Episode 5.1.15: Prisoner in the Mirror

==S5, E1, Act 1: Mission Briefing==
Commander Alexander "Taz" Tazhenkov
Lt. Danae Nala
Outpost Umbra Prime
Stardate 2208.30
Tazhenkov and Nala were beamed from Starfleet Security offices on the Luna Colony across the solar system to the place Shadow Ops called home…Outpost Umbra Prime. The agreement between Starfleet Security and Admiral MacLeod to set this whole meeting up had involved the two Starfleet Intelligence Mirror Task Force operatives agreeing to be transported long range from Earth's moon to the Shadow Ops headquarters – wherever in the Terran solar system that might be.
After they materialized in the War Room, the two operatives looked around and for Taz, he saw some familiar faces – thought not many. He knew Jahkar, had met McCulloch once and he knew Captain Lazarus. The others were mostly a mystery, though he did recognize the Trill commander for the team.
"Commander Vree." He said with a nod of acknowledgement.
"For those of you who don't know him, this is Commander Alexander Tazhenkov," MacLeod said. "He is former Shadow Operations going back to the early days of the unit."
He acknowledged to the team, "Thanks for having me. This is Lt. Danae Nala." He motioned to the female Trill, who gave everyone a curt nod.
"Commander Tazhenkov and Lt. Nala are assigned to what is known as the Starfleet Intelligence Mirror Task Force," said MacLeod. "They have been on the other side of the Looking Glass recently trying to locate Lt. Commander Thompson."
Taz nodded, "And we have found him, however, it's not going to be easy to get him back."
"We should probably start with a quick overview of the current state of affairs in the alternate universe," the Trill said. "The Terran Resistance won the war about a decade ago. The Terran Empire was restored, and a new emperor was named."
Tazhenkov looked at the Shadow Operation team and sighed, "That emperor was Erik Jaegar."
The reactions around the table were mixed at mention of the traitorous admiral from their own universe.
Jahkar rolled his eyes.
Vree gritted her teeth.
McCulloch chuckled slightly as he shook his head.
Ryramorl bared his teeth slightly with a deep growl.
Sh'avelith and Beckett, unfamiliar with Jaegar other than having read some files about him, simply looked on, unfazed.
Reepchip had apparently never heard of the guy.
"Jaegar ruled the past 10 years with an iron fist, rebuilding the empire and taking vengeance upon its enemies," Nala explained. "He surrounded himself with loyal officers from his personal guard, which is akin to Shadow Ops but serves more as a secret police force than a spec ops crew."
Taz joined in, telling the next part of the briefing, "One officer rose through the ranks from this secret police force and eventually Jaegar made that man his Hand – the most powerful appointed position in the empire, second only to the emperor in authority and responsibility."
"In this case, Daryl Thompson was Jaegar's Hand," Nala added. "That is, until he was killed on a mission aboard the Shadow Guard vessel, ISS Gambit. At that point, he was already involved in a plot with the commander of the Gambit and members of her crew to kill Jaegar and take over the empire.
"From what we've been able to determine, we think they sent their Greg Durham to kidnap Thompson and use him to assassinate Jaegar," she continued. "Once Jaegar was dead, the captain of the Gambit and Durham seized control of the empire. She named herself empress and Durham is her Hand."
"What happened to Thompson?" Beckett asked, taking the whole report in.
"Normally they would have executed him," Taz said. "He has been pegged as the assassin who killed Jaegar and the sentence for that is death. But the empress ordered him locked up in Rogaran IV, the empire's worst penal colony."
Nala continued, "He's there now, being held somewhere deep in the subterranean portion of the prison. We've checked the prison's defenses; no way to beam him out from orbit."
Tazhenkov shook his head, "We still can't figure out why Kane didn't execute him…but fortunately she didn't…"
"What…wait!" McCulloch nearly fell face first out of his chair. "Kane? The empress' name is Kane?"
"Taryn Kane," Nala confirmed. "She was Jaegar's most trusted Shadow Guard captain."
Tazhenkov raised an eyebrow and looked at McCulloch, "Wait…you know her. I mean, you knew the Commander Taryn Kane from this side of the Mirror Universe?"
Lt. Commander William McCulloch 
Outpost Umbra Prime 
Stardate 2208.30 
Will's face turned ashen as he digested the news. Empress Taryn Kane …Taryn. The thought of her being alive … even if it was an alternative version of the one he was once romantically linked to…terrified and excited him at the same time. Taryn was probably the only other woman WIll loved almost as much as Victoria. And then suddenly, like Victoria, she was gone from his life. 
"Commander," Tazhenkov repeated, "you knew Commander Taryn Kane from this side of the Mirror Universe? Any information you share might assist us in dealing with the Empress."
The Scot felt all eyes in the room focus on him. He sighed, asking, "Where do you want me to begin?"
"Tell us about your relationship with her."
Will snorted in slight contempt before beginning. "I met Taryn on board the USS Repulse. At the time, she was romantically involved with Jack f****ing Dark. We became close…very close after she saved my life during a mission to Karthos Beta. Eventually, she was adopted into Clan McCulloch and was almost like a sister to me. She treated me as her brother."
"During my incarceration," he continued after slowly exhaling, "She often visited me. She even advocated for my fellow inmates and I to be treated more humanely. Of course, then there was the jail break."
"I've always wanted to know how the hell you broke out of Severus IV, McCulloch," Lazarus pressed, briefly changing the subject. "I've looked into the matter, and can't find anything other than a bomb being beamed into your cell block and detonated. By most accounts, you should be dead, yet here you are."
"You won't find anything because most of the records were obliterated. But I think you need to hear the back story."
"Taryn Kane was behind your escape?" The Captain demanded.
"My escape was the brainchild of Taryn, Admiral Sorvek and…." Will answered before pausing and looking directly at Mayla. "Kyril Vree. In fact, Kyril is the one who beamed the bomb into the prison facility while simultaneously extracting me. I spent the next two weeks with Kyril before he turned me over to Taryn."
The Scot watched as the Trill shifted uncomfortably in her chair.
"What was your role with Taryn after that?" Taz pressed as he furiously took notes on his padd.
"I was recruited by Commander Taryn Kane and Admiral Sorvek for covert service outside the confines of Starfleet and Shadow Operations. We were known as Kane's Mercenaries. During this time, things got…complicated … between Taryn and I."
"Complicated?" Beckett asked curiously.
"My wife moved to divorce me. In the aftermath of that messy episode, I became romantically involved with Taryn."
"Didn't you just say you saw her as a sister?" Tiri asked.
"I did."
"And then you became romantically involved with her?" She continued.
"Aye."
"Ewww."
McCulloch nodded in understanding. "Yes ewww. But through it all, she stood by me through thick and thin…especially after the divorce. It just happened."
"Go on." Taz demanded.
"Following the dissolution of our team, Taryn was ordered to report to Deep Space Nine. I attempted to follow her, but the request was quickly denied by Starfleet on security grounds. Two days after her departure, I received word that Taryn's transport had simply "disappeared" and all lives on board were presumed lost." 
Will choked as he fought back the emotions that were once long behind him. "I later learned the entire matter had been staged to get Taryn away from me and reunite her with Jack Dark."
A long, silent hush fell over the room. Eventually, Vree leaned forward in her chair and cleared her throat. "To put matters into further context, Commander Smith eventually learned of the relationship between Will and Taryn after the divorce. She saw it as a betrayal and to this day despises the name ‘Taryn Kane' and everything associated with it."
Tazhenkov and Nala exchanged nervous glances with each other.
"What?" Will pressed.
"Commander Victoria Smith of Union XII?"
"Yes, why?" Mayla inquired.
"She's here?" Nala cautiously asked.
"Of course, she is." Lazarus answered matter-of-factly. "She commands the combat medical support team assigned to the Resurrection."
Taz looked down at the conference table and tapped it a few times before speaking. "We have received sporadic intelligence reports that a Doctor Victoria Smith serves as the chief medical officer to the throne."
"Oh f*** me." Will blurted out as he pushed back his chair, stood up and walked over to a far corner of the room. The Scot folded his arms, leaned against the corner and simply glared into space.
Commander Mayla Vree
War room, Outpost Umbra Prime
Stardate 2208.30
Of course, Mayla recognized Alexander Tazhenkov, even though she had never met him. All of the memories of him were from Kyril. Taz was with Bravo Epsilon Seven for their first four missions since training, then he was reassigned to Earth. So how and why did he know who she was?
Mayla listened carefully and quietly to Taz's report on the status of the Mirror Universe with growing apprehension. The last that she had heard was over a decade ago when Bravo Squad had left the Mirror Universe after spending nearly two years there. At the time of their departure, the leader of the Terran Resistance at the time, General Lars Naakon, was about to execute a major campaign to occupy Bajor as a base of operations and apply increasing pressure on the then Regent Worf. The ISS Enterprise commanded by Captain Necheyev had just negotiated a deal with the Romulans to assist the Resistance in the battle against the Klingons. What had become of Shadow and Ghost Squads? To Commanders Argonne Jasid and Kianna Ammelis? Even Commander Desiree Klomden? Were they all dead? She only knew what was in the highly classified and sealed reports of the USS Revenant and Bravo Squad because she had all of Sorvek's memories. And there were no indications of this type of brutality or hierarchy in the leadership of the Terran Resistance.
Then an epiphany sparked in her mind. Erik Jaegar of this universe knew about the reports, and some details of Bravo Squad's mission. Did Taz know of their existence? She also made note that all the people he mentioned were not present in the Revenant's, nor in any of Bravo Squad's reports. Could a radical offshoot of the Resistance have taken over to become what was now the restored Terran Empire?
She took in a measured breath to hide her sudden nervousness. A part of her wanted, no, needed to know what had happened to them. Another part of her was fearful in hearing the answers to the hundred questions she had. But she needed to focus on the here and now. Thompson was top priority.
When she looked up again, she found Taz's eyes were on her. He didn't speak to her, but just stared at her. She continued to return his gaze until Victoria's name came up in the briefing, informing the team of Smith's position to the throne. McCulloch seemed to skulk off to a corner of the room.
"How did you come about this intel?" Lazarus asked.
Nala took her cue from Taz. "We have several Pathfinder teams on the other side observing events and reporting back to us."
"Pathfinder?" Beckett asked.
"It is a new division began about 10 years ago, trained specifically only as observers to anywhere in the galaxy," she looked over to Mayla, "or beyond."
Mayla returned the look, now suddenly understanding the scope of this entire endeavor. "You have the means to travel to the other universe at will?"
Nala gave her a knowing nod, as if hiding something from her. "Yes, we do. I'll get to that in a moment."
Taz waved his hand in front of his personal console that suddenly appeared in front of him from his wrist band. About a dozen files appeared. "I'm giving you all the information we have on the prison if you're going in to retrieve Thompson."
"We want complete access to all of the intel and dossiers on the entire cast of characters, a complete timeline of events since the restoration, and everything you have on Rogaran IV." Mayla said sternly.
Taz looked at her and gave her a nod. "You will have it."
Mayla stood up and leaned towards the officer. "And I do mean, everything. You need to be completely transparent with us if we're to get Thompson out. We need to have a good idea of the climate over there."
Tazhenkov gave Mayla a curt nod, "We're being on the up and up here, commander. We'll provide you access to whatever you need. Intel, background information, everything."
Lieutenant Ryramorl Ra'yral
Umbra Prime
Stardate 2209.02
Ryramorl rumbled. "Taryn Kane–the file of the deceased Oldragus Ragoar mentioned her, that he served with her just before his… death."
"You hesitated before saying ‘death,'" said Taz.
"There are witnesses here who saw him die in a ritual even then outlawed by the Emperor." He seemed pensive. "How difficult is it to get to the Mirror Universe? I have connections with the government of the Khyrrian Empire. It is known they have two portals in the Antevas System, one on Carnor, through which small vehicles and people can pass, and a larger one further out in the system, through which they sent spaceships to defend the Antevas System during the Dominion War. If you wish, I can ask them if they have such a portal in the Mirror Universe."
"I thought the suns in that system went nova," replied Vree.
"It is unlikely that the shockwave would have reached the larger portal yet, and by the time it does, it would be so diffuse that it may not damage the portal."
Lt. Nala cleared her throat, "We have a way through to the other side. It was developed by Starfleet and currently we have the only ship equipped with it. But our ship is no larger than a runabout, so we'll need to speak with your chief engineer."
"We can share information with him on how to take your ship through to the other side," Tazhenkov added. "There're some modifications that will need to be made, but it shouldn't take long. We are prepared to transport the necessary technology here for him to utilize."
Lt. Cody Beckett
Umbra One, War Room
Stardate 2209.03
Beckett listened to everything that was told by Commander Tazhenkov en Lt. Nala. It was a lot to chew on. Even though he had found out some information about the Mirror Universe, he hadn't expected this… Poor Daryl… Beckett wondered how they would find him… he could imagine that, being thrown in the same facility for the second time would be pretty traumatic. 
Then there was still the question: why? Why leave him alive when he had served his purpose? That nagged him. There had to be something else….
Lt. Commander William McCulloch
Outpost Umbra Prime
Stardate 2209.03
As the conversation continued, Will calmed himself down and returned to the conference table. Rather than sit, he remained standing and leaned onto his chair, listening as the rest of the team asked questions. 
When there was a lull in the conversation, he cleared his throat and addressed Lt. Nala, who was closest to him.
"What do you want with Commander Smith?" He quietly demanded. "It's something more than a compare and contrast between the two women."
Nala looked about the room and then leaned in towards the Scot. "Intelligence suggests Dr. Smith may be on Rogaran IV with Thompson."
"You want to use Victoria to infiltrate the penal colony."
"Use is such a negative term."
"Then what would you call it?" Will pressed.
"Lieutenant Commander, we have an opportunity here. To be fully transparent, we have suggested to the admirals that perhaps Commander Smith should accompany the mission to either pose as or replace Doctor Smith as a prerequisite to extracting Daryl Thompson."
"Are there any other options?"
"Standard duties. She accompanies the mission and with Lieutenant Sh'avelith, will provide any necessary medical treatment to Mr. Thompson during extraction."
Will chuckled slightly. "Either way, you're creating a potential scenario where she could become the subject of unwanted attention from the Terran Empire."
"Perhaps, but the potential benefits of her contributions could far outweigh any negative results. Through her we may even have direct access to the throne."
"I don't like it and I object."
"Your objection will be noted but you and I both know the decision rests with Commander Smith and your commanding officers."
"I don't like it."
"Again, your objections are noted."
"Does Victoria know of your plans yet?"
"No, but she is en route back from her visit to Earth. She will be briefed on the matter and the potential role she may be asked to undertake."
"She is not an operative."
"No, but she has the skills necessary to pose as Dr. Smith and complete the assignment if called upon."
Will grudgingly nodded. After a moment of reflection, he spoke again.
"I have one more question."
"Of course." Nala replied patiently.
"Where is the knife?"
"The knife?"
"The blade that I was stabbed with during the firefight at the Pickering Estate. I intend to return it to the owner…properly."
Commander Mayla Vree
War Room, Outpost Umbra Prime
Stardate 2209.03
In her eyes, access to all of the information she asked for came in as notifications as soon as the briefing ended. The first thing she opened was the timeline of events going back to when the Resistance invaded Bajor.
Nala decoyed some people away from Taz as he made his way towards Mayla, who was standing outside of anyone's conversational sphere. She watched him closely as he approached her.
"When was the last time you talked with your father?" he said without the preamble of niceties.
"A few months ago, after Sorvek's funeral."
"We've been trying to contact him since then, but he hasn't responded to any of our inquiries."
"About what?"
"Look, I'm going to be straight with you because your father and I are friends. The Starfleet Intelligence Pathfinder Division was Sorvek's brainchild. Most of those personnel were later on trained by those under your father's command after ShadowOps was dissolved. I was told he has entire training facilities doing nothing else but to train Pathfinder units at a classified location. In fact, the transdimensional device we'll be installing on the Resurrection came from his skunk works."
"I see," Mayla said, nodding to herself as she searched through Sorvek's memories for anything that had to do with what Taz was talking about. It came plain as day as she recalled the memory. When the transdimensional device was installed onto the USS Revenant's transwarp drive, Smiley also gave Kyril the plans on its design. When the Revenant returned to the Prime universe without the device, Ky had the plans sequestered away with only Sorvek knowing about it.
Taz continued when Mayla didn't comment. "But there is nothing on him, his personnel, his equipment, or his location on any Starfleet record. Some of us in Starfleet Intelligence would like to know how he was able to come about this tech? And since Sorvek is gone, he's the only one person left to be asked, and to answer for it all."
Mayla gave him a shrug. "I don't know. Everytime I look for him, it's all classified and I don't have access. I only hear from him when he wants to contact me." She gave him a gesture of futility. "I'm sorry to say, Commander, but we both seem to be in the same boat."
He eyed her suspiciously before giving her a nod. "Will you contact me if you hear from him before you are deployed?"
Mayla gave him a nod. Then he walked away.
[Back to top]
==S5, E1, Act 2: Mission Details==
Commander Victoria Smith
Outpost Umbra Prime
Stardate 2209.02
The nurse studied the intelligence report on Doctor Victoria Smith in silence as Mayla, Will, and Fiadh Hannigan watched. After reviewing the dossier twice, she calmly put down the PADD and looked up at her companions.
"That's me in the Mirror Universe? I'm so evil … and skanky." She noted with a slight tone of disgust. "And what did I do to my hair?"
"We may need you to become her so we can save Daryl." Will quietly stated.
The nurse eyed Vree and McCulloch cautiously before reluctantly nodding in agreement.
"So my pretending to be this doctor could possibly give us access to Thompson?"
"It's an option we're exploring. Right now it's only a proposal…There could be alternatives as the situation develops." Will replied, hoping to ease the nurse's concern.
"But this is one of your best choices." Victoria countered. "Otherwise, we wouldn't be having this conversation."
"You are correct," Mayla conceded.
"Where is the other me currently located?" Victoria asked as she exchanged an uncertain glance with Fiadh. The Irish warrant officer was seated in a corner quietly watching everything transpire. Since she had become one of Victoria's closest confidants, McCulloch had insisted she be present when Smith was briefed.
"Intelligence suggests she is likely at the prison facility housing Daryl and monitoring his medical condition," Mayla reported.
"More likely exacerbating his condition." The nurse quipped as she leaned back in her chair and folded her arms.
"Perhaps," Will replied. "But we suspect she's there on orders from the Empress to keep Daryl alive."
"Empress Taryn Kane." Victoria replied as her mood soured. She fixed her dark green eyes on the Scot. "The Mirror Universe's version of the b*tch you slept with after our divorce? Or was it before Will? I seem to recall you were far too close to her for my comfort when we all served together."
"I remember the two of you were equally as close." McCulloch protested.
"Until she took sides in the divorce and bedded you."
"Victoria, you know it's not the same Taryn," Will answered as he held up his arms as a sign of surrender.
Ma'am. Breathe." Fiadh quietly chided.
The nurse sighed, nodded her head, and quickly put her temper in check. "I know. The thought of seeing Taryn Kane…any Taryn Kane… again pisses me off."
"I know," McCulloch replied sympathetically.
"You have no idea how much I despise her, Will. She betrayed my trust. Worse, after our divorce, I was still in communication with her. She told me nothing about the two of you. I had to find out from Admiral Sorvek."
Vree winced as an awkward silence set in. Eventually, Victoria continued.
"Whether you want to hear it or not, Taryn Kane contributed significantly to your demise. She was a bad influence on you before Bravo Squad, and she did *nothing* to stop your betrayal with the Black Watch. Later she promised redemption if you served with her mercenary team and then faked her death to sever ties. That is the b*tch I remember. Mirror Universe or not, Taryn Kanes will always be the same."
"What will you do if you encounter Empress Kane?" Mayla asked in a low tone.
Smith answered in Common Trill. "I will carve her eyes out of her skull and wear them as earrings."
"Isn't that a bit of an overdramatic response?" Vree replied.
"Perhaps."
Mayla sighed as she looked over at McCulloch and the others. Since Vree and Smith were speaking in Trill, the others had no idea what was being said. 
"For the mission, you need to keep your emotions in check. Can you do that?"
Victoria muttered a string of Trill profanities before quickly nodding in agreement. 
"You can't allow hurt feelings from a decade ago cloud your judgment on this mission. Agreed?"
Victoria gazed at the woman she considered a sister. "I will follow any order or assignment you give me to the letter. You want me to become Dr. Victoria Smith, I will gladly do it and I will do it exceptionally well. I only ask for one thing in return."
"Anything," Mayla replied as the pair continued speaking in Trill.
"You keep me alive and bring me home to that jackass." The nurse requested as she gestured towards McCulloch. There was a slight, underlying nervous tone in her voice. "I have a nagging feeling that things may go south during this operation, and I do not want to check out in the Mirror Universe. Am I clear?"
Admiral Kirsten Clancy
Lieutenant Commander Tommy Carmichael
Stardate 2209.06
Admiral Kirsten Clancy was not having a good day. "Ensign Tegri Lokarchin did what?"
Lt. Commander Tommy Carmichael reiterated what he'd just said. "Ordered Ensign Charatetet to crawl into a bank of computer terminals that make up the facade that hid the coaxial drive. Reepchip ended up seeing it with his own eyes."
Admiral Clancy groaned. "What disciplinary actions did you take?"
"I threw Lokarchin in the brig for causing such a security breach, and relieved Ensign Charatetet of duty. I told him if I wanted him in Engineering again, I'd summon him and give him his orders in person. I was short-handed so I eventually released Ensign Lokarchin, but he's been shunned by the other engineers ever since."
"What was Ensign Charatetet doing in Engineering in the first place?" Admiral Clancy demanded.
"The Resurrection had been badly damaged," Carmichael reminded her. "And I lost several engineers. Reepchip volunteered to help, and I was glad to have an extra hand, so I assigned him to a part of engineering away from the coaxial drive. His job was to squeeze into any space the other engineers couldn't get to easily to do repairs. The engineers ran him ragged and he eventually had to take a break and get something to eat. It was when he was returning that Lokarchin decided to boss him around. He thought Lokarchin was a Lieutenant from the way he spoke."
"Does he need a refresher course in rank pips?" asked Clancy.
