SMST: Deep Space Moon! – By DS Wynne
Disclaimer: SM, R1/2, ST and other genres belong to their respective owners.
Note: This is a multi-genre story.
Special Note: This story takes place during Seasons 1 through 3 of "Star Trek: Deep Space Nine". "The Ranma Trek Chronicles" takes place during Seasons 4 through 7.
Author's Note: This story is designed to be short, and will focus mostly on Sailor Moon, though Ranma Saotome (of "Ranma ½") will make a cameo from time-to-time. As always, C&C are welcomed.
Part 11
While trying to clarify things concerning Dax and the Klaestron, Commander Sisko turns towards Usagi for help.
"So, according to your file, you were both a member of the Federation Diplomatic Corps and the Starfleet Judge Advocate General, correct?" Sisko asked.
"Yes," Usagi said with a shrug. "When you live as long as I have, you tend to do many things."
"Just like Dax," Sisko said with a sigh, as he sets down his PADD onto his desk, before rubbing his forehead.
"Not necessarily," Usagi said. "The difference between Dax and I is that I have only one life; Dax has many lives."
"So you think Dax is capable of murder."
"Of course not, sir. You know him, and I know him. In fact, Qurzon Dax and I were together as a couple years ago."
"Okay, let's start there," Sisko said. "According to Odo's preliminary investigation, Ilon Tandro's father, General Ardelon Tandro of the Klaestron Security Services, was ambushed by rebels while Qurzon Dax was on Klaestron IV negotiating a cease fire between the Klaestron government and the rebels."
"Correct. I had been on hand to serve as a translator and assistant to Qurzon at the time," Usagi said.
"But according to the official record, Dax would have known precisely where Ardelon Tandro would be located, since the government had asked him to prepare an assault team in secret, as to not show its hand to the rebels."
"That is true, as well."
"So, how can we prove that Qurzon didn't sell Ardelon Tandro out?"
"Well, there is a way to make this matter…go away," Usagi said.
"Counselor, we do things by the book, and I don't ever want to hear that sort of talk ever again," Sisko said sternly. "Yes, I know about you and Garak, and the fact that there is an entire data file that is classified from 2340 CE thru 2360 CE."
"You know about that?" Usagi asked coyly.
"The only thing I was able to dig up was the fact that you were onboard the Enterprise-C when it was destroyed by Romulans, and yet you showed up for admittance into Starfleet Academy twenty years later."
"We all have our…secrets, sir," Usagi replied. "But if you think that I would harm Ilon Tandro or the Klaestron, you really don't know me very well."
"Oh?" Sisko asked. "Then you weren't referring to something relating to some 'black ops' exercise, are you?"
"Heavens, no! What I was referring to, was this…"
Usagi slid her PADD over to Sisko.
"We'll need Major Kira's help, but we have an edge," Usagi replied.
Sisko looks at Usagi's research, and smiles at her findings.
"Good job, Counselor," Sisko said. "At the very least, we can stall the Klaestron a bit longer, while we find the truth of the matter…"
A short time later…
"You can't do this!" Ilon Tandro said. "We have a legitimate extradition request!"
"Unfortunately, although the Federation operates this station, it is still under Bajoran control," Kira said curtly. "And if I recall, the Klaestrons were willing partners with the Cardassians, when it came to the occupation of Bajor."
"We only traded with the Cardassians, nothing more," Ilon said, as he turns towards Sisko. "Surely, the Federation will honor its treaty obligations, yes?"
"We will," Sisko said. "In the meantime, the Bajoran Provisional Government will send a magistrate to adjudicate the matter."
"I don't see how that will change anything."
"Actually, the fact is that the Trill is a species with many lives," Usagi said. "Specifically, the Dax organism takes on many hosts, but there is an amalgam process between the worm and the host it takes."
"I do not understand."
"In other words, Qurzon Dax may not be the same being as Jadzia Dax, or any of the incarnations," Sisko said. "Counselor Tsukino believes that there hasn't been any precedence on this matter, hence the need to have an adjudication of this matter."
