Recovery, Rescue and Loose Ends

"Man, it's about time," Mariner sighed in relief hours later while standing outside the battered, but still mostly intact shuttlecraft Alcatraz. "It feels so darn good to finally take off that annoying breathing mask. Having to wear one of those things can be a real pain."

"It beats the alternative of dying a searing, agonizing death," Boimler pointed out removing his own mask. "Which could have happened when the erupting volcano finally knocked the depot's fusion reactors offline."

"Good thing the geothermal backup generators took over and continued to function," Rutherford commented. "Talk about ironic. They kicked in just in time."

"Yeah, and allowed us to spend the next few hours huddled around your modified shield generator with a company of unwashed, burn-covered Jem'Hadar while waiting for their gas-flooded base to cool and vent out," Mariner waved a hand in front of her nose. "Even the breathing masks couldn't filter out the overwhelming smell of BO. Somebody really oughta introduce the Jem'Hadar to deodorant."

"Hey, good news, guys," Tendi chirped studying her tricorder. "The eruptions have stopped and the volcano has ceased expelling gases, ash and tephra. Turns out its Volcanic Explosivity Index was only about 2. As eruptions go it was actually pretty mild."

"You call that mild?" Boimler yelped.

"Well, yeah," Tendi said. "Moderate cinder ejection, no exterior lava flow, minor levels of volcanic ash. All in all, it really wasn't that dangerous. Unless one happened to be practically inside the volcano's base like we were."

"Gee, lucky us," Mariner drawled.

"I know. The altitude difference between the depot's sole remaining unblocked entrance and its missile silo hatches acted like a natural pressure-based ventilation system," Tendi went on. "It cleared out all the deadly gases much faster than expected. Of course, the fire storm raging above ground helped out too."

"No kidding," Boimler looked around the scorched, burned landscape. The fire storm had moved on before finally dissipating over the nearest ocean a few hundred kilometers away. "Too bad there wasn't any way for us to extinguish both the fire storm and the volcano."

"How would you have expected us to do that, Boims? Have Ruthy whip up a 'cold fusion device'?" Mariner mocked making air quotes with her fingers. "Please, what kind of dumb, science-deficient mind would ever come up with a ridiculous idea like that? Even the term for such a fanciful device is absurd! 'Cold Fusion', really? What a silly name."

"Looks like we evacuated the depot just in time," Rutherford said studying his tricorder. "The volcano's interior lava flow appears to have melted through one of the weakened walls and is now pouring into the depot as we speak."

"Thank goodness the Jem'Hadar used their weapons to seal the lava tube," Tendi scanned the nearby collapsed cavern with her tricorder. "It should be strong enough to hold back any lava."

"I hope so," Boimler gulped. "Having to survive one volcanic eruption is more than enough for one lifetime."

"So, it is true," An unusually meek Valiawen said softly sitting on an unloaded cargo container next to the Alcatraz. She had been studying her padd for the past hour in a varied state of shock, skepticism and denial. "The Dominion lost the war."

"Yep, sure did," Mariner said leaning against the shuttlecraft's hull. "You may not believe us or our shuttle's brief library computer records, but you can't deny what's laid out in those communication logs Rutherford managed to retrieve from your base's computer core."

"The files were heavily corrupted and degraded," Rutherford added. "I barely managed to piece together the few remaining bits I did. I'm not surprised none of you were ever able to recover any of them."

"It is enough," Valiawen whispered shaking her head. "It is as you theorized. The Founders did issue an order to evacuate and fall back to Cardassian space. The order was confirmed by the Vorta on duty, but none of the depot's survivors were ever informed of it. The sudden earthquake must have killed everyone who knew of the order right before any announcement could have been made."

"And when the Dominion didn't receive any further communications from you, they logically presumed the depot had been either destroyed or discovered by Starfleet," Boimler finished.

"Speaking of survivors," Rutherford noticed Lipura'klan walking up to them with his body partially covered with burns.

"Yes? What is it?" Valiawen turned and asked halfheartedly.

"Contact has been established with all surviving squads including those which were on patrol outside the depot," Lipura'klan reported. "Seventy-three of the remaining garrison are currently alive including yourself. The remains of the other twenty-one have been accounted for. Nine died from exposure to volcanic gas or tephra, three from being hit by falling ejecta and nine from incineration when overtaken by the fire storm."

"My gosh," Tendi paled in horror. "I'm so, so sorry!"

"Eight more are in critical condition, including First Matana'son," Lipura'klan stated looking at Tendi. "They would have most likely expired by now if not for being treated by you."

