The Cardassian Incident- Part III
Part I Part Ib
Part II
Part Three
Berniol didn't creep. No Cardassian expecting to survive long enough to pull such a stunt did. That was part of the reason this little rebellion hadn't been caught or detected yet. They blended right in with the rest of the citizenry, their true hearts and intentions known only to another rebel. The timing would have to be perfect to blind the Union; so perfect that no matter the outcome of the conflict itself, Cardassians would speak of the moment for generations. Too soon, and run the risk of alerting the rest of the systems that something was dangerously afoot; too late, and the whole operation failed in its objective.
In retrospect, everything went too smoothly. This could simply be attributed to the extensive planning this conglomerate of a rebellion insisted upon. Or perhaps, though he was loath to be in its debt, simple chance and fate - friend to all but Cardassia - intervened. Who knew? But in the early morning hours - when dawn began igniting the sky in russet reds, sooty yellows, and far too bright purples, and armed with the supplies the ship dropped off - he threw caution to the wind and invaded the Amleth Defense Control Center, headquarters of the Obsidian Order.
Not an actual invasion, mind you, but an entrance carefully covered under the papers of state and laziness of this particular guard. It disgusted Berniol, how these men decided to let their attentions wander. That they who were part of the military and so had everything could just stand there, and not care about the lowly janitor who'd entered their stronghold every day for the last Amleth month.
But he shook his head, clearing it of signs that the agents within would notice and keep noticing. No longer was he angry at the State who took his sister, his brother, and decided his parents could starve for the Union. No more was he the man loyal to the opposition because there was simply nothing else to do. Now he was just Berniol, one of the most efficient janitors in the city.
He nodded deeply at every superior he passed, the smallest of smirks on his face as he entered the bathrooms and scrubbed the toilets; placing a few necessary items in their proper positions. Checking the time he hurried along the main corridor, taking the elevator to the upper offices. He sighed and exited it, keeping himself busy emptying waste baskets as Obsidian Order agents and Central Command officials bustled about. Berniol watched one of the higher agents guide his daughter, not more than a child, towards the back halls where prisoners resided, and interrogators applied their trade.
His watch beeped the time and Berniol marched his cleaning cart into the elaborate office of Raman Fealor, head of the Order.
“What are you doing in here?” the man demanded, with a guard and an agent scowling at Berniol.
The janitor smirked, and pushed a button.
The Amleth Defense Control Center stood no more.
-\/-
Tekham Ghemor marched through the Federation ship, absorbing as much as its far too bright lights would allow. Corridors were wide enough for two humanoids, with no Federation officer armed - the more fool for them. Cardassians typically carried one such implement, and the fleeters all walked so loudly. All save that Vulcan, he acknowledged, entering and scanning a large cafeteria.
The noise level dropped dramatically, thank goodness, as he finally spotted his target. He briskly made his way to her, the barest of attention given to the others in the room.
She raised an eyebrow when he stopped in front of her.
“Something I can do for you?” she quipped.
One last glance to ensure her comrades wouldn't attack despite their looks. No sense in stupidity.
“I must discuss something with you. In private,” he answered before whispering, “It's important.”
An intrigued look passed Lieutenant Uhura's face and, making up her mind rather quickly, she stood and gestured for him to lead on. Ghemor ignored the bewildered gasps and the 'I'll be fine, relax' she gave, as they exited and walked in tense silence to the conference room Ghemor picked out.
“You mind telling me what all this secret agent stuff is about?” she asked, arms crossed, as he locked the door. She tensed.
“I will not harm you,” Ghemor stated hastily, “On my family, I swear it.”
She looked unconvinced by the oath. Patience, Ghemor told himself as his hackles rose at the suspicion, she is not Cardassian. She didn't understand the impact and binding nature of that oath; something the Federation would have to be educated on quickly if they ever wanted peaceful relations between the two nations.
“What do you want?” she snapped almost impatiently.
“It is what you want that brings me here,” he stated carefully. “There is a data padd in conference room three.”
He held her dark gaze intently, willing her to understand.
Her face twisted. “And?”
Patience, he reminded himself.
“I was hoping,” he emphasized the last word, “that you would bring it to me. At your convenience, of course.”
She stared at him again, but this time taking a long, hard look at his posture and at his words. He let her, silently commanding her to see what he meant. He wouldn’t do more in this particular area, couldn’t if he was honest. She and her Federation were not his state, his family, his people. This far and no further.
“Sure thing,” she finally said. “I’ll get on it right away.” The look on her face promised revenge if this was a waste of her time. She wouldn’t last a day among Cardassians.
“I hope you do. Good day,” he replied quietly, before unlocking the room and exiting.
-\/-
As much as he didn't want to admit it, Jim awoke after his tranquilizer-induced sleep more refreshed than he had been in a while. The talk with Spock probably had more to do with it though. It felt like some burden had been lifted from his shoulders once he’d shared those things he’d kept quiet for all those years. And to realize that Spock, of all people, had needed someone to listen like Jim had needed had stirred some protective instincts towards the Vulcan, instincts he was certain Spock returned. You didn’t just bare soul to another and expect any other outcome.
“Ah, Captain,” Domor was saying on the view screen as Jim entered the bridge, “we’ve just received word. It’s time, Captain.”
Pike sighed and nodded. “Very well, Domor,” he replied with little verbal venom. “Send us the course and we’ll be ready to go.”
“Of course, Captain. Departure is in one half-hour by your calculations.”
