Chapter 7
It was now time, there had to be no looking back, only forward to the goal of the mission. The entire crew of the Spartan were in this together and Lennon had decided wholeheartedly they would work as a solid unit. Afterall he didn't fancy spending another three months in a Labour Camp. The ships main deflector dish was emitting all the characteristics of a Pakled transport ship, unless they were spotted through a window, the guise wouldn't be noticed.
The ship had now crossed the border at an unguarded point and was well inside Cardassian space before the image of Melina III came into view. It seemed a rather uninspiring planet, but it's red volcanic terrain reminded Cumbrae of his home back on Vulcan. Cumbrae wondered if he would have the chance of experiencing the atmosphere first hand assuming the Captain would send down an assault team.
However the risk involved in this may be too great and Captain Lennon would exhaust all alternatives before resorting to an assault team.
" Scan the planets surface for life signs." the Captain ordered.
" Preliminary scans reveal three thousand Cardassians on the surface... and one in what looks like an underground bunker three kilometres below the surface."
" Why would there be only one Cardassian in an underground bunker?" Lennon asked nobody in particular. " What is the status of the shields protecting it?" the Captain again asked.
" Non existent." the Vulcan security chief responded noticing the surprise on Lennon's face.
" Beam him to the transporter room, security on standby." ordered the Captain as he walked to the turbolift signifying Counsellor Vall and Cumbrae to follow.
Immediately upon entering the transporter room two armed security officers stood to attention before grasping at their phasers. Lennon and Vall both armed themselves as the Captain took control of the transporter panel.
" Energising..."
There was a brilliant flash of blue light in front of them and a Cardassian male appeared on the platform dressed from head to foot in an eerie black and holding some sort of tricorder. The Captain knew he had no right to hold this Cardassian, there was no evidence of who he was or if he knew anything about the military.
" Welcome to the Spartan," Lennon spoke holding the phaser in front of him "I'm Captain Lennon, would you be so kind as to identify yourself."
The Cardassian seemed unconcerned with the five phasers being pointed at him. As a Betazoid, Vall could sense some sort of inner strength emanating inside. One which she seemed already familiar with.
" My name is Kalder Grim but what gives you the right to hold me here?" he asked as his bright red eyes widened.
From his position at the back of the transporter room Captain Lennon could see the look upon Kestra Vall's face rapidly change, she knew something...
" Kestra?' said the Captain
" Captain..." she paused for a second. "GET HIM OFF THE SHIP, QUICK!"
The Cardassian quickly reached for his tricorder and pressed a button. With everyone else caught up in what Vall proclaimed, Cumbrae was the only one who reacted quick enough and fired his phaser. The Cardassian hit the floor of the transporter barely conscious. Cumbrae reached out for the fallen tricorder.
" It seems that Mr. Grim has transmitted our co-ordinates to a Cardassian warship."
" No," shouted Vall, " That Cardassian, we have met him before. I don't know how but he is Tyros, the Maquis commander."
Lennon seemed stunned at this, immediately ran to the transporter pad where the Cardassian lay stirring. Looking him directly in the face the Captain could see the similarity, the same burning eyes, and the same smug expression.
" Somehow this man has been altered from human to Cardassian." Lennon shouted.
" Or from Cardassian to human." input Commander Cumbrae.
Lennon said nothing, the lines appearing above his eyes showed sheer frustration, immediately he pulled the Cardassian from the floor and held him against the wall as his consciousness returned.
" What are you up to?" the Captain shouted gripping the Cardassian around the neck.
" Well Lennon, lets just say you can't do anything about it now."
He tightened his grip on the Cardassian neck.
" It was you who sent us to DS9..." there was a short pause for a few seconds as something seemed to click in Lennon's mind. "Of course, it was you who planted information on DS9's security system for us to steal and lead us here. There was never any Cardassian diplomat aboard DS9; there is no military build-up. It was you who set-up this whole mission."
He could only laugh back in the Lennon's face, in full knowledge his plan has worked to perfection.
" Why?" he shouted, "Why did you want us here?"
" Well Lennon if you must know, we at the Obsidian Order have heard so much about these new Intrepid Class ships, bio-neural circuitry and these new engines capable of cruising through the Badlands. Both are very impressive and would be of great benefit to the Cardassian Union, we just couldn't pass up the chance to let our scientists get their hands on them."
The Captain's grip suddenly released from the Cardassian's neck, instead Lennon struck a blow straight into his stomach causing him to again hit the floor in a crumple. Again the Cardassian found his way back to his feet.
" The Maquis are fools Lennon, the real Tyros has been rotting in our prison camps for three years. They couldn't spot an impostor and neither could you. I'm most disappointed Lennon; you shouldn't have trusted the Maquis. But I guess it doesn't matter now because you will never get out of Cardassian space."
At that moment Commander Sara's voice came over the com system.
" Captain, eight Cardassian warships have appeared from behind the second planet in this system. They've been waiting for us!"
The Cardassian again laughed and again Lennon landed another blow straight into his stomach and he fell panting for breath.
" I've already told you. You call me Captain Lennon."
He signalled for the Cardassian to be removed from the transporter room and placed in the brig as he, Cumbrae and Vall raced for the bridge.
" One thing is for certain now Captain." started Cumbrae as they caught their breath in the turbolift.
" We know there is no Maquis spy onboard." finished Vall as if reading his thoughts.
