Star Trek Deep Space Nine

Fear and Faith

Chapter 2

Tragic Events

Quark was happy. He was really happy. His bar was crowded and he knew with this crowd, he was making at least double of what he thought he would make today. His dabo girls were looking great today and he thought he may ask one of them to come back to his quarters at the end of the night. The dabo tables was where the main crowd was located and he knew one of the reasons, was because of his dabo girls.

Quark set down the glass and poured himself some Ferengi Beetlejuice. He smelled it and then took a sip. Morn looked at him as he took a sip of his drink. "I love days like this," Quark said to Morn as he set his glass on the counter.

Morn nodded and looked at the dabo table. The crowd cheered loudly as someone just won. "You can say this war is depressing," Quark said thinking back to his time on the front line on AR-558. He was scared of dying and losing his entire fortune. "But when people come here, the thoughts of the war are pushed aside and they enjoy themselves."

Morn nodded again and took anther sip of his drink. He finished it and Quark refilled it. "This one is on the house," He said who gave him a thankful and a surprised look.

"Quark what is the meaning of this?" He heard Major Kira ask in a stern tone as she approached the bar.

Quark smiled playfully as he looked at Major Kira who handed him a small pad. Quark looked at it briefly and set it on his bar table. "Is there a problem Major?" He asked with a playful look.

Kira shook her head and growled quietly. "I am sick of your games," She hissed jabbing him in the chest. "How many times have I told you to stop ordering Balriain Beetles."

"About four times," Quark said counting his fingers as Morn stood up and walked away not wanting to get stuck in between their, almost daily, quarrels.

"You find this funny," Kira said jabbing him in the chest again. She took a step toward him and said in a hushed and yet stern voice, "Your first order wasn't sealed correctly and the entire promenade was crawling with them." She paused and took a few steps away from him. "If you don't return the shipment and stop getting more shipments of Balariain Beetles, you will spend a week in the brig."

Quark watched Kira walk awa from his bar. He smiled and took a sip of Beetlejuice. "There is such friction between us," Quark said with a grin as he looked at the dabo table.

X X X

Kira exhaled loudly as she walked away from the Quarks. She really hated him and if it were up to her, she would have him removed from the station. She also wasn't the only one that didn't enjoy his petty and childish if he weren't there, Quarks wouldn't be around and the major crowds in the promenade wouldn't be there.

Kira stepped into the elevator and shook her head. She leaned against the wall and sighed, her eyes closed tightly. She hadn't slept in the past two days and all she was looking forwad to was taking a nice bath and then getting to bed early. "Opps," She said after a moments pause.

The elevator began its descent and Kira opened her eyes. She took a deep breath and made she she looked alert. There was no way she would step into the opps station looking tired. Ezri looked up at her as she entered and gave her a warm smile. "Good evening Major," She said looking at her drom her council.

"Good evening Ezri," Kira said approaching her. She looked around the opps station and was surprised to see Miles working at the weapons station at this late hour. Before she got to know him and realize how diligent he was when it came to the station, she would have questioned his doings. But now she realized that if it weren't for the little things he did, the station would fall apart. "Has there been any word from Captain Sisko?" She asked Ezri when she approached her.

Ezri turned toward her direction and shook her head. "He was supposed to check in two hours ago," She paused and looked at Kira as if studying her. She could easily see, just by reading her eyes how exhausted she was. Whenever Ben was away from the station, Kira hardly slept. In fact all she would do, is roam around the station sort of looking bored. "Listen get some rest," She continued in a hushed tone. She paused and then added with a smile. "I won't tell Ben when he gets back."

"I just might do that," She said with a tired yawn that was too loud. Miles looked up from his station and stared at Kira apologetic and yet slightly amused. "I guess I am a little exausted."

"A little?" Ezri asked giving Kira a weird look. "You look so tired you are making me want to sleep."

Kira laughed and turned to leave opps. She paused by the lift and wanted to crack a joke before she left, but couldn't think of anything. (I must be more tired than I lead myself to believe,) She thought as she stepped on the lift. She turned and smiled at Ezri who smiled back.

X X X

Admiral Ross sighed and rubbed his temples hoping to relieve some pressure he was getting from the news he just got. On his desk was a padd that had news about the 4rth fleet in Chentar Sector. Out of hundred and fifty ships from the fleet, only forty-one returned and to make it worse over three thousand people died. Admiral Ross turned away from his desk and slowly approached the window in his office. He took a sip of his coffee and watched a shuttle craft fly passed. "What are we going to do now?" He asked softly as he another sip of coffee.

The war was going far worse than he expected. Every single time he had a shred of hope it was wiped away with a Dominion victory. The latest one, was the Chentar Sector. Admiral Ross shook his head thinking about his family and what would happen if the Dominion made its way toward Earth. Suddenly his door chimed breaking him from his thoughts. "Come in," Ross said as he was saw Captain Picard step in.

"Admiral Ross," Picard said approaching Ross with a stern look on his face. "Can I speak freely?"

"Picard," Ross said with a faint smile, "You know you don't need to ask me that." He paused and thought about how Picard set him up with his wife. "I am in debt with you."

Picard chuckled and took a few steps toward Ross. He took a deep breath and then asked, "What are we doing exactly?"

"What do you mean?" Ross asked partially knowing where this conversation was leading toward.

"You know exactly what I am talking about," Picard said looking out the window briefly. He paused and looked at the San Francisco Bay. "How much more of a beating like this are we going to take?" He paused again and turned toward Ross. "This most recent loss is too much."

"I can't agree with you more," Ross said with a frown. "What do you have in mind exactly?"

"The Romulans," Picard said leaning closely. He grabbed the pad off of Ross' desk and pointed to it. "How many more losses are we going to have before we realize that we will need more help."

"We have discussed this before," Ross said shaking his head in disagreement. "Not only would the Romulans not join us and the Klingons, but they are neutral now."

""That is true," Picard said setting the padd back on Ross' desk, "But we are losing the war and I have some pull in the Romulan Senate."

"No it won't work Jean Luc, I am sorry," Ross said shaking his head as he showed Picard to the door. "Right now I want you to head to Batazed with the the Intrepid and the Runnington until further notice. There had been some rumor that the Dominion were trying to occupy that area."

Picard looked at Ross sternly for a second. He was about to protest and then shook his head. "Aye sir," He turned and walked out of the room. He stod by the entrance and said in a monotone voice before he walked away, "Every area of trouble gives out a ray of hope; and the one unchangeable certainty is that nothing is certain or unchangeable."

X X X

He stood in the corner of the room, invisible to Admiral Ross and Captain Picard. He was watching their conversation intently, taking notes. He knew exactly that the war wasn't going well and where it would go if nothing was done. As soon as Picard walked toward the door he followed him closely behind, making sure he wouldn't be heard. When the doors closed behind him, he pressed a button on his collar and was transported off of Earth. As soon he was transported, he made himself visible again as someone asked, "So how did they new cloak work?"

"I completed what I needed to have done," He said walking off the transporter pad. "The question is can you make it work on a ship?"

"In due time," The other guy said, "I will make that my priority."

"Good, keep up the good work," He said walking out of the transporter room. He knew what he needed to do now and it was time for Project Renaissance to begin. It would be this project that would win the war.