Chapter 2

The return of angels

Captain Benjamin Sisko sat back in his office chair, wishing again that the station he commanded for years, lost when the Dominion overran it at the on set of the current war, was Federation in design and not if fact Cardassian. He took a sip of his morning Rakatgeno, savoured its taste, and reflected upon the last 72 hours. Three days since the Klingon Empire had saved the Federation fleet from destruction, when he had led the fleet to re-take Deep Space nine.

The thrill off actually setting foot back on board the station, and the subsequent celebrations were still fresh in his mind. He suddenly smiled at the memory of seeing Jake, who had stayed behind when the station had been over run, of seeing Kira and Odo again. Even Quark, the Frengi bar keep who had played a vital role in freeing Kira and others so that they could disable the station weapons array, without which the Defiant would surly have been destroyed. Worf had not been seen for the first 24 hours after disappearing with General Martok to the Klingon bird of Prey he still stubbornly refused to give up, despite being offered larger vessels that came with promotions and rank.

Sisko briefly wondered, and smiled at the thought, if Worf had been to see Doctor Bashir, or if had spent the next day suffering the effects of too much blood wine. Knowing the Klingon, Sisko decided that he would have spent the day suffering, which would explain the black cloud hanging over the Klingon.

Suddenly, as he turned on his desk monitor, Sisko's mood swiftly soured as he saw the requests for docking and repair appear. Of the 600 ships that had taken parting the battle, now being called the battle of Deep Space Nine, the ones that could not make the journey to other Star Bases and repair facilities were arriving. As he read the list, mentally noting the ones that should be given priority, he could not help but think of the ships and their crews that we lost. It had been one of, if not, the biggest blows to ship numbers during the war, but it was also one of the biggest morale boosts the entire Quadrant had received, the first territory to be taken back from the Dominion.

He was so engrossed at approving the repair schedules submitted from Chief O'Brien, that he didn't hear the door chime. He glanced up, only to see through one of the glass partition Major Kira standing at the other side of the door, looking very sombre.

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Kira Nery's, first officer of Deep Space Nine, and Major in the Bojoran armed forces sat at her usual post in the middle of ops. See noticed that some of the more critically damaged ships from the battle were approaching the station, most either being towed or approaching the station under their own, severely reduced, power. A lot, too many, and lost their warp capability. Which, the Major reflected, is why they were only just arriving. Kira remembered seeing the relief, yet guilty look on Doctor Bashir's face when he found out that the hospital ships were not going to be calling on DS 9's medical facilities.

Kira looked around Ops, she noticed that O'Brien was not at his station, but made a mental note to find the chief in a couple of hours. Knowing the Chief, he would be working on the damaged ships, helping the repair crews get the ships back into fighting condition as soon as possible. If she wasn't careful, he would keep on working away until he dropped from exhaustion. She had already noticed that the Defiant, the stations resident war ship, was already back on the operational list, but was awaiting a fresh supply of torpedo's.

As she continued her visual inspection of the crew members manning the ops stations, she could not help but smile at the sight of Jadzia Dax. The 29 year old beauty with a 300 year old symbiote inside her. This combination makes a lot of people surprised when she displays 300 years of wisdom. Kira never realised show much she had relied on the Trill until she had left during the evacuation.

Right now however, she looks really confused, staring intently at her science console.

"Problem ?" enquires Kira, to her friend.

" Dax, is there are problem ?" Kira says, more forcefully this time, after not getting a reply the first time.

Jadzia looks up, surprised at herself for not hearing Kira's question the first time.

" I'm not sure" she replies " I decided to do some scans of the wormhole to make sure that everything was Ok, that the Dominion hasn't left any surprises out there, and well, the readings are, well, off"

"Off, in what way ?"

" That's what I'm not sure about, but they are" Jadzia pauses " Normally I would use the equipment in the Science lab for further analysis, but the Chief has re-directed power to the repair bays"

Kira moves over to the station and peers over Jadzia's shoulder, looking at the displays in front of her, sees the wormhole readings, emissions and other readouts, but doesn't see anything out of the ordinary and says as much.

Jadzia starts to point out various discrepancies, and Kira holds up her hand.

" Ok, I didn't mean that there was not anything there, just that I cannot make see it." Kira pauses " I have a suggestion, right now 08:15 hours. We have a senior staff meeting at 10:00. After that, why don't you ask Captain Bennett if you can use the equipment on board his ship to study the wormhole more closely. Explain our problems here, I know for a fact the Billy Ruffian isn't going anywhere until the supply convoy arrives, they need a new strut for the port nacelle "

Jadzia looks at her friend, " Ok, that is one of your better idea's, but I've never heard of a ship called Billy Ruffian "

Kira laugh's " Its because the ships name is really the Bellephron, but the crew call her either the Billy or the Billy Ruffian. Apparently it's an old tradition from one of Earth's old navy's, the Royal Navy. But the ship itself is a picket destroyer and has earned fierce reputation in the war so far. I thought you were the Star Fleet officer here ?"

Kira suddenly breaks off as she is interrupted by one of the ops personal.

