inspection squads, follow their instructions and no one will be harmed! Fleeing individuals will be regarded as potential terrorists and will be executed immediately! Don't move and don't fear!
[Some Bajorans are nevertheless running down the street. Some are hit by Cardassian gun fire. Another Bajoran man is beaten up by two Cardassian soldiers] : Please, don't. I have only forgotten my papers!
[The two kids creep into their garden. Laren calls for her parents. Suddenly hands appear from behind and push down over their mouths]
[Father] : Don't make any noise. We have to leave!
[Laren puzzled] : Why?
[Mother] : Don't argue!
[They creep quickly and noiselessly through a dark tunnel in the garden. The other end is already outside of the village. They head for the forest nearby. Every now and then they stop, looking behind them and listening for footsteps of possible Cardassian pursuers. But everything apart from random screams from the village, everything is quite peaceful. They come to a clearing where some other Bajorans are already waiting for them. But just as they feel some safety, several Cardassian soldiers materialize all around them. Several Bajorans are shot on the spot. The father manages to jerk the Cardassian who is approaching them to the ground. The mother seizes the children by the hands and without looking backwards they run like hell into the shadows.]
[Laren panting] : What's about dad?
[Her mother doesn't say anything. Yells and phaser blasts finally cease. They hide in the undergrowth below a dark rock.]
[Mother] : Be quiet!
[Some moments later footsteps and voices can be heard on the damp forest ground.]
[First voice] : Any life signs?
[Second voice] : Yes, dozens. But they could also come from big mammals around. Damned! If they equipped us properly we would have finished our job by now. . Wait, I think I have got something from the size of a humanoid in this direction..
[First voice] : It could as well be a Bajoran grizzly. But let's check, after all!
[The noises become louder. The mother looks hopeless at first, then she gives Sebek a determined stare. Sebek nods solemnly. The mother takes a deep breath and runs out of their shelter. Ro wants to say something. But Sebek puts a tight hand around her mouth. The brave woman does not come far. A phaser blast hits her by the leg. She stumbles and falls. The two Cardassians catch up.]
[First voice] : Now look what we have got here. Hello, my beauty!
[The mother in horror] : Get your hands of me, you filthy spoon head!
[Second voice] : We don't have time for this. Well, at least hurry up!
[Laren gives mumbled gasps under her brother's hand while she observes the scene that is unfolding before her with terrified eyes. Sebek is more stalwart. But he too is petrified with contorted face full restrained anger and fear. At last he manages to get a grip over himself and pulls his sister into in the other direction. They run as fast as their legs can carry them through the extremely dark forest under the continued screams of their mother. Both of them stumble and fall down a ravine.]
[Sebek falls down from his bunk and wakes up screaming] : Aaargh!
[Loudspeaker] : All personal report to the conference room! Repeat! All personal report to the conference room immediately!
[Sebek shakes his head and gets up.]
[The conference room. A hall mostly filled with seats. At the other end a human Marquis commander around 55 and a Vulcan await their Marquis comrades who quickly fill up the room. Some of them still talking about the match.]
[Ro to an Andorrian] : 50 to 40! That makes 10 hours for you people to shrub the EPS conduits for us!
[Andorran] : We have been summoned to a meeting. The match has not finished!
[Ro] : We have never been able to finish a match! Remember! The point is that we have won once again! The third time in a row!
[Johnny] : Ha!
[She sits down next to her brother] : Hi, Seby! Why do you always sleep whenever we get some free time? You could have been helpful to those losers behind us!
[Pointing to red team players who groan in protest at her words.]
[Sebek distracted] : I was tired.
[The commander clears his throat] : Good evening! As you know our enemies now patrol routinely through space searching for Marquis vessels. Although the former alliance members don't work together anymore, making our sabotage missions easier, nevertheless several of our vessels have been intercepted in the last few month. As we don't have enough funds to maintain the losses, we have to make sure we stop losing more vessels!
[A black man at the front] : Should we just think up something to prevent it eh! It is easier said than done!
[Commander] : Lt. San Antonio, I have not summoned you to tell you old stories.
[Lt. San Antonio] : No? [Some chuckle from behind.]
[Commander] : No! Some of our agents within the Federation have gathered some new information. Have you ever heard something of the USS Voyager?
[A Bolian] : The Federation starship that has been transported into the Delta Quadrant by an unknown force and that has now returned from there after 7 years of travel using a Borg transwarp channel?
[Commander]: Exactly! The crew of the ship has developed sophisticated technology while they were trapped in the Delta Quadrant. According to our informants the Voyager is momentarily under research in this lab on Hawaii.
[He shows a hologram of a great complex on an island coming out of holoemitters on the table]
[The Bolian] : Are we going to steal a Borg transwarp coil?