"Pips are up here." responded Carmichael, pointing to his collar, then towards the floor. "Charatetet's eyes are down there."
Admiral Clancy sighed. "Please at least tell me Ensign Charatetet was of some use."
"Absolutely. Between the panels and console housings we didn't have to remove and conduits we didn't have to disassemble because he was small enough to get past them, Ensign Charatetet probably saved us around four or five hours in repairs. He'd likely have saved us more if I hadn't been forced to relieve him of duty."
"If Ensign Lokarchin ever screws up like that again, let me know."
"Yes, Ma'am."
Commander Mayla Vree & Lt. Commander William McCulloch
Outpost Umbra Prime
Stardate 2209.06
Mayla knew how difficult it was for Victoria to hear the intel. She had spoken about Taryn Kane on their long voyage back to the Federation years and years ago. But now, with Sorvek's memories now part of herself, Mayla saw the reasoning behind the subterfuge and as Vulcans do, emotions were not a parameter in his decision.
Smith gave her a hard look that came from a part of her that will be needed in the upcoming mission, Jiarin's experience. Mayla returned the look.
"You keep me alive and bring me home to that jackass." The nurse said with a gesture towards McCulloch. "I have a nagging feeling that things may go south during this operation, and I do not want to check out in the Mirror Universe. Am I clear?"
"Clear," Mayla responded. "Embrace your memories, her experiences will help you. Contemplate all she has done, it will give you strength." She continued to speak in Trill.
"Come on, Commanders, Standard please," McCulloch said, feeling left out. Was this how it was going to be like whenever the three of them were together?
Smith threw him a glare and gave him attitude. "I'm making sure I get some reassurances, Mr. McCulloch."
He nearly took a step back at the fire in her eyes that seemed to flare out at him. He was about to say he understood but figured out immediately that was definitely the wrong thing to say. 
Smith took a deep breath and looked at Mayla. "So, the mission is to go in and get Daryl out."
"That's the mission."
"And all these people," she gestured to the dossiers from the intel, "are over there now. That's going to be damn strange." She then leaned towards Mayla and looked at her directly. "You've been there, haven't you?"
Mayla shook her head lightly. "No."
Smith looked at her closely for another moment and let out a knowing grunt. "So we might see other people we may already know in our universe."
"There is the possibility."
"Another you?"
"Probably not."
"Good. Because if there was, that's one more thing to be afraid of."
Victoria stood up from her chair and briefly stretched. 
"This is a lot to digest." The nurse noted in standard language. "I have one more question."
"Anything," Mayla reassured.
"There is nothing on William McCulloch in these dossiers. Does an alternative universe version of him exist?"
Vree and Fiadh briefly exchanged glances before the Trill replied. "There is no intelligence on his counterpart."
Victoria cleared her throat. "That is concerning. If there is a William McCulloch in the Mirror Universe and he even remotely has the ear of the throne, there could be a wild card scenario we may not be prepared for. Be careful."
"We will," Mayla replied as she eyed the Scot suspiciously. 
"Hey!" McCulloch objected with mock horror. "For all we know in the Mirror Universe McCulloch is a pig farmer in Ireland."
"Even in Mirror Universe Ireland, we wouldn't accept a pig farmer named William McCulloch." Fiadh quipped.
Will let his head sink as he exhaled loudly. After a moment, he returned to the subject at hand. "If we ask you to do this, you're ready, Victoria?"
"Absolutely."
Mayla put a hand on the nurse's shoulder. "We need you to keep your mind and emotions clear and, on the mission, regardless of who we see on the other side. Treat them all like strangers, and you'll do fine."
"That's a tall order, Commander," McCulloch said, wondering if he would be able to do the same.
Without removing her hand, she gave him a hard look. "Especially you, Mister. Those people over there are not from our universe. Do not EXPECT them to be the same people we know here. I guarantee you, it could get you killed."
Everyone looked at Mayla questioningly. "Have you been over there before?" Victoria asked.
Mayla took a step back from them and from whatever memories she had from Sorvek, and from whatever reports she had access to when she was visiting with Kyril several months ago. "No."
"So you're in the same boat as us." McCulloch said, as if questioning her credibility.
The Trill commander remained silent and just gave him a blank stare. He turned his attention back to Victoria. "Pull up the top of your uniform." The Scot requested.
"I beg your pardon?" Victoria protested as her face became flush.
"What the hell did you just ask?" Mayla demanded.
"Humor me. Please, I'm trying to prove a point."
Victoria scoffed, before quickly pulling up her tunic to reveal a navy-blue sports bra underneath.
"Keep the tunic up and turn around." Will requested.
"So you can look at my a**?" Victoria countered.
"Again..."
"Humor you?"
"Please." 
The nurse spun on her heels and faced Fiadh. Vree and McCulloch quickly exchanged glances. Strapped to the small of Victoria's back, blade up, was a small combat knife.
"Lt. Sh'avelith's report on you pulling a hidden weapon from your body outside that bar on Cardassia was accurate," McCulloch noted.
"So it was." Victoria huffed.
"How long have you been concealing weapons on your person, Commander?" Vree pressed.
"Long enough." Smith answered as she pulled her uniform tunic back down.
"It appears Ms. Smith remembered the lesson on concealed weapons I gave her when we were younger," Will proudly declared. "You probably have another blade on you."
"I have two." The nurse answered. 
"Two more?" Mayla asked with a hint of curiosity.
"Two more."
"One is certainly inside your boot." Will confidently announced.
"It is."
"The other?" 
Victoria spun around again to face the Scot. Without taking her gaze off of him, she pulled the pant line of her uniform down with her thumb just enough to reveal the handle of a small Scottish sgian dubh on her right hip.
"That must be so uncomfortable when you sit." Fiadh declared with a roll of her eyes.
"Will there be anything else Mr. McCulloch?" Smith requested with a slight hint of annoyance.
"Oh she'll be quite fine on this mission." Will declared confidently. "Our combat nurse is bloody more dangerous than we give her credit for."
Mayla gave Victoria a look of reassurance to be sure she stayed in that frame of mind.
Colonel Jahkar
Outpost Umbra Prime
Stardate 2209.06
Jahkar read over the data PADD and laughed when he read the description and known bio information on his doppelganger from the Mirror Universe.
"Commander Jahkar," he chuckled as he and Tiri walked out of the War Room. "Typical Terran Empire thug, according to this report. Betrayed the Romulans to become a Klingon warrior. Fought with the Klingon-Cardassian Alliance until the tides started to turn and then cut a deal with Jaegar to betray the Alliance in return for a commission with the Terran Resistance forces. A liar, traitor and all around pah'tak!"
Tiri giggled, "Sounds like the perfect Mirror Universe version of you. Completely opposite…except maybe the thug description. Also says there he's up for promotion to take Kane's place aboard the ISS Gambit."
Jahkar snorted, "I can't believe this other…me…is a worthless coward. So, have you looked at yours?"
Lt. Tiri Sh'avelith
Outpost Umbra Prime
Stardate 2209.06
Tiri lowered her own PADD and looked down, suddenly becoming quiet.
"I…I don't seem to have a double," she said. "The report I was handed says they have no record of me in the Imperial database."
Jahkar shrugged, "That doesn't mean you don't exist there."
"There is some historical data in the report," Tiri continued. "Apparently Andorians fought the Empire early on and peace depended on them providing services to the empire, specifically as shock troops. They fought in countless campaigns across the empire and then, when the Cardassian-Klingon Alliance defeated the Terrans, they took revenge on my people and wiped most of them out. Only a few hundred thousand remain."
She looked to Jahkar, "I likely either died in the war or was never born."
Lt. Commander Daryl Thompson
Rogaran IV, Penal Colony, Mirror Universe
Stardate 2209.06
Faint sounds and blurs of light seeped into his consciousness. As did the pain. Which triggered the memories. Panic. Fear. No air. His heart pounded in his chest. His lungs burned. In the distance a familiar voice, then the faint tingling of a hypospray being administered. The panic subsided to the background, and he could breathe again. The air felt cold in his lungs. Slowly he became aware of his surroundings. Yet, he felt fear. Fear for more pain. Then the voice was there again.
"Wake up Daryl. "
It took a moment for him to realize it was the voice of Victoria Smith. At least it wasn't Dark's voice. He relaxed a bit and opened his eyes. Even the medbays in this universe were set up in much darker tones than he was used to. The dark grey walls and even darker floor were in sharp contrast compared to their all-white counterparts in his own universe. Still, the amount of light hurt his eyes and he held his hand up to block most of the light. He pinched his eyes and slowly he started to get used to the light and was able to see. Smith stood at the end of the bed, while a nurse stood beside him, checking the readings from the bio bed
"And so, we meet again" Smith said, while tapping away on her PADD. Then she looked at Daryl, and smiled warmly, with a slight predacious look in her eyes. 
"How are you feeling today? " She asked. 
"Why would you care? " Daryl retorted. 
"To see if you're fit enough for another round of torturing, perhaps? " Smith said, shrugging
"Or maybe, because I care for my patients and loathe any form of torturing? " She continued in a sugar sweet voice. 
Daryl scoffed and glared at her but said nothing. Smith just looked back at him with a contemptuous look. She tapped some more on her PADD, nodded to the nurse then turned around on her heels. Before she walked away, she turned her head towards Daryl and waved at him. 
"Goodbye Daryl, it was nice knowing you. "
Then she shook her head "a pity we didn't explore 'us' any further in our encounters… a real pity… Maybe you wouldn't be in this position right now…" She purred as she turned around and walked away, a short evil laugh was audible before she disappeared through the door. 
The nurse prepped another hypo spray, and without warning, she administered it. Daryl felt the fluid being injected, and within seconds, he drifted away in a sleep… 
… as he woke up again, he was in a different location. He recognized it as being the same chamber where he had woken up inside that strange torturing device, which was now in front of him, about 3 meters away. Daryl was sitting in a chair, strapped in and handcuffed. The room was dimly lit by some indirect soft lighting from the walls. He could only distinguish the contours of the device and the walls. Then he heard sounds coming from the device. He focused and at the moment he recognized K'Chary's voice coming out of it, the door opened. The lights went on, and through the door Jack Dark came, followed by Durham and Smith. Two security guards came in last, both bald headed, filled up with tattoos, armored outfit and fully loaded, rifles at the ready. 
Daryl felt an uneasy feeling creeping upon him as he knew what was going to happen, yet he tried to keep up his appearance of cool. As his subvoc and retinal lenses were disabled, he couldn't check the status of his chip to see if it was functioning well or not. The uneasy feeling became more intense as Jack Dark walked towards the device and checked some settings. Durham sat down to the right of Daryl, and grinned towards him "hey mate" he said, winking. Daryl ignored him, as he saw how Dark opened up the top part of the device, revealing the Orion woman Daryl cared about so much. K'Chary's look was ice cold towards Dark, then she saw Daryl 
"Don't tell them anything, Daryl! She exclaimed. 
"I'm not-"
A slap from Dark silenced her up. She looked up, and spit at Dark, blood splattering on his face and uniform. 
Dark said nothing, wiped the blood off his face, and closed the top part again. 
"Feisty little girl. " Durham said. "Have to give her that. And so good looking… Hm hm… " He gauged Daryl's reaction, who just returned a blank stare, although inside he was boiling and wanted nothing more than to rip Durham to pieces. Durham laughed. 
"Dark, don't damage her too much, will you, I might add her to my own personal harem after this." Then he laughed out loud. "Yeah, she would be a good one" He added in a deep, sly voice. 
Daryl looked at Durham with a look as if he was melting through Durham, yet, he remained silent. He was mad, no, raging, but also afraid. They would kill K'Chary in an instant, as to them she was nothing. And Daryl was only something to them until he had answered all their questions. Then he would also be tossed aside and be yet another casualty on their list. 
Dark walked towards Daryl and stood in front of him. "We need your cooperation once more, Mr. Thompson. And I think this time you will cooperate a bit sooner. We know how much you care for that Orion slave. So, give us the answers we need, and she will stay unharmed. If you do not cooperate, well… you know what the device can do. And you haven't seen its full potential…" Dark raised his arms to full length, to create an even more intense dramatic moment. "It's all up to you… . " He almost whispered. Then he stepped back and gave a short nod to Durham. 
Admiral Ian MacLeod
Outpost Umbra Prime
Stardate 2209.06
MacLeod sat at his desk and looked at the holographic image of Admiral Kirsten Clancy seated across from him and waited for her to reply.
"You're sure about this?" she asked him.
"Very," he said. "I think they've both earned this. The Muran has been quite helpful and resourceful these past months."
Clancy shook her head, "He's also known for poking his nose in where it doesn't belong. He's rattled Carmichael a number of times."
"They have been an integral part of this team," MacLeod said. "I think it's long overdue."
Clancy nodded, "Very well. You have my approval. Just make sure Reepchip understands he is to stay out of restricted areas."
"You know, we may need him to fix that coaxial drive at some point," MacLeod said. "Or some other component of the drive. He should be briefed and made part of Carmichael's team…at least giving him access when necessary."
"Leave that up to Lazarus," she said. "If he needs access to the drive, and Lazarus believes it is necessary, he can grant the Muran that access."
"Understood," MacLeod said. "And, thank you, admiral."
Clancy nodded and ended the transmission. As soon as he finished with official documents for what he was about to do, then he opened a comm-channel, "MacLeod to Ensign Charatetet and Lt. Ra'yral please report to my ready room."
Lieutenant Ryramorl Ra'yral
Ensign Reepchip Charatetet
Outpost Umbra Prime
Stardate 2209.07
Ryramorl looked at the intel on his PADD silently. According to intel, there were, in fact, some Carnora left in the Mirror Universe–one solitary warship, and apparently seeking new hunting grounds where they could recover and possibly thrive. There was no intel of a doppelganger of either him or Reepchip, but that was to be expected.
Reepchip also looked through it, his ears drooping as Ryramorl explained that not only were there virtually no Carnora there, but no Antevas System anymore. "I'm surprised there are any left at all."
The two got the summons, glanced at each other, and quickly got into uniform before heading to MacLeod's ready room. They entered and stood at attention, both in impeccable Starfleet salute–save for their tails which were, of course, postured as per Carnora Military protocol, since the Federation had yet to get around to detailing how tails should be held.
Admiral Ian MacLeod
Outpost Umbra Prime
Stardate 2209.11
The Carnora entered his ready room and MacLeod asked them both to be seated. Once they were in their seats, the admiral looked to both and offered a slight smile.
"I've asked you here because I feel you are both overdue for some recognition for your accomplishments with Phoenix Squad," MacLeod said. "I know I, and some of the others in Shadow Ops, are sometimes unable to grasp all of the customs and intricacies of Carnora culture, but you have both worked hard to not only help us understand, but to integrate yourselves into Starfleet and Federation culture the best you can."
MacLeod withdrew two small boxes from his desk drawer and pushed them across the desktop, one in front of each Carnora.
"Lt. Ra'yral, I am promoting you to the rank of lieutenant commander, congratulations," MacLeod said. "And Ensign Charatetet, I'm promoting you to the rank of lieutenant junior grade. Congratulations to you as well."
Lt. Commander William McCulloch
Commander Victoria Smith
Outpost Umbra Prime
Stardate 2209.11
"Bloody hell." Will muttered to himself as he tried again to enter his quarters onboard Umbra Prime. Each time he tapped the access panel, the computer would alert him a security lock was on the room. The Scot cursed again after a third failed attempt.
"Problem Mr. McCulloch?" A familiar voice called behind him. He turned around to see Victoria approaching.
"There's an unauthorized security lock on my door."
"Imagine that." She replied slyly.
"Do you know anything about this?" Will asked suspiciously.
"I'm not sure," Victoria replied as she looked up and down the passageway. "Maybe I locked you out of your room because of what you did back there in front of Commander Vree and Warrant Officer Hannigan."
"Perhaps I was trying to make a point that you're a lot tougher than some would believe."
"In you're weird, crass way, you were hyping me up to the others, weren't you?" The nurse replied as she again looked down the hallway.
"What are you looking for Victoria? There's no one in this passageway but us."
"Where are Mayla's quarters?"
"Two doors down."
"Is she there now?"
"I don't think so." 
"Good."
"Good? Why is that Good? Ooooohhhhh." Will replied as Victoria grabbed him by the lapel of his uniform and pushed him hard against the passageway wall. She stood up on her toes and kissed him for several long seconds. Afterward, she stepped back but did not release her grip on the Scot.
"Computer!" She hurriedly announced. "Override security lock, Smith, Victoria Xi Lambda Psi one one six four."
As the doors to Will's quarters slid open, the nurse pulled him forward before forcibly pushing him into the room. Victoria quickly followed inside. As she did, she barked out, "Computer, reengage security lock, Smith, Victoria Xi Lambda Psi one one six four."
The next morning, Victoria blinked several times as she slowly woke up. She stretched before sitting up and looking about Will's quarters. Next to her in bed, the Scot was still sound asleep. 
She studied her ex-husband in silence for a moment before leaning over to kiss him softly on the cheek. Afterward, she poked him twice in the ribs.
"Wake up." She quietly pressed. "We're on shift in two hours." 
The Scot stirred briefly before grudgingly rolling onto his back, sitting up and yawning widely.
Will meant what he said the day before … she was more dangerous and capable for the upcoming mission than she let on. However, he also knew she was quietly harboring a sense of dread and fear that she may not return from the operation.
Although the pair didn't speak much about the Mirror Universe since the briefing, Victoria knew who her counterpart was, and it sickened her. Will's counterpart, if he existed, remained a mystery. The Scot had shared Cody's theory that the Mirror Universe McCulloch was either the Robin Hood of the galaxy or a threat worse than Empress Kane. 
Victoria believed Cody was likely correct, but she didn't want to think of the unimaginable. Rather than speculate, the two chose to focus on their time together.
Victoria hopped down from the bed and quickly retrieved segments of her uniform scattered throughout the bedroom. She stepped into her uniform pants before pulling one of Will's civilian shirts over her head. She hurriedly rolled the rest of her uniform and boots into a ball. She tried to pull her wild and uncombed red hair into a ponytail but couldn't find a scrunchy or band to hold it in place. After giving up, she gestured for McCulloch to follow her to the door.
"What is the rush?" Will pleaded. "Stay. We can report to our shifts together."
"I don't want Mayla seeing me sneaking out from your quarters at first light."
"She won't."
"Her quarters are two doors down from yours." Victoria countered.
"She won't care," McCulloch suggested. 
Victoria raised her eyebrows and stared knowingly at him.
"You're right. Goth girl will blow a freakin gasket if she sees you doing the walk of shame from my quarters." He conceded.
"Don't call her that!" Smith quipped as she playfully jabbed Will in the ribs again. "And it's not a walk of shame. It's a walk of conquest."
The nurse giggled as she left. Once in the hallway, she turned to face Will as he followed her out. She stood on her tiptoes and kissed him. Afterward, she stepped slightly back.
"So it's agreed," She excitedly whispered. "Once we return from this mission, we're going to Maine to seal the deal."
"And after that, we'll go wherever you want," Will eagerly replied as he pulled the nurse closer.
As Victoria laughed, the pair heard someone nearby loudly clear their throat. McCulloch and Smith looked off to their right flank to see Mayla and Jahkar standing in the hallway watching the pair. The marine could barely contain his grin while Mayla eyed the pair with concern. Her arms were crossed, and she shook her head from side to side in disappointment.
"Oh sh*t." Victoria exclaimed as her eyes met Mayla's. The nurse's face quickly became flushed. "I've got to get ready for my shift. I'll be in my quarters."
"I think the Trill is upset with us," Will whispered. Victoria quietly snickered before pushing herself away from the Scot.
"Dinner tonight?" She asked with a purr.
"Agreed." Will quickly replied.
"Oh hell no." Vree muttered just loud enough for the pair to hear her.
Victoria again looked nervously at Mayla, spun on her bare heels, and quickly retreated down the passageway towards her quarters. 
Will glanced over at Vree, who was giving him an icy stare. After a moment of internal debate, the Trill loudly scoffed and started to follow Victoria. She stopped briefly before the Scot, silently pointed at him in anger and then resumed her chase.
Jahkar and McCulloch were left standing in the hallway alone.
"So … you and Commander Smith, huh?" Jahkar asked as he tried to avoid eye contact with the Scot.
"I can only hope." Will replied, also avoiding eye contact.
"Word of advice?"
"Sir?" McCulloch replied.
"Next time you escort Commander Smith from your quarters, try wearing some pants." 
"Aye, sir." McCulloch quietly answered as he looked down at his boxer shorts.
"Will."
"Sir?"
"Please put some pants on…now."
"Yes, sir. Right away, colonel." The Scot replied as he quickly returned to his quarters to prepare for the day.
Commander Alexander Tazhenkov
Outpost Umbra Prime
Stardate 2209.11
Commander Tazhenkov asked Commander Vree and Colonel Jahkar to the War Room while his Trill partner was back on Earth collecting the necessary materials and equipment for Carmichael to proceed with the outfitting of Resurrection with the device to take the ship through the looking glass.
When Vree and Jahkar were present, Taz activated the holographic projector and brought up an image of the Rogaran IV penal colony, which was presented as a sphere floating above the table with data scrolling in panels alongside the holographic image.
"The penal colony is much like its counterpart in this universe, with added security precautions," said Tazhenkov. "On the surface there is a small cluster of structures, a compound if you will. It houses much of the colony's administration. In this building…" he zoomed in on a three-dimensional image of one of the 20 or so buildings on the surface, "is a bank of about 10 turbolifts which are used to move personnel from the surface 3 kilometer beneath the surface to the subterranean colony itself."
The holographic representation of the colony was ten drawn up onto the floating screen and displayed a massive underground cavern with structures that served as housing for the prisoners kept there.
"The interior cavern of the colony is about 6 square kilometers. It has an artificial light source, vegetation, running water in the form of a river…seems quite peaceful. But the prisoners really sort of run this place. They run in gangs; violence usually goes unchecked. The only thing required of them is to be in the mines, which are located here, beneath the colony every morning at 0500 hours There are access points in three different locations in the colony which descend into the mines. The prisoners are expected to work there 6 days a week from 0500-1600 hours.
"At the end of the day they return to the colony to eat, rest and get ready for another day. Again, few if any guards are in the colony. The only time they are present there is if fighting gets out of hand, or they need to go in and get someone. They receive one day of down time weekly."