" Excuse me Major, we have just received a transmission from Star fleet, and you asked me to inform you of its arrival" as the Ensign offers the Major a padd.

Kira's face losses all of its humour as she accepts the padd. She mutters a thank you and then ascends the flight of stairs to the Captains offer and presses the signal chime.

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10:00

Ben Sisko walks straight into the senior staff's meeting room and heads straight to his usual seat at the head of the table. As he glances round the table, he notes that he is the last to arrive.

" Morning, thank you all of being so prompt, before we get started, I have at inform you that I received a transmission from Star Fleet earlier this morning. We now have the causality list from the battle from three days ago. Off the original 623 ships that we had at the beginning of the battle, only 408 survived." Sisko's voice gets heavy as he continues" We lost roughly 40,000 people, good people, with that number again seriously injured. Inform your people that the display board in here will be showing the names of the Dead"

Sisko shifted his gaze to his tactical officer

"Mr Worf, Admiral Ross, the Federation Council and of course, myself want to thank you for convincing the Klingon's to send the support fleet, without them, the battle could have gone very badly. Do we know the number of Klingon's that were lost ?"

Worf looks at Sisko " Gowron, the high council leader will not let those figures be known, Sir. Also, I must inform you that the next time you wish to undertake a joint fleet operation of this size, then Gowron must be informed from the very beginning of the planning. To that end, he has ordered me to become the liaison for future joint actions. He only agreed to send this fleet after Martok said it was a matter of Honour"

Sisko looks confused

" In return for the sacrifice of the Enterprise C under the command of Captain Garrett 20 years ago. Without her coming to the aid of a Klingon outpost, it would have been destroyed by a Romulan force. Martok pointed out the fact that if the Federation would come to our aid in time of need, then the Empire could do no less"

Sisko looks at Work " Please extend my thanks to Martok as well then, and tell him that I will not forget his actions, or yours, commander"

Sisko then proceeds with the meeting. Kira gives an update of station supplies, as well as informing the assembled officers of the most recent political attitudes in Bajor.

Sisko nods when Kira had finished and turned his attention to Dax, who spoke with a verbal prompt from Sisko.

" The wormhole is exhibiting some very strange readings. There are indications of a massive eruption taking place, but there is no reason for the readings. I have asked Captain Bennett if I can use his sensor suite to investigate, he said yes. In fact, he already has his staff investigating " Dax pauses, then turns to the chief " When can we expect the lab to be operational again ? I knows that you have a lot on you plate "

All eyes then turn to chief O'Brien, who is sat next to Dax.

"Commander, I will be able to return power to the lab within 48 hours. The supply convoy has a current ETA of 52 hours. I'm hoping by that time that most of the ships currently docked with be able to operate from then own internal power by that time. Work on the docked ships is starting to come to a halt until the supply convoy arrives. They are also bringing three tugs with them, the heavy cruisers USS Nelson and USS L'IRKER, as well as the frigate Great Lakes are going to have to be dry docked. Their damage is much too severe to be repaired here. Most ships that are still here are simply awaiting the convey as well, mostly for re-supply. That includes the Defiant. All she needs now is a refill of her torpedo magazine. "

O'Brien pauses for breath

" We have in orbit 51 ships that are either low on torpedo's, discharge emitters for their phasers, and or antimatter fuel as well as crew replacements. The remainder need new parts and a lot of work before they will be back in fighting trim."

At this point, he turns directly to Sisko

" Sir, with your permission I would like to contact the convoy and ask that the supply tanker be held outside the system" He pauses as everyone in the room looks him

Seeing the Chief squirm under the assembled officers gaze, Worf speaks up

" Sir, I spoke to the Chief about that, it's really my suggestion. With the station still being so close to the front lines, we cannot rule out the possibility of a counter attack until we have been able to push the front lines further back, away from the station and the Bajoran system. As the tanker carries so much anti-matter, it would be a obvious target, but I doubt that the Dominion would look past the system until they control the station"

Sisko, ponders the question.

" Very well, Mr Worf, contact the convoy and inform them of the change - Doctor, what's the Medical status ?"

Bashir looks quite grim

" The station medical supplies are very low" He pauses " I have three wards full of patients and its now getting to the point were I'm having to ration the supply of drugs to the point that its going to effect their recovery process"

At this point, the Chief speaks up again " Julian, the conveys ETA is 14:00. I'm going to move the Great Lakes to a parking orbit to free up some docking space for the medical freighter"

Odo then speaks, for the first time all meeting " I'm also aware of the problem, and with so many Fleet officers on the Station, crime is at an all time low. I will assign some of my security force to assist with the medical supplies so that the medical staff can stay in the wards and attend to their duties"

Bashir looks so grateful " Thank you, I didn't mean to be so aggressive, it just there are so many people..."