[Commander] : Not exactly! But something very similar! The Voyager crew has developed an own propulsion, the prototype of a quantum slip stream drive. It has not worked that well during the first tests. But there's a great chance that the Federation researchers have meanwhile improved the technology to a more reliable state. With this technology we can propel our vessels to speeds we have not thought possible until now.
[Johnny] : But, I guess it won't be easy game, even when we just try to start a hit and run mission.
[Commander] : Indeed! There are top security measures being applied on this island. We have some aces though. Bring her in!
[A door slides open. An unconscious and quite stout woman is brought in.]
[Commander] : This is professor Anna Thompson. We have eh . convinced her on her way to Risa to pay us a little visit. She is one of the few high grade scientists in the complex. who have access to all systems in the complex.
[San Antonio doubting] : She does, but we don't. I suppose there must be something more than some security codes to break in order to gain access to the information we need. Fingerprint and retina scans And I hardly think she will be willing to cooperate.
[Commander] : The security measures are even worse than that. But we don't need her to go. [Pointing to the Vulcan female next to him]: Commander T'Lar has extracted all valid information out her memory through a mind melt. We know, not only the latest access codes, but all security measures and information in this complex, from the stations of the guards to the personal information of the other scientists or the taste of their coffee, everything. Commander T'Lar, I thinks it's best when you brief our crew on their upcoming mission since you know professor Thompson's memory like the back of your hand.
[T'Lar nods] : Our target is the information terminal in the heart of the complex, 50 meters under the earth. [She types on the console. The hologram swooshes to some kind of underground department, a long corridor with several rooms ordered one after another. The Vulcan points to the entrance.] : This is the first security barrier. There is a guard, who knows all the scientists who pass this door to the level "1" facility at the end of this corridor. In his presence, you must type in the access codes which are changed every day. After that you step into the first chamber, where you are scanned for weapons. They will also check your fingerprint, retina and voice frequency. Then the guard asks you a personal question which every employee has thought out the day before at the end of their work. If you pass you step into the decontamination chamber. Finally you are let into the office, only, the office of the scientific personal.
[Johnny interrupts] : Wait a minute! Wait a minute! You said you don't intend to use Thompson [looking at the still unconscious captive] because she won't cooperate. Then how the hell are we supposed to get in there with the guard and all those biological scanners goggling at us? And apart from that you didn't mention how we should get through light years of Federation space to the complex undetected in the first place.
[The Bolian] : We could use a freighter pretending to be traders and smuggle our task force to the planet and beam them near the island.
[T'Lar frowns at them] : That's typical Marquis, speaking in chaos and interrupting each other. Actually Mr. Kowal's idea with the freighter is exactly the thing we going to put into action. But we won't be able to use our transporters since the island is protected by some sort of interference generators making beaming impossible. No we are going to do it a bit different. Once we have flown through the outer earth atmosphere we will send down a small two man shuttle with a special addition. As you know the Marquis has always had good contacts to black market dealers. One of them has sold us an old Romulan cloaking device which certainly can be detected nevertheless with a thorough antiproton scan. But we have the advantage that they won't be looking out for a cloaked ship. The surprise factor will a big help on this mission. Now concerning Mr. Johnson's first question or rather statement about the security measures in the complex, it would be time to show you something.
[She fetches out some kind of headset and puts it on. Suddenly her face seems to fade away. On her shoulders appears Johnny's angular face. Gasping in the group.]
[T'Lar deactivates the device and her usual pointed ear face reinstates in front of them.] : This is some new gadget we purchased on the black market. It is a portable hologram emitter which can generate a hologram closely over the skin of the user. The whole inventory can cover the entire body. It can simulate the appearance of any other humanoid person or even monochromatic surfaces like walls making the bearer virtually invisible in buildings! The hologram emitters can be connected to your portable batteries and will be an indispensable asset to the tractor beam emitters.
[Awesome whisper in the group]
[T'Lar returns to the hologram model of the complex] : Well, as our infiltrator passes the first scans, he will step into the staff office. The main research facility itself is adjacent to it. Before you can step into it you still have to pass another scanning chamber, a DNA scanner. The scanning beams will penetrate the whole body. This is going to be tricky because in this case the hologram emitters won't deceive the scan. We have one chance though. When a person steps into that last scanning chamber and the door closes, the scanners need a warm up phase of about 40 seconds. Now, the scientists substitute each other after specific working shifts. We are happy to posses a detailed timetable from professor Thompson's memory. The staff is disciplined and exactly sticks to their shifts.
[She continues] : The plan is that our infiltrator "disguised" as Ms. Thompson goes into the chamber shortly before the next scientist enters from the staff office, let's say about 30 seconds earlier. The scientist will be scanned and then our "man" will follow him through the force field protected door into the research labs. Inside the chamber and the research labs there are no windows or cameras because the researches there are top secret. The scientists are mostly inside the different labs. So the infiltrator will stand a chance not to be seen. He just has to make sure not to be noticed by the scientist in DNA scanning chamber who plays "Trojan horse" for him. The exit part will be easier. Because the people inside the labs are supposed to have been scanned during their entrance, there will be no scans when they get out.