Tazhenkov then zoomed in to another series of caverns beneath the mines, "This is the underworld of Rogaran IV. There is a black market down there where prisoners can acquire things they want. Illegal substances, alcohol, crude weapons and other comforts of home. This is run by a cadre of guards who smuggle things into the prison and make it available. Prisoners with connections on the outside will arrange for payments to the guards and any delivery of goods is done down in this underworld. It is also a place where colonists go to hide from the gangs and the guards, sometimes.
"Simply beaming Thompson out is a non-issue," Taz continued. "The planetary defense shield prevent transport and there are several redundant shield generators to give added protection. The interior of the planet contains various minerals that naturally inhibit transport."
Jahkar frowned, "So, how do we get inside? Or get him out?"
Tazhenkov then zoomed in on a large cavern, nearly a kilometer in diameter, not far from the prison Underworld.
"I know enough about Shadow Operations to know phased cloak technology likely exists," he said. "Assuming your ship has it, you could put yourselves here, in the cavern. From there you'd be able to punch through a cavern wall here, giving you access to the Underworld. From there you can make your way into the colony and try to locate Thompson."
He looked at the two and sighed, "That the best I have for you, unless you see something else."
[Back to top]
==S5, E1, Act 3: Mission Prep Continues==
Lieutenant Commander Ryramorl Ra'yral
Lieutenant Junior Grade Reepchip Charatetet
Outpost Umbra Prime
Stardate 2209.14
As Reepchip and Ryramorl left Admiral Macleod's office, they saw Ensign Tegri Lokarchin, who glowered at Reepchip.
Ryramorl was having none of it. "Ensign!"
Gritting his teeth, Lokarchin snapped to attention. "Sir!" he said.
"Whatever grudge you have against your superior officer, you will drop it! Do I make myself clear, Ensign?"
Lokarchin glanced at Reepchip, who used a touch of telepathy to draw Lokarchin's attention to his new pips. His temples tensed as he clenched his jaw.
"I said, do I make myself clear, Ensign?" demanded Ryramorl
"Sir, yes sir!"
"Good. Dismissed, Ensign."
Reepchip watched Ensign Lokarchin leave, his eyes narrowing.
"Lieutenant, I know you could tie so many knots in his mind that the healers would be years in untangling the mess," Ryramorl said to Reepchip. "Don't. That's an order."
"Sir, yes sir," said Reepchip with a sigh.
Commander Mayla Vree
War Room, Outpost Umbra Prime
Stardate 2209.14
Mayla studied the cavern and the underground facilities. She glanced over to Lazarus who was looking at her.
"So the Resurrection enters the cavern, decloaks, then…land inside the cavern?" She asked. "Is the cavern monitored at all?"
"From what we can tell, no. But I cannot tell you for certain. Our Pathfinder's scans from outside detected no frequency waves nor energy signatures in the vicinity." Taz said.
Lazarus shook his head. "I don't like the ship trapped inside for any long duration anyway. I say we go in, drop off the team, leave and wait for your call for extraction at the same location."
"Our subvocals have the range to reach each other while inside the facility, but if the ship is off the planet, we'll have to tap into the facility's subspace relays," Mayla said. "That could compromise us if we're discovered."
"We can leave behind a low energy wireless subspace relay tuned to our encrypted frequency in the cavern, that should give you complete comms with the ship from anywhere in the facility while we take up station someplace nearby to continue to monitor the situation." Lazarus said, bringing up what the relay looked like connected to a small power source.
"I'd like a redundancy at a different location if that one is disabled." Mayla said.
"Done. I'll figure something out."
Mayla gave him a nod and looked back at the image of the underground colony. "What about weapons?"
"Whatever crude weapons that have been smuggled in. Very few, if any, energy weapons. We deduce that an energy weapon discharge may alert the guards and a lock down may ensue. You need to blend in as much as you can."
"It's more like looking for a needle in a haystack to me," Lazarus said.
"Almost. We believe he is considered a high-profile prisoner, so he may not be in the common barracks."
"His isonlinear tag?" She asked.
Taz shook his head. "Nothing."
"So how did you find him in the first place?"
Taz bit his lower lip. "The information was passed on to us by the Pathfinders."
"How did they find him?" Mayla pushed.
He just shook his head. "However way they found him, I was assured the intel is accurate."
Mayla brought up her own console and created a simulation of the Resurrection to appear inside the cavern, decloak, the team sets up the subspace relay, and cuts through the wall to the underground. On the other side of the wall were a few crudely built structures nearly butting up against the cavern wall, leaving maybe a meter and a half of space that ran in both directions along the wall.
Taz watched Mayla carefully as she worked out a plan to get in and out. The intense concentration and focus in looking from different angles told him this was not going to be an easy mission. But the devotion and loyalty to go through all of this to rescue one person was immutable.
"Once we get out into the streets, we'll split up the team, fan across the underworld. Each group should report to the ship whatever clues they find directly to the Resurrection so the intel could be centralized. The ship could coordinate the team from there."
"What about Commander Smith? Are you sure she should be going with you?"
"If your intel is correct, and we can get close enough to find the other Victoria Smith, we'll use her to infiltrate. Either way, our Smith is along for the mission. Looking at the limited parameters and resources we can utilize, we need every advantage we can take with us."
"I'm more asking whether or not she is up for a mission of this magnitude. She is not a trained killer." Lazarus said bluntly.
"She's been in environments like this before as you recall," Mayla gave him a knowing look. "She'll be fine. We will need her to be outfitted with a subvocal."
Lazarus gave her an approving nod as he now did remember. "Have you already decided on how you're splitting up the team?"
"Jahkar, Ra'yral and Charatetet. McCulloch, Beckett, and Sh'avelith. And I will take Smith. We'll use different subvocal frequencies so if any one team is captured, it won't give away the others. We have a lot of prep work to be done, but we'll be ready when the device is installed in Engineering." Mayla said.
Taz and Lazarus looked at each other, then to her. "Then start your preparations. The mission is to only recover Thompson. Nothing else. No interference. And draw no attention to yourselves to reveal we're there. Is that understood?"
"Understood," she said while giving him a look and then a nod. "We may need to fake his death or else they'll keep looking for him," she said as an afterthought.
"Plan what needs to be done," Lazarus said. "Dismissed."
Mayla didn't move. "I do have one more question for Commander Taz."
Taz gestured for her to ask it.
"How did they come into our universe to kidnap Thompson in the first place?"
Tazhenkov hesitated, then shook his head, "While they have not been tech-savvy enough since the fall of empire and its rebirth to develop phased cloaking technology or regenerative ablative hull armor, they did manage to develop the ability to move between universes. We actually stole the technology from them…or I should say a Pathfinder group did."
Vree nodded, "Do you know specifically how it was developed?" She was curious for answers.
"The Resistance had an engineer called Smiley, he created a transdimensional device that enabled them to send entire ships with a transwarp drive from his universe to ours, and vice versa." Taz grimaced. "Because they didn't have transwarp technology, they brought it over to our universe and tested it on one of our ships."
Lazarus closed his eyes and swore out loud. "It was the Revenant, wasn't it?"
"Correct." Taz answered.
Mayla closed her eyes and recalled the memories of when Sorvek read the USS Revenant's duty logs. "So, when Bravo Squad and the USS Revenant were in the Mirror Universe, they freely gave them technology to overcome the Alliance."
"They did it with the best intentions, from what I was told," Taz said. "At the time, General Lars Naakon was their leader, with Kianna Ammelis, Argonne Jasid, Desiree Klomden, Alynna Necheyev, were all on the senior staff and in command of the new ships they were building against the Alliance. They had the foundations of our Federation charter, along with Starfleet sensibilities of duty. They had all the tools to create a new Federation mirrored from us."
Mayla was afraid to ask the next question. "What happened to them?"
"The General was assassinated by Erik Jaegar. His entire senior staff was rounded up to be executed. Captain Necheyev on the ISS Enterprise mutinied, mounted a rescue mission and extracted everyone loyal to Naakon. They weren't heard from again."
Mayla was never in the mirror universe but knew how her father felt about those he became close with. Of everyone she knew, he spent the most time on the other side working with the Resistance, measured in years.
"Commander," Lazarus said carefully while giving Mayla a stare down. "I need you to keep your mind on the mission. Don't go looking for them or deviate from our primary goal."
Mayla shook off her thoughts and gave him a stiff stance. "Aye, sir."
"If you don't have any other questions, then you're dismissed."
Mayla walked out of the War Room and into the Phoenix Command center. "Phoenix Squad please report to Phoenix Command. Commander Smith, report to Phoenix Command."
When everyone was present, she went straight into it without waiting, relaying everything that was discussed with Taz and Lazarus. "We're to blend in. So, no energy weapons, and I suggest if you want any cosmetic surgery done, to do it as soon as possible with the exception of Commander Smith who will only have removable cosmetics to make her look slightly different. Melee weapons only, don't look like an armored warrior. We're supposed to look like prisoners. Questions or comments?"
Colonel Jahkar
Outpost Umbra Prime
Stardate 2209.14
Jahkar chimed in with a question, "So, my alter-ego is a well-known member of Kane's crew aboard the ISS Gambit and is her likely successor to the captaincy. I'm going to need some kind of cosmetic alteration. From what we know of this universe, what would be better…me as a Klingon or as a Romulan?"
"The Romulans had joined the Terran Resistance against the Alliance according to some older intelligence records," Vree instantly said, not knowing if that information is actually in any accessible Starfleet records. "If you can pass for Romulan, you can pass for Vulcan. But a Klingon would have died rather than become a prisoner, don't you think?"
He then looked to Sh'avelith, "Tiri and I were comparing notes after the briefing and Andorians are nearly extinct in the universe we're going to. Her people were shock troops for the empire before its downfall and the Klingon-Cardassian Alliance wiped most of them out in the years that followed. Disguising her will be difficult…her antennae are a major issue. They cannot be removed and there are few if any races with a similar antenna configuration and skin coloring. Do we send her in as an Andorian? Or is there some way she can be disguised?"
"Specialized head gear and a hooded robe could cover it up well enough?" Vree suggested while looking over to Sh'avelith for any ideas from her. "We do have many images of the prisoners there for us to fabricate our own disguises."
She brought up holographic images Taz acquired from inside the penal colony. The inmates, or colonists, were dressed in drab colored gray or navy-blue one piece jumpsuits, boots and some wore mining vests, which were yellow and contained utility packs, a built-in light source and emergency respirator and mask.
"Hoods and cloaks could be made with makeshift efforts…perhaps turning a blanket or tarp into such a garment might be suitable for prison wear," she said. "Otherwise, Jahkar is correct. Andorians are not commonly found in the Terran Empire these days. If there are any housed there, the numbers are probably negligible – less than five to be certain. We don't have a full accounting of all prisoners, names or racial backgrounds."
Lt. Tiri Sh'avelith
Outpost Umbra Prime
Stardate 2209.14
Tiri frowned at Jahkar with displeasure when he suggested she might not be able to join the team. What was that all about?
Then, Mayla offered the same suggestion she had been thinking about. "I can have my skin color changed temporarily and wear a jacket with a hood. I've done it before in undercover ops. I can push my antenna back, almost flat to my head. They are flexible. It will just limit my senses somewhat, but I'll be fine."
Lt. Commander Ryramorl Ra'yral
Outpost Umbra Prime
Stardate 2209.14
Ryramorl spoke up. "What of us?" he asked. "The Carnora are virtually extinct, save for a lone surviving battleship crew. We cannot disguise Reepchip as a mranrilla, for the Antevas System in the Mirror Universe was destroyed, and all mranrilla perished with it. Any cosmetic surgery to make us look humanoid would have to be extensive…"
Vree shook her head. "If you can alter some of your appearance to be Caitian, I think you can get by while still wearing the standard garb of a miner. As for Charatetet, we'll need him to act like a prisoner. With a colony of prisoners there, I doubt anyone knows every single species there. Even better if he has the ability to shadow you and be your eyes and ears around you."
Ryramorl pondered that. "Ah, right." The only "surgery" he'd have to undergo was to have his tail fur clipped short; he'd been mistaken for a particularly big Caitian several times before.
Commander Victoria Smith
USS Resurrection
Stardate 2209.14
After Victoria showered and dressed for her shift, she reported to the officer's mess hall for breakfast. Several junior officers stopped to stare at her as she ordered her breakfast from a replicator before finding an isolated table at the back of the hall.
Smith knew why they were staring. Rumors were already swirling about the ship that the combat nurse…. not an operative…had volunteered to infiltrate the Terran Empire as part of a coordinated effort to bring Daryl Thompson home. 
Victoria had successfully ignored the gossip, as well as the protests of the nurses and medics of Union XII. Ensign Gace and Lieutenant Riisos were the most vocal, demanding that their objections be entered into the ship's log.
This morning, the nurse was determined to quietly go about her business. She had several tasks to complete before midday and a dinner to plan with her ex-husband…or was he now her boyfriend? 
She snorted gleefully as she reflected upon the mental image of Mayla Vree chasing her down the hall after being caught emerging from McCulloch's quarters. The Trill was furious…and it was worth it. The nurse almost felt as if she were a teenager again.
"Is it true?" A female Scottish voice asked, causing Victoria to stop daydreaming.
"Excuse me?" She asked Darva McGuire, who was unexpectedly standing before her with a food tray in her hands. 
"Is it true ma'am that you volunteered to infiltrate the Terran Empire to rescue Daryl?" The security officer nervously asked.
"Only my team addresses me as ma'am, lieutenant commander," Victoria replied as she played with her scrambled eggs. She didn't mean to chastise the security officer. Instead, she hoped the correction would deflect unwanted attention away from herself. It didn't work.
"May I sit, ma'am?" Darva pressed, ignoring Victoria's caution. After a moment of silence, Victoria gestured for the red-headed Scottish officer to join her at the table. McGuire sat down and continued speaking.
"I've been told Union XII calls you ma'am out of a sense of loyalty and affection towards you."
"So I've been told." the nurse replied matter-of-factly. 
"Did you agree to assume the role of this Doctor Victoria Smith if it meant Daryl could be rescued?" Darva pressed.
"It's an option being discussed now, Ms. McGuire."
"Why?" Darva replied as she seized the nurse's hand and squeezed it tightly. "You don't even know him! We could surgically alter Sh'avelith or Vree to portray this Doctor. There are other options."
The nurse studied McGuire in silence before taking a bite of her toast with her free hand. Afterward, she gazed directly at the security officer and spoke in a low but confident tone. 
"I am doing this, Darva, because it needs to be done. And to be blunt, no one can play me…but me. I will not ask anyone to risk their lives trying to do what I can best."
"You're not an operative."
"So I've been told."
"You could be tortured."
"Been there."
"Gravely injured."
"Done that."
"Exposed to unknown alien experimentation."
"You've never read my dossier, have you?"
Darva studied Smith in silence momentarily before releasing her grip and looking down at her breakfast.
"This is no different than any other job I am asked to do…or anyone else on the ship for that matter." Victoria noted calmly. 
"I won't forget this gesture." Darva pressed as she eyed Victoria.
"I'm honored you think I have such an important role. But this isn't about me, Lieutenant Commander." Smith countered. 
McGuire stiffened slightly before changing the subject. "If that Scottish sod doesn't realize how good he has it, you let me know, and I will put my foot up his arse for you."
Victoria smirked slightly. "I may take you up on that."
"When this is over, you and I will drink a lot of whiskey in celebration."
"I look forward to it…team red getting drunk together could be fun."
"Commander Smith, report to Phoenix Command." Vree's voice announced over the comm, interrupting Smith and McGuire's conversation. The Scottish officer shot up from her seat and stood at attention.
Victoria rose from her own seat and adjusted her uniform. Afterward, she nodded at Darva.
"Give 'em hell, ma'am," McGuire replied curtly as Victoria spun on her heels and exited the officer mess hall. Minutes later she arrived at Phoenix Command.
Greg Durham
Jack Dark
Rogaran IV, Penal Colony, Mirror Universe
Stardate 2209.22
Durham sighed and shook his head, staring at Daryl. "Come on, man. Make it easy on yourself and your pretty little Orion friend…which i must say, you two got real cozy real quick. You've been here what…a couple weeks, barely."
"We are going to have a need for your cooperation soon, Daryl," said Dark. "What you decide will impact not only you, your little girlfriend here, but all the people you love and care for back in your universe."
"So, buddy," Durham joined in as he sat on the edge of a table in the room. "Cooperate and everyone will come out of this alive and well. Fail to cooperate and you're going to find yourself in a world of hurt."
Lieutenant Commander Thomas Charmichael
Lieutenant Daven Corhees
Lieutenant Spargan
Stardate 2209.22
"Sir, as per your request for a holodeck program with the maximum security, we offer this," said Lieutenant Corhees. He showed the engineer what the Madcaps had concocted. "Quite simple, really. There are two force fields–on the inside, a Level 10 Forcefield. On the outside, a force field modulated to actively repel anyone who tries to breach it. If they try again, then the hall just outside the holodeck is sealed off with Level 10 forcefields, the area has knock-out gas tailored to the intruder's physiology pumped in, and security is alerted. Then the air is flushed so security can remove the intended intruder."
"...Impressive, though I think I'd save the knockout gas for a third attempt. Congratulations on coming up with something like this."
"We did not come up with it on our own, sir," said Spargan. "We simply adapted the security measures of a set of exercise programs at Starfleet Academy created for then-Cadet Ryramorl Ra'yral."
Carmichael looked at the two Madcaps in utter mindclunk. "This. On exercise programs. At Starfleet Academy. …couldn't they just turn the safeties on full?!"
Daven looked Michael straight in the eye. "Ryramorl himself was the danger." Carmichael had never seen the Betazoid so serious. "Apparently, he did certain exercises while berserk to retain some level of control while in that state. Originally, the positions of the force fields were reversed so that the repelling field was on the inside; It wasn't meant to keep anyone out; it was meant to keep him in." He glanced at the field. "Ryramorl's infamous fight is the stuff of legend even now at the Academy. While I'm aware that wild stories can spring up from the craziest of things, when this actually existed and instructors there absolutely refuse to discuss what they saw and the security footage has a warning on it.... Well, that's as good a sign as any that… this was needed." He gestured towards the forcefields, then spoke the command to shut them down.
"What was to keep Ryramorl from shutting it down and going on a rampage?"
"Apparently, a berserk Carnora cannot speak coherently, and so cannot utter any kind of security code," said Spargan. "Also, his vital signs were monitored. The difference between normal mode and berserk mode are extreme, and a mistake is highly unlikely."
Lieutenant Commander Carmichael thought of it. "I want an amendment. Verbal warning on first attempt, verbal warning and repulsion on the second attempt; repulsion, gas and security alert on the third."
"We shall make it so."
"What are the others doing?"
"Weapons development. We were told Ratman is going to do recon and scouting, so we are taking the Type VI Overwatch Rifle and the Type V Tactical Rifle, and trying to miniaturize them for a muran. Also, we're thinking of adding some force fields to Reepchip's armour to act like a membrane… turns out, some Murans have a membrane of skin that lets them glide, so we're hoping to give Reepchip something similar."
"... I have a different job for all of you. All six of you are going to assist in installing a new drive on the Resurrection. See me in Engineering in one hour."
"Sir, yes sir!" said Lieutenant Corhees. He then keyed his commbadge. "Corhees to Madcaps. Please meet with Lieutenant Commander Carmichael in Resurrection Engineering in one hour. Corhees out."
Less than an hour later, all six Madcaps were in Engineering. Before them was Lieutenant Commander Carmichael, ready to give them their orders.
Lt. Commander William McCulloch
Lt. Cody Beckett
Umbra One
Stardate 2209.22
Beckett gazed outside through one of the large windows in one of the hallways while he chewed on all the Intel he had read about the Mirror Universe and its inhabitants. 
First off, his own alter ego was a bounty hunter who worked closely with the man called Greg Durham, and although intel was sparse, there were several leads pointing towards involvement with the murder on the mirror Daryl Thompson. 
He had a gut feeling this mission was already jinxed. 
He let out a sigh and wondered how his friend was doing, if and how he was holding up. Being put back in the same prison, he escaped from in this universe had to be nothing less than something to be driven completely mad about. 
Then, someone sat down next to him. It was McCulloch, with a serious look on his face for a change. It had been a few hours since Victoria and he encountered Jahkar and Vree in the hallway. Although he was initially in a very good mood, he was becoming more tense and uneasy as the day wore on.
"Hey man. How are you? McCulloch started. He seemed a bit nervous. 
"Doing ok-ish" Beckett replied. "I just found out what my alter ego does for a living in the Mirror Universe. 
Will nodded " And? " He asked. 
"Bounty hunter. With close ties to these Shadow Watch people. Guess he must be as lovable as I am. " Beckett joked. 
"I always figured you'd be someone's concubine in the Mirror Universe." Will quietly replied…it was a weak attempt at humor.
Beckett eyed the Scot suspiciously. "You seem off your game mate. What's eating you?"
McCulloch sighed. "It's this damned Mirror Universe crap. Victoria won't admit it but the upcoming mission is stressing her out. And there's no bloody intelligence on my counterpart…if my counterpart exists at all."
"What do you think about alternate universe McCulloch?" 
"Everyone seems to think alternative McCulloch could be either the chosen one who upends the Mirror Universe for the greater good or the Anti-Christ who rains down fire and brimstone."
"What do you think?" Cody pressed.
"I don't know what to think." Will confessed. "Part of me inside screams that I have some significant and terrifying role to play when we arrive in the Terran Universe."
"But?"
"Another part of me tells me Terran Will McCulloch is an insignificant fool."
"That's not necessarily a bad thing," Beckett noted.
"And that's what scares me." 
"Why?"
"Because such a person could be easily manipulated to do terrible things for the throne."
Cody nodded silently before offering a counter-proposal. "Or perhaps could be the spark that leads to the throne's demise."
"And so we are back to William McCulloch, the savior of the Mirror Universe."
"Aye."
"Tell me more about Cody … this bounty hunter. What do the intelligence reports say?"