Domor cut the line and Pike stood.
“Kirk, you’re with me. Battle stations everyone,” he barked as he made his way to the turbolift with Jim on his heels. The door closed and Pike ordered the lift to the shuttle level. The first few seconds passed in silence as the lift got going.
“You ready, Kirk?” Pike asked him.
Jim nodded a bit apprehensively.
“You all right?”
“Yes, sir,” Jim nodded.
Pike grinned sardonically. “Good. Next time - because there will be a next time, Kirk - don’t wait so long to grieve. You’ll never last that way.”
“Sir?”
“Spock told me,” he said simply.
Huh. Jim didn’t mind Spock airing his dirty laundry as he would have only weeks ago. Shared grief and friendship could do what nothing else could: Bind him and Spock together. Finally.
The duo entered the shuttle bay where Bones, Spock, and Jim’s team awaited them.
“All right people, you ready to go?”
“Affirmative, sir,” Spock answered. “We received the schematics of the Control Center and city, as well as the city’s coordinates, three-point-five hours ago.”
“Good,” Pike said. “Now, I want those scientists home as much as you do. But I don’t want anyone doing anything stupid to rescue them. I want you all back in one piece. Understood?”
Everyone nodded.
“Glad we understand each other,” he said, a reassuring smile on his face. “Kirk, you’re in charge.”
“Me?” Jim blinked, suddenly struck dumb. He’d thought once Pike knew what was going on he’d never get the lead again.
Pike nodded. “You.”
And that, apparently, was the end of that.
“Now, Enal’s informed me that communications could be scrambled, especially from orbit to the planet. In that case, use your phasers to signal once you return. You do remember flash code, right?”
“Yes, sir,” Jim replied.
“Then good luck, everyone.”
As Pike exited the shuttle bay and the crew began their final preparations, the doors swished open once again to reveal Ghemor. The Cardassian strode in with the grim purpose of a man who knew his execution was imminent, but at the same time Jim noted his firm gait.
“Ghemor,” he greeted civilly as the Cardassian approached him, much to Bones and Spock’s annoyance - though, to be fair, only Bones was actually showing signs of being annoyed. “I heard your ship had other ports to make to avoid suspicion.”
The Cardassian inclined his head ever so slightly, as he took a more militaristic rest stand. “I am here to request permission to join your mission, Commander.”
Jim’s eyebrows flew to his hairline. “What?” Not the most elegant of answers, Kirk.
For a second, Ghemor looked at him like he was an idiot before he schooled his expression back to Cardassian neutral.
“I request permission to join you and your crew for your attempt at rescuing your scientists,” he repeated before adding, “I grew up in Kardasai, the capital, and know the area extremely well.”
“If the information your people have provided is accurate, I see no reason to include you,” Spock stated calmly behind Jim, as Bones came up on his other side.
“We both know that blueprints and schematics can only take one so far, Commander,” Ghemor countered. “Having a guide to navigate certain… hidden alleyways, paths only the natives know, could prove fortuitous.”
“You expect us to trust your directions?” Bones drawled.
Ghemor didn’t answer.
Jim looked back and forth between the Cardassian and his people a minute. He knew the risks but at the same time…
“Permission granted,” Jim said.
Ghemor inclined his head and stepped towards the shuttle, seemingly undisturbed by the looks the crew was giving him.
“No offense,” Bones whispered lowly beside Jim. “But are you out of your mind?”
“I must agree with the doctor, this is not a wise move, Jim,” Spock said.
Jim almost shook his head in exasperation. “Just trust me, guys,” he replied to twin ‘you’ve got to be kidding me’ expressions. “Look, you’re the ones who keep saying I need to listen to my instincts and right now, they are telling me we need him along.”
“Jim - ”
“Ghemor.”
Jim looked towards the shuttle bay’s entrance where Enal stood; her stance as predatory as a big cat, with a fierce gleam in her usually passive eyes. Ghemor stepped away from the shuttle as she stalked over to him, uncaring of the aliens in the room.
“Why are you not in the transporter room?” she asked.
Wait, Ghemor’s commander didn’t authorize this little trip?
Ghemor took a deep breath. “Commander Kirk has requested that I accompany his team to the surface.”
Jim placed a silencing hand on Bones’ shoulder at Ghemor’s lie. Well, omission technically, but that didn’t change much.
Enal raised an eye ridge, obviously unimpressed. “Did this request come before or after you informed him of our departure?” she hissed, her voice cold enough to freeze a sun.
“I had not mentioned it,” Ghemor said bluntly. “If I could serve our people in this manner Gul, I could not simply allow the opportunity to pass me by.”
“Serve our people,” she repeated slowly, a smirk slinking across her face as she eyed the man. “You serve our people by following my orders Glinn, do you not?”
“Yes.”
“Look, Gul Enal,” Jim finally interjected. “Ghemor offered his help and we’re quite happy to take it. I promise I’ll do everything in my power to return him to you in one piece.”
Enal threw him an assessing look before returning her gaze to her officer.
“You choose them over us,” she said lowly, flatly.
“I choose my state over my duty, Enal,” Ghemor returned fiercely, “as I always have.”
Enal stepped back, her eyes widening minutely. “Very well, then,” she said - but if there wasn’t an undercurrent of venom in her voice, Jim would eat a tribble.
The woman nodded at Jim, then turned on her heel and left the shuttle bay.