[T'Lar activates the hologram emitters again.] : A warning before I come to an end of this meeting. The hologram emitters consume a lot of energy. Whoever goes on this mission will only have about 15 to 20 minutes before the emitters deplete the energy cells. So hurry up! Apart from that the emitters can only manipulate photons. The batteries can't support force fields so the infiltrator has to avoid close contacts. Even the slightest touch will lift his cover.
[As a demonstration T'Lar, wearing the holographic Johnny face, reaches her hand towards the eyes. The fingers seem to go right through the skin.]
[The Vulcan deactivates the headset once more] : If everything works well. The infiltrator will gather the information and get out of the complex before the hologram emitters cease to function and then get picked up by the cloaked shuttle in the vicinity. Any questions so far?! [Ro raises her hand as the others are still talking excitedly to each other] : Just one! Who the hell is supposed to pull off a stunt like this?
[Commander] : I think there will about 20 of you to steer the freighter to earth and of course you and your brother, Laren! You have proven your infiltration expertise dozens of times before and your brother as our best pilot will bring you there and back!
[Ro annoyed] : Sir, with all due respect! You describe it as if it was all a nice little excursion to some deserted Cardassian cargo station! There are thousands of unmentioned details, which can go wrong!
[Commander proud] : That's why we have chosen you!
[Ro shakes her head and rams her brother into the rips] : Hey, Seby how do you feel about it?!
[But Sebek seems to be completely uninterested where he is going to be sent. He just keeps looking out of the window into the fiery torrents outside of the conference room.]
[The camera perspective changes. We see Sebek from outside. Then the view rushes quickly away from him. We are out of the ship, rushing backwards through the blazing clouds for a while. Then suddenly we spring out of the mist . We see a gigantic cloud in front of us. The Badlands. A huge ionic gas nebula with an extremely high density, which shines beautifully from the distance with all kinds of color variations you can find in a camping fire, from a very light yellow to a burning red. It "hangs" impressively in the eternal starry night of space and becomes smaller as we slowly move away from it.]
[Dark "1 year later."]
[We move over a half destroyed city. Everywhere people seem to be constructing new buildings or cleaning up the devastated roads. Smoke rises from ruins.]
[Janeway walks through the streets, accompanied by two cautious security officers. She observes her environment. Janeway's voice] : Personal log, Admiral Janeway. Star date 54488,2. I have been assigned by Starfleet to coordinate the reconstruction of Cardassia Prime. I was surprised that I got the job since a lot has happened "at home" I am not really familiar with owing to my stay in the Delta Quadrant. Yet Starfleet thinks that my ignorance about the war, my will to cooperate and my experiences in the Delta Quadrant will give me an unbiased perspective and simplify my attempts to earn the trust of the Cardassian people. Despite my attaché's concerns I wanted to take a first hand look at the life of the population.
[Several Cardassians spot the small Starfleet delegation. Some wave at her, others swear angrily in Cardassian, which doesn't sound very friendly.]
[A Cardassian woman walks towards her.]
[Janeway greets cheerfully] : Prime Minister, it's good to see you!
[Prime Minister, tired and covered in dust] : Good morning, Admiral, I am sorry that we cannot offer you a more quiet quarter. Sometimes I wonder why you don't beam up to your ship when you go to sleep.
[Janeway] : Oh, actually I found my quarters quite convenient. I am used to constant deep sounds in the background. No matter if it is the humming of a warp engine or crunching noises from the factories.
[P.M.] : I am glad you take it so easy. We haven't reconstructed as many flats as there should be or enough agricultural facilities to satisfy everyone's basic needs. The greatest part of the population is occupied with repairing the infrastructure and the industry in order to pay the reparations. But even with the help of the Federation we can only just fulfill the conditions.
[Some children stand along the street who seem to beg for food or something.]
[Janeway] : I thought the Federation has equipped you with 100.000 type 5 replicators a month ago. Why are so many people still dressed in lumps and begging?
[P.M.] : There are not as many replicators left as you think. The humanitarian situation in the cities is actually not that bad in comparison to rural areas, where we do not have so much control. Splinter groups, paramilitary rebels and warlords actually control the greatest part of Cardassia. They have become quite efficient in ambushing our convoys and stealing civil equipments for their own purposes. According to recent counts only 50.000 replicators are left. The extremist groups are well equipped, even better than the official security forces. And last but not least random Klingon raiders disguised as freighters suck out the last drop of our blood. Cardassia has become an insignificant almost prewarp civilization, a paradise for criminals and smugglers, a people that can be abused at will. [Janeway watches worried as the Prime minister dissolves herself into rage, bitterness, and self-pity.]