"Fine, but is your 'counselor' qualified to be involved?"
"My last case was 'Maddox v. Data', adjudicated circa Stardate 42523.7," Usagi said, as she hands a datapad to Ilon Tandro. The case involved the right of the Soong-type android named "Data" to be considered sentient, and thus have the right to make its own choices.
"And I 'won' that case."
"We'll see, counselor," Ilon Tandro said, as he turns and leaves Sisko's office.
"Why can't we just hand the symbiotic Dax to the Klaestron?" Kira asked. "I mean, if Qurzon Dax is guilty and all…"
Sisko gives Kira a look of disapproval.
"Well, it was a thought…"
"It can't be done," Usagi said. "Once a Trill organism has been placed and rooted, both the worm and the host are joined. Taking the worm out of a host prematurely will either cause insanity or death."
"Bummer."
"More to the point, I know…I knew Qurzon well enough to know he is not a traitor," Sisko said. "We just need to find a way," Kira said.
"Counselor, I need for you to talk to Dax," Sisko said. "I've tried getting her to talk to me, but maybe you'll have better luck. And in the meantime, the rest of us will continue the investigation."
"Aye, sir," Usagi replied. "I guess I'll have to use my natural charms and all…"
A short time later, in Dax's quarters…
"PLEASE!" Usagi said, as she got on her knees in front of Jadzia. "Just tell them the truth!"
"Usagi, don't," Jadzia said. "I'm not going to destroy more lives than I already have."
"I see," Usagi said, as she changed her mannerism, as she placed her hands on Jadzia's knees. "Perhaps, there are other ways that can make you talk…"
"Please, I'm not in the mood…for that," Jadzia said.
"But you liked it!"
"When I was Qurzon, maybe," Jadzia said. "Besides, I'm a woman, now."
"And I'm married to Ranma, who is a man half the time. Big whoop."
"Usagi…"
"Okay, okay," Usagi said, as she stands up before sitting beside her ex-boyfriend-turned-woman. "I'll stop."
Pause.
"But if you change your mind…"
"Yeah, yeah," Jadzia said dismissively.
"Look, I know why you are doing this, but we know that what Ardelon Tandro did was necessary, if peace was to be had on Klaestron IV. Heck, he knew it, and knew the costs."
"Yes, but at what cost? Entire regiment had to die in order to rally the people to the central government's side."
"I know," Jadzia said with a sigh. "We were there, remember?"
FLASHBACK!
Years ago, Usagi was assigned by the Federation to assist Ambassador Qurzon Dax to assist in the negotiations between the central government and the rebels. Unfortunately, there was a bit of a stall…
"Damn it!" said Dax, as he and Ardelon Tandro enters the compound.
"What happened?" asked a young woman, as she and Usagi moved to meet with the two men.
"Enina, those fools on the governing committee refuse to listen to reason," Ardelon said with a heavy sigh. "Even after I present evidence that the Cardassians are secretly funding the rebel, the committee refuse to believe it, since Klaestron and Cardassia Prime are allies by treaty."
"So, what have they concluded, beloved?" Enina asked.
"It is believed that any Cardassian support is from a rogue element from Cardassia, and not sanctioned by the Cardassian Union," Qurzon replied.
"And that's because there are those on the committee who feel uncomfortable with Klaestron's support of the occupation of Bajor," Usagi said. "But it's worse than that."
"Oh?" Ardelon said.
"From my contacts, there is evidence that there are those on the committee who are secretly helping the rebels," Usagi said, as she hands over her PADD to Ardelon. "Powerful people. And, there is more…"
Ardelon reads Usagi report.
"Great Maker," Ardelon said, as he looks up from what he read. "The Cardassians are using this civil war to further their ambitions, by playing both sides!"
"And it seems that the real winners of this civil war will be the Cardassians, either by forcing Klaestron IV into becoming a client state, or by picking up the pieces once the Klaestron destroys themselves," Usagi said.
"Can't you expose the truth?" Enina asked.
