Exile
Lieutenant Commander Ian Kinkaid re-materialized into the anomaly with his phaser rifle poised.
"Coda, clear that corridor, Oruk, check the rooms over there." He instructed. "We don't know if this Betazoid is friendly, so stay sharp!"
The commando team systematically moved through the structure, scanning each section with their tricorders until only one room remained unexplored. The Commander signaled for dynamic entry and the squad burst into the central chamber of the sphere. A figure stood frozen in the darkness of the opposite corner of the space.
"Starfleet? In the Void!" A voice cried.
The Commander approached with caution and his weapon raised. "Step forward with your hands out!" He ordered.
The man's silver beard jutted out from the darkness followed by the rest of his hunched body. "You arm your rifles against a defenseless old man?"
"The away team has apprehended the Betazoid and beamed aboard, sirs." Ensign Whitridge addressed the Captain and Admiral on the bridge of the Lockheed.
"Very good, have him brought to the conference room and assemble the senior staff there as well." The Captain paused. "Sir," he turned to the Admiral, "I'd like you there too."
"You aren't putting this man in the brig? Don't you think he could be dangerous?" Asked the Admiral.
"He's a Betazoid, not a Klingon. We're not going to get anything out if him in an interrogation chamber."
The Admiral sighed but chose to let the Captain make the decision. The two men walked to the conference room to find the hastily assembled senior staff as well as the aged Betazoid seated around a long table. Admiral Whitridge took the seat at the head of the room while Captain Lawrence remained standing.
"My name is Captain Paul Lawrence and this is the Federation starship U.S.S. Lockheed." The Captain opened the discussion.
"And I am known as, Exile." The Betazoid began. "I used to have a more… traditional title. But I am an exile of the Sect, and so I am an exile to myself." He paused. "The Alpha Quadrant finally couldn't take it anymore, eh? Humans have always been especially suspicious of change. Or perhaps the Sect took a little too much space for you liking?"
"The Federation neither hates nor fears the Sect." The Admiral defended. "But the area your people have claimed was won by the Federation during the Dominion War. While you may have sanction to inhabit it, the Sect does not have sanction to break off from the Federation."
"So you see reason to come invade us? How many people have you war-mongers killed to reach the Kadem Void? You are deep within Sect space; your operation must have gone on for nearly a week by now." At this the senior staff exchanged a few quick glances. If the Betazoid believed they had invaded the Sect to get this far into their space, they might be able to use it to their advantage. "Ah," he began again, "I see your operation wasn't so fruitful. So the Major got that new technology of his to work did he?"
"It's considered impolite on Betazed to read someone's mind without their consent." Said Commander Maelstrom.
"You don't have to be a telepath to see the expressions on your faces." Exile chuckled. "Why don't you just leave the Truth Sect alone? Do you even know anything about us? About our principles? No, all you see is a group of people you want out of your hair… no matter the cost. The Truth Sect is about experiencing the Three Truths of the universe: Equality, Compassion, and Wisdom. These are the things that guide us, the things that shape our destinies."
"You're quite a stalwart defender of the Sect for someone who's been exiled by it." Interjected Chief Engineer Kaytep.
"General Memnark sentenced me to collect gasses in the Void; quite a lenient sentence."
"You work here alone?" Asked Commander Maelstrom.
"Well it wouldn't be much of an exile if I had friends around, now would it?" Exile retorted. "I sought power that was not mine to behold. My judgment was fair…"
"Captain," Ensign Whitridge's voice sounded through the com system. "You'd better get to the bridge sir; I've got incoming Sect vessels. A freighter of some kind and four strike craft escorts."
Another phaser blast rocked the ship as Captain Lawrence barked orders to his crew.
"Shields down to seventy percent, sir!" The tactical officer relayed.
"Divert auxiliary power to weapons and return fire, Mr. Kinkaid!" The Captain yelled.
The Akira Class Heavy Cruiser was built for defense of Federation space; its weapon yield was higher than nearly any ship in the fleet. Two pinpoints of light streaked across the hull of the Lockheed and met to expulse a concentrated beam of energy at one of the interceptors. A direct hit! The reconnaissance craft jerked wildly as one of its wings dislodged from the fuselage.
"That's one," Lieutenant Kinkaid smirked for a moment as he adjusted the targeting sensors to dispatch the remaining enemies, "the rest of them are forming up for a strafe run at our starboard."
"Bring us about. I want a full spread of quantum torpedoes ready on my mark." The Captain's orders were put into action as the formation of Bajoran vessels glided over the Lockheed, sending down volleys of phaser fire as they passed. "Mark!" The Captain shrieked. Three pulses of sapphire light flew from the control tower section of the Lockheed. The Interceptors broke their formation but it was too late, Ian's skillful targeting proved itself as the torpedoes met all three targets; an impressive feat for any Starfleet officer. The viewscreen lingered on the three balls of flame in space.
"Impressive, Lieutenant." The Captain applauded.
"Show-off." Murmured Ensign Whitridge from the helm.
The mood on the bridge seemed to lighten for a moment as the Captain contemplated his next move. "Why weren't those vessels shrouded?" He thought aloud. "And where is the freighter they were escorting.
"The freighter left the Void and warped out of the area, sir." Said the helmsman.
"And the gasses in this Nebula prevent the shroud from being used." Said Exile as most of the bridge crew turned in surprise. The Betazoid had managed to follow Captain Lawrence to the bridge amidst the chaos of the skirmish.
"Not that I'm ungrateful," the Captain began, "but may I ask why you're giving us this information?"
"You unenlightened instigators will never understand the Sect. The Three Truths have one end: peace; harmonious coexistence with other Alpha Quadrant powers. The shroud technology is a means of ensuring safety of students of the Truth; nothing more."
"Were you present on the bridge only a few moments ago when a squadron of Sect fighters assaulted us without so much as hailing?" The Captain questioned in disbelief.
"The Federation would have acted identically if they had found a foreign ship so deep within their borders."
"I'll have no more of your unfounded propaganda on my bridge! Lieutenant Kinkaid, conduct this man to the brig."