[P.M. wearing a sarcastic smile] : And do you know what the funniest thing is? Yesterday, we received a threat from the Marquis that they will intensify terrorist attacks unless we hand over our mining colonies! Ha! And do you know what is even funnier? We cannot do anything about it because we are completely defenseless!
[Janeway] : Prime Minister, the Federation does all it can to protect the Cardassian people.
[P.M. loses her temper] : Protect? Then tell me why has there been 2 million crime cases reported last month, ranging from homicide to armed pillage? Why are there raiders and Marquis terrorists all over this planet.
[Janeway looks at her patiently without wincing.]
[P.M. suddenly aghast of herself, covering her face] : I cannot tell you, how sorry I am. The Federation has always been so kind. Without you we would be now a Klingon colony. You help us building up our world and the only thing I can think of is accusing you of security negligence.
[Janeway raising one hand] : No, you are right. We could do more. The Federation Council is only afraid of jeopardizing our relations with the Klingons and the Romulans if we show any more military presence or equip Cardassia with more equipment and resources. Obviously they are afraid of Cardassia regaining its power. Sometimes seem to be more frightened of you than you of them!
[The P.M. grins bitterly] : Irony at its best!
[Janeway grasps her shoulders] : Believe me or not. I can understand you quite well. In the Delta Quadrant we were also forsaken, desperately looking for resources, more often surrounded by enemies than friends. But the important thing, that kept us alive, was . well, maybe you hear it constantly, maybe it sounds like a cliché to you.. But the important thing, that kept my crew and me alive was the believe in our ideals. We never gave up hope. I will try to encourage Starfleet to show more presence in this sector and intensify our aid deliveries. But I cannot promise you anything yet.
[The P.M. nods] : Thank you.
[Behind their backs, a Bajoran with a hood and a long cape has sneaks towards them. He slowly opens his cape over his breast. A Cardassian worker eyes him suspiciously, then suddenly cries] : Marquis!
[He throws himself onto the man and tries to pull the Bajoran's arms out of the cape. But too late. The detonator within the cape causes a firewall which quickly expand from the center all over the busy street. The two security officers push the Admiral and the P.M. to the ground covering them with their bodies.]
[After a while Janeway drowsily lifts up her head. The Prime Minister is unconscious. The street is littered with dead and wounded Cardassians. The two Starfleet ensigns have suffered serious burning. Desperate screams fills her ears as she watches into the flames.]
[The picture gradually changes from one scene to the other. Now we seem to be caught in a gigantic fire storm full of flames with random electrical discharges, thunders and fiery tornados inside. We dive through the gas masses. Hot gas rush around as. We hear a regular sound from the left and the right like huge wings beating. A lightning hits us but nothing happens. From behind we hear a lot retarded the thunder which sounds odd and numb as if the storm is still very far away. We continue our voyage. A melody can be heard. It has always been there ever since we have left the last scene. But now it becomes more distinct from the surrounding. It seems to come from the right. We change course and head into the direction where the music seems to come from. It becomes more audible now. Soon masses of dark iron appear in a quite peaceful area of the fiery storm around us. They are ships which are crazy enough to look for shelter in this monstrous cosmic phenomenon. We speed up ahead straight towards one of the ships. Its details become clearer now. Small windows are nestled in its dark brown hull, two not very conspicuous impulse drives, the orange shining warp nacelles . and a woman in a space suite sitting on the hull, stretching out one hand at us. We soar closely over her.]
[Ro Laren stretches out her hand as the huge creature looking like a ray soar closely over her. Her fingers glide over the animal's skin without really touching it. Electrical sparks spring from her fingers over to the huge visitor.]
[A mid-age human man kneels beside her] : I don't know why 'mantees' like this music.
[He looks around as some more creatures arrive.]
[Ro grinning] : But that's jazz music from earth, Johnny!
[Johnny shrugging] : So what!
[Ro looking back at the animals] : The music must sort of have just the right frequency to resonance in their body. Jackson first noticed it.
[Johnny frowning] : Jackson? The skinny guy who sent his music via loudspeakers into the Badlands? Revealing our position once to the Cardassians? [Grins] Damned! He was nuts. [bit sad] But he was a good man after all! The commander told me he died on the last wave of suicide missions on Cardassia.
[Ro sighs] : Sometimes I wonder why we keep doing this after all those years of relentless fighting and escaping. Don't mention the losses we suffered or the victims who just happened to be near our targets! Is it worth taking it on?
[Johnny becoming determined] : They deny us our home and our property, Laren. They won't listen to our wishes. We must make them notice we have not given up! And violence is sometimes the only method we can resort to. We must stick to our mission until we succeed or all the sacrifices will be in vain.