“Next time, don’t bring me into whatever games you’re playing with her, okay?” Jim said. It wasn’t a suggestion.
Ghemor lowered his eyes. “No offense Commander, but I hope there is not a next time.”
“Now that’s something I can get behind,” Bones returned as the battle klaxon sounded.
-\/-
The final leg of the Enterprise’s journey began rather quietly. The time in warp was silent - no surprise attacks, no sudden malfunctions, no crew member suddenly deciding they needed sick bay. Tension ran high on the bridge, as all throughout the ship various departments readied for battle.
Among the bridge crew however, the only truly calm presence was that of their captain; though one wouldn’t know that by his thoughts.
Pike knew what they were up against, knew they were following orders. But things just didn’t sit well with him. Sure, Scott had adjusted their sensors; said he had something of an epiphany when he was brainstorming with Uhura so at least they could get a lock on their enemies. But if there was one thing Chris Pike absolutely hated, it was the calm before battle - especially since the time his newly commissioned ship warped into a massacre.
“Approaching the Cardassian system,” Sulu dutifully reported.
Pike leaned back in his seat and took a steadying breath. “Take us out of warp, Lieutenant,” he ordered. “Slow to one-quarter impulse. Let’s get a good look at what we’re dealing with.”
A few pressed buttons and jiggled levers later, the stars formed into pinpricks of lights. Squinting, Pike could make out a large, brownish planet in the distance as the Cardassian ships dropped out of warp with them. Surrounding the planet were just stacks and stacks of Cardassian ships. When Domor said Cardassia Prime was the most fortified position in the Union, it looked like he wasn’t kidding.
“Status?”
“Picking up several large ships. Several more smaller-sized ships on our short-range scanners in various formations, Captain,” Chekov reported.
“Kirk,” Pike called down to the Galileo, “you ready to go down there?”
“Yes, sir. Even got us a tour guide,” he said.
Pike decided he didn’t want to know. “We’ll release you momentarily. Don’t take too long finding those scientists.”
“Yes, sir. Just make sure you guys stay alive long enough to welcome us home.”
Pike chuckled. “Not an issue, Kirk. Pike out.”
The rebel armada slowly - well, relatively speaking - made its way forward.
“Shields to full power,” Pike ordered.
“Captain, there’s a lot of good sized debris floating around out here,” Sulu reported. “More than I’ve seen in most systems.”
“That’s not debris!” Uhura shouted as she shoved another line feed mic into her ears. “Those are mines!”
“Avoid them, Lieutenant,” Pike barked as the boy attempted to do just that; his fingers flying across the consoles.
The ship rocked, alarms blaring.
“Energy mines, sir,” Uhura called out, “designed to penetrate shielding and disable phasers.”
“Shields down to ninety-two percent, sir,” Chekov said. “I might be able to shoot a few down.”
“The Cardassians?”
“Their ships have dropped back behind us, Captain.”
Well, at least now they knew why the Cardassians wanted them along for the ride so badly. Pike almost sighed.
“Any time now, Ensign,” he ordered before feeding a series of coordinates to Sulu’s console.
“Maneuver 831,” Pike ordered, “as steep as you can go, Lieutenant.”
Sulu barely nodded at him as he pressed various buttons and the weapons took aim and fired. The ship began climbing higher, the phasers firing upon both the mines in front of and below it.
“Found the end of that thing, Captain,” Sulu happily reported. The crew heaved a collective sigh of relief.
“Let’s not get too comfortable, Lieutenant,” Pike said, “Resume course.”
With Sulu’s ‘aye, sir,’ Pike swiveled around to face his comm. officer.
“Care to tell me how you figured that out, Lieutenant?”
“The Cardassian lines were all atwitter with talk about it the second they spotted the field.”
“And they suddenly started speaking Standard for our benefit?” he asked skeptically.
Uhura shrugged her shoulders. “Not really, sir.”
Which meant that they owed someone somewhere big time for providing a translational standard.
“Incoming enemy ships, Captain,” Sulu reported. “Bearing three-one-nine, mark six-eight-two.”
This was where the fun began.
The Galileo crew looked at each other as another rock shook the ship. Jim checked over the flight procedures and controls one more time. Beside him, Spock was the picture of Vulcan calm.
“And you wonder why I come up to the bridge,” Bones drawled just behind him. “At least there you can see and guess when everything’s gonna go to hell.”
Chuckles peppered the small space, and a small smile made its way to Jim’s face.
“And distract the crew there from performing the necessary tasks to saving the ship,” Spock said casually.
“Kirk,” and the almost light atmosphere vanished at Pike’s call. “We’re opening the shuttle bay in thirty seconds. Try not to get shot into the sky.”
Jim nodded as Spock confirmed the read, settling himself in. Between him and Spock they could do this. No problem, even with minimal shielding and minimal weaponry - yeah, Jim was going to have a word with shuttle design or whomever once this whole damn thing was over.
The klaxon sounded and he engaged the primary firing sequence. He heard, rather than saw, the bay’s force field deactivate as he maneuvered the shuttle carefully out of the Enterprise - and into sheer chaos. Phaser blasts, torpedoes zinging by without a second’s warning, and that was just the tip of the iceberg.
“Shit,” Bones summed up quite nicely.
“Doctor, if you would cease making any unnecessary noise,” Spock scolded as Jim veered to the left; just in time to dodge an incoming fighter craft.
“Hold on,” Jim called as the ship corkscrewed over a large freighter, dodging its phaser fire.