"Not that much. He seemed to be part of Shadow Guard as well before. Before that he was a soldier in the war. He had luck and was able to kill a few important heads of the Terrance Resistance. That gave him the opportunity to rise in the ranks in Shadow Guard afterwards. There, Durham and he became good friends. As far as you can speak of friends there…however, for unknown reasons he was kicked out. Then he started working as a bounty hunter. The only thing relevant here is that he appeared to be around during the killing of the MU Thompson. 
"Did you cross check against the data you found earlier? McCulloch asked, after a few moments of silence
"I did. Not much of interest."
Another silence as they both pondered away. Then, Cody thought of something and looked at Will. 
"Back at the Pickering Estate, when we fought, that operative that stabbed you… . He knew you, right? So there must be a McCulloch there that at least is also involved with Shadow Guard. "
Beckett looked at McCulloch, awaiting his response… 
A look of concern spread across Will's face. "Cody, I thought he somehow knew me from this universe. You think…"
"There's a Black Watch version of McCulloch in the Mirror Universe? It's plausible."
"But the dossiers and intelligence reports make no mention of a Black Watch or a William McCulloch."
"What about the footnotes?"
"The footnotes?" Will questioned.
"The footnotes." Beckett scoffed. "You didn't read the footnotes?"
"Who reads footnotes?" 
"Why wouldn't you read footnotes?" Cody demanded before holding his hand up as a signal for the Scot not to answer. "How you became the CEO of Inverness is beyond me."
For the next two hours the pair poured over footnotes, appendices and analytical commentaries from Taz's intelligence reports. Every search came up empty until Beckett stumbled across an obscure intelligence report on the political condition of the United Kingdom in the aftermath of the Terran uprising.
"Will, I think I may have something." The New Zealander announced as he slid a padd across the table to McCulloch. 
Will studied the report in silence as a chill ran up his spine. 
Displayed on padd was an emblem of a Scottish Dirk piercing the Earth with a black and green plaid background.
"They called themselves the Coldstream Guards." Cody continued.
"In our universe, Scotland's Coldstream Guards was the sister regiment to the United Kingdom's Black Watch Regiment. For centuries before the Third World War, the two units worked closely together on many joint military operations." McCulloch noted as he passed the padd back to Cody. "The Coldstream Guards was disbanded at the end of the 21st Century, while Clan McCulloch successfully converted the Black Watch into their own personal paramilitary unit."
Cody let out a low whistle as Will continued. 
"The background color patterns behind the Terran symbol match the colors of the Black Watch I served with years ago. This could be the Terran Empire's version." 
"Interesting. The report suggests that the Coldstream Guards was the Shadow Guard's political and military rival."
"Was?"
"The regiment had a distinguished combat record during the rebellion, but as the war neared an end, the unit advocated for the humane treatment of their enemies and a peaceful resolution of hostilities."
"What happened next?" Will asked nervously.
"The Shadow Guard launched a surprise attack against the Coldstream Guards and massacred most of them and their families."
"So the Coldstream Guards, like the Black Watch of our universe, are no more?"
"Possibly, although the report does mention that some of the troops and the regiment's leader escaped. However, most were eventually hunted down and killed. The head of the organization remains at large."
"Who is the leader?" Will cautiously demanded.
"It doesn't say." Beckett conceded.
Will leaned back in his chair and sighed. "For all we know, it could be bloody Ian MacDougall."
"Ian MacDougall?"
"The leader of the Black Watch when I betrayed Bravo Squad."
Cody nodded in understanding. "Perhaps. But whoever the leader is, there may have been a subsequent sighting of him two years ago on a Terran Colony called New Ireland."
"Go on."
"Well, there's not much," Becket replied as he held up the PADD. "All it says is a man in Highland dress was seen visiting the colonists before quickly departing. Shortly after the sighting, the Empire destroyed the colony and all of its inhabitants."
Will let his head hang low momentarily before looking back up at Cody. Whoever this mysterious leader was…possibly an alternate McCulloch, maybe someone else…the Empire wanted him found and eradicated as quickly as possible. If anyone attempted to help him, they were to be severely punished.
The Scot cleared his throat. "We need to tell the team and command what we think we found. This person could be an ally or the wild card we were warned to avoid"
Beckett nodded in agreement, tossing the padd on the table. 
"I'm afraid this mission isn't going to be a simple get in-get out. I just know things will get difficult once we're in. Especially with two McCullochs hanging around. That's just asking for double trouble."
McCulloch looked annoyed at Beckett, then saw the humor Beckett was putting in and smiled. "We do it for Daryl. And we will get him back. Even if we have to toss that damn mirror universe upside down. "
"Agreed."
Their comm badges chirped as Cody typed up a summary of their findings.
"Vree to Beckett and McCulloch. Please report to Phoenix Command. Preferably in this lifetime."
The pair quickly grabbed their belongings and the padd containing Taz's report and promptly made their way to the meeting. 
"I suppose now would be a good time to say Commander Vree is not pleased with me." The Scot announced as the duo rounded a corner.
"Cripes, what the hell did you do now?" Cody demanded.
"Well…." Will hesitated briefly before continuing. "Let's just say she and the colonel caught a certain nurse leaving my quarters this morning."
Beckett stopped and stared at the Scot for a moment before chuckling softly. "You're a bloody dead man McCulloch."
"Aye. That I am."
The doors to Phoenix Command slid open, and the pair entered. Inside, the team plus Commander Smith were present. Will could feel Vree's eyes following him as he crossed the room and took a seat near Reepchip. 
"It's nice that the two of you could join us." Mayla calmly announced without taking her eyes off the Scot. McCulloch nodded briefly in her direction, hoping the mission briefing would take her mind off any ill feelings she harbored due to their earlier encounter.
"We think we stumbled across something that may be of use while in the Mirror Universe … if we can verify our theory," Cody announced as he slid a padd across the table towards Jahkar and Vree.
The two senior officers studied the padd silently before looking up at McCulloch.
"Is this a joke?" Jahkar demanded.
"Unfortunately, no, it's not." Cody countered. "It may be unverifiable, but I believe it is highly plausible."
Vree cursed. "You two think you've identified the former leader of the Shadow Guard's rival unit?"
"Perhaps," Beckett answered.
"And it's the Mirror Universe version of ….him?" Mayla demanded as she pointed her index finger towards Will. Beckett couldn't tell if Vree was about to laugh or lose her temper.
"Tat's what we believe."
"And he's a wanted criminal within the Terran Empire?" The marine pressed.
"I'm," McCulloch started but quickly corrected himself. "It appears my counterpart…if it is my counterpart … is considered a traitor and a threat to the Empire."
"Well," Vree scoffed. "It appears there are some consistencies between both universes."
McCulloch chose not to respond other than nod in silence.
"If correct, this could provide us with an additional tool against the Empire's operational network if necessary." Beckett offered.
Captain Quentin Lazarus
Outpost Umbra Prime
Stardate 2209.22
Lazarus looked over the PADD and literally dropped it to the table, a look of disbelief crossing his face. He looked at Vree first, then slowly directed his gaze across the table to McCulloch.
"It could also blow the entire mission," Lazarus muttered. "If this Mirror McCullouch is a wanted criminal in the Terran Empire, if you are identified while at the prison they will want to bring you down without hesitation. It could get everyone killed, or get you all captured and thrown in that prison."
Lazarus had other thoughts on the matter. Thoughts he wasn't sure he wanted to share here, with the entire team present. But, frankly, he was concerned about how another Black Watch organization might affect McCulloch…whether they might get into his head.
He could not resist, it needed to be said, so he added, "And…I'm concerned commander because you have a very complicated past with the Black Watch and you are not exactly working with a clear head when they are involved."
Lazarus looked around at the entire group, "I'm sorry, but it needed to be said."
Lt. Commander William McCulloch
Outpost Umbra Prime
Stardate 2209.22
Will smirked slightly after Lazarus had concluded. He could feel the eyes of his companions focus on him. Victoria, Tiri and Beckett each shifted uncomfortably in their chairs. He was pretty sure Vree was enjoying Lazarus' rebuke.
McCulloch cleared his throat and returned the Captain's gaze. "I don't necessarily disagree with you." He announced as a tense silence filled the room. Lazarus and Jahkar seemed to be caught off guard by the transparent response. "But if I was still influenced by the Black Watch or this apparently defunct Mirror Universe version of it, Mr. Beckett and I would not have brought this information immediately to you and this team. I would have sat on it and let it play out."
Lazarus started to respond but McCulloch held his hand up to interrupt. "Respectfully sir, please let me continue. You want to know where my head is, please let me tell you and everyone else on this team."
The Captain studied McCulloch momentarily before nodding in agreement. "Go on."
"I do not want me to be the focus of this meeting so I'll be brief. Operations Dragon and Griffith."
"I've never heard of either operation." Jahkar answered.
"You wouldn't," Will replied matter-of-factly. "They're classified. Or they were until Daryl Thompson hacked into Starfleet Intelligence's database and downloaded those two missions, as well as others I performed, onto a padd the night before the Shadow Guard attacked us."
Victoria sat up in her chair and looked across at Vree. The two had read the contents of the padd while Will recovered from his injuries.
McCulloch gestured towards Taz. "You may want to write this down since it involves our universe's version of Taryn Kane. Under Kane's direction, I rejoined the Black Watch to acquire intelligence against them."
"Which operation was that?" Taz inquired
"Dragon."
"What was Griffith?" Lazarus asked coldly.
"We took down the Black Watch..man by man and woman by women until they were no more. I personally drove my dearg through the heart of their leader and watched him slowly bleed out and die before me."
"From what I understand, the Black Watch was eliminated by a rival paramilitary group." Lazarus countered. There was a slight hint of confusion in his voice.
"If the hacked report from Thompson is accurate, Lt. Commander McCulloch is telling the truth." Victoria noted in a low whisper as she avoided making eye contact with the others.
"Taryn Kane and her team, which included you, are the ones that eliminated the Black Watch?" Jahkar pressed.
Will leaned forward, eyed the Captain directly and spoke as respectfully as he could possibly muster. "Aye, it was me. So when you ask where my head is Captain, know this…While I will live with my own sins for the remainder of my life, I also played some part in killing each and every one of those b*st*rds. I have never regretted bringing that terrible group to its knees. And if I run into the Mirror Universe version of those sods or even myself, I would not hesitate to kill them as well unless it jeopardized the mission. That is where my head is…sir."
Lazarus picked up the padd and started to re-read the reports Beckett and McCulloch provided. The Scot tapped the conference table and continued.
"You want me to stay behind and guard the base while the team is away on its mission, I will. If you want me to serve as overwatch on board the Resurrection when the team deploys, I will gladly do so. If you want to surgically alter me and take me along for the ride, so be it. Whatever you decide, sir, I will unequivocally comply with your orders."
Colonel Jahkar 
Outpost Umbra Prime
Stardate 2209.22
Jahkar considered everything being discussed and decided to chime in, "I also have concerns about this Black Watch, but realistically they are enemies of the Terran Empire which means two things, in my opinion."
"First, they aren't likely to be anywhere in the empire's territory," the Marine speculated. "They should have no reason to be near the penal colony. We should not encounter them. Second, if this Black Watch is an enemy of the state, doesn't that potentially make them our friends?"
He looked around, "The enemy of my enemy is my friend?"
Lt. Cody Beckett
Outpost Umbra Prime
Stardate 2209.22
Cody took in everything that was said. There was a bit of a tense atmosphere in the room. It was clear Lazarus and Vree weren't really happy with the information Will and he had dug up. It felt like they doubted Will's intentions. 
Although Will had the odds against him, Cody trusted him, for whatever that was worth. Yet, this mission was becoming a lot more complex with the possible implications of a Mirror Universe Black Watch version… 
Captain Quentin Lazarus
Outpost Umbra Prime
Stardate 2209.22
Lazarus sighed, "The enemy of my enemy thing might work in this universe, but everything on the other side of the Mirror is chaotic, dangerous and highly unpredictable. The Black Watch there could be good guys…or they could be worse than the one McCulloch and Kane destroyed here."
He turned his gaze on McCulloch, "Will, you've earned my trust. You have become a crucial part of this team and save for a few bumps along the way, I am proud of what you have accomplished.
"But I'm going to say this, if Commander Vree is fine with you being a part of the mission, I want to make a couple things clear. One, you are to have no contact with Black Watch. Two, if they contact you, I want you to alert a senior officer immediately. Under no circumstances are you to be alone with them. And finally, you are not to initiate contact with them."
He looked to Vree, "That said, it's your team…so it's your call."
Lt. Commander William McCulloch
Outpost Umbra Prime
Stardate 2209.22
McCulloch was stunned and humbled by Lazarus' words. He looked around the room and saw the entire team looking at him in apparent support. His gaze came to Tiri, the young Andorian officer who had snapped him into line at the height of the last mission. She silently nodded with approval. He then looked over to Victoria who was attempting to suppress a smile and appear serious. After a brief moment, she winked. Even Mayla's mood seemed to soften slightly, although the Scot was almost certain she was still fuming over the morning encounter outside of his quarters.
Will returned his gaze to the Captain and sat up straight in his chair. "Sir!" He announced. "You have my word that if I encounter any of this alternative Black Watch…the Coldstream Guards or whatever they called themselves… I will avoid them at all costs. And if I do encounter them, I assure you I will immediately report it to my commanding officers. I'll even package them in a pretty bow and turn them over to Commander Vree if she so requires. No hesitation whatsoever.
The Scot looked over at Vree. "Orders Commander?"
Commander Mayla Vree
Outpost Umbra One
Stardate 2209.24
Mayla listened quietly to get a feel of what the team and the captain felt about the existence of Black Watch in the mirror universe. Despite what Lazarus said, the 'complicated' history her father had with Black Watch was in his past, and Bravo Squad. But she figured out the reason he brought it up was because of everyone present, only Lazarus and McCulloch were actually in witness of that mission.
Then McCulloch stood up and made what sounded like a plea of bravado. She could tell there was part of him that wasn't convinced. He had betrayed Starfeet and Bravo Squad. Now he betrayed the Black Watch? Those of his own clan?
McCulloch's depth of personal loyalties did run along a jagged path. Maybe with the support of this team, he just might be able to hold it together.
She stood up and looked at each team member. "This is the Mirror Universe. They follow a different path, different ideals, different values. Let's try not to apply our sensibilities, beliefs, or even creed to think we know who they are and what they are capable of." She looked at Jahkar first, and then back to Lazarus. "And with all due respect, the enemy of my enemy, is still my enemy. We will be at a disadvantage to think otherwise."
Lazarus gave her an unpleasant scowl, knowing she had pulled the rug from under him. Those damn memories of Sorvek gave her a more cognizant overview of the situation in certain matters now, and he had to remember that. And to use it to his advantage.
"If McCulloch gave his word to the dedication and loyalty of this team, I have no reason to question it unless proven otherwise." She gave McCulloch a stare. "I believe there is more for him to live for in our universe than to go on some personal vendetta over there on standing orders that should only apply in our universe. But for his own safety, I believe some cosmetic surgery is needed. As we all should just in case. We shouldn't encounter Black Watch, it's a penal colony after all. Every prisoner is expected to work almost everyday. I'd say their primary concern would be to stay alive."
McCulloch gave her a nod. Mayla looked around her team, into each person's eyes to read them. "We're in and out. No heroics. Find Thompson and get out. We have enough battles in our own universe to fight than to take on more in another universe."
Captain Quentin Lazarus
Outpost Umbra Prime
Stardate 2209.25
Lazarus nodded, "Well, there it is. Your commanding officer has spoken."
He looked around at the rest of the team, "Is there anything else to be discussed here?"
Lieutenant Commander Ryramorl Ra’yral
Outpost Umbra Prime
Stardate 2209.25
"What are the Catians like in the Mirror Universe?" he asked. "Just so I know how to present myself."
Tazhenkov pulled up data on a PADD and then slid the device across the table to Ra’yral. "They were slaves of the empire before the fall of the First Terran Empire. After the empire fell they allied themselves with the Cardassian-Klingon Alliance where they became shock troops serving the new power in the quadrant.
"After the Alliance was defeated and the empire was restored, the Caitians found themselves mostly destroyed," Taz continued. "Those who remained either swore their allegiance to the empire or they were exterminated. About 25,000 Caitians remain, most of them serving the empire.
"They are powerful fighters, shrewd warriors, but they have learned their place in the Terran Empire and are obedient," he said. "They are a broken people, but like a dog who has been abused they can be dangerous."
"Like a conquered clan," Ryramorl rumbled, thinking of some of those he knew.
Lieutenant JG Reepchip Charatetet
Outpost Umbra Prime
Stardate 2209.25
Reepchip was clearly troubled by something. "This final remnant of the Mirror Universe Carnora–may I at least contact our masters about them and let them know they are there?" he asked. Ryramorl hid a smile–Reepchip was still a bit of a soft touch, and he could sense the concern that the Muran held for these isolated counterparts.
Tazhenkov frowned. "We did make an inquiry about them to Carnora Intelligence. Their agent told us, and I quote, ‘Have nothing to do with that wicked and twisted race.’" He looked at Ryramorl. "I didn’t know Carnora used cybernetics, but she had a band grafted onto her skull."
Both Ryramorl and Reepchip straightened up and gave each other a look. "..very well. They have spoken," said Reepchip.
Commander Victoria Smith
Outpost Umbra Prime
Stardate 2210.02
"I don’t understand why I have to wear … that." Victoria protested as Darva McGuire, and Fiadh Hannigan looked on sympathetically. The three agreed to meet in the station’s armory after the mission briefing to review the nurse’s undercover clothing and equipment for the upcoming operation.
On a table before the trio was Smith’s proposed Terran uniform … which consisted of black knee-high boots, a black military skirt, and a blue and black sleeved crop top that would expose the wearer’s midriff and neckline. 
Next to the uniform was a comm badge of the Terran Empire, a pin signifying her importance as a chief medical officer, a ceremonial dagger, and the accompanying leather belting. Victoria folded her arms and sighed loudly. "The only thing missing from this ensemble is a pole."
"Intelligence suggests this is her most commonly worn uniform." McGuire countered.
The nurse scoffed. "I’m going to need a tetanus shot after this mission."
Hannigan retrieved a nearby leather satchel and dropped it onto the table. 
"You almost forgot your Terran medical kit, ma’am."
"What is up with the Terrans and leather? This entire collection is impractical for a medical officer," Victoria whined softly.
"It is what it is, commander.’ Darva replied matter-of-factly. "Time to take it for a test drive."
"Aye, ma’am." Fiadh encouraged in her Irish brogue. "Now’s not the time to be shy. Off you go now… get yourself into your wee skanky uniform.’
"Fine." The nurse huffed before pulling the uniform and accouterments into a ball. She spun on her heels, marched to a nearby shower area, and slowly changed into the Terran outfit.
Several minutes later, the combat nurse emerged wearing her Terran uniform. Her arms were crossed to conceal her midriff. Occasionally she would tug on her skirt to lower its length before pulling it back up. The only benefit of the outfit was the boots added a couple of inches to her height. God, she hated being short.
"I look like a Sidewalk Sally." Smith protested.
"Well that’s a bit overdramatic," McGuire replied as she retrieved a pack and pulled out a bottle of Pickering whiskey. She waved it around in small circles as she continued to speak. "Do you look like a glorified stripper? Sure. But a Sidewalk Sally? No."
"Wonderful. What’s with the bottle?"
Darva poured its contents into a glass and handed it to the nurse. ‘Drink."
Surprisingly, the nurse complied. Fiadh seized the bottle, quickly poured a second glass and handed it to Smith. Victoria promptly downed it. 
"We’ll trim your hair to a short bob before shaving the right side of your head." McGuire.quietly announced.
‘When are we going to do that?" The nurse asked as she studied her shoulder-length red hair in a nearby mirror.
"Tonight." McGuire reported. "You’re scalp is going to get irritated after the shave. We need time for it to heal. Otherwise, you’ll attract unnecessary attention to yourself.’
‘Shall we ask Commander Vree or Lt. Commander McCulloch to do the deed?" Hannigan inquired.
The nurse shook her head in the negative and looked at Fiadh. "No. You’ll do it."
"Aye ma’am."
Darva motioned to Smith. "Time we go for a walk."
Victoria reluctantly nodded in understanding. She knew what they were doing and why. She needed to be comfortable playing Dr. Victoria Smith, including appearing in public in the less-than-desirable uniform. 
She closed her eyes and focused on her memories of Jiarin and her role within a Trill terrorist cell. After several moments of tense silence, she quickly opened her green eyes, looked at herself in the mirror, and smiled assuredly at her companions. 
"Let’s go cause trouble." The nurse announced in Trill before correcting herself and repeating the statement in common.
Victoria confidently exited the room and started to make her way towards the interior of the station…leaving Fiadh and Darva behind.
"What did the commander mean by causing trouble?" Warrant Officer nervously asked.
"Maybe we shouldn’t have liquored her up that much." Darva conceded as she motioned for Hannigan to follower her out of the armory. "We better keep a bloody eye on her before she does something Vree will kill us for."
Captain Quentin Lazarus
Outpost Umbra Prime
Stardate 2210.02
Lazarus looked around at everyone again. "Is everything settled? If so, report to the medical bay to see about any cosmetic alterations. Ensign Grop is assembling gear appropriate for your mission. See him in the armory to select what you’re taking.
"It should be noted that Grop is now the team’s official quartermaster," said Lazarus. "He asked for the job, and we’ve decided to split him between security and handling your loadouts. Also, he has entered a new Shadow Operations training program, so he will be spending time in the holodeck attending classes and going on sims.
"Before you leave this room, I should also take this opportunity to congratulate Ra’yral and Charatetet on their recent promotions to lieutenant commander and lieutenant junior grade," Laarus said. "That said, you are dismissed."
[Back to top]
==S5, E1, Act 4: Extreme Makeover Edition==
Colonel Jahkar
Lt. Tiri Sh'avelith
Outpost Umbra Prime
Stardate 2210.03
Tiri and Jahkar walked out of the briefing and headed down the corridor bound for the medical bay.
Jahkar had decided on a more neutral approach to his dilemma about whether to appear Klingon or Romulan. He had casual features of both races, slightly pointed ears usually hidden under his long hair and barely visible forehead ridges. He decided to see if the docs could make him appear as human.
Tiri was still unsure of what to do. She could have her facial ridges altered, antenna secured back and skin color changed to make her appear non-Andorian. Exactly what they could make her appear as was still an uncertainty.