[Ro] : Until we succeed?! Now we are fighting against the Federation, the Klingons, the Romulans and the Cardassians at the same time, the alliance which has beaten the Dominion! How many sacrifices will it still take?! And actually I am not fighting for my home or my property. I have come into the Marquis because I had the feeling that I can truly help you fighting for justice, for an organization that has become my family. But at the moment I have the feeling this whole family has turned crazy! Do you realize we are now fighting virtually against the whole alpha quadrant? The whole mess is a suicide mission and.
[Ro sees Johnny closing his eyes as if he has been hurt in his pride] : I'm sorry.
[Silence. Then a grin escapes her] : Jackson was somehow still a child. He used to fetch out his guitar, playing in the middle of the night when he could not sleep, making everyone else angry with him.
[Johnny is cheered up a bit] : Yeah, I remember! In the end I was so fed up with him, I pulverized his guitar with my phaser!
[Ro] : You have been working too long with my brother. You should grant them some fun to make them feel at home as far as you can call this home . [glancing around her]
[Johnny] : Your brother doesn't talk much, does he?
[Ro] : Sebek? No! He has always been like that. I have never seen him enjoying himself since he had to go into the mines during the Cardassian occupation. And since the our parents' death, he is even isolated.never makes conversations, play games or do any hobbies or .
[Johnny grinning] : Leer at women!?
[Ro looks at him, smiles lightly] No.
[An Andorrian dangling from a 'mantee' shouts at them] : Hey people, come on! The mantees won't stay forever!
[Ro and Johnny both pick up long rods which have energy cells at the other end shining with a steady yellow light. They present their rods to two mantees, which come rushing towards them. As the creatures are within inches, the two humanoids jump up and activate their tractor beam emitters on their back so they stick tightly to the mantees' underside. ]
[The mantee's body almost consists completely of it's two large wings. It's skin is so smooth that using ropes would be senseless. But as with the tractor beam emitters on her back and her ankles activated, which stick her tightly to the mantee, Ro seems to merge with the creature. She holds her rod in front of the mantee's head, which seems eager to reach the energy cell dangling on the other end. When Ro wants to move faster she pushes her rod farer away from the mantee's little snout or reduces speed by pulling her rod backwards. The mantee seems to be too stupid to see it can never reach the bait.]
[As Ro takes a look around her she sees that 19 other players gather between two huge gigantic force fields, about 1km away from each other, one red, one blue. Ro joins the blue side. There is an old battered American football containing a red flashing beacon floating in the middle of the "pitch".]
[A signal. All players activate their tractor emitter in their remaining empty hand. A second signal. Three players from each side rush towards the ball at quite a dangerous speed. Several mantees indeed crash into one another. Johnny seizes the ball as the other 'forwards' try to get back control over their mantees and rushes towards the opponent force field. A blue player comes storming towards him. He passes the ball to another red player. The ball flies straight ahead as there is little gravity in the gas cloud. The colleague catches it easily with his tractor beam and veers of to the right flank trying to storm through the blockade. He dodges another player. But suddenly a mantee crashes down from the top into him and he drops the ball.]
[Ro reaches it and storms into the opposite direction. She passes the ball to another player, confusing an incoming opponent. A second later she gets it back and is soon within 150 meters of the opponent force field. At this moment three defenders rush towards her from different directions. She peers around. But her team mates are too far away to pass the ball. She smiles for a second then deactivates her tractor beams and kicks herself away from her mantee. The nearest opponent is completely flabbergasted and flies right through the two. Ro's mantee, still eager to get the energy cell it has been hunting for the last ten minutes, hurries after her. Laren reactivates her emitters and is torn back to her mantee again. Finally the two of them rush through the force field, which only serves as a mark and doesn't have real power on.]
[Ro triumphant through her microphone to the still bewildered defenders] : Touch down, boys!
[Defender 1:] Isn't that against the rule or something?!
[Johnny in her ear phone] : The only rule in a Marquis community is there are no rules! Nice move, Ro! But I bet you've looked it up from me?
[Ro] : Yeah, of course! And thanks you taught me how to tie up my laces!
[As the game goes on we move slowly to a bulkhead on the of the bigger ships. A man is sprawled over on his bunk snoring irregularly. We come nearer to his face. It's Sebek. His face slowly dissolves into another scene.]
[It's a clear and pleasant night. Thousands of stars, which sting out of the darkness, can be seen as the background of small lovely hills that are covered with tall trees with corpulent tops and dark green long grass. Both wave gently under a cool breeze. We come nearer to one of the hills. Under the shadow of a Bajoran oak two children are sitting in the nature and watching the stars. Both of them have gaunt faces, most of all the boy who is quite tall and husky for his age. His nose ridges are also most prominent, even for a Bajoran. He like the girl wears the traditional earring of their heritage on the right lope. He lies like a skinned animal with four limps all stretched out right in the grass, making his appearance even more gigantic. The girl on the other hand has drawn her legs tight to her chest with her arms wrapped around them. Her face is smoother in comparison to her companion. Her limps are more wiry. She wears a red band around her brown-red smooth hair. Her body is also well trained, yet scrawny, like the boy's.]
