Revelation

Captain's Log

Stardate 52944.6

The crew is getting restless, as their Captain I can sense it. We've been waiting in the Kadem Void for too long, but until Dr. Benzil, our makeshift science officer, and Lieutenant Kaytep can give me results on the recordings of the advanced cloaking device, we'll have to stay here... Hiding, waiting.

It was a stroke of luck that Ensign Whitridge found this place. And a miracle to discover that the gasses making up the Kadem Void could not only conceal our presence, but also be used to create false trajectories. We made it appear to Sect forces that The Lockheed did indeed retreat to Gaalu VII.

The Admiral chose to stay onboard the Lockheed as the Nimbus was needed to carry the false signal of both vessels back to the Gaalu rendezvous point.


"Captain, this is Commander Maelstrom. Sorry to wake you, sir but there's something you should see on the bridge."

"On my way, Commander." The Captain mumbled.

The Captain reached the bridge to see Maelstrom and Lieutenant Commander Kinkaid examining some star charts.

"We've found what seems to be a duranium structure adrift in the Void, sir. Should we investigate?"

"Duranium? That's high quality material to be floating around in a remote Nebula" Said the Captain.

"You'd need superior resources, like duranium, to hold up in the Void." Informed Ian Kinkaid.

"What do we know about its size and function?"

"It's a sphere, around two kilometers in diameter, with large attachments for gathering the Nebula's gasses. I would speculate it to be some kind of station, perhaps for refitting of Sect ships or harvesting resources from the Nebula." Commander Maelstrom informed the Captain.

"Life signs?"

"The Void is putting out a lot of sensor interference." Said Ian. "We could be in range for a full scan in fifteen minutes at full impulse."

The Captain weighed his options for a moment before turning to Ensign Terra Whitridge. "Helm, approach the anomaly at full impulse. Mr. Kinkaid, inform the Admiral of the situation. I'll be in my ready room."

He couldn't explain why, but his ready room always seemed to relax him. When he entered it he could have a moment to retreat, examine his situation, and formulate a plan; all in a setting less chaotic than the bridge. He sat down in his arm chair and closed his eyes. The event on the bridge had awakened him from the first few hours of sleep had had managed since entering the void.

He knew now wasn't the time for rest, he needed to go see if he could help with deciphering evidence on the advanced cloak. With seemingly all the strength he could muster, he opened his eyes. The familiar experience of hallucination overwhelmed him again. He was surrounded by wreckage, the conflict on Chin'toka prime had gone on for three days now. He was sweaty and filthy, his uniform was torn in several places but he would not rest until the Dominion had paid for the lives of his crew. The Captains of the 1st Battle Group stood around a makeshift table and directed troop movements to exterminate enemy forces in the northern hemisphere. The adversary was beginning to go into hiding; using hit-and-run and sabotage tactics instead of organized warfare.

One Captain began to walk away from the table when he suddenly stumbled over what seemed to be thin air. "Ambush!" shouted another Captain as the Starfleet officers readied their phasers. A platoon of Jem'Hadar commandos unshrouded themselves around the table with readied weapons. The next moment seemed like an eternity. Captain Lawrence stared into the face of the Jem'Hadar who had appeared next to him. The alien's eyes were cold and dark…

The Captain snapped out of his hallucination. "That's it!" He said to himself follow by a tap to his combadge. "Doctor Benzil, Lieutenant Kaytep, meet me in the science lab on the double!"


Captain Paul Lawrence, his Chief Engineer, Kaytep, and the Bolian Doctor named Benzil stood around a console in the ship's laboratory.

"Computer, display Klingon 6th fleet ambush of the Viisha Asteroid Installation." The Captain's order caused the screen to display a recording of seven Klingon ships decloaking and firing on a Breen resupply base. "Hold, replay section eight, eight, point four." The screen showed the familiar 'ripple' effect' of a ship dropping its cloak field. "Now," he continued, "display initial Jem'Hadar assault on AR-558." The panel now presented a momentary blank field. Suddenly, dozens of Dominion soldiers appeared. The effect of their becoming visible was more crisp, as if they were unveiling themselves. "Hold image." He ordered again. "Gentleman, which recording would you say mimics what we saw at the encounter with Major Vhit?"

"The second." Answered the Cardassian Engineer.

"Astonishing!" Exclaimed Doctor Benzil. "Vhit didn't shrink a cloaking device, he managed to enlarge a Jem'Hadar shroud!"

"Captain." Commander Maelstrom's voice interrupted the discussion over the com system. "We're in range of the anaomly. There's one life sign aboard."

"Species?" Inquired the Captain.

"This one's going to blow your mind Captain, whoever is manning this thing is a Betazoid."