Chapter 47
The Great Enemy Makes Itself At Home
Aboard Alwyn's technomage ship
In orbit over Cardassia Prime
November 8, 2377
"My God! Are those Ragendoran ships," said Hollifield.
"Looks like it. I see plenty of Cardassian ships and Jem'Hadar fighters, but the sheer number of those ships...," replied Dan Tanner, who was running his own scans in his positronic brain.
Alwyn was deep in concentration, scanning the various probes that other technomages had left there. The technomages had gone there and planted their microscopic probes all over the place, and the enemy had yet to detect them and rid themselves of the probes. "They must have been planning this all along. I've spotted thousands of Jem'Hadar troops, and they've enslaved most of the local Cardassians to serve them."
"There's no way we can beat this fleet with the ships we have now, or can get from the other universes. We have to meet with the Legendora and try and speed up things if we can. Alwyn, with the size of that fleet, they could strike at any time."
"I know. That's why we've been working with the Borg. If we can harness their technology and adapt it, it could help give us an advantage until the Legendoran ships come online."
Dan Tanner looked over the readouts from the data screens that Alwyn had installed in his ship. "What we need are some people to get onto the planet and get some intelligence on the ground. We'll have to ask the Circle to see if they want to send technomages, and if they don't, I'll bloody well give them a piece of my mind."
"I agree. We need to have another meeting of the minds to figure out what to do next. However, we may need someone on the ground.," said Hollifield.
"I can go. My skin can be adapted to look Cardassian and I know the world...," Tanner said.
"I would ask you, Dan, but I don't want to lose a valuable resource. Let's head towards Bajor and ask General Kira about how we should proceed. Perhaps some members of the old Bajoran resistance would want to help us out, since they did such yeoman's work during the Cardassian occupation."
Tanner nodded his head, "Very wise, Mr. President. My offer is still on the table, should you have need of it."
"I know, Dan. I may have to make use of it after all. Let's see what other resources we can come up with first. Alwyn, I think we should head out, jump at the edge of the system, and get back to DS9."
Alwyn sighed and said, "You're right. I don't think they can detect us, but I don't want to risk it. Besides, we need to get new supplies anyway." He directed his ship to head out beyond a moon, and had the ship jump to hyperspace where the enemy's sensors could not detect the vortex.
When they arrived at DS9, they asked for an immediate meeting with command staff as well as the heads of the Bajoran militia. When they showed them the intelligence they had gathered, the Bajoran government began to prepare for an attack. First Minister Sharini Vartak was sobered by the news, but her resolve was unshaken as she was one of the main leaders of the resistance years before when the Cardassians occupied Bajor. She gave Hollifield a list of those who she felt might be willing to aid the cause.
Days later, a ship from the demilitarized zone between the Federation and Cardassia showed up. A Bajoran woman showed up and asked to see General Kira, accompanied by a human male.
"Ro Laren, you are wanted by the Federation for desertion and dereliction of duty, but the Federation hereby waves those charges for your volunteering for this mission. The same goes for your companion, Thomas Riker.," said General Kira, who had to temper her glare towards Will Riker's 'brother'. During a bizarre transporter accident years before, Will Riker was beamed out from a hostile planet, and he was 'copied' by the transporter pad on the surface. Years later, he was discovered by Will Riker and entered Starfleet, only to rebel and join the Maquis, who were resisting Cardassian occupation due to a peace treaty with the Federation. While the Cardassians had eventually given back those worlds, the resentment still held.
Kira remembered when Tom Riker hijacked the original Defiant and took it into Bajoran space to expose a secret fleet being assembled by the Obsidian Order, the former secret government organization that acted like a secret police. The Cardassian military had captured Tom Riker, but he was secretly freed by, of all people, Gul Dukat, for services rendered.
Tom Riker had met Ro Laren when she bolted Starfleet and joined the Maquis. They fell in love and had been companions for years. They had wanted to settle down and have children, but the combination of Riker being infertile and the fates controlling their lives, they had accepted their role in the greater scheme of things.
Will Riker entered the room and glared at his 'brother'. He still had some issues to resolve with Tom, but that would have to wait until later. Other volunteers entered the room, but Dan Tanner had elected to stay with the president. He would train the volunteers in the holodecks on board the Hercules.
Before the broke up their first meeting, Hollifield introduced the final member of their group. Lyta Alexander entered the room, and Hollifield said to the group, "A powerful telepath like Lyta will be essential to your group, but she doesn't know that much of the Cardassians. Therefore, all of you who know about them will help teach her what to expect. She will be an invaluable ally to your cause."
The rest of the group nodded their heads, and he could feel something that touched him: acceptance for Lyta. He knew that this world was different from his own, and to see that telepaths were embraced, and not rejected, in this universe was a good sign indeed.