From: Shawn _ (alamo_nate_at_yahoo.com)
Date: Wed Nov 14 2007 - 12:39:46 PST
=The Other Side=
(cont’d from “Calm Before The Storm”)
LOCATION: Dominion Flagship DELTA-22
SCENE: Command Bridge
STARDATE: [2.7]1114.1314
Ambassador Vertec stood with her hands clasped behind her, staring calmly at the image of GATEWAY station that hovered in front of her right-eye. The command head-set that was standard for Dominion warships fit snugly around her head, and Vertec’s years of training on the device made using it almost second-nature. So rather than focusing on the subtle nuances of controlling the vessel’s operation using the neural-uplink that the headset provided, Vertec’s thoughts were instead focused entirely on GATEWAY. She wanted it- not for the glory of the Dominion or the Founder, though Vertec was genetically programmed to never take those considerations off of her list of priorities. She wanted it because it hung, unprotected, in Dominion space like a prize waiting to be claimed. She couldn’t fathom why the Founders had not simply ordered the Jem’Hadar to move in and take the station by force.
The will of the gods was not for Vertec to understand, but she passed the time by hypothesizing as to what the Founders motivation for this patient approach could be. The most likely reason, Vertec decided, was that the Founders had learned all too well the lessons of their last war with the Federation. In the beginning, it had seemed like nothing, not even the combined might of the Federation and Klingon Empire, could halt the Dominion’s advance into the Alpha Quadrant. But the Dominion had underestimated their adversaries, and had paid dearly for it in the end. The Federation had even come close to wiping out the Founders altogether… and even then, the Founders were saved from that fate by the Federation itself.
But of course, not all the credit could truly be heaped on the Federation’s shoulders. The Cardassian peoples’ sudden betrayal of their Dominion friends certainly aided the Federation’s efforts. And the unexpected alliance between the Federation and the Romulans had also played a major role in the Federation’s victory.
The Dominion had lost due to mistakes and oversights that, if the Founders had their way, would not happen again.
“Ambassador,” came the gruff voice of a Jem’Hadar First. Vertec turned gracefully, a polite smile ever on her lips.
“Yes?” she asked.
“We are receiving another encoded transmission for GATEWAY station,” the Jem’Hadar reported.
“The Founder is making another report,” Vertec said, her undying, unshakable devotion to her changeling gods apparent in her voice. “I shall receive it immediately, in my private quarters. Do what you can to improve signal strength, but see that the transmission remains undetected by the station’s crew. I do not need to remind you of the punishment for failure.”
Vertec did not wait for the Jem’Hadar to reply, confident that he would fulfill his duty quickly and efficiently. Or, if he did not, then he would willingly offer his life in exchange.
Such was the way of the Dominion.
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SCENE: Vertec’s Quarters
Vertec hurriedly sat at her desk and activated the control console in front of her. It took a few moments for the signal to clear, but when it did, the familiar features of Auran Rylar, a Bajoran whose identity the Founder had taken, appeared on the screen.
“Founder,” Vertec said, at once an acknowledgement that the signal was being received and an expression of her unending, unquestioned loyalty to the god before her. “I am prepared to receive your report.”
“There are few new developments,” the Founder said. “The solids are still trying to come to terms with the reality of their situation. Their attempts to elect new station leadership continue.”
“I understand,” Vertec bowed her head dutifully.
“Furthermore, the solids are increasing their attempts to locate me,” the Founder said. “I may not be able to send out another transmission for some time. Tell me, has there been any word as to when I will be allowed to leave this place?”
“I… am sorry, lord,” Vertec said, feeling as genuinely sorry as she sounded. For a Vorta, delivering bad news to a Founder was like taking a cannonball to the chest- Vertec silently cursed herself for having no good news to give to her god. “But we have received no instructions for your extraction from GATEWAY station.”
“Very well,” the Founder grumbled. The transmission suddenly terminated.
Vertec leaned back in her chair. She personally did not like it, but she would never question the Founders’ logic. Certainly, in their wisdom they had considered things that would never even occur to a mere Vorta.
The time for action was approaching. Vertec could feel it in her blood. But it had not yet arrived.
For now, they would continue to wait.
NRPG: Taking a few liberties with the opposition here. Hope nobody minds.
Shawn
a.k.a.
Jake Crichton, Ensign
Assistant Chief of Engineering
GATEWAY Station, GS-2
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