Also, on Tiri's mind was Jahkar's effort in the briefing to suggest she stay behind. As they walked along the corridor, she noticed he wasn't saying anything, and it triggered her to speak.
"What was that?" she asked.
He frowned and looked over at her, "What was what?"
"You tried to suggest I stay behind back there," she said. "I'm Andorian, not some freak who medical can't work with."
"I didn't say you were," he said dryly. ‘Disguising you won't be easy, that's all I was saying. Your antennae can't be altered or removed. I'm even concerned about how restraining them in some way will affect your senses. I need you functional on this mission."
Tiri wanted to fire back at him, but he had a point. Pinning the antenna back or concealing them with a head garment could throw off her equilibrium and other sensory input. She recalled one time in training an opponent in a wrestling match grabbed one of her antennae and twisted it, causing her not only great pain, but several days of impairment when she walked.
"Why don't we let medical decide," Tiri muttered.
Jahkar looked at her and fought back a grin. She was annoyed. "I thought that was what we're doing? Commander already put you on the team, we'll leave it to Union XII to figure out how we pull this off."
"Fine," she said.
"Are you upset with me about something else?" he asked.
Tiri's head snapped around and she glared at Jahkar, "You've been avoiding me since we got back. You have never given me a clear indication of what you want to do. Are we going somewhere with this or are we staying just friends?"
Jahkar gave a deep sigh and looked around, locating a side corridor where he rerouted Tiri by gently taking her arm and guiding her, so they were off the beaten path enough to not be heard.
"I'm sorry. I should have talked to you sooner than this, but everything has been in turmoil since Tajel was killed," Jahkar said. "Tiri…I care about you, a lot. I want to be more than friends, but it's complicated. Too complicated."
Tiri rolled her eyes, "How so?"
"You're 26 years old, I'm 46," Jahkar stated bluntly. "My daughter is your age."
"So what? Age is just a number, Jahkar," she retorted.
"If we were civilians the ‘age is just a number' would make a difference with me. If we weren't in Shadow Ops, Starfleet or the Marine Corp then yes, we could be together," he said, his voice sad but remaining stern. "But we're here, in this unit, and I promise you we would be the butt of jokes and command would not be happy with us at all. One or both of us would likely be reassigned."
The Andorian started to respond, but again could not find a logical argument to throw at his reasoning.
Unfortunately, Jahkar was right.
"Dammit, Jahkar, I can't just change how I feel," she shook her head.
"Neither can I," he said. "But you know I'm right. I'm not going to put either of us through that and I'm not going to throw away my career, or yours."
Tiri looked away and shook her head, "Why didn't you say something sooner?"
"I did. You persisted and I'll admit, I thought about saying ‘what the hell.' But I can hear the jokes from McCulloch, Thompson and Beckett already."
Tiri turned back to him and grinned a little, "I'm sure Ryramorl would have some Carnora story to tell about a young female and an older male who falls in love and it started some bloody war between their clans."
Jahkar smirked, "You know he would."
"And Mayla," Tiri said. "She would not approve."
"Unlikely," he said. "She'd have an issue with us being close and me being 2IC. Not sure how she'd react to the age thing."
"She would say, ‘ew'," Tiri said. "She looks at you like an uncle or something."
Jahkar laughed, "But you don't?"
"I guess I like older men," she shrugged. "But, that's just me."
Jahkar nodded and then put his arms around the Andorian, giving her a hug as he pulled her against him. "Are we good?"
Tiri softened and sank into his embrace.
"Are we good?" he asked her.
"I guess. I hate it that you're right," she said. "We're still friends, aren't we?"
He drew back and looked down at her, "Of course. Always. Best friends."
Tiri stepped away from him and turned back toward the main corridor, "Come on, let's go see what the med staff can do with us."
As she walked away, Jahkar watched her for a moment and sighed before falling in behind her. He hoped he would not end up regretting his decision…
Tiri continued on, determined to get on with the mission despite the hurt she was feeling. She knew Jahkar was right, but somehow it didn't feel right. Regardless, this wasn't the time to fret over what wasn't going to be. She would do that later, when Daryl was back home.
Commander Mayla Vree
Outpost Umbra Prime
Stardate 2210.04
After a quick visit to the medical bay to check up on the rest of the team's cosmetic changes, she headed straight to her quarters to alter her camouflaging nanites to accept a new quantum signature. Accessing the science logs from Deep Space Nine, the USS Defiant, and the USS Revenant to be sure the quantum signature for the mirror universe matched, she added a switch in the matrix for easy access to accept the new phase variance.
Her next stop was the garment replicator situated in one area of the medium sized Armory of Umbra Prime. It already had been programmed for her size and the upcoming mission parameters. All she had to do was to select what she wanted to wear. There was also a holographic guide to assist with the clothing and selection all based on the mission parameters. It was like having a personal stylist for the mission as a holographic representation of Mayla appeared in the clothes she had chosen. A tight fitting long sleeved black under shirt, a dark purple long sleeve shirt that fell below her waist, a black vest, tight fitting stretch pants to allow freedom of movement, a long-hooded coat that could be buttoned at the waist, and soft leather boots that would allow her stealth. She also added a pair of arm and shin braces, and a utility belt with several pouches. She added the option to have all of the clothing show wear. On her holographic self, she indicated to the hologram the several modifications to accommodate hidden throwing and combat knives, and several hidden pockets.
When she was done, the hologram gave her a smile as the replicator glowed for each time a garment was created. The hologram carefully placed each folded piece into a box for Mayla to carry out. Out of habit, Mayla thanked the personality and walked towards the Quartermaster's station. She wasn't going to bring any of her personal weapons, everything screamed of her Universe. But there was one thing she did want to bring.
"Commander, what would you like?" Ensign Grop said from a computer station situated in front of several weapons replicators.
"Two spring loaders, program Bryce Delta 4, one cartridge each." These were Jackson Bryce's wrist spring loaders. They were makeshift enough to not arouse suspicion. Each loader worked simply enough to hold a small cartridge of 3 uncoiled springs. Upon shooting from the loader, the springs would coil in less than half a second, long enough for the pointed end to enter a subject's body or limb, and coil painfully inside. Altogether with 6 springs, that should be enough in several pinches.
"Old tech, I think it'll be alright in this case." He accessed the program and instructed the computer to begin replicating. "What else?"
"Sixteen throwing knives, four combat knives, two combat daggers, and a collapsible staff."
"You want your father's Min Fighting Staff?" he asked, referring to Kyril's design where when it wasn't extended to its entire length, it was the size of a thick bracelet. 
"I don't want any of our tech over there. Do they have something similar?"
"I have something similar, but it's not as compact as your father's. This one is still a half meter long when collapsed."
She looked at the image and usage video he showed her. It would suffice. She perused through about a dozen more various pieces of equipment, selecting a few, adding to her growing list. "It'll do. That's it for now."
He tapped keys in rapid succession and several replicators began to glow at the same time. "Be done in about half an hour, Commander."
"Thank you, Ensign."
Just as she walked out of Armory with her box of clothes, she saw someone in civilian clothing suddenly stop, turn around, and hurried around a corner. Mayla shook her head and chased after her.
"What are you wearing?" She inquired Smith before she turned another corner that would have taken her to another turbo lift. And out of range.
"It's the fashion now," Smith said as she slowly turned around. "Terran Empire uniform my doppelganger likes to wear, I'm told."
"You are not wearing that during infiltration. You'll stand out."
Smith rocked her head back and forth, giving the younger woman an exasperated sigh. "I'm bringing it along. I'm not going to wear it until I have to. I hate it."
"The garment replicator in the Armory will have REAL clothes for you to choose from. Remember, we're supposed to be beaten down miners. Has Will seen you in this?"
"God, no."
"Then get to your quarters and out of those clothes." Mayla turned around and headed back the way she came. "Or else he'll be spending another night with you."
Commander Victoria Smith
Outpost Umbra Prime
Stardate 2210.06
"Then get to your quarters and out of those clothes." Victoria mimicked softly as Mayla walked away. "Or else he'll be spending another night with you."
She was somewhat relieved to hear that she wouldn’t be spending all of her time in this silly, Terran Medical Officer’s uniform and that she had options during the mission. Granted, at some point, she’d have to switch to the Terran uniform, but thankfully not right away.
However, Mayla’s intentional and somewhat condescending jab about spending the night with Will annoyed her. And she wasn’t going to let it go unanswered.
"Computer!" The nurse announced loudly enough for the Trill to hear. "Locate Lt. Commander William McCulloch."
Victoria watched as Vree stopped in her tracks and looked back over her shoulder at her. 
"Oops,’ She coyly announced in Trill as she continued to watch Vree. "Now I hope I don’t run into him on the way back to my quarters."
Victoria’s eyes narrowed as she watched Mayla’s reaction. After a moment, she spun on her heels and walked away. She could feel the Trill’s cold stare as she rounded the corner and disappeared from sight. 
The last thing she wanted was for Will to see her in a glorified stripper nurse outfit. Understandably, she secretly hoped he wouldn’t see the uniform before she had a chance to burn it and then burn the replicator that generated it.
Once back in her quarters, she quickly changed into her standard duty uniform and notified Lt. Riisos she was visiting Union XII for a spot inspection of their medical field kits.
Lt. Commander Ryramorl Ra’yral
Outpost Umbra Prime
Stardate 2210.11
Ryramorl stepped into the hallway and saw Victoria going hurriedly by in highly unusual garb for her. When she emerged in her regular uniform, Ryramorl decided to needle her a bit. He came towards her, looking puzzled, and saluted her. "Ma’am, Permission to speak plainly."
Commander Smith nodded, wondering what the big felinoid had to say. "Granted."
"Ma’am, I am aware that Lieutenant Commander William McCulloch quite loudly expressed an interest in mating during our meeting–though I’m not sure that was a good time to announce that he was in season," he said in his usual slow, careful way. "However, I was surprised to see you respond so readily with attire associated with enticement. I am … unsure if this timing is wise."
Victoria looked at Ryramorl incredulously. "...are you serious?" The Olvern had to be joking, but there was no sign of it, neither in face nor in voice, nor in body language–hell, was he capable of making a joke?
Ryramorl’s gaze was flat, with no trace of levity. "May I, with all respect, suggest that you inquire after your gods, that they would permit you to delay your fertility rituals until after the mission?"
"... Get out of here, Lieutenant Commander."
"Consider well my words, Ma’am." He walked away down the hall, silently thanking the God of a Thousand Names, Lord of Trickery, Mischief, and Confusion for the ability to keep a straight face–and for letting people think that he had no sense of humour.
Victoria shook her head in confusion as she watched him walk away. The Carnora had to be joking … right?
"So fresh." She announced before smirking slightly. The nurse noted that she would have to speak with Reepchip about an appropriate response to Ryramorl…after the mission.
Lt. Tiri Sh’avelith
Outpost Umbra Prime
Stardate 2210.11
Sh’avelith yelped and the station Emergency Medical Hologram rolled its eyes and stepped back, stopping the procedure he was performing on her. This EMH was based on Dr. Joseph M’Benga, the chief medical officer of the USS Enterprise back in the days when Christopher Pike captained the ship – before Kirk and before Picard.
It was, of course, updated with modern medical knowledge, but its personality was based completely on the bearded African man who had served in Starfleet more than 100 years ago.
"I barely touched you," M’Benga muttered. 
"It tugged," she responded. "You don’t understand how sensitive Andorian antennae are."
M’Benga laughed, "I suppose I don’t, but you are going to have to sit still while I work on this."
"Sorry, doctor," Tiri said.
M’Benga had turned Tiri’s skin into a caucasian white, while temporarily altering her facial ridges to make them less prominent. Her long flowing white hair had been transformed into a red-orange mane of curls, with her antennae altered to be more flexible so they could be held back on her head by a thick headband. 
Once he helped her put the black headband on, Tiri felt a little lightheaded and had trouble standing for a moment when M’Benga asked her to get up to test her equilibrium. 
The dark-skinned male human shook his head, "That’s what you and I were afraid of. I thought the alterations to make them less rigid would allow you to pin them back without too much dizziness…"
"I’ve got it," Tiri said. "You said something about giving me something to ease the dizziness."
M’Benga nodded and picked up a hypospray from the nearby table. He brought it up and injected its contents into Tiri’s neck. 
Instantly, Tiri noticed the dizziness fade away and she felt much better. She nodded and smiled at the doctor and the EMH walked over and synthesized five more doses. He placed them into a pack and handed them to Tiri.
"That should hold you for the duration of the mission," he said. "Giving you more than that and it could be dangerous…so use it sparingly."
"Yes, sir," the Andorian said.
"That should do it," he told her. "Now, for your friend."
He walked over to a nearby examination where Colonel Jahkar was waiting…
Colonel Jahkar
Outpost Umbra Prime
Stardate 2210.13
The M’Benga EMH came to stand over Jahkar, who was looking past him at Tiri. The changes he’d made were startling. Then he looked up at the EMH and smirked, "So doc, what do you think? Should I go full Romulan or full Klingon?"
M’Benga finished some tricorder scans and then met Jahkar’s gaze, "Actually, colonel, your Klingon features are less prominent than your Romulan features. With the hair and beard, I could make you look human with little effort."
Jahkar raised an eyebrow, "Human?"
"Your forehead ridges are barely noticeable, so they could be easily hidden," the doctor said, inputting data into a PADD. "I can make your ears more rounded instead of pointed, and then make your eyebrows less arched. A little change to your skin tone and you’ll look human."
M’Benga-EMH then handed the PADD to Jahkar who looked at an image of what he’d look like after the alterations were made.
"Makes sense," Jahkar said, handing the PADD back. "Klingons and Romulans are some of the most hated enemies of the Empire. Human is probably a better choice. You may proceed."
M’Benga then got started with his cosmetic modifications…
Empress Taryn Kane
Earth – Imperial Capital, Paris
Stardate 2210.13
Taryn Kane had chosen a black leather bodysuit, ceremonial golden armor and her gold and ruby studded crown resting atop her head of long, black though slightly graying hair. Joined by her entourage of aides and advisors, the empress made her way through the corridors of the Imperial Palace on Earth.
The Cardassian-Klingon Alliance had kept the palace intact after they won the war. They used it as the seat of power for the regional governor they’d put in charge of Terra after it was conquered. 
But now the palace and the capital were once again the seat of power of the Terran Empire and Kane was happy to call it her home. She arrived in her audience chamber and ascended the dais where her throne awaited her.
Once seated in the big chair, she looked to her right and there stood General Brian Kern, one of Kane’s recently selected Inner Circle of advisors. Kern had served in the Shadow Guard and had proven himself trustworthy. 
And, with Durham away at the penal colony, Kern would be her acting right hand for the time being.
"You have something for me?" she asked Kern.
"I do indeed, your excellency," he said. "The Orion Slaver D’Marcus Sinjan paid a visit to the palace while you were meeting with the Imperial Cabinet. He brought gifts…an offering so he can continue his business dealings in and around the empire."
Kane smirked, "Poor SInjan, he must think I’ll shut him down. I hope he brought something worthwhile?"
Kern gave a slight shrug, "I do not think it will disappoint, excellency."
Taryn smiled, "Then show me, my interest is piqued."
The general waved to some guard posted nearby and the soldiers disappeared into a side chamber, then emerged shortly thereafter carrying a chest heaped with latinum, followed by six men and women, shackled together wearing scraps for clothing as they marched in and came to stand about 20 feet from the empress.
"Slaves," she nodded with satisfaction. "And a sizable amount of latinum. Perhaps Sinjan will be allowed to continue his business transactions. Well, let's have a look."
Taryn stood and walked down the dais to where the slaves stood and she walked along, inspecting each one. Two human males, a Klingon male, a Bajoran woman and then she came to the last one – something much more exotic.
"These will all do nicely," she said. "But this one…she is unique." Kane reached out and brushed a loch of the woman’s white hair aside to look at her face.
"Tell me your name girl?"
The young woman looked up nervously at Kane and swallowed hard as she tried not to show her fear, "M-my name…is.. Tiri…your excellency…Tiri Sh’avleith."
Kane nodded approvingly, "Not many of your kind left these days, little one. How did you come to be a slave?"
"My family was killed in the war," she said. "The war between the Resistance and the Alliance. I was captured by Orion slavers…then I ended up here."
Empress Kane absorbed the story and figured there was much more to it than the girl was saying. No matter, she thought. Having an Andorian as a slave would be something different. Perhaps if Tiri had been properly trained by her family before her capture, she might possess fighting skills that would make her a good bodyguard…or…worse case…she could be used to fight in the gladiator games. But only if she proved not to be useful in other ways to the empress.
"Take them all to the slave pens and have them cleaned up and issue them clothing," she said. "Tell my slave keepers to assess each one and give me possible uses for their talents."
Kern nodded, "As you wish, excellency."
As the slaves were led off, Taryn looked after Tiri and smiled, "I’ll see you again soon."
Once the slaves were gone, Kane returned to her throne to continue with the business of the day…
Lt. Commander William McCulloch
Outpost Umbra Prime
Stardate 2210.13
"It may work," Ensign Grop noted as he and the Scot studied the long mining tool case on the table before them.
"You think?" Will asked suspiciously as he cracked open the case and studied the interior. 
"Yes, sir. We could disassemble a sniping rifle or a similar weapon and store it in the case's lining.’
‘What about scans? McCulloch asked suspiciously. 
The ensign paused for a moment before answering. "I could coat the interior with a protective film that should either inhibit or severely diminish any scans looking for weapons."
The Scot nodded in understanding. "Do it. But run some tests and report back to me what you find."
"Aye sir."
"What else do you have for me?"
"We’re going old school to kit you up," Grop replied as he gestured for McCulloch to follow him to a nearby table. "I’m recommending a collapsible bow staff disguised as a digging bar, two boot knives, and a couple of mini daggers."
"Interesting selection Ensign."
"Thank you sir. I also have utility belts and pouches for you as well."
"What is this?" Will asked as he picked up a small, thin black device next to the mini daggers. 
"The Terran version of a Type I phaser. I read your service file, sir, and I noted you often concealed a pair of Type I phasers under synthetic skin on your forearms before a mission. We could attempt to replicate that practice if you’re open to the idea."
Will smirked slightly. "It’s been some time since I tried that tactic. It would be good to give it a whirl again."
"Very good, sir, We can test concealment later today."
"Anything else, Ensign?"
"Yes," Grop answered as he handed a padd to the Scot. "The Captain and Commander need you to surgically alter your appearance. I conducted a scan of the intelligence files provided to us and I suspect this would be the best person to emulate during the mission."
Will studied the report before looking up at the Ferengi ensign. "Is this a joke?"
"I’m afraid not, sir."
"Seriously? You want to alter my appearance to closely resemble… him?"
"The Captain indicated he is comfortable with the suggestion. Of course, I can search for an alternative solution if you are uncomfortable with the suggestion."
"You can’t modify some of my features to make me inconspicuous?"
"It would be easier if we completely altered all of your facial features."
McCulloch grumbled for several seconds before answering. 
"Why him ensign?"
"It’s not an exact match, but even if it was, there are no file hits on him from the Terran intelligence reports," Grop replied. "And to be blunt, his appearance is rugged, like a laborer."
"Fine." Will huffed as he tossed the padd onto the table. "When do we do the deed?"
"Commander Vree will notify you when it’s time to report to the medical bay."
The Scot ground his teeth and continued to mutter. "I can’t believe, out of all people you could have picked, Sergeant Major John Sharpe was somehow the inspiration."
John Sharpe…Will thought to himself…the damn’d infantry sniper who replaced him after the Black Watch fiasco. From what the Scot understood, Sharpe was killed in action a couple of years later while serving with Bravo Squad. However, even after his death, there were some who openly declared Sharpe was a far more talented sniper than McCulloch.
"Bloody hell…." McCulloch cursed as he left the armory.
Lieutenant Commander Ryramorl Ra’yral
Outpost Umbra Prime
Stardate 2210.18
Ryramorl sat patiently as his alterations were done–namely, trimming the fur on his tail. "I should have learned a Caitian language when I was in Starfleet Academy," he rumbled. "Almost everyone mistook me for a really big Caitian at first."
"Did any Caitians make that mistake?" asked the medic. This "operation" was a breather after all the surgeries.
"No," said Ryramorl, tapping his nose. "Our scent is pretty distinct." He paused. "Perhaps clip all my fur short, that my scars may be seen."
"Mmm. Good idea."
Soon, Ryramorl’s thick fur was clipped close, revealing the scars that inevitably came with being a warrior.
Lt. Commander Tommy Carmichael
USS Resurrection, Engineering
Stardate 2210.19
Carmichael was having a slight meltdown as he worked to install the trans-dimensional device into Resurrection’s complicated propulsion system. Right away he’d ruled out trying to integrate the device into the coaxial drive. The alien technology was just not understood well enough to go fusing it into the drive’s components. He was certain it would assimilate the device into its structure just as the alien tech had done to the Resurrections warp drive.
There was also the issue of keeping too many prying eyes away from the coaxial drive, specifically Lt. Danae Nala who Commander Tazhenkov had sent to engineering to assist in the installation of the trans-dimension device.
So, they were installing it into Resurrection’s warp drive. The coaxial wouldn’t be needed on this mission – at least not the getting to the Mirror Universe part of their assignment.
The meltdown was the result of dealing with the Mad Caps and their sudden obsession with the new piece of technology – how does it work? How was it made? Who designed it? How much energy did it require? The questions were endless.
On top of that, Lt. Nala was rude and bossy. Her knowledge of the device and past use of the technology made her the foremost expert on Resurrection, but Carmichael was quickly getting tired of taking orders from the young Trill.
Work was progressing when Captain Lazarus arrived in the engineering and approached the chief engineer, "Report, commander."
"The Madcaps are finishing the install as we speak" Tommy said. "Lt. Nala is overseeing the work. I am monitoring the coaxial drive to make sure this trans-dimensional device doesn’t have a negative interaction with the alien tech."
Lazarus nodded, "ETA on when we can depart?"
"Two hours, three tops," the chief engineer replied. "Then we should test it…"
Lazarus shook his head hard, "No test…this trip will be our test-run. Make sure its right, commander."
Carmichael slowly nodded, "Sure…yes sir. Got it."
"Carry on, Mr. Carmichael," he said, before turning and walking back out of engineering.
