Chapter 41

Plots in Dark Places


Grenrekon, Abandoned Planet in the Cardassian Union

October 15, 2377

2pm

Mordan and Justin were not happy men. It seemed that their efforts to aid the Drakh and the Comet Empire were an act of futility. The Comet Empire was dead, and the Drakh were in retreat, their fleet a complete and utter shambles. Picard and Anna Sheridan, helped by the technomages, had turned around the Borg. They had taken out one of the Earth's and one of the Narns, as well as the Klingon and Romulan homeworlds in this universe. Nevertheless, they had suffered tremendous losses, and they expected their meeting with the new Ragendora liaison, Kelner, to be a rough one.

They entered the doorway to the meeting room, and the dark golden skin of the powerful alien reflected the sunlight of the distant sun. He looked at the two with cold contempt, and said bluntly, "We're not happy. We expected more out of you. But we haven't given up on you yet, because we know you have plans for Cardassia."

Morden nodded and replied, "Yes. Gul Dukat has assembled a fleet of renegade ships to aid us in our takeover of the planet, as well as some Jem'Hadar ships that the Federation don't know about. We've secretly been growing new Jem'Hadar soldiers and are close to having enough to complete a takeover of the planet."

Kelner smiled, and addressed Justin. "What about our plans for Betazed? We need those telepaths!"

Justin sighed and said, "You know that our people don't exactly like telepaths. Nevertheless, we've been able to assemble enough forces to prepare for a siege of the Betazed homeworld. We'll be ready to launch it at the end of the month. And, I have the perfect person to lead the attack."

Entering the room was a man in a dark uniform, with a Greek insignia of psi on his uniform. Kelner was immediately impressed with this man, and said to him, "So, they tell me you are the one assigned to lay siege to Betazed. Your name is?"

"Bester. Alfred Bester.," said the former Psi Cop. "I am glad to be of help. I intend to turn those people and bring them to your aid, along with the Psi Cops and bloodhounds that I've with me. Whom we don't turn, we'll kill. We intend to spare no one."

Kelner laughed and said, "Such ruthlessness is indeed rare! But don't get overconfident, because the enemy has proven very resourceful."

"Well, I can tell you that some of the Earth Alliance ships can be taken out of the fight. What President Hollifield and his brood don't know is that I have sleeper spies on board his ship. All I have to do is activate them, and they will take the ships out of the fight. And I know of a way to take out the Hercules."

Morden arched and eyebrow and asked, "How do you plan about going after that, Bester?"

"By kidnapping the wife of Captain Riker and replacing her with a Psi Cop that looks exactly like her. Angelina, would you come in here please?"

Entering was a woman in a Psi Cop uniform who looked exactly like Commander Deanna Troi, but Kelner could see there was a certain coldness in her eyes. He could see that this woman was more than she looked like.

"This is Angelina Falkia, and she was my protégé before the Telepath War came along. Now she's a full blown Psi Cop, even if the Psi Corps no longer exists. Our plan is a simple one: we know that the Hercules is stationed at Deep Space Nine at the moment, and that Troi and Riker are on the Bajoran homeworld at the moment. We plan to kidnap her, Falkia will read her mind to get all the relevant information, and then take her place."

Falkia spoke up, and her accent was unmistakably Troi's. "I've been studying this woman, and I can replicate her easily. I'm willing to do whatever it takes to take down the Hercules, because they aid those bastards that destroyed all we had back on our Earth."

Kelner smiled and said, "Good. Get underway immediately. The sooner we do that, the sooner we can get that planet in our clutches. Then, while the Federation is busy with feebly freeing that world..."

"We shall take back mine from those fools of a civilian government.," said Gul Dukat, in a loud voice.

"Yes! Once we have Cardassia, we can free those in prison that worked with the old Central Command and bring our forces fully into the fight. I know that there are many in the military who chafe under civilian rule, and would love the opportunity to overthrow Garek and his ruling council!"

Morden couldn't help but add, "So you want vengeance for Invidia, I take it?"

Gul Dukat rolled his eyes and replied snippily, "She was an enjoyable fling, but losing her isn't exactly bringing tears to my eyes. She was ruthless, but foolish and overconfident, and got the fate she deserved. I tried to warn her, but..."

Justin laughed and said, "Sounds like my ex-wife!"

Kelner walked around the desk with a cold smile, and said to all those assembled, "For the first time since we launched this campaign, I feel confident! But we must be careful, because my people are not ready yet. We know the Legendora are readying their own forces to combat us, so we need more time. Taking these two planets will go a long way to aiding our cause!"

Bester said, "All I want is the head of Hollifield, Sheridan, and Garibaldi. Give me this, and I'll do whatever you ask!"

"You shall have it, Bester. When this is all done, you'll have all the heads you want," said Kelner, who then dismissed the meeting.