The shuttle rocked as a torpedo exploded prematurely near by but Jim regained control quickly. And shit. Jim gritted his teeth as he pulled the shuttle into a death spiral it clearly wasn’t designed to make to avoid becoming paste on a large fighter.
“Mind not doing that again?” Bones grumbled shakily.
Jim ignored him, relief bubbling in him as the lines thinned out and the planet dominated the view in front of them.
“Now entering Cardassia Prime’s atmosphere,” Spock said as the ship began descending downwards.
She shook as she passed through the high clouds; not quite the gray or white Jim was used to, but a sort of brownish, ivory tinge to them. Even from several thousand meters up, the planet’s cities looked impressive. Clear, straight lines separated the sprawling buildings from one another - or didn’t, as the case may be - and all in all had a certain efficient beauty to them.
The shuttle continued its descent until it was flying over the capital city. Jim had expected hordes of people, scrambling for shelter or otherwise panicking at the attack above their skies. What he got was a completely deserted city. Not a single individual, from their vantage point anyway, walked the streets.
Ghemor leaned forward in his seat. “Welcome to Kardasai, gentlemen and ladies,” he said. “Magnificent, isn’t it?”
“Sure is pointy and brown,” Jim quipped as the ship lowered to just above the buildings.
“Forty-five degrees to the left, Commander,” Ghemor ordered. “There is a nature preserve a few blocks from here.”
“And how many blocks from our target?” Spock asked suspiciously.
“Five from the nearest entrance, Commander,” Ghemor replied, seemingly unruffled by the suspicion. “Trust me when I say you don’t want to land atop one of the buildings. Fighting an entire building of Cardassians just to get to the street or walkways is akin to suicide.”
Well, when he put that way…
Jim corrected the course and slowed down as they came across said preserve, landing in a clearing surrounded by Cardassian trees. Once the shuttle settled Jim undid his seatbelt and headed out first, much to Bones’ annoyance.
The ground crunched under his boots and damn, the air was practically a sauna. He wiped the sweat off his brow as the rest of the crew and Ghemor stepped down, each - save Spock - wincing at the oppressive heat.
“You always wanted to know why I left Georgia, Jim. Well, this is it,” Bones grumbled.
Jim almost rolled his eyes but turned his gaze on their guide.
“Chances that your military’s going to show up here?”
“High,” Ghemor said flatly. “I’m certain at least one good citizen saw our descent, and the military is nothing if not punctual in greeting guests.”
“Lovely,” Jim said before sighing. “All right - squad two, you’re on guard duty. Four, come with us. Radio silence unless you’re all about to be killed, got it?”
A chorus of ‘aye, sir’ echoed through the brown, rocky clearing as Jim adjusted the settings on his phaser.
“Do not wander into the forest,” Ghemor told them, “the dangers there are significant.”
“Which way, Ghemor?” Jim asked as the squad took up a defensive formation around their commanding officers and the man they needed alive.
“This way,” the man answered as he took the lead.
Fifteen minutes, several scaled rocks, and several trees larger than redwoods later - but with no wildlife like Ghemor had implied earlier - the preserve met with the city. The towers were enormous and seemed to lean in towards the streets, creating a darker, more enclosed feeling. Good thing Jim wasn’t claustrophobic. Ghemor moved without hesitation, charging up the stone stairs of a building across the gray road. Jim and the others followed after a quick glance around.
“Damn spooky place, if you ask me,” Bones said and Jim couldn’t help but agree with him. Not a soul on the street as far as the eye could see.
“Where is everyone?” Jim asked as Spock took several tricorder readings.
Ghemor smirked as he punched several keys on a key pad. “Policy dictates that during attacks, civilians remain indoors. Easier for the military to discern friend from foe among other things,” he explained as the keypad beeped and a handle shot out of the metal building.
“This sort of thing happen a lot?” Jim quipped as Ghemor turned the handle, revealing a secret door. Inside it were more stairs.
“Such preparations save lives,” he replied, “Come. We’ll have a better chance moving along the skyways.”
If possible, the air inside that stairway was even more stifling than the air outside. The mingled smell of stale air, sweat, and breath almost choked the Starfleeters and left an even worse taste in their mouths. Even Spock was panting a little unevenly now.
“Anything like Vulcan?” Jim asked quietly, almost teasing.
Spock shook his head. “Vulcan was a desert world, the humidity is not something I am used to.”
“Here we are,” Ghemor said, opening another door. What the door opened on was an outdoor walkway that resembled more closely a chained cage than it did a sidewalk.
Jim could see why Ghemor thought their chances were better up here - one look down confirmed they were at least ten meters up. Less chance of outside phasers making contact, and the simple fact that perhaps their enemy wouldn’t expect them to be where they were, all increased their odds.
As it turned out, those skyways connected to every major building and even a few minor ones in the whole city. Before too long the rescue team was standing just outside the Central Command’s Headquarters. The building seemed innocuous, more like an administrative building than a prison. The brown building had a squat, wide base around five or six stories high where it then abruptly narrowed and spiraled up another forty or so, topped by a sort of spike.
“Commander, readings show that there are humans inside the building approximately thirty stories above us,” Spock said.
Great. Just great. Now how were they supposed to sneak past thirty stories worth of Cardassians without alerting the whole damn building?
“Jim?” Bones asked.
Jim slowly smiled as he turned to Ghemor. “Think the desk clerks will recognize us?”