[Girl looks up at the sky and squints] : It's strange the longer you look at them the more appear. I wonder why you cannot see them at daytime. Perhaps I have just not looked long enough then.
[She turns around to the boy] Hey, Sebek are you sleeping?
[Sebek mumbles a bit annoyed] : Yes, Laren. I am . unless you have really important things to say apart from that rubbish.
[Laren offended] : You just have no sense for beauty and fascination. Sometimes I wonder how I can be a sister of yours or anyhow related to you . to a huge mechanical ugly and not to forget a stinking toad which only lives to work in the mines at daytime, to gulp down its food without relishing it in the afternoon and to sleep or in fact to pretend to sleep whenever it gets dark. Do you ever perceive anything from your environment or have any fun or behave anyhow like a living being?
[Sebek tired] : Nope!
[Laren aghast] : You are so boring!
[Sebek] : Yep!
[Laren] : Nope! Yep! Positive! Negative! Just like a machine as I said!
[Sebek] : Positive!
[Laren dreamy] : I wonder, if I could ever get to one the stars and .
[Sebek] : You cannot get onto a star, stupid! You would burn!
[Laren sharp] : Oh, shut up! You know exactly how I mean it! [Dreamy again] To be on any of those planets, finding out how the people there look like.
[Sebek pushes himself up a bit] : On any of those planets?! Do you know how small the probability of accounting another intelligent specie is? You have to be a bit more selective if you don't want to . "wish" yourself onto a blank rock around any of your stars!
[Laren sneeringly] : At least I have the ability to form some wishes. Unlike you, I don't want to be on this dull planet for the rest of my life, being tormented by Cardassian overseers and kept in imprisonment.
[Sebek suddenly becomes thoughtful for a while. He starts ripping out bunches of grass. A tiny frog happens to get into his rough hand. He squeezes it until it is merely a mixture of broken bones, squashed organs and orange liquid. He mumbles to himself] : You filthy little Bajoran.
[A flash out his mind comes up quickly and disappears again: Sebek being kicked by a huge Cardassian guard into his side.] You filthy little Bajoran .
[Laren aghast, interrupts his thoughts] : Sebek, your hand is bloody.
[Sebek turns at her and wears a slightly malicious smile]
[Suddenly there are distant screams from behind them. The children run down the hills towards their village. Several phaser blasts streak across the houses. Sebek and Ro run through dusty streets. Apart from the frightened screams a magnified voice from a loudspeaker can be heard.]
[Speaker] : To all Bajorans! This is a security operation for your own safety! We have information that Bajoran terrorists are hiding in this village! Don't fear! Stay in your houses, wait for the inspection squads, follow their instructions and no one will be harmed! Fleeing individuals will be regarded as potential terrorists and will be executed immediately! Don't move and don't fear!
[Some Bajorans are nevertheless running down the street. Some are hit by Cardassian gun fire. Another Bajoran man is beaten up by two Cardassian soldiers] : Please, don't. I have only forgotten my papers!
[The two kids creep into their garden. Laren calls for her parents. Suddenly hands appear from behind and push down over their mouths]
[Father] : Don't make any noise. We have to leave!
[Laren puzzled] : Why?
[Mother] : Don't argue!
[They creep quickly and noiselessly through a dark tunnel in the garden. The other end is already outside of the village. They head for the forest nearby. Every now and then they stop, looking behind them and listening for footsteps of possible Cardassian pursuers. But everything apart from random screams from the village, everything is quite peaceful. They come to a clearing where some other Bajorans are already waiting for them. But just as they feel some safety, several Cardassian soldiers materialize all around them. Several Bajorans are shot on the spot. The father manages to jerk the Cardassian who is approaching them to the ground. The mother seizes the children by the hands and without looking backwards they run like hell into the shadows.]
[Laren panting] : What's about dad?
[Her mother doesn't say anything. Yells and phaser blasts finally cease. They hide in the undergrowth below a dark rock.]
[Mother] : Be quiet!
[Some moments later footsteps and voices can be heard on the damp forest ground.]
[First voice] : Any life signs?
[Second voice] : Yes, dozens. But they could also come from big mammals around. Damned! If they equipped us properly we would have finished our job by now. . Wait, I think I have got something from the size of a humanoid in this direction..
[First voice] : It could as well be a Bajoran grizzly. But let's check, after all!
[The noises become louder. The mother looks hopeless at first, then she gives Sebek a determined stare. Sebek nods solemnly. The mother takes a deep breath and runs out of their shelter. Ro wants to say something. But Sebek puts a tight hand around her mouth. The brave woman does not come far. A phaser blast hits her by the leg. She stumbles and falls. The two Cardassians catch up.]
[First voice] : Now look what we have got here. Hello, my beauty!
[The mother in horror] : Get your hands of me, you filthy spoon head!