It was now time, there had to be no looking back, only forward to the goal of the mission. The entire crew of the Spartan were in this together and Lennon had decided wholeheartedly they would work as a solid unit. Afterall he didn't fancy spending another three months in a Labour Camp. The ships main deflector dish was emitting all the characteristics of a Pakled transport ship, unless they were spotted through a window, the guise wouldn't be noticed.
The ship had now crossed the border at an unguarded point and was well inside Cardassian space before the image of Melina III came into view. It seemed a rather uninspiring planet, but it's red volcanic terrain reminded Cumbrae of his home back on Vulcan. Cumbrae wondered if he would have the chance of experiencing the atmosphere first hand assuming the Captain would send down an assault team.
However the risk involved in this may be too great and Captain Lennon would exhaust all alternatives before resorting to an assault team.
" Scan the planets surface for life signs." the Captain ordered.
" Preliminary scans reveal three thousand Cardassians on the surface... and one in what looks like an underground bunker three kilometres below the surface."
" Why would there be only one Cardassian in an underground bunker?" Lennon asked nobody in particular. " What is the status of the shields protecting it?" the Captain again asked.
" Non existent." the Vulcan security chief responded noticing the surprise on Lennon's face.
" Beam him to the transporter room, security on standby." ordered the Captain as he walked to the turbolift signifying Counsellor Vall and Cumbrae to follow.
Immediately upon entering the transporter room two armed security officers stood to attention before grasping at their phasers. Lennon and Vall both armed themselves as the Captain took control of the transporter panel.
" Energising..."
There was a brilliant flash of blue light in front of them and a Cardassian male appeared on the platform dressed from head to foot in an eerie black and holding some sort of tricorder. The Captain knew he had no right to hold this Cardassian, there was no evidence of who he was or if he knew anything about the military.
" Welcome to the Spartan," Lennon spoke holding the phaser in front of him "I'm Captain Lennon, would you be so kind as to identify yourself."
The Cardassian seemed unconcerned with the five phasers being pointed at him. As a Betazoid, Vall could sense some sort of inner strength emanating inside. One which she seemed already familiar with.
" My name is Kalder Grim but what gives you the right to hold me here?" he asked as his bright red eyes widened.
From his position at the back of the transporter room Captain Lennon could see the look upon Kestra Vall's face rapidly change, she knew something...
" Kestra?' said the Captain
" Captain..." she paused for a second. "GET HIM OFF THE SHIP, QUICK!"
The Cardassian quickly reached for his tricorder and pressed a button. With everyone else caught up in what Vall proclaimed, Cumbrae was the only one who reacted quick enough and fired his phaser. The Cardassian hit the floor of the transporter barely conscious. Cumbrae reached out for the fallen tricorder.
" It seems that Mr. Grim has transmitted our co-ordinates to a Cardassian warship."
" No," shouted Vall, " That Cardassian, we have met him before. I don't know how but he is Tyros, the Maquis commander."
Lennon seemed stunned at this, immediately ran to the transporter pad where the Cardassian lay stirring. Looking him directly in the face the Captain could see the similarity, the same burning eyes, and the same smug expression.
" Somehow this man has been altered from human to Cardassian." Lennon shouted.
" Or from Cardassian to human." input Commander Cumbrae.
Lennon said nothing, the lines appearing above his eyes showed sheer frustration, immediately he pulled the Cardassian from the floor and held him against the wall as his consciousness returned.
" What are you up to?" the Captain shouted gripping the Cardassian around the neck.
" Well Lennon, lets just say you can't do anything about it now."
He tightened his grip on the Cardassian neck.
" It was you who sent us to DS9..." there was a short pause for a few seconds as something seemed to click in Lennon's mind. "Of course, it was you who planted information on DS9's security system for us to steal and lead us here. There was never any Cardassian diplomat aboard DS9; there is no military build-up. It was you who set-up this whole mission."
He could only laugh back in the Lennon's face, in full knowledge his plan has worked to perfection.
" Why?" he shouted, "Why did you want us here?"
" Well Lennon if you must know, we at the Obsidian Order have heard so much about these new Intrepid Class ships, bio-neural circuitry and these new engines capable of cruising through the Badlands. Both are very impressive and would be of great benefit to the Cardassian Union, we just couldn't pass up the chance to let our scientists get their hands on them."
The Captain's grip suddenly released from the Cardassian's neck, instead Lennon struck a blow straight into his stomach causing him to again hit the floor in a crumple. Again the Cardassian found his way back to his feet.
" The Maquis are fools Lennon, the real Tyros has been rotting in our prison camps for three years. They couldn't spot an impostor and neither could you. I'm most disappointed Lennon; you shouldn't have trusted the Maquis. But I guess it doesn't matter now because you will never get out of Cardassian space."
At that moment Commander Sara's voice came over the com system.
" Captain, eight Cardassian warships have appeared from behind the second planet in this system. They've been waiting for us!"
The Cardassian again laughed and again Lennon landed another blow straight into his stomach and he fell panting for breath.
" I've already told you. You call me Captain Lennon."
He signalled for the Cardassian to be removed from the transporter room and placed in the brig as he, Cumbrae and Vall raced for the bridge.
" One thing is for certain now Captain." started Cumbrae as they caught their breath in the turbolift.
" We know there is no Maquis spy onboard." finished Vall as if reading his thoughts.