Part IIIb
End Notes
Part II
Part Three
Berniol didn't creep. No Cardassian expecting to survive long enough to pull such a stunt did. That was part of the reason this little rebellion hadn't been caught or detected yet. They blended right in with the rest of the citizenry, their true hearts and intentions known only to another rebel. The timing would have to be perfect to blind the Union; so perfect that no matter the outcome of the conflict itself, Cardassians would speak of the moment for generations. Too soon, and run the risk of alerting the rest of the systems that something was dangerously afoot; too late, and the whole operation failed in its objective.
In retrospect, everything went too smoothly. This could simply be attributed to the extensive planning this conglomerate of a rebellion insisted upon. Or perhaps, though he was loath to be in its debt, simple chance and fate - friend to all but Cardassia - intervened. Who knew? But in the early morning hours - when dawn began igniting the sky in russet reds, sooty yellows, and far too bright purples, and armed with the supplies the ship dropped off - he threw caution to the wind and invaded the Amleth Defense Control Center, headquarters of the Obsidian Order.
Not an actual invasion, mind you, but an entrance carefully covered under the papers of state and laziness of this particular guard. It disgusted Berniol, how these men decided to let their attentions wander. That they who were part of the military and so had everything could just stand there, and not care about the lowly janitor who'd entered their stronghold every day for the last Amleth month.
But he shook his head, clearing it of signs that the agents within would notice and keep noticing. No longer was he angry at the State who took his sister, his brother, and decided his parents could starve for the Union. No more was he the man loyal to the opposition because there was simply nothing else to do. Now he was just Berniol, one of the most efficient janitors in the city.
He nodded deeply at every superior he passed, the smallest of smirks on his face as he entered the bathrooms and scrubbed the toilets; placing a few necessary items in their proper positions. Checking the time he hurried along the main corridor, taking the elevator to the upper offices. He sighed and exited it, keeping himself busy emptying waste baskets as Obsidian Order agents and Central Command officials bustled about. Berniol watched one of the higher agents guide his daughter, not more than a child, towards the back halls where prisoners resided, and interrogators applied their trade.
His watch beeped the time and Berniol marched his cleaning cart into the elaborate office of Raman Fealor, head of the Order.
“What are you doing in here?” the man demanded, with a guard and an agent scowling at Berniol.
The janitor smirked, and pushed a button.
The Amleth Defense Control Center stood no more.
-\/-
Tekham Ghemor marched through the Federation ship, absorbing as much as its far too bright lights would allow. Corridors were wide enough for two humanoids, with no Federation officer armed - the more fool for them. Cardassians typically carried one such implement, and the fleeters all walked so loudly. All save that Vulcan, he acknowledged, entering and scanning a large cafeteria.
The noise level dropped dramatically, thank goodness, as he finally spotted his target. He briskly made his way to her, the barest of attention given to the others in the room.
She raised an eyebrow when he stopped in front of her.
“Something I can do for you?” she quipped.
One last glance to ensure her comrades wouldn't attack despite their looks. No sense in stupidity.
“I must discuss something with you. In private,” he answered before whispering, “It's important.”
An intrigued look passed Lieutenant Uhura's face and, making up her mind rather quickly, she stood and gestured for him to lead on. Ghemor ignored the bewildered gasps and the 'I'll be fine, relax' she gave, as they exited and walked in tense silence to the conference room Ghemor picked out.
“You mind telling me what all this secret agent stuff is about?” she asked, arms crossed, as he locked the door. She tensed.
“I will not harm you,” Ghemor stated hastily, “On my family, I swear it.”
She looked unconvinced by the oath. Patience, Ghemor told himself as his hackles rose at the suspicion, she is not Cardassian. She didn't understand the impact and binding nature of that oath; something the Federation would have to be educated on quickly if they ever wanted peaceful relations between the two nations.
“What do you want?” she snapped almost impatiently.
“It is what you want that brings me here,” he stated carefully. “There is a data padd in conference room three.”
He held her dark gaze intently, willing her to understand.
Her face twisted. “And?”
Patience, he reminded himself.
“I was hoping,” he emphasized the last word, “that you would bring it to me. At your convenience, of course.”
She stared at him again, but this time taking a long, hard look at his posture and at his words. He let her, silently commanding her to see what he meant. He wouldn’t do more in this particular area, couldn’t if he was honest. She and her Federation were not his state, his family, his people. This far and no further.
“Sure thing,” she finally said. “I’ll get on it right away.” The look on her face promised revenge if this was a waste of her time. She wouldn’t last a day among Cardassians.
“I hope you do. Good day,” he replied quietly, before unlocking the room and exiting.
-\/-
As much as he didn't want to admit it, Jim awoke after his tranquilizer-induced sleep more refreshed than he had been in a while. The talk with Spock probably had more to do with it though. It felt like some burden had been lifted from his shoulders once he’d shared those things he’d kept quiet for all those years. And to realize that Spock, of all people, had needed someone to listen like Jim had needed had stirred some protective instincts towards the Vulcan, instincts he was certain Spock returned. You didn’t just bare soul to another and expect any other outcome.
“Ah, Captain,” Domor was saying on the view screen as Jim entered the bridge, “we’ve just received word. It’s time, Captain.”
Pike sighed and nodded. “Very well, Domor,” he replied with little verbal venom. “Send us the course and we’ll be ready to go.”
“Of course, Captain. Departure is in one half-hour by your calculations.”