Tommy sighed and headed back to check up the engineering staff, shaking his head as he wondered how this would go if the device failed…
[Back to top]
==S5, E1, Act 5: Through the Looking Glass==
Greg Durham
Jack Dark
Lt. Commander Daryl Thompson
Rogaran IV, Penal Colony, Mirror Universe
Stardate 2210.19
Daryl Thompson screamed at the top of his lungs as he writhed in agony on the floor of the interrogation cell. Jack Dark stood over him, no less than eight nanotech tendrils extending from Dark and connected to Daryl’s head, back and chest.
Dark watched Daryl crawling around in pain as the tentacles delivered an array of sensations – a mixture of pain and euphoria coursing through his body. The Risan smiled as he enjoyed Thompson’s suffering.
Like his counterpart in the Prime Universe, Dark was able to manipulate nanites with his telekinetic ability. But the Mirror version of Jack Dark used his abilities to hurt people, to torture and to extract information from them. That was how he’d excelled at his position as Grand Inquisitor.
When the barrage of sensations ended, Daryl collapsed on the floor panting as his sweat soaked body remained otherwise limp.
"Damn, Jack," Durham said. "I thought his head was going to pop with that last blast."
Jack withdrew the tendrils and stepped back, "He’s a tough one. Our Daryl Thompson wouldn’t have fared that well."
"We need something from him…codes, specifications, command crew information…something about that ship," said Greg. "Otherwise, our new empress is going to be rather annoyed."
Jack looked down at Daryl, still sprawled near unconscious on the floor, his body still vibrating from the torture he’d endured.
"Give him a little time to recover. I’ll have the doctor look him over to see if we can get some stims in him," said Jack, a wicked grin crossing his face. "Then, when he’s lucid, bring the girl in. It’s time to see just how attached they’ve become to each other."
Commander Mayla Vree
Personal Holodeck, Umbra Prime
Stardate 2210.20
Mayla was sitting at her dedicated console in Bravo Command on Umbra One pouring over one last time the information Taz had given to them on one half of the console, and the other side were whatever information she had access to from any Starfleet record of the mirror universe. There was a gap between the Revenant's return and when the first Pathfinder units were sent over. But over the years, the Pathfinders reported back troves of information on what had conspired since the Terran Resistance had triumphed over the Alliance.
With the change of leadership in the self-proclaimed monarchy several times, also were changes of records to reflect the winning side in a more favorable light. Disseminating the true events was nearly impossible, let alone separating fact from fiction or hearsay. 
Her chronometer chimed an alarm in her eyes, calling for her to prepare to depart. She began to transfer many files over to her own AI as she began closing out screens floating in the air around her. The few hours engineering took to install the transdimensional device went without any status to her or her team. They could only gauge by periodic updates from the captain. Now, the ship was about to transition to the mirror universe, and then to the prison.
Shutting down her console, she stood up and straightened out her outfit and weapons. Instructing the holodeck to end program, she checked the information in her eyes and encrypted them for the time being. She would refer to them if she needed them.
She checked the equipment on her, all hidden and inconspicuous to the casual observer. The only piece of electronic equipment she was bringing was her subvocal, her AI, and a tricorder with its readout fed to her eyes. As soon as her check was completed, she walked off the holodeck and headed for the bridge to be there for the transition.
Lt. Commander William McCulloch
Umbra Prime
Stardate 2210.20
"Hold still, Lieutenant Commander," M’Benga calmly ordered as he waved a device up and down McCulloch’s throat.
"I don’t understand why you must alter my vocal cords." The Scot complained.
"Captain’s orders." the hologram answered matter-of-factly. "The last thing any of us want is that garbled Scottish brogue giving us away."
"So, you’re giving me a Cockney accent instead? Why not stab me in the heart while you’re at it."
M’Benga smiled slightly. "Commander Vree suggested I make you mute."
McCulloch grimaced slightly as the doctor completed his task and stood back to examine his work. "You bear an uncanny resemblance to…"
"Sergeant Major Sharpe?" McCulloch interrupted. "I know. It’s a bloody cruel joke."
"You sound like him."
"Isn’t he dead?" The Scot countered.
The hologram laughed softly. "Yes, Mr. McCulloch, he is. Is there anything else I can do for you?"
"Can you change me back?"
"When the mission is over, of course."
"Including removing this awful Cockney accent?"
"I suspect some crew would prefer you to keep it."
"Bloody hell."
"See, even your curses roll off the tongue with that accent."
"Good day, Doctor."
"Good luck Mr. McCulloch."
The Scot waved off the hologram, left the medical bay, and made his way to the Resurrection. En route, he fell into line with Victoria and most of Union XII. 
"Not a word." She quietly hissed as she scratched the right side of her head. All the hair on that side had been shaved off. "You look just like John Sharpe."
"But you recognized me right away?"
"It’s your gait," Smith observed. "You walk like a duck."
"Well, hopefully, the Terrans won’t pick up on it."
"That God-awful English accent will probably confuse them long enough not to notice the gait."
The Scot looked back at Union XII, trailing approximately 20 meters behind them. "Your team looks scared sh*tless." He noted quietly.
"That’s because they are." She conceded. "This entire mission has most of them spooked…and the big Dr. Smith reveal certainly isn’t helping things either." 
"I’d snap them into line sooner rather than later."
"Impressive words from John Sharpe." Victoria quipped. 
"You…knew him?"
"I remember him well. A skilled sniper and one hell of a dancer."
"A dancer? Really?"
"Kindred Dakota loved dancing with him."
McCulloch scoffed at the suggestion. 
"She did!" Smith pressed as she again scratched the right side of her scalp. "And come to think of it, would it kill you to learn a few dance moves after this mission?"
The Scot rolled his eyes. "As long as you agree to lose the skater boy haircut."
"What a horrible thing to say, Lieutenant Commander." She chided as the group crossed the docking tube into the Resurrection. 
The combat nurse gestured for Union XII to proceed to the Resurrection’s hangar to load medical supplies onto their jump ship. Once out of view, she turned to the Scot, leaned in, and tapped her right cheek. McCulloch leaned in and quickly kissed it.
"Good boy." Victoria purred as she stepped slightly back and eyed him carefully. 
"Are we still going to carry out our plans after the mission?"
"Absolutely."
"Then we both agree right now to come back alive." The nurse announced nervously. "Agreed?"
"Agreed." Will repeated.
"You keep your damn wits about you and do nothing stupid. I promise I’ll be just as careful."
"That’s a deal."
"Dismissed Lt. Commander." Victoria winked before spinning on her heels and walking away. She briefly flashed her green eyes at him as she looked over her shoulder. "Off you got, Mr. Sharpe, go report to your team…but no dancing with the ladies."
Lt. Cody Beckett
USS Resurrection, medbay
Stardate 2210.21
Beckett was the last one to get a makeover. 
He had chosen to keep it simple. He had chosen for the looks of some unknown pirate, named Hayden Rupert. He had been shaven bald, and right now, a small laser was rapidly moving across his head, face, neck and upper torso to place an intricate set of Maori-based tattoos. His beard had been coloured black, and his eyes appeared black with a bright yellow iris. 
Doctor M'Benga nodded satisfied and within minutes Beckett exited medbay and made his way to the armory. As he walked along the corridor, the few officers that walked past stared after him as most of them didn't recognize the SO operative. In the armory, he pondered for a few moments about what weapons he would take with him. Eventually he chooses for a few sets of throwing daggers, divided over several small pockets on his outfit and a short extensible staff which he hid in his sleeve pocket. He decided that less was more in this case and exited the armory. Now it was to wait for the Resurrection to slip into the other universe… 
Lt. Commander Ryramorl Ra’yral
Lt. J.G. Reepchip Charatetet
USS Resurrection
Stardate 2210.21
Ryramorl and Reepchip looked through the armoury. Reepchip ultimately armed himself with two hand daggers and his scorpion dagger, while Ryramorl simply took two traditional Olvern daggers.
The two were somewhat relieved that they were so inhuman–they hadn’t had to undergo any changes to their appearances whatsoever, to do so would be pointless.
"I hear the Madcaps are installing the new drive," said Ryramorl.
"Daven told me," said Reepchip, tapping his head to indicate telepathy. "But I’m not going back in Engineering without direct orders. The ship–she was angry with me when I saw the drive. I didn’t tell Lieutenant Commander Carmichael that, but I could feel it."
Ryramorl nodded quietly. The ship would know of her secrets, and be very unwilling to share them with more than a few.
Colonel Jahkar
Lt. Tiri Sh’avelith
Outpost Umbra Prime
Stardate 2210.21
Jahkar and Tiri arrived in the armory after they were both done in the med bay. Jahkar could not tell the difference after his cosmetic surgery. But looking at Tiri he couldn’t help but do a double take more than once. Adjusting to her new appearance was going to be difficult, but he could still see her face there – despite the changes the EMH had made.
Ensign Grop saw the two walk in and a big smile creased his face, "Colonel Jahkar. I have a few ideas for weaponry for you. Energy weapons are out, as you probably heard. So, I have prepared a new loadout you might like."
Jahkar looked at Grop and smiled, then shooting a side glance at Tiri, "Grop, the new quartermaster. Sure, lay it on me."
Grop brought a holographic display up of two smaller, sleek throwing axes. Not the same as his Klingon axes, but it was a suitable substitution.
"I call these J-100 tactical axes," the Ferengi said. "Balanced for throwing, made from tritanium alloy, black stealth finish on the metal, the handle is nylon-reinforced. This weapon is all about durability and compactness."
Tiri looked at Grop and smiled, "Let me guess, the J is for Jahkar?"
The Ferengi gave an almost embarrassed smile, "Well, he is the only one using axes as a preferred hand-to-hand weapon…at least on a regular basis."
Jahkar nodded after looking over the holographic schematics, "I’ll take them."
Grop produced the dual axes from a mil-spec replicator, and he handed the weapons over to the Marine. He then turned back to his holographic display and brought up the hologram of a rugged leather duster.
"Inside this coat are two concealed sheaths to hold onto the axes, allowing for quick deployment, when necessary," said the young Ferengi. "The coat itself is made of a polyalloy weave, similar to the body armor operators wear."
Jahkar nodded, "Firearms? I’m told no energy weapons."
Grop produced a pair of TR-309P pistols, one for Jahkar and the other for Tiri. There were four clips for each gun.
"Lieutenant, for you I had to do some thinking," Grop explained. "Your ushaan-tor will have to remain behind. Andorian weapons are very rare here…possessing one would be an offense. For you I have these."
Grop took out a retractable metal staff and a dagger, which turned out to be made of the same materials as Jahkar’s axes.
Tiri frowned at the dagger, "I prefer the ushaan, but I get it. Thanks for the staff, I have trained with one…"
"I know," Grop said with a toothy grin. "I read your bio info, saw what weapons you are qualified in."
"Kid did his homework," Jahkar smiled, glanced to Tiri.
Tiri was suddenly aware Grop was nearly blushing. When the Ferengi turned to retrieve some garments for her, Jahkar leaned over to the Andorian in disguise. "I think Grop likes you."
"Shut up!" she hissed back as Grop returned with a coat for Tiri.
"Bomber jacket, similar materials to Jahkar’s duster, secret compartment inside the left breast of the jacket for the dagger," the kid said. "Your packs are over in the staging area, packed with all the gear you requested."
Both Jahkar and Tiri thanked Grop, then took their loadouts and moved to gather the rest of their things…
Lieutenant Commander Thomas Carmichael
Lieutenant Daven Corhees
Lieutenant Junior Grade Spargan
Ensign Grollan
Ensign Bryan Turner
Ensign Aaron Turner
Ensign Pui-Chor Wong
USS Resurrection Engineering
Stardate 2210.23
The Madcaps finally finished installing the new drive. "Some really strange connections here on the warp drive," said Ensign Wong. "Never seen anything like that before."
"Does it have anything to do with the coaxial drive?" asked Aaron of Lieutenant Commander Carmichael.
His brother Bryan poked at some of the connections. "How'd you manage to connect these? I can't even find a seam."
Daven brought out a scanner, but Carmichael grabbed his wrist. "Don't. You're here to install the transdimensional drive, not poke around engineering." He Let go, and Daven put the scanner away. Carmichael grumbled. "Thank God Reepchip isn't here. He'd be all over this thing and worse, completely out of reach."
Daven sighed. "Very well. Spargan, are you ready to bring the transdimensional drive online?"
"Yes, sir," said Spargan. Carmichael was very grateful for the Vulcan; he'd been the one who'd kept the others the most on track. The transdimensional drive came to life.
Then Grollan called out, "something in there is moving!" As the Madcaps watched, a strange tendril erupted from the connections to the slipstream drive. It seemed to caress the transdimensional drive--then more tendrils erupted, and began encasing the drive, sliding with ease into it, and making it one with the coaxial drive.
Suddenly Spargan called out. "Sir! I just noticed the panels by the coaxial drive changing."
Carmichael went to look, and his eyes went wide. He could now control the transdimensional drive from the panel controlling the coaxial drive. He stood there, staring at the panel, which seemed to have changed itself. The madcaps gathered around Carmichael. Lieutenant Corhees spoke up.
"You know, just before we started the installation, I asked Reepchip if he wanted to join us. He said he wouldn't go near engineering anymore without your direct orders--the very ship was angry with him for seeing the coaxial drive. At first, I thought this was part of his animist
beliefs, since the Carnora believe EVERY ship has a soul."
"Considering what we've got on board... he might be more right than he knows," said Carmichael. He looked at the coaxial drive. "All this time, I've wondered what you are," he said. "Maybe I should have been asking WHO."
Carmichael tapped his comm-badge, "Carmichael to Captain Lazarus. You might want to get down here."
In his years of experience in Starfleet, the Maquis and as a mercenary, a subordinate saying, "you might want to get down here" was never something good. When Quentin Lazarus arrived in engineering and received an update from his chief engineer, he looked at Carmichael with his mouth agape.
"It did what?" the captain asked.
"The transdimensional device fused with the coaxial drive," Carmichael explained.
"But it wasn’t supposed to be installed in the coaxial drive. Resurrection has a redundant slipstream warp drive…that was where we decided it should be installed."
Carmichael nodded, "But when the coaxial fused with Resurrection, it attached itself to the slipstream drive. I never realized before, but it is actually a part of the ship and is connected to every system."
Lazarus sighed heavily, "This deal just keeps getting worse."
"Well, it doesn’t show any signs of negative effects," said Tommy. "Everything is running at peak performance."
Lazarus frowned and looked over the coaxial drive with Carmichael, "You ever consider this drive might have been Borg? The way it assimilates other pieces of technology?"
"We did, early on, after it fused with Resurrection," said Carmichael. "But it appears to be something other than Borg tech. I’m beginning to think it might be something more…organic in nature."
Lazarus scowled and looked the drive over again, "Organic?"
Tommy nodded, "The Mad Caps just told me Reepchip told them the ship speaks to him. Or, more likely, the coaxial drive is doing the talking."
"I see," said the captain. "Let’s keep this between us for right now. Anyone else who was there for this fusing of technology…put them under orders not to speak of what they saw to anyone else. Let me know the first sign of any trouble with this fusing of technologies."
Tommy gave a curt nod, "Yes sir."
Lazarus then turned and headed out of engineering. On his way to his ready room, he tapped his comm-badge, "Captain to Lt. Charatetet. Meet me in my ready room."
Meanwhile, Carmichael returned to the Mad Caps. "Not a word about what you just saw to anyone. That’s an order."
All six snapped to attention and saluted. "Sir, yes sir!" they chorused.
"Good. Dismissed."
Their work completed, the Madcaps left Engineering, and went back to the projects they’d been doing previously back on Umbra Prime.
Captain Quentin Lazarus
Lt. (JG) Reepchip Charatetet
USS Resurrection Captain's Ready Room
Stardate 2210.23
When Captain Lazarus heard the chime, he said, "Come in."
The door wooshed open, and Reepchip entered, and saluted his captain as the door closed behind him. "Sir. Lieutenant Junior Grade Reepchip Charatetet reporting, sir," said the Muran.
"At ease. You said this ship speaks to you, as if it's alive."
"All ships ar..." He stopped himself as he remembered that Captain Lazarus was of a very different culture. "My people believe that all ships are alive and have souls, sir. Even Umbra One has a soul, though I haven't met it yet. I could feel the Resurrection's soul when I first came aboard."
"Why didn't you report it, Lieutenant?"
"Sir, I saw no reason to report what is normal to me."
Captain Lazarus frowned. It made sense--if Reepchip's people believed every ship had a soul, then feeling a strong presence inherent in the Resurrection would have been no surprise to the Muran.
"When you saw the coaxial drive with your own eyes, what did the ship say to you?"
"It... did not really say anything, sir, not in words. I got the strong sense that it did not want me in there. It felt like the ship was glaring at me, as you would glare an ensign who barged into your
quarters out of the room. And when Lieutenant Commander Carmichael told me I was not to enter engineering without his direct summons, I felt approval for his orders from the ship. I honestly think now, if I tried to enter engineering now without Carmichael's express permission, the ship would glare at me in the same way--or just slam the door in my face."
Lazarus sighed. The captain’s gut suggested this was absolute bunk…but he had to remind himself alien races sometimes had abilities beyond what humans were capable of. There was also the fact Carnora had many strange abilities and beliefs – so perhaps it wasn’t a stretch that Reepchip could hear the ship speaking to him.
"Lieutenant, I want you to report any thoughts or feelings…any communication between you and the ship," Lazarus said. He then considered his next words carefully, creating a momentary pause. "Reepchip, I’m going to order Commander Carmichael to give you access to engineering. I don’t care what Clancy says. But you’re going to swear to me, lieutenant, on whatever Carnoric god you worship that you will not report anything about the coaxial drive back to your people. It is classified and I expect it to stay that way."
Reepchip saluted the captain. He spoke in his own language, but slowly, so that the captain could keep up with the Universal Translator. "To you, to the Lady of Secrets, to the Lord of Oaths, to the emperor, and to the King of Heaven, all equals in this Vow, I swear I will not speak about any classified technology on this ship."
Lazarus smiled and nodded, "Thank you, lieutenant. Carry on."
After Reepchip was gone, the captain visited Carmichael again in engineering and the two spoke in the small alcove the commander called an office.
"What?" Carmichael gasped after hearing the captain out. "Sorry…what, sir? You know the concerns over the coaxial drive, the classified nature of it and the issues with the Carnora finding out about it."
"Commander, Reepchip is a damn good engineer and now he seems to have some sort of mental connection with the ship," Lazarus grumbled. "Specifically, I think it’s the drive. The damn thing just assimilated the transdimensional device like a damn Borg, so there’s something going on with it. Reepchip could be the means to find answers and we’re keeping him away from the drive. I’ll no longer do it. I will bear any circumstances when Admiral Clancy finds out."
Tommy sighed, "I’ll hold off reporting it to her until we get back from the mission. Maybe by then we’ll have something to offer her to avoid any negative feedback."
Lazarus nodded and clapped his hand on Tommy’s shoulder, "Are we ready to go?"
"Ready as we’ll ever be," Carmichael said. "Tests all check out, only thing left to do is try it."
Lazarus headed out the door, "Get ready then. I be calling Black Alert in a few minutes."
Commander Mayla Vree
Bridge, USS Resurrection
Stardate 2210.23
Lazarus returned to the bridge from engineering and walked straight to the center chair. Mayla watched him from her usual spot besides tactical, noticing the slight tension in his face. When she gla
nced over to the engineering station in the rear of the bridge, there was a new diagram displayed on the screen that seemed to branch readings to the rest of the statuses of the transwarp drive and the coaxial drive. This new panel must be the transdimensional device.
"Ensign Lakim, ship wide, two minute warning."
The Orion at the comm station acknowledged briskly and sternly. "Aye, sir." He pressed a keystud and immediately made the announcement.
Just then Lieutenant Nala stepped on to the bridge and walked up to Lazarus who just acknowledged her with a nod. "So Taz decided you should come with us," he said as a statement rather than a question.
"He advised it would be best if you came across any Pathfinders. They don't know you're coming. It may be fortuitous to contact them if we need any additional support."
"And the fact you've been over there before."
She neither confirmed nor denied the comment. "I'll just find an out of the way space to sequester myself and stay out of your way."
"There'll be a spot over there," he thumbed in Mayla's direction.
She noticed Mayla and walked over to her. "Are you ready for this?"
"As ready as any of the hundreds of other missions I've been on."
"But not to the other universe."
Mayla just shrugged, keeping the knowledge to herself that she had the genetic memories of hundreds of other galaxies she had been implanted with long ago.
"Inform the docking control that we are leaving."
The young ensign in the docking control booth located inside the hangar coordinated with the station's dockmaster and received clearance to leave. Subconsciously he waved to the ship through the window as if the crew inside could see him. The bay doors opened and the Resurrection easily slipped through guided by tractor beams. Once free of the station, the ship moved at one quarter impulse out of orbit of Saturn.
"Black alert," Lazarus announced. "Set destination for the Expanse in the gamma sector." Then he glanced to the side at Nala. "I want to have empty space around us in case the device malfunctions or miscalculates."
Nala nodded in understanding, now crossing her arms stiffly across her chest.
Within a minute, the ship translocated out of the solar system and into the Expanse. This very large area of space spanning over a hundred light years was void of any stars or planets; not even an errant asteroid.
"Engineering, prepare to activate the transdimensional device. Helm, set coordinates to our targeted arrival point."
Mayla watched the console on the helm to see what those coordinates were, which weren't where the prison was at. It looked like they were going the rest of the way while phase cloaked.
USS Resurrection
Mirror Universe, somewhere near Rogaran IV, Penal Colony
Stardate 2210.26
Resurrection made the journey of about 45 minutes from the site where they’d entered the Mirror Universe until they entered the Rogaran system. Sensor readings of the system showed moderate activity. A Nebula-class ship, of the Mirror equivalent of such a ship, was patrolling nearby, but no other starships were close by.
Lazarus saw the colony ahead and turned to Vree. "You want to get your team ready? Unless there are objections, I’ll take Resurrection inside Rogaran IV and get into position?"