[Second voice] : We don't have time for this. Well, at least hurry up!
[Laren gives mumbled gasps under her brother's hand while she observes the scene that is unfolding before her with terrified eyes. Sebek is more stalwart. But he too is petrified with contorted face full restrained anger and fear. At last he manages to get a grip over himself and pulls his sister into in the other direction. They run as fast as their legs can carry them through the extremely dark forest under the continued screams of their mother. Both of them stumble and fall down a ravine.]
[Sebek falls down from his bunk and wakes up screaming] : Aaargh!
[Loudspeaker] : All personal report to the conference room! Repeat! All personal report to the conference room immediately!
[Sebek shakes his head and gets up.]
[The conference room. A hall mostly filled with seats. At the other end a human Marquis commander around 55 and a Vulcan await their Marquis comrades who quickly fill up the room. Some of them still talking about the match.]
[Ro to an Andorrian] : 50 to 40! That makes 10 hours for you people to shrub the EPS conduits for us!
[Andorran] : We have been summoned to a meeting. The match has not finished!
[Ro] : We have never been able to finish a match! Remember! The point is that we have won once again! The third time in a row!
[Johnny] : Ha!
[She sits down next to her brother] : Hi, Seby! Why do you always sleep whenever we get some free time? You could have been helpful to those losers behind us!
[Pointing to red team players who groan in protest at her words.]
[Sebek distracted] : I was tired.
[The commander clears his throat] : Good evening! As you know our enemies now patrol routinely through space searching for Marquis vessels. Although the former alliance members don't work together anymore, making our sabotage missions easier, nevertheless several of our vessels have been intercepted in the last few month. As we don't have enough funds to maintain the losses, we have to make sure we stop losing more vessels!
[A black man at the front] : Should we just think up something to prevent it eh! It is easier said than done!
[Commander] : Lt. San Antonio, I have not summoned you to tell you old stories.
[Lt. San Antonio] : No? [Some chuckle from behind.]
[Commander] : No! Some of our agents within the Federation have gathered some new information. Have you ever heard something of the USS Voyager?
[A Bolian] : The Federation starship that has been transported into the Delta Quadrant by an unknown force and that has now returned from there after 7 years of travel using a Borg transwarp channel?
[Commander]: Exactly! The crew of the ship has developed sophisticated technology while they were trapped in the Delta Quadrant. According to our informants the Voyager is momentarily under research in this lab on Hawaii.
[He shows a hologram of a great complex on an island coming out of holoemitters on the table]
[The Bolian] : Are we going to steal a Borg transwarp coil?
[Commander] : Not exactly! But something very similar! The Voyager crew has developed an own propulsion, the prototype of a quantum slip stream drive. It has not worked that well during the first tests. But there's a great chance that the Federation researchers have meanwhile improved the technology to a more reliable state. With this technology we can propel our vessels to speeds we have not thought possible until now.
[Johnny] : But, I guess it won't be easy game, even when we just try to start a hit and run mission.
[Commander] : Indeed! There are top security measures being applied on this island. We have some aces though. Bring her in!
[A door slides open. An unconscious and quite stout woman is brought in.]
[Commander] : This is professor Anna Thompson. We have eh . convinced her on her way to Risa to pay us a little visit. She is one of the few high grade scientists in the complex. who have access to all systems in the complex.
[San Antonio doubting] : She does, but we don't. I suppose there must be something more than some security codes to break in order to gain access to the information we need. Fingerprint and retina scans And I hardly think she will be willing to cooperate.
[Commander] : The security measures are even worse than that. But we don't need her to go. [Pointing to the Vulcan female next to him]: Commander T'Lar has extracted all valid information out her memory through a mind melt. We know, not only the latest access codes, but all security measures and information in this complex, from the stations of the guards to the personal information of the other scientists or the taste of their coffee, everything. Commander T'Lar, I thinks it's best when you brief our crew on their upcoming mission since you know professor Thompson's memory like the back of your hand.
[T'Lar nods] : Our target is the information terminal in the heart of the complex, 50 meters under the earth. [She types on the console. The hologram swooshes to some kind of underground department, a long corridor with several rooms ordered one after another. The Vulcan points to the entrance.] : This is the first security barrier. There is a guard, who knows all the scientists who pass this door to the level "1" facility at the end of this corridor. In his presence, you must type in the access codes which are changed every day. After that you step into the first chamber, where you are scanned for weapons. They will also check your fingerprint, retina and voice frequency. Then the guard asks you a personal question which every employee has thought out the day before at the end of their work. If you pass you step into the decontamination chamber. Finally you are let into the office, only, the office of the scientific personal.
[Johnny interrupts] : Wait a minute! Wait a minute! You said you don't intend to use Thompson [looking at the still unconscious captive] because she won't cooperate. Then how the hell are we supposed to get in there with the guard and all those biological scanners goggling at us? And apart from that you didn't mention how we should get through light years of Federation space to the complex undetected in the first place.