Sisko's then sits up in his chair

"Doctor, I understand you situation, if you need any more manpower, just let me know, but the convoy is bring all that we all need. Chief, get some rest now, I know that once that convey arrives with the parts, you will be busy again "

Sisko then changes topic

" Now that we are all aware of the situations on the station, I do have some further orders "

" Wr Worf, I know that you have been spending a lot of time on board the USS Leopard but I want you to prepare order packets for the ships that once re-supplied will be heading out to the front lines again. Major, please assist Mr Worf, ships that are heading back to Star Bases can transfer available crew to ships that need replacements. The admiral's aide will be contacting you at 12:00 with rendezvous co-ordinates and ship squadron assignments "

" Aye Sir " Came Worf's response, while Kira just nodded.

"Dax, keep me informed about any changes with the wormhole, its not in much use right now, but its best to know what's going on....Dismissed"

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Two weeks later.....

08:00

Sisko is just taking his first sip of his morning Rakatgeno and looking over the night activity report. All ships that were remaining at DS9 following the battle to re-take the station had now departed the area. The USS Leopard, one of the few massive Sovereign class vessels in service, and which commander Worf had been assisting with repairs on the weapons systems, had departed during the night for the front lines. The reports and transmissions received suggested the Jem Hadar had launched a massive offensive and all ships were being requested to respond. The USS Defiant was not required at this time, as the vessel was considered vital to the stations defence.

Before he can read any further down the night commander's report, his door chimed. Looking up he sees Commander Dax through one of the partitions in the door, and waves her in.

"Ben, I think we have a problem with the wormhole, these strange readings, there becoming more and more noticeable" Dax pauses for breath, and then activates a monitor in the wall " If you look here, you can see that the emissions are all, well, off, pressure increase is escalating as if the wormhole should be open, and I have no way of explaining.... "

Dax starts to vent her frustration, when the door opens a second time and commander Worf hurries into the room.

" Sir we have a problem, I have just been contacted by General Martok and the Jem Hadar offensive has pushed our forces back three sectors. The Klingon's are bringing all the pressure they can bear against the Dominion, but there is now only the Leopard is between the border and this system. She has gone on silent running and wont be able to receive any warnings about the offensive. The only good thing so far is that our forces, while been driven back have angled further down the border, drawing the Dominion away from the Bojoran sector."

Worf pauses for breath, looking his commanding officer direct in the face

" I lost contact with Martok at that point, the Jem Hadar, while not having the forces available to attack the station, are however, blocking all long distance communications. I have tried contacting Starfleet, and the Leopard but with no success"

Sisko starts pacing the length of the office while his two officers await his orders.

" Dax, find a way to break through the jamming field. We must be able to contact our forces, find out if we are going to get supplies, or if we are on our own" he pauses " The wormhole problem will just have to wait "

" Aye Sir " says Dax, as she leaves the room.

" Mr Worf, prepare the Defiant for launch, make sure that she as ready as the ship can be. Have the Chief double check everything. I want the Defiant to depart the station at this time tomorrow, and commence patrolling this system. I have a feeling that the Jem Hadar will send raiding parties this way. While I doubt they will have enough available forces to take the station, they may strike at any number of the civilian populations on or in orbit of Bajor. You will be in command of the Defiant and I want twice daily reports. " Sisko pauses " If you do find yourselves with more than you can handle, then head back here and we'll have to use the stations long range weapons array. "

" Aye Sir "

As Worf walks towards the door, the turns to Sisko

" What about the Leopard? She should be cruising at warp 6. With her head start the Defiant should be able to catch her before she reach's the Dominion forces "

" I understand that Mr Worf. But the defence of this station and system are our top priority. I wish it was different but the Leopard is one of the most advanced Starships in the fleet. Only the Defiant class carry more fire power. With her superior speed and long range sensor suit, she should be able to get out of any trouble. Besides, I doubt that Captain Deezola wants to lose a second ship to the Dominion "

Worf nods in understanding.

" Also, ask the Major and Odo to come and see me, I think any non essential personal should be sent to Bajor"

" Understood Sir " Worf barks as he's leaving.

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07:30 - The following Day

Sisko emerges from the turbo lift and descend 's into Ops. He notices that all of his senior staff, with the exception of Worf are at there stations. Even Doctor Bashir is present, sat at the same station as Dax, trying to find a way to break through the interference. Kira simply looks at Sisko and answers the unspoken question

" Sir, we have had no luck breaking through the interference, Odo has just supervised the loading of the last evacuation shuttle and is now on his way to Ops. The Defiant is on the far side of the system but reports no contact at this...."

Suddenly Jadzia jumps up from her station, in alarm as alarms break out all over ops.

" Report" Sisko says, remaining calm.

" The Wormhole " Jadzia shouts, and a picture of the wormhole suddenly appears on the large monitor in Ops. It opens, but instead of the usual blue spiral that the crew are used to seeing, they are blinded by a white light.

The light dims as the computer automatically dims the brightness

" Reports are coming from all over the station where there are no automatic filters of blindness" Kira reports from her console.

" Incoming level 5 shockwave " Dax calls " Impact in 17 seconds "

Sisko turns to O'Brien, who up until now has been silent " Divert all power to shields" He then pauses as O'Brien frantically manipulates controls " Will it be enough ?"

The Irishman looks up at his commanding officer " I'm not sure, maybe? "

" Sisko to all hands. Brace for impact"

8 seconds later, the shock wave hits and everything goes black.