[Back to top]
==S5, E1, Act 6: Harsh Interrogation==
Commander Victoria Smith
USS Resurrection
Stardate 2210.26
As soon as the nurse was informed that the Resurrection had arrived in the Mirror Universe, she felt a chill run up her spine. She quickly suppressed the unsettling realization that she would soon be face-to-face with another reality’s version of herself…a far more evil and sadistic version of herself. 
Over the past two hours, while Union XII continued to inventory supplies for their jump ship and the Resurrection’s medical bay, Smith sat in her command chair inside the cockpit of the Gentle Annie and reviewed the intelligence files Taz had shared on Dr. Victoria Smith. 
The woman was…well, horrible. 
In addition to serving as the Emperor's Chief Medical Officer, she was suspected of being the brainchild behind several biological weapon programs and countless medical experimentation initiatives. Worse, she was commonly present during interrogation sessions of high-ranking enemies of the empire, suggesting she took an active role in keeping Kane’s victims alive and possibly exacerbating their suffering.
"Ma’am?" Lieutenant Riisos announced as he entered the cockpit and stood at attention.
‘Yes, lieutenant?" She asked the Orion nurse without looking up from her PADD.
"Duty assignments have been issued, the new rifles and power cells have been inventoried and distributed, and the team is changing into their combat gear." 
"Ballistic helmets?"
"Yes, ma’am, even the damn helmets." The male nurse smiled slightly at the inside joke. Union XII typically hated wearing protective helmets as they often interfered with their field of vision during treatment. But with Commander Vree’s help, the team was issued field engineer helmets with face shields that displayed the medical information of their patients and expanded their field of vision.
Victoria looked up from her PADD and studied her second in command momentarily. "As soon as I depart, you are to put the team on alert. I have no idea how this will go down."
"Aye, ma’am."
"You are in command in my absence Lieutenant," Smith ordered as she rose from her seat. ‘Do your job well."
"Permission to speak?"
The commanding nurse sighed softly as she knew what was coming next. "Briefly, lieutenant."
"I wish to lodge my objections to your assigned role in this mission. You are a combat nurse and not an undercover operative. Warrant Officer Hannigan and Ensign Gace agree with me."
"This the second objection you’ve lodged with me?"
"Third."
"Ah, third."
"Yes ma’am." Riisos answered sternly.
"Lieutenant?"
"Ma’am."
"Get my f***ing team ready for potential deployment. I don’t want to hear another objection. Am I clear?"
"Aye, ma’am." The Orion muttered.
"Commander Smith, report to me," Vree ordered over Smith’s comm badge, ending the conversation between the two nurses.
"Give 'em hell, Commander."
Smith nodded at Riisos as she exited the Gentle Annie and the Resurrection’s hangar. En route to meet with Mayla, Victoria slowly fell back on her Trill memories and began to steel herself for the mission ahead. As she calmly but confidently made her way through the ship, she ignored the occasional states and whispers of crewmen who possibly knew what her upcoming role would be. 
As she neared the armory, Lt. Commander McGuire fell into line with her. The security officer handed the nurse a PADD. 
"A list of equipment, clothing and weapons to be issued to you shortly. I’ve added the pair of sgian dubhs, as well the hyposprays loaded with disabling agents you requested. I must admit I found the request for a concealable garrote a bit…."
"Unethical?"
"No, troubling coming from you." McGuire conceded. 
"It was a personal favorite of Jiarin’s." Victoria asked candidly as she entered the armory and saw Mayla Vree watching her. The nurse’s eyes met hers briefly before darting away. 
"The temporary subvoc was implanted yesterday, Commander," Darva reported to Vree. "Other than suiting Ms. Smith up, issuing weapons and equipment, and giving her a call sign, she’s ready to go."
"Let’s bloody well do this." The nurse quietly stated in Trill as she fell in next to Vree and stared straight ahead. It was clear there was still tension between the pair. 
As McGuire turned away to inventory equipment to be issued to the nurse, Victoria seized Mayla’s left hand with her right. She squeezed as hard as she could. Mayla tried to pull away but Smith wouldn’t let go. The nurse leaned in and whispered in Trill.
‘You better come back in one piece, sister. And you better bring me f***ing back with you. We have been through far too much together and I have too many important plans that involve you upon my return. I will kick your bony Trill a** if you muck them up during this mission. Am I clear, Mayla Vree?"
The Trill looked over at Victoria, who was still staring straight ahead…trying her best to conceal a smirk. Then she turned and glared at her, bringing her face within inches of her's.
"Touche, Commander Smith. I'll do you one better. YOU bring us all back in one piece by not screwing up. You get me?" She growled in a low voice matching her aggressiveness. Then in an instant, her face turned into a 10 year old. "You mean too much to me. I've already lost a sister. I don't want to lose another."
Lt. Commander William McCulloch
USS Resurrection
Stardate 2210.29
McCulloch arrived in the armory and started to change into his civilian laborer clothing. Off to his right, he saw Vree and Smith speaking in Trill. God, he hated when they did that because it meant the conversation was probably about him. He could still sense a heightened tension between the pair, so he chose not to speak with either until necessary.
The Scot hefted the tool case Grop had designed for him. He cracked it open and examined the contents. There were various tools - spikes, hammers, hand-held shovels, picks, a digging bar, and a pair of laser drills. He retrieved the digging bar and felt the weight of the two-foot-long device in his hand. He quickly snapped it and watched as it extended into a six-foot-long bo staff. Will nodded in approval before collapsing the staff and returning it to the container. 
He retrieved one of the laser drills and closely examined it. He pulled the trigger, but nothing happened. He shook the tool twice and noticed the drill felt slightly lighter in his hand than it should. McCulloch ran his hand along the seam of the outer housing before cracking it open. Concealed inside the dummy drill was a Type II phaser pistol … a bonus present from Grop.
"Bloody brilliant Ferengi." McCulloch muttered in his new Cockney accent. 
He placed the weapon back into the drill housing. Afterward, he removed the tools from the container and inspected the liner that was designed to inhibit any weapon scans. After satisfied the material would work, he ran his hand along the edges of the lner until he located the concealed tabs that held the liner in place. After unlocking each of them, he peeled back the liner and viewed a disassembled Type VI Overwatch Rifle mounted to the case. The Scot studied the parts carefully as he estimated it would take him approximately 90 seconds to assemble and then activate the weapon. 
McCulloch’s attention was next drawn to the equipment belting next to the case. The various pouches contained an array of testing probes, pins and minispikes. However, loosely sewn into the back of each pouch were a series of microgrenades and isolinear tags. 
Satisfied with his equipment and clothing, McCulloch quickly began to change and gear up for the mission at hand. As he was suiting up, he heard Victoria and Mayla exchanging words in a hushed whisper. The Scot warned himself again not to get involved.
Seconds later, the pair were quietly laughing. Will shook his head in frustration as he realized the pair were more like siblings than either cared to admit … which terrified him. If he and Victoria fully reconciled, Mayla would be seen as his sister-in-law.
"Bloody hell, I need to get on that Trill’s good side." He muttered to himself.
Greg Durham
Jack Dark
Rogaran IV, Penal Colony, Mirror Universe
Stardate 2210.30
Daryl Thompson’s eyes fluttered open, and he looked around, a massive headache hitting him the minute light flooded into his sight. His whole body throbbed in pain as he realized he was sitting in a chair, wrists and ankles securely bound to the piece of furniture, dressed in just his pants.
He had open wounds in his back, chest, legs and from the warm, sticky feeling at the back of his neck, which was also aching with pain, he guessed the base of his skull. He remembered all of these wounds were caused by Jack Dark piercing his flesh with tendrils made of nanites which had extended from Jack and into Daryl’s body.
"Look who’s back with us," Dark said from across the room. Daryl looked to see Dark standing there, a long nanite rendered blade extending from his hand, impaling K'Chary through the shoulder, pinning her face down to the floor.
The Orion woman struggled to get up, then looked to Daryl with pain in her eyes as Dark kept her pinned to the floor. Daryl fought to break free but found himself tied tightly to the chair.
From behind him, Durham appeared, walking into view. The doppelganger of his one-time best friend placed a hand on Daryl’s shoulder, and he looked down at Thompson.
"That looks like it hurts," Greg shook his head. "Pretty little Orion woman you found there. I thought you had a happy relationship back in your universe. Darla…Darva…something like that, right? Sure, didn’t take you long to find a new girl when you got here."
Dark snickered, "Well, I hope you haven’t become too attached to this one, because I’m giving you 30 seconds to start talking, Daryl, before I start pulling her apart, piece by piece."
From his other hand another sword-shaped tendril appeared and snaked toward K'Chary, stopping inches from her opposite shoulder.
"Tell me everything there is to tell about the USS Resurrection, Daryl," said Dark. "Or watch your little friend here die…slowly and painfully."
USS Resurrection
Approaching Rogaran IV, Penal Colony, Mirror Universe
Stardate 2211.02
Captain Quentin Lazarus sat on the bridge of the Resurrection watching the grayish-colored orb of Rogaran IV approaching on the viewscreen as the ship made its way toward the planet, phase cloaked and running silent.
Lazarus glanced over to Sornax, who was looking over the shoulder of Lt. Dahrt at tactical, "What do you make of it?" Lazarus asked.
The Denobulan turned to the captain and offered his assessment, "It appears to be similar to the Rogaran IV in our universe. There is a very powerful defensive shield protecting the colony. As Commander Tazhenkov and Lt. Nala said there is no clear way to beam under the shield. We are detecting the internal caverns, but also as stated there is no way to transport in. Mineral composition of the planet will prevent a direct transport."
"Can we take the ship into the internal cavern?" Lazarus asked.
Sornax nodded, "Yes, we can. As planned, I believe we can transport a team from inside the planet to a point close or actually inside the Rogaran IV mines which sit below the colony."
Lazarus turned to Mayla Vree, "As Taz and Nala said…everything seems to check out. Do you want me to order the ship inside? Or do you have another thought?"
Lazarus was leaving the logistics of the mission to Vree, as it should be. He personally saw no better way to infiltrate the colony, but perhaps the Shadow operators thought otherwise…
Commander Mayla Vree
USS Resurrection Bridge, Rogaran IV, Mirror Universe
Stardate 2211.02
As it was expected, the jump to the Mirror Universe felt like another jump by the coaxial drive, or the Linea teledrive. They were in one place, then instantly another place.
Lieutenant Nala let out a deep breath as if she was holding it in. She briefly glanced at the quiet shadow operative standing next to her who had a stance of relaxation leaning up against the bulkhead besides the Tactical station. The Trill commander didn't look any older than she, but had the weight of command on her shoulders. Nala's eyes turned to the main viewer, but Mayla's gaze was at the sensors at Darht's station.
Lazarus swiveled around in his chair facing the quiet Phoenix Squad commander. "As Taz and Nala said…everything seems to check out. Do you want me to order the ship inside? Or do you have another thought?"
Mayla didn't take her eyes off the sensors to return Lazarus' gaze. Instead, she pointed to the coordinates indicated by the pathfinder team. "We go as planned. Is the cavern oxygenated?"
"It is. Oxygen has been seeping into the sealed cavern for years from the colony's slow expansion." Nala reported. She pulled out a PADD from a pocket. "I've pinpointed where your entry point into the underworld should be."
Mayla looked over to Lazarus. "Please take us in, Captain. I'll join the team and we'll rappel down through the underside airlock nine to avoid using the transporters. Have the tech crew get the portable comm relays set up before you leave. We should be done drilling a hole into the underworld caverns by then."
Lazarus gave her a nod of acknowledgement. "Very well. On your way."
She started to walk towards the Bridge egress when Nala grabbed her arm. "Good luck."
Mayla gave her a slight smile. "Thank you. Make sure you have those Pathfinder comm frequencies handy in case we need additional guidance."
Nala hid her surprise at that comment, as her memorized comm frequencies were classified and only known to Taz's own team. Then she remembered where the experienced pathfinder teams came from in the first place. It was Admiral Vree who assigned several highly trained teams of infiltration Pathfinder personnel who already knew their way around the mirror universe. But that was all highly classified. She continued to watch Mayla as she walked off the Bridge.
When Mayla reached the armory where Phoenix Squad, Smith, and the Resurrection's communications technical team were standing by. She addressed the group.
"We're rappelling down from airlock nine. Comm team, get to work on the portable relays. The rest of us will drill through the four meters of rock into the colony's underground. That way we can really look like we've been mining."
Lt. Cody Beckett
USS Resurrection, armory
Stardate 2211.03
Vree addressed Beckett. "Beckett, you have experience with drilling. How much time do you need to setup a drilling rig?"
Cody quickly thought up what he needed. 
"10 minutes, sir," was his answer. 
Vree nodded. "Make it so" She stated
Beckett nodded and started making arrangements. 
Colonel Jahkar
USS Resurrection
Stardate 2211.03
Jahkar went to airlock 9 and began to secure a set of rappelling ropes, hooking them to metal loops attached just inside the doors. They would be able to run two lines out the hatchway, so a pair of operators could make look the drop at a time.
The communications and drilling gear was assembled at the airlock and soon the entire team was assembled and ready to repel in. Jahkar looked to Mayla, "Phoenix 8 will join me. We’ll drop down initially and secure the site. Six and Seven will follow to begin setting up the mining gear. Then One and Four. Last down is Five…who will be covering everyone else from the airlock as they repel down."
Jahkar maintained eye contact with Vree, "Do you agree, commander?"
She gave him a nod. "Deploy."
Lt. (JG) Reepchip Charatetet
USS Resurrection
Stardate 2211.04
As soon as the black alert was sounded, Reepchip took the medicine to settle his stomach as the drive activated. As soon as they found themselves in the Mirror Universe, he sensed a wrongness, as if the very ship itself did NOT want to be here.
Reepchip listened to the plan carefully and stepped nearer to Beckett. The brief thought he had of showing off he immediately quashed; this was serious.
Before the door was open, they saw Ensign Grop coming up in a hurry. "Lieutenant Charatetet… I know you only took your daggers, but I thought you could also use this!" He handed a belt with a small number of pouches and Reepchip’s blowpipe. "I don’t know what darts you have in there, but maybe they can be of use."
"Ah, thank you," said Reepchip, buckling on the pouches and stowing the blowpipe.
Lt. Commander William McCulloch
Commander Victoria Smith
USS Resurrection
Stardate 2211.04
McCulloch examined the gear Jahkar had laid out and quickly scanned the rope lines near the hatch. After a moment, he nodded in approval at the suggested plan before looking over at Vree. 
"I like it. Absent a beam in, it’s probably the quickest way to insert into the target site." The Scot observed before looking back at Victoria.
"Are you comfortable rappelling in?"
She looked past Tiri and Beckett at the hatch and accompanying rope lines. After a moment, the nurse nodded in the affirmative. 
"I’ve done enough repelling down Colorado mountain sides with Union XII that I should be fine."
"She’ll be fine," Beckett repeated as he glanced over at Vree and Jahkar. "And speak of undercover nurses, what do we call her?" 
"What do you mean?" Mayla asked, slightly confused. 
"She needs a call sign for this mission." Cody countered. 
"We can’t reference her by name over the subvoc during the mission," Will added. "It puts her at risk."
"They have a point," Jahkar noted.
"Let’s call her Doc." Cody suggested.
Smith exhaled loudly and shook her head in the negative. "I’m not being called anything that even remotely alludes to that Terran floozy I have to pretend to be."
"Ginger?" McCullcoch offered with a slight smirk…which quickly disappeared when the nurse shot him a disapproving look.
Ray’ral started to speak but Victoria immediately cut him off.
"No."
"What would you suggest, Commander?" Jahkar asked.
"Use the callsign Lifeguard." Smith replied after a moment of reflection. "It’s a standard military callsign for combat nurses and medics out in the field. Of course, if that’s acceptable to Commander Vree."
Lt. Commander Ryramorl 
USS Resurrection
Stardate 2211.05
"I would have suggested Shaman," he rumbled, "As in a Healer-Shaman." However, if it was something standard to her, that worked too. He shifted his weapons, ready to rappel down to the planetary surface. Time to get ready for battle once again.
"Let's just keep it simple. She'll be Phoenix 9T for the time being." Vree said, using the usual Shadow Ops vernacular for a temporary team member.
"9T it is." Victoria answered with a curt nod. Although Vree basically assigned her a child’s shoe size for a call sign, the nurse wisely decided to keep her mouth shut.
"9T," said Ryramorl in acknowledgment; if he knew about the shoe size, he either didn’t know it, or considered it irrelevant.
Lt. Commander Daryl Thompson
Rogaran IV Penal Colony
Stardate 2211.07
Daryl had been numbed by the pain and exhaustion of the torture sessions done by Jack Dark. He had been stimmed several times, so Dark could continue his vile torturing game. Yet, Daryl had refused to break. But with each session it had become harder to resist. He was tired and weary, and, now, he had to endure the view of K’Chary, pinned to the ground by Dark's nanite based blade that had pierced her shoulder. Her face was in a painful grimace. For a split second they looked at each other, before Dark moved the blade and K’Chary yelped in pain again. 
"Twenty seconds, Daryl," Dark stated. K’Chary shook her head. "Don’t tell him anything Daryl, I am not…" her face turned almost pale, as the blade twisted, cutting deeper in her flesh and making K’Chary yelp and almost pass out. 
Daryl tried to contain his emotions and feelings. He couldn’t stand seeing K’Chary in so much pain and suffering. She was his best friend and didn't deserve this. He felt his anger raging, yet there was nothing he could do to help her. He felt intolerably miserable for what was happening to K'Chary, his hate for Dark was immense. He swore to himself if he got the chance, he would kill Dark in the most gruesome way he could think of.
"Ten seconds," Dark stated, as the second blade slowly moved towards the other shoulder of K'Chary and penetrated her skin. Then, lightning fast the blade penetrated her shoulder. 
She cried out as the blade cut through her flesh into her shoulder and gasped as blood started flowing out of the wound and trickled down her arm and onto the floor. She again almost passed out. Dark moved the tentacle-like arms up and swung K'Chary up in the air. She screamed it out in what had to be gruesome pain, blood pouring out of the wounds, then she passed out. 
Daryl cracked, as he could not withstand it anymore. It was not only the torturing of K'Chary, or himself, but old mental wounds had been ripped open by it and without the support of the emotion processor, which had been disabled by Dark's nanites, Daryl had become prey of his old daemons. Mentally he collapsed, and he cried it out to stop it all. 
Durham looked at Dark "Stop it, Dark. I think our friend Thompson wants to tell us something"
The blades retracted lightning fast out of her shoulders and K'Chary collapsed onto the floor. 
Dark stepped away, as a medic moved in to K'Chary to patch her up just enough for another round of torture. 
"I'm listening," Dark said. 
Daryl, softly sobbing, collected himself before he spoke. He felt a shivering through his body, as he knew this was enough to be court martialed by Starfleet. But he couldn't care less at this moment. With a trembling voice, he spoke. 
"The Resurrection is a new generation escort vessel of the Vigilant-class. It's equipped with a phase cloaking device and slipstream drive. "
Daryl swallowed heavily, and glanced quickly aside of Dark towards K'Chary, who laid there, motionless while she was treated by the medic. 
"And… .?! " Dark continued, who was getting impatient. "How many crew? Security details? Codes? And what about that nifty new type of drive?"
"Codes will be changed so at this moment I don't have access to any system. Bad luck for you" Daryl managed to grin, though he still was in a world of hurt after Dark had tortured him. 
"The drive… . Tell me more about the drive! " Dark hissed. 
Daryl breathed deeply in before continuing. 
"It's called a coaxial drive. It has the ability to instantly jump to any place in the universe. But that's all I know. Lazarus doesn't allow anyone near it, specs are secret. I don't know anything else."
Dark stared at Thompson, then he turned around. 
"Maybe this will freshen your mind," He said. Another tendril emerged from his arm, shaping into a large blade. It pushed aside the medic, then, all three blades plunged deep into K'Chary's chest and cut her body open until her abdomen. K'Chary gasped hard one time while her body shook, then she laid there, lifeless. 
As Daryl’s mind grasped what just had happened, he freaked out. He screamed and tried to break free from the chair he was tied to. In utter despair he screamed, roared in blind hate, trying to get to Dark. His throat hurt, his whole body throbbed in pain. He heard words but didn’t register. He just wanted to kill the man who just butchered his best friend. Then he passed out. 
Durham tried to calm down Thompson but didn’t succeed. He grabbed the medic and yelled at him to calm down Thompson with a hypospray, then almost threw him aside and walked to Dark. 
"In the Empresses name, what the ^#%$@*$ was that good for?!" Durham yelled to Dark, who’s nanite based tendrils slowly disappeared back into his body. Dark just stared at him. Durham’s anger rose, and he pushed back Dark hard. "Get the hell out of here Dark. You just went way too far with this."
"Don’t ever touch me again, Durham," Dark hissed
"I am the Hand, I touch whom I want " Durham snapped back, grabbing Dark by his collar with both hands. 
"And when it comes to that, never speak against me again, Dark. The next time I won't see be so nice. " Dark narrowed his eyes but spoke not. Then he turned around and walked out of the interrogation room. 
Durham sighed and rubbed his temples. What a mess this had become. He turned around and addresses the medic, who had stood behind Thompson's chair all the time. 
"Get the remains of the Orion woman together and put her in a cooling cell in the mortuary. Get someone on it to prepare a decent burial for her. That's the least we could do. Then he looked at Daryl. He was unconscious, and slumped to one side in the chair, where the shackles on his bloody wrists prevented him from falling out. 
Durham shook his head. This was not planned. It was becoming a huge mess. He opened a channel to Smith. "Get to interrogation room 3. I need your help with Thompson."
"Aye" Came the short reply. 
Soon, Smith arrived. She looked around, her gaze stalling at the remains of K'Chary, then looked at Durham. 
"Dark crossed the line way too far. It wasn't necessary to kill the Orion slave. We had to sedate Thompson, otherwise he'd killed himself in an attempt to assault Dark. Dark only seemed to enjoy the show. " Durham explained. Then he looked at Thompson, still unconscious. He couldn't help but feel sorry for him. 
"I hope we haven't damaged him too much. " Durham said. Smith raised an eyebrow. "Already getting weak? Not a good trait in your role" Smith said sarcastically, as she ran some scans on Thompson. 
Durham looked at her, hissing "Shut up, Smith. "
She smiled wickedly, then ordered to beam Thompson and herself over to sickbay. The next moment they disappeared, leaving Durham alone. He looked one last time at the now dead K'Chary.