Domor cut the line and Pike stood.
“Kirk, you’re with me. Battle stations everyone,” he barked as he made his way to the turbolift with Jim on his heels. The door closed and Pike ordered the lift to the shuttle level. The first few seconds passed in silence as the lift got going.
“You ready, Kirk?” Pike asked him.
Jim nodded a bit apprehensively.
“You all right?”
“Yes, sir,” Jim nodded.
Pike grinned sardonically. “Good. Next time - because there will be a next time, Kirk - don’t wait so long to grieve. You’ll never last that way.”
“Sir?”
“Spock told me,” he said simply.
Huh. Jim didn’t mind Spock airing his dirty laundry as he would have only weeks ago. Shared grief and friendship could do what nothing else could: Bind him and Spock together. Finally.
The duo entered the shuttle bay where Bones, Spock, and Jim’s team awaited them.
“All right people, you ready to go?”
“Affirmative, sir,” Spock answered. “We received the schematics of the Control Center and city, as well as the city’s coordinates, three-point-five hours ago.”
“Good,” Pike said. “Now, I want those scientists home as much as you do. But I don’t want anyone doing anything stupid to rescue them. I want you all back in one piece. Understood?”
Everyone nodded.
“Glad we understand each other,” he said, a reassuring smile on his face. “Kirk, you’re in charge.”
“Me?” Jim blinked, suddenly struck dumb. He’d thought once Pike knew what was going on he’d never get the lead again.
Pike nodded. “You.”
And that, apparently, was the end of that.
“Now, Enal’s informed me that communications could be scrambled, especially from orbit to the planet. In that case, use your phasers to signal once you return. You do remember flash code, right?”
“Yes, sir,” Jim replied.
“Then good luck, everyone.”
As Pike exited the shuttle bay and the crew began their final preparations, the doors swished open once again to reveal Ghemor. The Cardassian strode in with the grim purpose of a man who knew his execution was imminent, but at the same time Jim noted his firm gait.
“Ghemor,” he greeted civilly as the Cardassian approached him, much to Bones and Spock’s annoyance - though, to be fair, only Bones was actually showing signs of being annoyed. “I heard your ship had other ports to make to avoid suspicion.”
The Cardassian inclined his head ever so slightly, as he took a more militaristic rest stand. “I am here to request permission to join your mission, Commander.”
Jim’s eyebrows flew to his hairline. “What?” Not the most elegant of answers, Kirk.
For a second, Ghemor looked at him like he was an idiot before he schooled his expression back to Cardassian neutral.
“I request permission to join you and your crew for your attempt at rescuing your scientists,” he repeated before adding, “I grew up in Kardasai, the capital, and know the area extremely well.”
“If the information your people have provided is accurate, I see no reason to include you,” Spock stated calmly behind Jim, as Bones came up on his other side.
“We both know that blueprints and schematics can only take one so far, Commander,” Ghemor countered. “Having a guide to navigate certain… hidden alleyways, paths only the natives know, could prove fortuitous.”
“You expect us to trust your directions?” Bones drawled.
Ghemor didn’t answer.
Jim looked back and forth between the Cardassian and his people a minute. He knew the risks but at the same time…
“Permission granted,” Jim said.
Ghemor inclined his head and stepped towards the shuttle, seemingly undisturbed by the looks the crew was giving him.
“No offense,” Bones whispered lowly beside Jim. “But are you out of your mind?”
“I must agree with the doctor, this is not a wise move, Jim,” Spock said.
Jim almost shook his head in exasperation. “Just trust me, guys,” he replied to twin ‘you’ve got to be kidding me’ expressions. “Look, you’re the ones who keep saying I need to listen to my instincts and right now, they are telling me we need him along.”
“Jim - ”
“Ghemor.”
Jim looked towards the shuttle bay’s entrance where Enal stood; her stance as predatory as a big cat, with a fierce gleam in her usually passive eyes. Ghemor stepped away from the shuttle as she stalked over to him, uncaring of the aliens in the room.
“Why are you not in the transporter room?” she asked.
Wait, Ghemor’s commander didn’t authorize this little trip?
Ghemor took a deep breath. “Commander Kirk has requested that I accompany his team to the surface.”
Jim placed a silencing hand on Bones’ shoulder at Ghemor’s lie. Well, omission technically, but that didn’t change much.
Enal raised an eye ridge, obviously unimpressed. “Did this request come before or after you informed him of our departure?” she hissed, her voice cold enough to freeze a sun.
“I had not mentioned it,” Ghemor said bluntly. “If I could serve our people in this manner Gul, I could not simply allow the opportunity to pass me by.”
“Serve our people,” she repeated slowly, a smirk slinking across her face as she eyed the man. “You serve our people by following my orders Glinn, do you not?”
“Yes.”
“Look, Gul Enal,” Jim finally interjected. “Ghemor offered his help and we’re quite happy to take it. I promise I’ll do everything in my power to return him to you in one piece.”
Enal threw him an assessing look before returning her gaze to her officer.
“You choose them over us,” she said lowly, flatly.
“I choose my state over my duty, Enal,” Ghemor returned fiercely, “as I always have.”
Enal stepped back, her eyes widening minutely. “Very well, then,” she said - but if there wasn’t an undercurrent of venom in her voice, Jim would eat a tribble.
The woman nodded at Jim, then turned on her heel and left the shuttle bay.
“Next time, don’t bring me into whatever games you’re playing with her, okay?” Jim said. It wasn’t a suggestion.