[The Bolian] : We could use a freighter pretending to be traders and smuggle our task force to the planet and beam them near the island.
[T'Lar frowns at them] : That's typical Marquis, speaking in chaos and interrupting each other. Actually Mr. Kowal's idea with the freighter is exactly the thing we going to put into action. But we won't be able to use our transporters since the island is protected by some sort of interference generators making beaming impossible. No we are going to do it a bit different. Once we have flown through the outer earth atmosphere we will send down a small two man shuttle with a special addition. As you know the Marquis has always had good contacts to black market dealers. One of them has sold us an old Romulan cloaking device which certainly can be detected nevertheless with a thorough antiproton scan. But we have the advantage that they won't be looking out for a cloaked ship. The surprise factor will a big help on this mission. Now concerning Mr. Johnson's first question or rather statement about the security measures in the complex, it would be time to show you something.
[She fetches out some kind of headset and puts it on. Suddenly her face seems to fade away. On her shoulders appears Johnny's angular face. Gasping in the group.]
[T'Lar deactivates the device and her usual pointed ear face reinstates in front of them.] : This is some new gadget we purchased on the black market. It is a portable hologram emitter which can generate a hologram closely over the skin of the user. The whole inventory can cover the entire body. It can simulate the appearance of any other humanoid person or even monochromatic surfaces like walls making the bearer virtually invisible in buildings! The hologram emitters can be connected to your portable batteries and will be an indispensable asset to the tractor beam emitters.
[Awesome whisper in the group]
[T'Lar returns to the hologram model of the complex] : Well, as our infiltrator passes the first scans, he will step into the staff office. The main research facility itself is adjacent to it. Before you can step into it you still have to pass another scanning chamber, a DNA scanner. The scanning beams will penetrate the whole body. This is going to be tricky because in this case the hologram emitters won't deceive the scan. We have one chance though. When a person steps into that last scanning chamber and the door closes, the scanners need a warm up phase of about 40 seconds. Now, the scientists substitute each other after specific working shifts. We are happy to posses a detailed timetable from professor Thompson's memory. The staff is disciplined and exactly sticks to their shifts.
[She continues] : The plan is that our infiltrator "disguised" as Ms. Thompson goes into the chamber shortly before the next scientist enters from the staff office, let's say about 30 seconds earlier. The scientist will be scanned and then our "man" will follow him through the force field protected door into the research labs. Inside the chamber and the research labs there are no windows or cameras because the researches there are top secret. The scientists are mostly inside the different labs. So the infiltrator will stand a chance not to be seen. He just has to make sure not to be noticed by the scientist in DNA scanning chamber who plays "Trojan horse" for him. The exit part will be easier. Because the people inside the labs are supposed to have been scanned during their entrance, there will be no scans when they get out.
[T'Lar activates the hologram emitters again.] : A warning before I come to an end of this meeting. The hologram emitters consume a lot of energy. Whoever goes on this mission will only have about 15 to 20 minutes before the emitters deplete the energy cells. So hurry up! Apart from that the emitters can only manipulate photons. The batteries can't support force fields so the infiltrator has to avoid close contacts. Even the slightest touch will lift his cover.
[As a demonstration T'Lar, wearing the holographic Johnny face, reaches her hand towards the eyes. The fingers seem to go right through the skin.]
[The Vulcan deactivates the headset once more] : If everything works well. The infiltrator will gather the information and get out of the complex before the hologram emitters cease to function and then get picked up by the cloaked shuttle in the vicinity. Any questions so far?! [Ro raises her hand as the others are still talking excitedly to each other] : Just one! Who the hell is supposed to pull off a stunt like this?
[Commander] : I think there will about 20 of you to steer the freighter to earth and of course you and your brother, Laren! You have proven your infiltration expertise dozens of times before and your brother as our best pilot will bring you there and back!
[Ro annoyed] : Sir, with all due respect! You describe it as if it was all a nice little excursion to some deserted Cardassian cargo station! There are thousands of unmentioned details, which can go wrong!
[Commander proud] : That's why we have chosen you!
[Ro shakes her head and rams her brother into the rips] : Hey, Seby how do you feel about it?!
[But Sebek seems to be completely uninterested where he is going to be sent. He just keeps looking out of the window into the fiery torrents outside of the conference room.]
[The camera perspective changes. We see Sebek from outside. Then the view rushes quickly away from him. We are out of the ship, rushing backwards through the blazing clouds for a while. Then suddenly we spring out of the mist . We see a gigantic cloud in front of us. The Badlands. A huge ionic gas nebula with an extremely high density, which shines beautifully from the distance with all kinds of color variations you can find in a camping fire, from a very light yellow to a burning red. It "hangs" impressively in the eternal starry night of space and becomes smaller as we slowly move away from it.]