"I just did what I could. Which wasn't much," Tendi sighed. "We didn't bring many medical supplies with us. Just a few medkits. And most of the survivors are still in pain. We're all out of sedatives."

"Pain can be conquered," Lipura'klan declared resolutely. "We will overcome the unease. We are Jem'Hadar."

"Okey-dokey," Rutherford blinked. "Whatever you say."

"So, what happens to us now?" Valiawen asked while blankly staring at nothing. "There is no longer any war for us to fight."

"Well, not here," Mariner shrugged. "But I'm sure there are plenty of battles and skirmishes waiting for you all back in the Gamma Quadrant."

"Why should we go back? We failed our duty to the Founders," Valiawen looked completely lost. "The remaining Jem'Hadar are Alphas and I myself was cloned in this quadrant. There is nothing waiting for us back in the Gamma Quadrant. None of us have ever even been there. The Founders most likely made another clone of me long ago as a replacement to serve them in the Dominion. We all should have died with the rest of the garrison."

"No! Don't ever think like that!" Boimler protested. "You didn't fail anyone. You kept yourselves alive way longer than anyone could have expected. That's a victory in and of itself."

"It does not matter," Valiawen sighed. "The depot's ketracel-white stocks are gone. Consumed by the lava. The few cases we managed to bring out with us when we evacuated will only last a few days. A week or so at most. Not that it makes much difference. The depot's remaining white stocks would not have lasted longer than another three months anyway."

"Huh?" Boimler blinked. "But I thought you said you still had plenty of ketracel-white left."

"I may have…exaggerated slightly," Valiawen admitted reluctantly. "To you and the Jem'Hadar."

"You lied?" Tendi gasped.

"Gee, what a shock," Mariner drawled. "But, hey don't sweat it, lady. I can hook you all up with more white."

"What?!" Boimler yelped. "Oh no! Please tell me you don't have any contraband caches of ketracel-white hidden aboard the Cerritos!"

"Of course not," Mariner scoffed. "I just know someone who knows someone who knows a renegade Son'a or two who still manufactures the stuff. For medicinal purposes, of course."

"Of course," Boimler groaned.

"So don't worry, Val," Mariner grinned patting Valiawen's shoulder. "I'll call in some favors, make some deals and have you guys flush with white in no time. In fact, I should be able to make the call right now." She stepped into the Alcatraz and activated the communication system. "Yo, Quimp. You there?"

"Of course I am," The image of a well-dressed Ferengi with a monocle appeared on a screen. "I've been here waiting in orbit for an hour. I also detected your distress beacon. Everything alright?"

"Eh, ran into a few delays," Mariner waved. "Being taken captive, fighting, surviving a volcanic eruption. The usual."

"I see," Quimp nodded.

"Huh?" Tendi, Boimler, Rutherford and Valiawen gawked in surprise. "What the heck? Who is this?"

"This is Quimp. He's an old buddy of mine," Mariner said. "Say hi to everyone, Quimp."

"Hello!" Quimp gave a sharp-toothed smile. "A pleasure to meet your acquaintances."

"You're old friends with a Ferengi? Why am I not surprised?" Boimler rolled his eyes. "Wait a second. He looks kind of familiar…"

"No he doesn't," Mariner insisted quickly. "All Ferengi look alike. They say the same thing about Humans."

"Hi, Mr. Quimp!" Tendi waved cheerfully. "What are you doing here?"

"I'm here to deliver a load of Saurian brandy and Risian luxury-level camping equipment to Mariner," Quimp said. "Just as she requested."

"Huh?!" Boimler gaped at Mariner in shock. "When did that happen?"

"Right after I found out we'd been assigned to this away mission," Mariner explained. "I didn't want to spend a few days sweating it out in Starfleet-issued survival shelters. So, I called Quimp and arranged for him to rendezvous here with his ship after the Cerritos was scheduled to have left. Stop looking at me like that, Boims. I was going to share our new, far more comfortable accommodations with you guys."

"And you think Commander Stevens wouldn't have noticed this?" Boimler yelped.

"It's Stevens. You really think he was gonna complain?" Mariner gave him a look. "With his weak back he probably has his own ergonomically, overstuffed sleeping pad stashed away among the supplies."

"She is correct. There is such an item," Lipura'klan confirmed. "Squad Three came across it during their inspection. We accepted it as more proof of Starfleet's weakness."

"See? Our superior officer was going to be pampered. Why shouldn't we Lower Decks be the same?" Mariner smirked. "Plus, Quimp was even going to help us survey the planet from orbit so we'd get our jobs done faster and have more time to relax."