Ghemor lowered his eyes. “No offense Commander, but I hope there is not a next time.”
“Now that’s something I can get behind,” Bones returned as the battle klaxon sounded.
-\/-
The final leg of the Enterprise’s journey began rather quietly. The time in warp was silent - no surprise attacks, no sudden malfunctions, no crew member suddenly deciding they needed sick bay. Tension ran high on the bridge, as all throughout the ship various departments readied for battle.
Among the bridge crew however, the only truly calm presence was that of their captain; though one wouldn’t know that by his thoughts.
Pike knew what they were up against, knew they were following orders. But things just didn’t sit well with him. Sure, Scott had adjusted their sensors; said he had something of an epiphany when he was brainstorming with Uhura so at least they could get a lock on their enemies. But if there was one thing Chris Pike absolutely hated, it was the calm before battle - especially since the time his newly commissioned ship warped into a massacre.
“Approaching the Cardassian system,” Sulu dutifully reported.
Pike leaned back in his seat and took a steadying breath. “Take us out of warp, Lieutenant,” he ordered. “Slow to one-quarter impulse. Let’s get a good look at what we’re dealing with.”
A few pressed buttons and jiggled levers later, the stars formed into pinpricks of lights. Squinting, Pike could make out a large, brownish planet in the distance as the Cardassian ships dropped out of warp with them. Surrounding the planet were just stacks and stacks of Cardassian ships. When Domor said Cardassia Prime was the most fortified position in the Union, it looked like he wasn’t kidding.
“Status?”
“Picking up several large ships. Several more smaller-sized ships on our short-range scanners in various formations, Captain,” Chekov reported.
“Kirk,” Pike called down to the Galileo, “you ready to go down there?”
“Yes, sir. Even got us a tour guide,” he said.
Pike decided he didn’t want to know. “We’ll release you momentarily. Don’t take too long finding those scientists.”
“Yes, sir. Just make sure you guys stay alive long enough to welcome us home.”
Pike chuckled. “Not an issue, Kirk. Pike out.”
The rebel armada slowly - well, relatively speaking - made its way forward.
“Shields to full power,” Pike ordered.
“Captain, there’s a lot of good sized debris floating around out here,” Sulu reported. “More than I’ve seen in most systems.”
“That’s not debris!” Uhura shouted as she shoved another line feed mic into her ears. “Those are mines!”
“Avoid them, Lieutenant,” Pike barked as the boy attempted to do just that; his fingers flying across the consoles.
The ship rocked, alarms blaring.
“Energy mines, sir,” Uhura called out, “designed to penetrate shielding and disable phasers.”
“Shields down to ninety-two percent, sir,” Chekov said. “I might be able to shoot a few down.”
“The Cardassians?”
“Their ships have dropped back behind us, Captain.”
Well, at least now they knew why the Cardassians wanted them along for the ride so badly. Pike almost sighed.
“Any time now, Ensign,” he ordered before feeding a series of coordinates to Sulu’s console.
“Maneuver 831,” Pike ordered, “as steep as you can go, Lieutenant.”
Sulu barely nodded at him as he pressed various buttons and the weapons took aim and fired. The ship began climbing higher, the phasers firing upon both the mines in front of and below it.
“Found the end of that thing, Captain,” Sulu happily reported. The crew heaved a collective sigh of relief.
“Let’s not get too comfortable, Lieutenant,” Pike said, “Resume course.”
With Sulu’s ‘aye, sir,’ Pike swiveled around to face his comm. officer.
“Care to tell me how you figured that out, Lieutenant?”
“The Cardassian lines were all atwitter with talk about it the second they spotted the field.”
“And they suddenly started speaking Standard for our benefit?” he asked skeptically.
Uhura shrugged her shoulders. “Not really, sir.”
Which meant that they owed someone somewhere big time for providing a translational standard.
“Incoming enemy ships, Captain,” Sulu reported. “Bearing three-one-nine, mark six-eight-two.”
This was where the fun began.
The Galileo crew looked at each other as another rock shook the ship. Jim checked over the flight procedures and controls one more time. Beside him, Spock was the picture of Vulcan calm.
“And you wonder why I come up to the bridge,” Bones drawled just behind him. “At least there you can see and guess when everything’s gonna go to hell.”
Chuckles peppered the small space, and a small smile made its way to Jim’s face.
“And distract the crew there from performing the necessary tasks to saving the ship,” Spock said casually.
“Kirk,” and the almost light atmosphere vanished at Pike’s call. “We’re opening the shuttle bay in thirty seconds. Try not to get shot into the sky.”
Jim nodded as Spock confirmed the read, settling himself in. Between him and Spock they could do this. No problem, even with minimal shielding and minimal weaponry - yeah, Jim was going to have a word with shuttle design or whomever once this whole damn thing was over.
The klaxon sounded and he engaged the primary firing sequence. He heard, rather than saw, the bay’s force field deactivate as he maneuvered the shuttle carefully out of the Enterprise - and into sheer chaos. Phaser blasts, torpedoes zinging by without a second’s warning, and that was just the tip of the iceberg.
“Shit,” Bones summed up quite nicely.
“Doctor, if you would cease making any unnecessary noise,” Spock scolded as Jim veered to the left; just in time to dodge an incoming fighter craft.
“Hold on,” Jim called as the ship corkscrewed over a large freighter, dodging its phaser fire.