"I suspect that the Cardassians have anticipated this as well," Qurzon said grimly. "We expose the truth, and Klaestron will still have its civil war. Do nothing, and the civil war continues. And I suspect that the longer this war continues, the more weakened Klaestron will become."
"What can we do?" Enina said.
"There aren't many options left, beloved," Ardelon said, as he held his wife. "Our son will have no future, if this war keeps up."
"There is a third way," Usagi said, as she thought back in her history. "If, you have the courage to pull it off…"
Everyone wonders what Usagi had in mind, as she elaborated on her plan…
END FLASHBACK!
"Ardelon purposely sacrificed himself and his troops to the rebels, in order to create a rallying point amongst the populace that forced the end of the civil war with as very little bloodshed as possible," Usagi said, as she gave the documentation to Ilon Tandro, while Sisko, Kira and Dax sat around the conference table. They were all in a closed session to discuss the matter.
"I see," Ilon replied somberly, as he turns towards Dax. "Then…what about the transponder code that was recorded to have come from you that day…the day of the massacre?"
"It didn't come from me, Ilon," Dax said. "It came from your mother, Enina, who, at the last minute, wanted to say goodbye to your father for one last time, even after being told she couldn't."
"But…why would he sacrifice himself and his men?"
"He did so because he wanted the war to end as quickly as possible, with the least number of lives lost," Usagi said. "In this, the only crime he could be faulted was sacrificing his men without their permission."
"I…I see. But what can I do now? I have to file a report, and if what you say is true, then my government could fall, and another civil war might happen over this outrage."
Just then, an older Enina Tandro walks into the door, escorted by Odo.
"Mother?" Ilon said.
"I came as soon as I could, so that I may confirm the truth," said the older woman. She then turns toward Dax and Usagi.
"It is good to see you again, you two.'
"Hi," Usagi replied.
"Enina," Dax said.
"There is no need for that, madam," Sisko said. "However, your help to bury this matter might…help."
"What do you have in mind, Commander Sisko?" Enina asked.
"I have…a plan," Usagi said.
"Oh, no," Dax said. "I have a bad feeling about this…"
The next day…
"So, that's that," Ilon said, as he and Dax walked to the main docking bay, with Ilon, his mother and his crewmates bound for home. "As far as everyone is concerned, my mother's attempt to contact my father gave his position away, thus allowing the rebels to massacre him and his men."
"You think your government will accept that?" Dax asked.
"I'll make sure, especially since I am the lead investigator in this matter."
"And your mother?"
"I'm sure that under the circumstances, her actions will be seen as the actions of a distraught wife wanting to contact her husband, and that she learned of the means of contacting him through your carelessness."
"I see. So, I'm going to get in trouble, still?"
"Don't worry. I'll make sure that you won't."
With that, Ilon leaves Dax alone to ponder her thoughts alone. After a while, Usagio shows up.
"Hey," Usagi said. "How are you feeling?"
"I'm fine, I guess," Dax said. "I just feel guilty for what Ardelon was forced to do, in order to bring peace to his world."
"He did what he thought was right," Usagi said, as she placed a hand on Dax's shoulder. "The problem would be the fact that others would not have been as understanding, with the needless deaths of his men."
"Yeah," Dax said, as she turns away. "Well, it's off to bed."
"Oh, good night, Dax," Usagi said, as she turns away.
"Usagi?"
"Yes?"
"If you want, I could use some company," Dax said, as she smiles at Usagi, before walking away…
GLOMP!
"Okay," Usagi said, as she hugged Dax from behind.
"Heh," Dax said, as she hefts Usagi's legs into her arms, and allowed Usagi to piggyback on her back, until they got to Dax's quarters. As the door closed, Bashir turns away. Apparently, neither Dax nor Usagi noticed his presence.
"I can't believe how lucky the counselor is," Bashir said, as he walks away.
Tbc.
Next Time: More Gamma Quadrant hijinks, a visit from the supreme leader of the Ferengi known as "The Nagus", the near-death of Odo, and the demise of the Supreme Kai. See you then…