"In exchange for receiving the opportunity to establish first claims to any mineral rights or other potentially profitable sections of real estate," Quimp added. "Oops!"

"What?!" Boimler howled. "MARINER!"

"Nice going, Quimp," Mariner grumbled. "Way to spill the tube grubs."

"Sorry," Quimp apologized. "It just slipped out."

"As interesting as this disorderly display of favor-based economics is," Valiawen interrupted. "I believe you were initially establishing communications to help us secure a new supplier for ketracel-white."

"Oh yeah, right," Mariner nodded. "So, Quimp. I need a favor. Can you introduce my Vorta friend here along with seventy or so Jem'Hadar to that Son'a entrepreneur we both know you know about? Along with providing transportation for them to meet said entrepreneur in person?"

"Hmmm, I don't know," Quimp frowned. "Seventy Jem'Hadar would be a serious security risk. Even if there was a guaranteed, high profit margin I don't know if it would be worth it."

"How about this?" Tendi spoke up. "You take the Vorta and the Jem'Hadar to this ketracel-white supplier of yours and we won't tell Starfleet about you little arrangement to make land claims right under their nose without a permit. And you can keep all the camping supplies too."

"What?!" Mariner yelped.

"Which may also draw Starfleet's attention to any other questionable deals you may have made in the past," Boimler folded his arms.

"Well, when you put it like that," Quimp shrugged. "I guess I wouldn't mind taking on a few passengers. But it will be a tight fit. My ship doesn't have that much extra cargo space. And I'll expect other compensation for this, Mariner."

"Fine, send me the bill," Mariner sighed. "We'll hash it all out later."

"Agreed," Quimp nodded. "You'll have to set up some pattern enhancers so my transporter can cut through all the interference. Let me know when they are set up."

"Okey-dokey," Rutherford said as Quimp closed the channel. "There should be a few more pattern enhancers with the supplies. Good thing we packed an extra batch just in case."

"Yeah, yeah," Mariner waved turning to Valiawen and Lipura'klan. "Well, I hope you guys appreciate all this. I'm gonna end up owing Quimp big time. And we'll have to fudge our mission reports to keep out any mention of you and your men."

"Are we allowed to do that?" Tendi asked timidly. "It seems wrong on so many levels."

"Better than having a bunch of Jem'Hadar go crazy from white withdrawal and kill each other while waiting on Starfleet's oh-so-slow bureaucracy to allow them passage on one of our ships," Mariner pointed out. "This planet's at least a week away from Deep Space Nine. It's not like the Cerritos could just miraculously warp over to the wormhole as if it was swirling about right next door."

"You have a point," Rutherford blinked.

"Besides, Captain Freeman would never break protocol and take these crowd on an unauthorized jaunt to the Gamma Quadrant by herself," Mariner continued. "Much less to meet a less-than-Starfleet-certified Son'a."

"As much as I hate to admit it, I have to agree," Boimler sighed. "There really isn't much of a choice."

"Well, I suppose it would be okay," Tendi gave in. "Just this once."

"Attaway, Tendi," Mariner smiled. "And nice touch blindsiding me by negotiating with Quimp. You're really learning a lot from me."

"Perish the thought," Boimler groaned.

"This is all very generous of you," Valiawen said. "But what am I and the Jem'Hadar going to do now? The Dominion thinks we're dead. We can't bear returning to the Gamma Quadrant with the shame of our failures and defeat. And we absolutely refuse to serve anyone but the Founders."

"Uh, gee," Rutheford blinked. "Guess nobody thought of that,"

"Never fear, Ruthy. I have an idea," Mariner grinned throwing an arm around Valiawen's shoulders. "There are other ways of conquering people besides using weapons and starships, ya know. You all gotta get with the times. And there's one field I think you guys would fit perfectly in…"

One day later…

"Ah, it's nice to be home," Tendi smiled sipping a cool drink. "It was nice of Mariner's friend Quimp to inform the Cerritos about our distress beacon."

"You said it," Rutherford grinned sitting next to her in Conference Room One. A large crowd was gathered inside the decorated room including all the ship's senior officers. "I missed the sweet, soothing sounds of the Cerritos' torque sensors. Even if they are misaligned a few microns."

"How do I look?" Boimler fidgeted checking his hair while smoothing out his uniform. "Are my boots polished enough? Is my pip aligned just right?"

"Dude, calm down," Mariner said sitting next to him holding her own drink. "Relax. This isn't a big deal."

