"Excellent," Gelnon replied with a hiss. "Hopefully, our improvised barricades will keep the locals at bay until it gets here." He motioned with his hands at the three doors linking the meeting room to the rest of the building. He had ordered his soldiers to shoot the two dozen cardassians who had assisted Ross Tegril in taking over the leadership and piled the bodies, along with as much furniture as they could find, against the doors. Already there was pounding and yelling from the other side. Rocks had been thrown against the windows of the large meeting hall. Thankfully, the paranoia of the cardassian government had replaced the original glass with a virtually impenetrable transparant material.
This entire plan had turned into a complete fiasco. Gelnon pounded the center table in frustration and turned to face the opposite wall, dominated with a giant sideways Cardassian flag. The mistake was in picking Ross Tegril. He had been quietly looking for someone in politics who was fiercely devoted to their family for several weeks before he stumbled across Tegril. After arranging a few 'accidents' to his rivals on Cardassia IV... nothing deadly... just enough to put Ross in the forefront of politics, Ross was a rising star and Gelnon was pulling the strings. Taking Ross' family was just supposed to be extra insurance for cooperation, but it changed the man. He became spineless, worried, almost paranoid. In the beginning, that was a positive change for Gelnon's purpose. As time continued, though, it made him indecisive, hesitant... nervous. He should have picked someone stronger.
"Master!" First said with uncharacteristic alarm, staring at the communications panel. "The Warlord is heading towards Cardassia Prime! They're falling into position directly above the building!"
The pounding against the doors became louder. At last, the improvised barricades began to give way. "This is intolerable. What is Warlord doing?" He did his best to look impatient in front of the other Jem'Hadar. After all, a personal servant to the Founders couldn't afford to look panicked. Yet, the failure of his fleet to stop a single Federation ship, the betrayal of his hand-picked cardassian puppet, and now the imminent overrun of their final stronghold was weighing heavily on him.
"They intercepted a communication from Warlord. They mean to beam you aboard their vessel and use you as a bargaining chip for the hostages."
"That is unacceptable." Gelnon's face now expressed the fear he had felt for the past several minutes. "Have the cruiser pick me up this instant!"
"Master, if they pass too closely, Warlord's sensors will detect them. We have already seen they are capable..."
"Did you not hear me? Do it now! I can't be taken by the Warlord. Do it now!"
Quickly, the loyal soldier ordered the cruiser to come within line-of-sight to the council building as one of the barricades crumbled. He ordered his men to fire at will against the oncoming crowd of enraged cardassians. Although several natives fell under the weaponsfire, more continued to pour into the upper levels of the room, taking defensive positions along the top tables. Then, the second door burst open allowing even more cardassian entry. They began to return fire.
Gelnon ducked behind the main desk at the bottom as disruptor fire pierced the ground where he had just stood. "What's keeping them?" he snapped. Two Jem'Hadar fell, then two more.
First looked at the panel and tapped his communicator in between weapon discharges. "They're coming." Seconds later, he added, "Warlord detected them with a tachyon pulse." The third door burst open under stress of cardassian weapons fire. Slowly, the oncoming forces began taking the middle levels of the large meeting hall. Three more Jem'Hadar fell. Only First and two others remained besides Gelnon. First looked gravely at Gelnon. "Their last communication was that Warlord fired a torpedo. The cruiser has been destroyed, Master."
Gelnon stared at his First in disbelief. His last hope of escape had been destroyed. Another Jem'Hadar fell to the ground dead. "I have failed you, Master. I apologize." First offered. He stood to face his attackers and began firing wildly while Gelnon sank behind the desk further. Within moments, First fell backwards to the ground; two large holes burned into his chest and head.
As the last Jem'Hadar soldier fell under the overwhelming force in the room, the crowd cheered in angry defiance as they forcibly removed Gelnon from his hiding place... and while he was still screaming for mercy, they dismembered him.