Gamma Quadrant
USS Enterprise
Bridge
"Admiral, long range sensors are detecting three ships entering the system. Configuration unknown."
Kirk turned over to Spock and quickly approached his station. "What do you make of them?"
"Small, light cruiser sized. Maximum speed warp seven, generating a thirty nine Cochrane warp field. I am also detecting ionized gas emissions consistent with ion engines, similar to what the Klingons use for their Bird of Prey scout ships." Spock reported. "The shapes suggest them to be Dominion ships."
"How much time do we have?" Kirk asked the most pressing questions.
"Estimated one hour before arrival." Spock answered.
"That's not a lot of time."
The Remee still needed time to repair their ships to make an effective escape and the Enterprise could not fight off any attack while defending them at the same time. It didn't help that Kirk had heard one of the reasons why the Dominion was so effective in conquering its enemies was because their weapons, a form of phased polaron beam weaponry, was able to pass through the shields of other vessels like they were not even there. Spock had immediately started working on a way to see if their shields could be adjusted to better protect the ship but no matter how brilliant Spock was, barely even three days was pushing to the limit.
So they had to make a choice now.
"Uhura, call Dr. McCoy and Scotty back here. I want the senior staff in the briefing room in twenty minutes." Kirk said, heading for the turbo-lift.
"Aye sir."
Xxx
Briefing Room
"That is our option." Kirk said as he paced around the table where the senior officers were seated with R2 located next to Spock. "We either let them come where they might see the refuge fleet which they will likely attack or…"
Kirk sat down in his own seat, looking at each of his fellow officers. "We go and meet them and keep them away from the Remee."
That was what it all came down to.
"Mr. Spock, can you calculate our odds of finding peaceful alternative?" He asked his science officer first.
"None that at this time, Admiral. From what we have learned from the Remee and the last few planets we visited the Dominion conquers in the same manner as the Klingons or the Romulans. They would only back down from a show of force that is able to withstand their firepower." Spock answered.
R2 beeped. "Agreed. V'Ger collected information on every corner of the universe, cataloguing the life forms it came across as well."
"You know about the species that comprise this Dominion, Mr. R2?" Kirk asked.
"The leaders of the Dominion are a race shapeshifters that are fluid in their true forms. Long living and intelligent with the ability to share knowledge between each other. They established their Dominion to protect themselves because others races they met feared and persecuted them, not unlike the Salem Witch Trials on Earth." R2 answered. "To protect themselves they used genetic engineering, modifying races they found to be the perfect soldiers and to oversee the day to day operations in the Dominion."
"The Jem'Hadar." McCoy spoke up. "You said they were genetically engineered to be the ultimate warrior race."
"A race that grows up quickly over three Earth days has no need for sleep and does not need to eat but to ensure they are subservient the Dominion keeps them addicted to a drug known as ketracel white. Without it, their metabolism begins breaking down their bodies. The drug is kept by another genetically engineered race, the Vorta that oversees the political operations in the Dominion." R2 continued. "They are genetically perfect, several times stronger than a human and rivaling a Klingon and they can even naturally shroud themselves, a biological cloaking device. Their skin is hard enough to handle more trauma than a Human, allowing them to handle a phaser strike set to stun."
"All in all, the perfect warrior race." Kirk surmised.
"Exactly." R2 tilted his body, showing he was nodding. "And their technology is not something for you guys to scoff at either. Their transporters alone have a range of over three light years."
"Great Scott." Scotty muttered.
"Yeah, not great for you guys." R2 then shook his head. "That's why I suggested we try avoiding the Dominion as much as possible."
"Is there any chance they can respond to negotiation?" Kirk asked.
"Only so they could gather information and possibly insert agents to try and destabilize you from the inside. The Dominion was founded on the idea that by controlling as much as they could, the Changelings would be safe. They say its bringing order to the universe but it's a façade, an excuse for them to try and control everyone and everything around them." R2 answered.
"So they'll just try and destroy us or take this ship to try and find out as much about our side of the galaxy as they can." McCoy stated pessimistically.
"A logical assumption." Spock nodded.
"If it comes down to a fight, what are our odds?" Kirk asked.
"Negligible, Admiral. The Remee shared their own studies of the Dominion's main form of weaponry, a form of phased polaron that has never been encountered before by Starfleet. Without a working sample of their weaponry, we cannot modify the shields to ensure a maximum chance for success of blocking their weapons." Spock answered. "Their infantry weapons have a form of anti-coagulant that disrupts the natural healing process and can even interfere with attempts made by medicine."
"So they don't just kill, they also torture." McCoy scowled.
"Indeed. Their ships, at least the main design of their ships are small compared to a starship from our region of the galaxy, maneuverable but no large than scout class ships. They could be easy to destroy but their polaron weaponry makes them a greater threat than you would believe." Spock continued. "If not for that, the Enterprise could be a match for them in fire power and speed but their maneuverability makes them difficult to target. I have also learned that the Jem'Hadar are not afraid to utilize suicide tactics."
"So not only could they fight us and win, they would be willing to take us down with them even if we do stop them." Scotty stated.
"Correct, Mr. Scott." Spock affirmed.
Kirk sat back in his chair, thinking carefully over what they could do. They couldn't fight the Dominion as they were now, they couldn't replicate their hyperdrive fast enough to get the Remee away in time before the Dominion arrived and they couldn't call for aid from Starfleet and even if they could there was the potential of setting off a war between two quadrants.
This looked to be a difficult situation, even for James T. Kirk.
"…Maybe there is a way we haven't considered." He suddenly said, causing everyone to look at him.
Spock raised an eyebrow. "In what way, Admiral?"
"If we can't outrun or outgun them, we have to think of a way that can render them powerless against us as an enemy." Kirk answered, looking to Spock and R2. "What if we don't have to fight or run?"
"What are you considering, Jim?" McCoy asked.
Rather than answer, Kirk spoke to R2. "Mr. R2, when you were upgraded by V'Ger, you were given the ability to interface with any form computer existence, right?"
"Yes." R2 beeped.
"Even if you can't upgrade us for every situation because of your own Prime Directive…Would you be willing to collaborate with Mr. Spock on a possible scenario?"
Xxx
Bridge
'Red Alert!'
'Red Alert!'
'Red Alert!'
"Are the Remee ships moving?"
Kirk was seated at his chair as the bridge now had red dimmed light, signaling a 'Red Alert' across the ship.
"Remee ships are proceeding to warp, Admiral." Spock reported.
"Dr. McCoy signals that any and all medical personal have transported back aboard." Uhura spoke next.
"Status of Dominion ships?" Kirk asked.
"Ten Earth minutes until they come in visual range, Captain." Chekov reported.
A tactical plot on the viewer screen showed three ships, matching the Dominion profile were closing fast on their position.
"Mr. Sulu, plot an intercept course. Ahead warp point five." Kirk ordered.
"Aye Captain, plotting intercept course." Sulu inputted the commands into his console.
The Enterprise surged forward, moving in the direction of the approaching Dominion ships.
"Have they spotted us yet?" Kirk asked as the time counted down.
"It would appear so, Admiral. They are moving to intercept us." Spock answered. "We are being scanned."
"Do not return, Mr. Spock. We want them to assume we're not a threat as long as possible." Kirk ordered.
"Aye sir."
Kirk watched as the viewer switched from tactical to visual, showing the three Dominion ships approaching them at high speed.
"Uhura, hailing frequencies."