"Of course it's a big deal," Boimler hissed. "The Captain arranged this party just for us. She said she's going to decorate every member of the away team."

"Whoopee," Mariner drawled. "How thrilling."

"Attention everyone," Captain Freeman announced standing at the head of the room. "You all know why we're here. To recognize and honor the valiant actions of the away team during their recent mission to Nauru II."

"Wow," Tendi blushed modestly. "This really isn't necessary."

"Yes it is!" Boimler insisted. "We all did an outstanding job. Be proud!"

"Their brave actions after discovering a secret, abandoned Dominion supply depot resulted in the subsequent disarming of six, still functional, variable-range weapons of mass destruction which saved an untold number of lives on Tellar and possibly across the Federation as a whole," Freeman went on. "All while battling to survive against a volcanic eruption and other natural disasters."

"Natural. Right," Tendi coughed self-consciously.

"Man, too bad Lieutenant Levy is on leave," Mariner smirked. "I'd love to see him try and fit this into all his crazy conspiracy talk."

"Shhh, quiet!" Boimler shushed while practically bouncing up and down in his seat. "Oooo, this is it. This is it!"

"Therefore, it is my privilege and proud duty to award Starfleet's Decoration for Valor and official commendation to…" Freeman paused dramatically. "…Lieutenant Commander Stevens!"

"WHAT?!" All four ensigns yelped.

"Thank you! Thank you!" A bandaged Stevens wept sitting in an anti-gravity chair. "It was nothing, really."

"OH, I'LL SAY IT WAS!" Mariner shouted.

"Yes, it was Commander Steven's heroic leadership which led the away team to success despite encountering the Dominion depot's still active intruder defense systems and being wounded in the line of duty," Freeman said pining a medal onto Stevens' uniform.

"Ouch!" Stevens yelped with tears forming in his eyes. "Help! I'm bleeding!"

"Yay!" The assembled crowd of Starfleet officers cheered.

"Aw, thanks everybody!" Stevens smiled quickly ignoring his most recent injury. "Oh, this is all so overwhelming!"

"I'LL SHOW HIM OVERWHELMING!" Mariner roared leaping up from her chair. "THAT THIEVING, SELF-CENTERED, GLORY-HOGGING WIMP! HE STOLE OUR CREDIT! WE'RE THE ONES WHO DID ALL THOSE THINGS! WE'RE THE ONES WHO RISKED OUR LIVES AND GOT THE STUFFING BEAT OUT OF US AND DID ALL THE REAL WORK! HE SPENT PRACTICALLY THE ENTIRE TIME OUT COLD LYING ON HIS BUTT!"

"Whoa! Calm down!" Rutherford yelped as he and Boimler valiantly strained to hold Mariner back from throttling Stevens where he sat. "Remember what you said! This isn't a big deal!"

"THE HECK IT ISN'T!" Mariner howled thrashing in her seat. "HOW COULD THAT SLIMEBALL STEVENS BELIEVE THAT LOAD OF MALARKEY?!"

"To be fair, Commander Stevens was pretty delusional when we told him our edited version of events before returning to the Cerritos," Tendi reminded. "Both from the pain and the little bit of nitrous oxide I managed to collect and administer to him."

"As for the rest of the away team," Freeman turned to address the four associated ensigns. "I give you a hearty 'Good work', 'Great Job' and 'Well Done'."

"Yay!" The crowd of Starfleet officers cheered tossing handfuls of confetti.

"That's it?" Boimler's face slumped in complete and utter disappointment. "No awards, no medals, nothing?"

"Well, you were right about the Captain decorating every member of the away team," Tendi said brushing confetti out of her and Boimler's hair. "Though this probably isn't the way you imagined it."

"I CAN IMAGINE WHAT I'D LIKE TO DO WITH A SABER SAW, SOME VULCAN SUCKER VINES AND A NEST OF ALDEBARAN SERPENTS!" Mariner screamed glaring daggers of death at Stevens. "I'M GONNA GET YOU, STEVENS! YOUR LIFE IS GONNA BECOME A LIVING PAINSTIK SLOG THROUGH GRE'THOR! I WILL HAVE MY REVENGE! YOU'LL SEE! STEVEEEENNNS!"

"Oh dear," Tendi gulped. "I'll go get a sedative-loaded hypospray from Sickbay."

"Oh man," Rutherford gulped while struggling to restrain Mariner. "And I thought Jem'Hadar were aggressive, violent and dangerous!"

"Maybe we should have gone along and taken our chances with them," Boimler groaned.