The shuttle rocked as a torpedo exploded prematurely near by but Jim regained control quickly. And shit. Jim gritted his teeth as he pulled the shuttle into a death spiral it clearly wasn’t designed to make to avoid becoming paste on a large fighter.
“Mind not doing that again?” Bones grumbled shakily.
Jim ignored him, relief bubbling in him as the lines thinned out and the planet dominated the view in front of them.
“Now entering Cardassia Prime’s atmosphere,” Spock said as the ship began descending downwards.
She shook as she passed through the high clouds; not quite the gray or white Jim was used to, but a sort of brownish, ivory tinge to them. Even from several thousand meters up, the planet’s cities looked impressive. Clear, straight lines separated the sprawling buildings from one another - or didn’t, as the case may be - and all in all had a certain efficient beauty to them.
The shuttle continued its descent until it was flying over the capital city. Jim had expected hordes of people, scrambling for shelter or otherwise panicking at the attack above their skies. What he got was a completely deserted city. Not a single individual, from their vantage point anyway, walked the streets.
Ghemor leaned forward in his seat. “Welcome to Kardasai, gentlemen and ladies,” he said. “Magnificent, isn’t it?”
“Sure is pointy and brown,” Jim quipped as the ship lowered to just above the buildings.
“Forty-five degrees to the left, Commander,” Ghemor ordered. “There is a nature preserve a few blocks from here.”
“And how many blocks from our target?” Spock asked suspiciously.
“Five from the nearest entrance, Commander,” Ghemor replied, seemingly unruffled by the suspicion. “Trust me when I say you don’t want to land atop one of the buildings. Fighting an entire building of Cardassians just to get to the street or walkways is akin to suicide.”
Well, when he put that way…
Jim corrected the course and slowed down as they came across said preserve, landing in a clearing surrounded by Cardassian trees. Once the shuttle settled Jim undid his seatbelt and headed out first, much to Bones’ annoyance.
The ground crunched under his boots and damn, the air was practically a sauna. He wiped the sweat off his brow as the rest of the crew and Ghemor stepped down, each - save Spock - wincing at the oppressive heat.
“You always wanted to know why I left Georgia, Jim. Well, this is it,” Bones grumbled.
Jim almost rolled his eyes but turned his gaze on their guide.
“Chances that your military’s going to show up here?”
“High,” Ghemor said flatly. “I’m certain at least one good citizen saw our descent, and the military is nothing if not punctual in greeting guests.”
“Lovely,” Jim said before sighing. “All right - squad two, you’re on guard duty. Four, come with us. Radio silence unless you’re all about to be killed, got it?”
A chorus of ‘aye, sir’ echoed through the brown, rocky clearing as Jim adjusted the settings on his phaser.
“Do not wander into the forest,” Ghemor told them, “the dangers there are significant.”
“Which way, Ghemor?” Jim asked as the squad took up a defensive formation around their commanding officers and the man they needed alive.
“This way,” the man answered as he took the lead.
Fifteen minutes, several scaled rocks, and several trees larger than redwoods later - but with no wildlife like Ghemor had implied earlier - the preserve met with the city. The towers were enormous and seemed to lean in towards the streets, creating a darker, more enclosed feeling. Good thing Jim wasn’t claustrophobic. Ghemor moved without hesitation, charging up the stone stairs of a building across the gray road. Jim and the others followed after a quick glance around.
“Damn spooky place, if you ask me,” Bones said and Jim couldn’t help but agree with him. Not a soul on the street as far as the eye could see.
“Where is everyone?” Jim asked as Spock took several tricorder readings.
Ghemor smirked as he punched several keys on a key pad. “Policy dictates that during attacks, civilians remain indoors. Easier for the military to discern friend from foe among other things,” he explained as the keypad beeped and a handle shot out of the metal building.
“This sort of thing happen a lot?” Jim quipped as Ghemor turned the handle, revealing a secret door. Inside it were more stairs.
“Such preparations save lives,” he replied, “Come. We’ll have a better chance moving along the skyways.”
If possible, the air inside that stairway was even more stifling than the air outside. The mingled smell of stale air, sweat, and breath almost choked the Starfleeters and left an even worse taste in their mouths. Even Spock was panting a little unevenly now.
“Anything like Vulcan?” Jim asked quietly, almost teasing.
Spock shook his head. “Vulcan was a desert world, the humidity is not something I am used to.”
“Here we are,” Ghemor said, opening another door. What the door opened on was an outdoor walkway that resembled more closely a chained cage than it did a sidewalk.
Jim could see why Ghemor thought their chances were better up here - one look down confirmed they were at least ten meters up. Less chance of outside phasers making contact, and the simple fact that perhaps their enemy wouldn’t expect them to be where they were, all increased their odds.
As it turned out, those skyways connected to every major building and even a few minor ones in the whole city. Before too long the rescue team was standing just outside the Central Command’s Headquarters. The building seemed innocuous, more like an administrative building than a prison. The brown building had a squat, wide base around five or six stories high where it then abruptly narrowed and spiraled up another forty or so, topped by a sort of spike.
“Commander, readings show that there are humans inside the building approximately thirty stories above us,” Spock said.
Great. Just great. Now how were they supposed to sneak past thirty stories worth of Cardassians without alerting the whole damn building?
“Jim?” Bones asked.
Jim slowly smiled as he turned to Ghemor. “Think the desk clerks will recognize us?”
Part IIIb
End Notes