"Damn you, Dark" He whispered with gritted teeth, then he also left the room.
Colonel Jahkar
USS Resurrection
Stardte 2211.07
Jahkar and McCulloch sprang from the airlock of Resurrection and repelled down the double set of ropes. They slid down about 100 feet until they landed on the rocky surface of the cavern below. A spotlight from the dorsal side of Resurrection shone on the spot where they landed, illuminating the area around them.
With feet firmly on the ground, Jahkar crouched and swept the area around them with a tricorder, which he would be sending back up the line before they moved along. Everything appeared to be normal, though the mineral composition of the planet was interfering with his readings just a little bit.
"Seems to check out," the Marine confirmed. "Two to One, send the rest of the team down, I’ll keep scanning. It should be noted the planet’s composition seems to be playing with the readings…Resurrection’s sensors are likely experiencing the same phenomenon."
Nala’s voice crackled across the subvocal earpiece, "Copy that. That’s why transporters won't function down here."
"Affirmative," Jahkar rolled his eyes. He was glad Nala wasn’t coming along. Something about her was annoying…Tazhenkov not so much, but the Trill had no Shadow Ops experience. She would be best left behind on Resurrection.
He then glanced over to Will, momentarily thrown off by his appearance. It was difficult to see teammates not looking like they usually did.
"Everything good with you?" Jahkar asked.
Lt. Commander William McCulloch
Below the USS Resurrection
Stardte 2211.07
Will quickly passed through the hatch and silently repelled down to the rocky surface below the Resurrection. He landed with a soft thud and quickly pulled the rope out of his harness. As Jahkar scanned the area, McCulloch advanced ten meters off the marine’s right flank, knelt down and quietly scanned the area. 
The Scot listened for activity inside the cavern but was met with an eerie silence. He scanned the perimeter … again nothing.
He felt a chill run up his spine. Throughout his career, he had been to a variety of strange and unusual places … Klingon moons that hosted religious cults, 18th Century Earth at the height of political and military turmoil and a variety of hidden enclaves outside of Federation territory that openly welcomed debauchery, and vile behavior. But standing in this cavern deep within Terran Empire gave the Scot…well, the creeps. He felt nothing but despair and futility.
"Everything good with you?" Jahkar asked as he glanced over at McCulloch.
The Scot hesitated to answer as he continued to scan their perimeter, expecting Terran Empire soldiers to emerge from the shadows at any moment. It was too damn quiet.
‘Lt. Commander, we good?" 
Will looked over at Jahkar and nodded in the affirmative. "I’m good. I don’t like how quiet it is here, but we’re alone."
Seconds later, the remainder of the team started to descend down from the Resurrection.
Commander Mayla Vree
Cavern inside Rogaran IV, Mirror Universe
Stardate 2211.08
"We're almost through," the lieutenant at the drill site reported to her. "I suggest we use hand tools to chip away the last centimeter so as to not alert anyone on the other side. We'll make a small hole and insert a scope to get a look around before we break completely through."
Mayla stood guard along with the rest of Phoenix Squad keeping a sharp eye into the darkness only dimly lit by the Resurrection's running lights. "Very well," she responded as she made the move to join the lieutenant. She believed his name was Aristotle Doyle.
By the time she reached him, he already had a flexible scope through a small hole that was sending images to a PADD. He looked up as she approached him. "Looks like we'll break through behind a building, if you can call it a building."
She looked at the image and the term building was an exaggeration. It was no more than a series of pieces of machinery housing that made up a shack. Looking left and right down along the Underground wall, it looked like that's how all the structures there were made from. The lighting was dim inside, making it easy for them to move around unnoticed.
"Proceed," Mayla ordered. As the drill team meticulously chipped away slowly at the already made hole to make it larger, Doyle explained to her what they were going to do after they had gained entry.
"Remember this spot, because after you're through, we're going to fill up this wall again to seal off the cavern so no one can discover it. We'll leave several recorders in here with the comm relays to send data back to us if the cavern is disturbed in any way, especially right here." Doyle explained smartly and expertly.
"We'll contact the ship when we're ready to extract. Worse comes to worse, we'll break through by hand." Mayla said, watching his team work.
Doyle glanced over to Ra'yral. "I'm sure the Carnora can just ram through without a running start."
"I hope we won't have to make that big of a noise."
Within ten minutes, the hole was big enough for them to crawl through. "Good luck, Commander."
Mayla gave him a nod and looked over to her team. "This is One, let's move out. Six goes through first, I'll go next. Nine-T right behind me. Two bring up the rear. Let's go find Three."
Captain Quentin Lazarus
USS Resurrection
Stardate 2211.09
Lazarus turned to Sornax, "They are on their way."
"Should we take the ship out of here and rephase?" the Denobulan asked.
"We can lock onto their tags from down here," Lazarus said. "We can’t outside this planet. We’ll hold here for now."
Sornax nodded. Nala took the seat at the science station, one of the only open spots on the bridge and together the three would wait.
Greg Durham
Empress Taryn Kane
Rogaran IV, Mirror Universe
Stardate 2211.09
Greg Durham walked into his temporary office at the Rogaran Penal Colony and walked over to the desk where he tapped the keypad and activated the holographic projector, bringing up the image of a familiar face.
"Your excellency," Durham bowed as he faced Empress Kane. The beautiful, raven-haired woman, wearing her crown and black armor over a dark bodysuit, stared back at Durham and she cocked a slight smile.
"Really, Greg," she said, disappointment in her voice. "You laid hands on the Grand Inquisitor over him killing a slave? An Orion slave at that."
"It was uncalled for, empress," he muttered. "He murdered her. Thompson was going to cooperate. He was beginning to talk…then Dark just cut her up like a side of beef."
Taryn sighed, "Dark is livid that you touched him and questioned his techniques."
"I’m the Hand, empress," Durham shot back. "He’s lucky I didn’t have him placed in the Agonizer for his actions."
"You’ve gotten soft, Gregory," Kane shook her head. "You’d better get it together, before Dark or someone else with an eye on your position decides to kill you and take your place."
Durham shook his head, "Fine. So, was your only reason to contact me a tongue lashing for my actions?"
"No," Taryn said. "I will be there within the hour. I am coming there aboard the flagship, escorted by the ISS Gambit under the command of Captain Jahkar."
Durham frowned, "I was under the impression you were busy reorganizing the government now that you’re the empress?"
"It can wait," she said. "I want to be there when this ship from the Prime Universe wanders into our little trap. I want to be there to claim my prize. Jack said Thompson confirmed the ship has the ability to jump to any point in the known galaxy?"
"So, it seems," Greg said grimly. "Your presence here might make them reconsider a rescue attempt."
Kane shook her head, "The flagship will be parked behind the sixth planet, hidden there in case it's needed. I’ll come to the colony aboard Gambit, cloaked."
"As you wish, excellency," said Durham, hiding his frustration at Kane’s insistence on being there. They had everything under control, but now she was going to come plant herself in the middle of what was coming.
"I will see you soon, Hand," Taryn remarked. "End transmission."
When the transmission ended, Greg sighed and headed in to use the shower and prepare for the empress’ arrival.
[Back to top]
==S5, E1, Act 7: The Search Begins==
Commander Warlord Ryramorl Ra'yral
Battleship Chieftain's Fang
Over Rogaran IV Penal Colony, Mirror Universe
Stardate 2211.10
Ryramorl looked towards the window of the bridge as the battleship approached Rogaran IV. Time had been when the Carnora could almost prey at will but now, as the Captain of the last Carnora Battleship and the Chief of the last survivors, he had to be more cagey. No more fresh prey for them, but pathetic beings barely better than carrion.
As they approached the penal colony, Ryramorl contacted the prison–and got no less than the Grand Inquisitor himself. "Warlord Ra'yral to Grand Inquisitor Dark, greetings. Have you any carrion for us to clean up or better yet…" he licked his tusks, "any sport?" From time to time the Carnora had been set on hapless prisoners in one-sided "bouts", which had inevitably ended in the prisoner being killed and eaten.
As for carrion, it didn't need to be actually dead; prisoners too weak, injured or sick would do; brought aboard the Carnora ship and held in pens before becoming the tribe's next meal. He hated having to beg but his tribe had little choice nowadays.
Grand Inquisitor Jack Dark
Greg Durham, the Emperor's Hand
Rogaran IV
Stardate 2211.10
Dark stepped away from the console, looked at Durham and rolled his eyes, "Seriously? These feral animals had to show up now, with the empress en route? Tell me I can send them on their way."
Greg shook his head, "The Carnora gave everything to aid us in our defeat of the Alliance. Between the war and the destruction of their home system, that warship is their last. I know they are a nuisance at times, the offensiveness of telling them to get lost would be bad for our relations with them."
"If we simply snuffed out Ryramorl and his remaining dogs we wouldn't need to worry about honoring a treaty," Jack muttered. "They are weak. We should just take the initiative and finish them…"
"I'll order the warden to send them a few malcontents from the prison population," Durham said sternly. "That ought to appease them."
Jack waved his hand toward Greg and rolled his eyes, "Fine. Excuse me, I need to get back to torturing Mr. Thompson. I'll let you handle the warlord."
Greg shook his head and stepped in front of the console. He was really going to have to talk to Kane about Dark and his attitude.
Durham activated the holographic communicator, "Warlord Ray'al. I am the Emperor's Hand, Greg Durham. I'm here on a special assignment for her majesty. Inquisitor Dark is currently indisposed. I will check with the prison warden and see if there is anyone slated for execution who could be sent over to you as…carrion."
Greg immediately contacted the warden and ordered him to round up anyone suitable to send over to the Carnora ship to become prey for the creatures…
Warlord Ryramorl Ra'yral
Battleship Chieftain's Fang
Over Rogaran IV Penal Colony, Mirror Universe
Stardate 2211.10
Ryramorl grinned slightly. He'd overheard Jack and knew the Empress Taryn Kane was on her way. If she was in the mood for entertainment, it could be very profitable; not long ago, she'd watched a 10-on-10 battle–the other 10 being half-starved, unarmed Ithenites (those things hadn't been overly tasty, but they weren't bad either) and as a reward for the entertainment she'd given them a good haul of provisions, as well as some repairs to their battleship.
Who knew? Maybe she had an Andorian she was tired of; Ryramorl hadn't eaten one in AGES, and he missed the taste.
Commander Mayla Vree
Rogaran IV Underworld
Stardate 2211.10
The team waited at the hole in the wall as Charatetet quietly scampered through it, peering all around before exiting the hole on the other side of the short tunnel. In less than a minute, he gave the all-clear over the subvocal.
Mayla went in first, followed by Smith, then the rest of the team. As soon as she was out, she was thankful for the dim lighting. It would help with keeping their features in the shadows. But the space they were in was narrow, just a bit over two meters of space between the rear of the so-called building and the wall of the underground cavern. She moved to the right to allow room for the rest of the team to come through.
"Six, find us a way out into the open." Mayla ordered Charatetet. She knelt down and picked up a handful of dirt and smeared it all across her cloak and face. Smith saw was she was doing and immediately looked the same. They had to look like they've been living underground.
Once everyone was out, the Resurrection drill team got to work immediately to seal up the hole behind them.
"This is One, remember where we are. This is Bullseye, and our only way back to the ship."
"Leaving a marker now," Jahkar said, scratching a small symbol of a sun on the wall where it met the ground. Then he put a rock in front of it.
"Once we're out in the open, find the way to the mines, then into the Colony. I doubt there would be any turbolifts down here since the underworld isn't sanctioned. But keep your ears open for anything that could tell us where Three is being held. Report in when you reach the Colony."
The team acknowledged just as Charatetet came back and gestured for them to follow. In Mayla's enhanced view, she could see him clearly and followed without question. She felt Smith's hand on her back, force of habit from a long time ago when they were in similar situations. The Muran led them to a slotted hole in between two small buildings and went through first. When they got near the front of the two structures, it gave her their first look of the penal colony's underworld.
It was a whole lot smaller than they expected. The cavern was maybe a kilometer in diameter. There were several tunnels that led elsewhere, but it looked like this was the main hub of the black market. And it looked as dingy and unseelie as any unaligned planet in their universe's outer rim. The dirt ground kicked up some dust whenever anyone walked. There were many different races of lifeforms, some with missing limbs, some sick, some bullying others.
"Let's blend in," Mayla said over the subvocal. She and Smith waited for an opportune time to step out into the open. Mayla placed her goggles over her eyes, and with the cap she was wearing, she was barely recognizable. Smith pulled up her hood and walked out with her.
Making sure Smith kept close to her, they shuffled away from their entry point, and hopefully away from the rest of the team.
Lt. (JG) Reepchip Charatetet
Rogaran IV Penal Colony
Stardate 2211.10
As the two officers slipped out from between the buildings, Reepchip did an old, old mental trick: a sense that everything was utterly ordinary and there was nothing to see here. Seeing Vree and Smith blend into the crowd, he slipped back to Ryramorl and the others, looking to Colonel Jahkar for further orders.
Lt. Commander William McCulloch
Rogaran IV Underworld
Stardate 2211.10
Will watched as Charatetet returned to the group. As the Muran addressed Jahkar, the Scot crept forward and peered beyond the building. He studied the large cavern and its occupants. After a moment, he cursed softly.
The extraction of Thompson was going to be a very ugly affair. It would be difficult enough trying to avoid the detection of Terran security forces. But with the addition of a hostile prison population that could hamper a tactical withdrawal, the mission seemed doomed from the start. 
McCulloch cursed again before returning to the team and falling in next to Jahkar. After a moment of brief reflection, he leaned towards the marine and quietly spoke.
"Colonel, this has all the earmarks of a sh*tshow. I suggest we move as rapidly as we can, in light of the circumstances presented to us."
Lieutenant Commander Ryramorl Ra'yral
Rogaran IV Underworld
Stardate 2211.10
Ryramorl saw what Will was referring to and pondered. He looked over at the others. "The best disguise is behavior. So, you, Colonel, would be The Boss, and have me on a leash, as humans say. I'd be the enforcer. Reepchip... sorry, but you'd be the gang's bitch."
"Speaking from experience?" asked McCulloch.
"The experiences of acquaintances," replied Ryramorl.
The crew went forth, carefully, Ryramorl keeping a fierce eye on everyone and a fearing eye on Jahkar, while Reepchip (with the help of Ryramorl's mental prompting) cringed at the edges of the group.
Commander Victoria Smith
Rogaran IV Underworld
Stardate 2211.10
Victoria fell in on Mayla's left as the pair threaded their way through the hub. Surprisingly she was much calmer than she expected herself to be. A flood of memories and feelings surfaced quickly and steeled her nerves. 
The obvious power structure of the colony's population and abuse of the weak reminded the nurse of her time serving as a laundress for His Majesty's forces when she was accidentally left behind in 1777 New York so many years ago.  
The weak and crippled prisoners she passed stirred up memories of her time on Helios. While there, she served as a healer for a shanty town named Refuse. There was a never-ending stream of sick and injured people she had treated and cared for with minimal supplies. 
There was also the time she was accidentally cut off from her team while on Tascania E1. What should have been a routine science mission turned into a dangerous cat-and-mouse game between her, security teams from the USS Attenborough, and local rebels.
"Holy sh*t." she thought to herself as she and the Trill continued to navigate through the hub. "I've been abandoned and left behind a lot in my career."
 She promised herself that if she safely returned from this mission, she would make every Phoenix Team member buy her drinks…lots of booze. Except for Ra'yral … Victoria had a soft spot for the Canora and the fresh, prank-like comments he would occasionally make to her, but he was going to pay for a costly dinner for that recent mating joke. 
As the pair continued forward, Victoria quickly suppressed the urge to stop and help a crippled prisoner who had several open and infected wounds. She knew he would be dead within days.
The nurse occasionally scanned the pair's flanks for signs of anyone shadowing them. It was something that Jiarin would often do to keep tabs on her political enemies and their efforts to capture her. 
At first, there was nothing, but following her third visual scan, Victoria noted an older man dressed in laborer's clothing following them. It seemed he was more fixated on her than the Trill. Victoria immediately knew why…she was much smaller than Mayla and, thereby, an easier target. 
God, she hated being short.
"One," she quietly announced over the subvoc. "We're being trailed off of our six."
"I know," Vree replied. "He's not a threat."
"How do you know?"
"He's too busy staring at our backsides and mentally undressing us. He'll be gone shortly."
Vree's prediction was correct. When Victoria glanced back at the man, she saw he had stopped to admire the pair one last time before licking his lips and turning away. 
Moments later, Vree gestured for the pair to shift their direction slightly westward as they advanced further into the hub.
Colonel Jahkar
Rogaran IV Underworld
Stardate 2211.10
Jahkar was not comfortable with the arrangement Ryramoral was suggesting. He hesitantly led the way with Ryramorl and Reepchip in tow. He looked to McCulloch, Beckett and Tiri and shook his head, "You thee,split off, blend in with the crowd like the others did. We're looking for the location of Commander Thompson. We'll meet back up after we've swept this habitat area."
Leading Ryramorl behind him, and Reepchip perched upon the larger Carnora's shoulder, the three headed into the prison common area and found themselves walking among the dozens of prisoners here, moving in a northeasterly direction, leaving McCulloch and Sh'avelith to move straight up the middle of the underground habitat.
As they strolled along, Jahkar kept a tight hold on Ryramorl, drawing stares by inmates who were surprised to see what appeared to be a human leading a Caitian and some sort of pet through the crowd.
Moving along, Jahkar suddenly found himself confronted by two hulking humans, both looked to have been here a long time from the dirt covering them and the ratty condition of their clothing.
"You must be new," the first thug said, glaring at Jahkar before glancing to Ryramorl. "What? You think this is your pet or something?"
"Or something," Jahkar said. "You have a problem?"
The other human, blue-eyed with long, dirty blond hair, stepped up and snarled, "Maybe we do. You think that thing is going to protect you?"
"I can tell him to pull you apart, if you'd like a demonstration?" Jahkar smirked. "While I'm kicking your buddy's ass into the dirt."
Ryramorl bared his teeth and flexed his claws as Jahkar said that.
The two looked at each other, then took a step back, "Watch yourself around here, newb."
"Just mind your own business and we won’t have any problems," Jahkar said, motioning to the Carnora with a nod to follow him as they continued on. 
Arriving at a makeshift shack, Jahkar peeked inside and saw it was some kind of prisoner owned and operated bar. He led the Carnora inside and took a look around. Several inmates, currently on downtime from the mines, gathered around at tables drinking something that looked like water, but smelled like paint thinner. 
Stepping up to the bar, he ordered them a round but was quickly confronted by the barkeep who gave him a dirty look, "What do you got for it? I ain't given away free samples."
"Money?" Jahakr laughed. "We're in prison, we don't have money."
"Barter! You must be newer here than you look," the barkeep snorted. "You got to have something to barter if you're drinking my hooch!"
Jahkar shook his head, "We've got nothing. But, I have a friend here I'm looking for. He might be able to pay."
Barkeep rolled his eyes, "Who's your friend?"
"His name's Thompson," Jahkar said. "Daryl Thompson."
The barkeep raised an eyebrow, then leaned closer, "Take this walking fur coat and the rat and get out of here."
"But…" Jahkar started.
"OUT! That name will bring you nothing but trouble here," the barkeep hissed. "You better watch who you mention that name to…I don't want any trouble, but there are some around here that'll turn you in to the inquisitor if they think you know Thompson."
Jahkar stepped back, looked to Ryramorl and motioned toward the door, "We'd better go."
Lt. JG Reepchip Charatetet
Rogaran IV Underground
Stardate 2211.15
Reepchip perked his head up, and chittered softly. "That way," he said, gesturing his head towards some buildings. "I sense some vague anticipation over there. That may be the entrance to the mines."
Commander Mayla Vree
Rogaran IV Underworld
Stardate 2211.15
"Where do we even begin? It's a needle in a haystack situation," Smith said over the subvocal, using the familiar method she and Mayla had used on their way back to the Federation on public transportation. It'd been over a decade since she's used one. But she easily fell back into the habit.
"We need to find someone who's keen, observant, and 'hears' things." Mayla said, her eyes darting around. She had programmed her eyes and tricorder to seek out faces or figures of a certain size or build. "Maybe someone who knows how to keep in the shadows."
She bumped into a hulking cloak figure walking by who just shrugged her off and continued on his way. The growl he let out sounded Klingon.
Mayla then grabbed Smith's arm and pulled her down another pathway where her eyes indicated to her someone had just snuck away from watching them. "And how do you find someone like that? Do you already know someone here?"
"Don't have to. Do you remember the child named Riyac on Helios?"
Smith stiffened just a bit as they slowed their step. "I will never forget Helios. And of course, I remember him. He was the first one to take me in when I was let out of that Linea compound to die with the rest of their…experiments."
Mayla hid a slight smile. "Children are often never seen nor heard. But hear and see everything. My father gained knowledge about Helios from Riyac. He was very helpful."
"You and your sibko were all children back then too," Smith said with a slight growl of anger. "They were not so helpful."
"Different circumstances. But still, you were rescued before I was. And what did I tell you before then to keep yourself alive when they let you go?"
Smith closed her eyes for a moment remembering the words that had kept her hopes up when her captors interrogated her. She had been kidnapped along with Mayla only because she was her chaperone on the school field trip. The Linea had re-absorbed Mayla back into the Linea military structure. But for Smith, they performed a few unconventional experiments on her and let her go to die in the barren harsh environment outside the compound in a small shanty village called Refuse, where all of the 'failed' experiments were thrown out to die. Some survived. But without a regular source of food, water, or medication, very many more died. There were those who had resort to eating the dead to survive. She did her best to keep those dying as comfortable as she could until their last breath. 
"You told me that your father would come." Her eyes nearly welled up reliving the moment Bravo Squad had come to rescue her. She had burst into tears of relief while being held by Kindred Dakota. She quickly shook her eyes free of the moment. "What does that have to do with now?"
"We need to find a Riyac. And here is a candidate now. Wait here," Mayla said as she raised her goggles on top of her cap. She took several steps forward, her tricorder showing the small lithe figure hiding behind a large metal crate that had been smashed open.
She touched the fingers of her right hand to her forehead, and gestured outwards to the figure. "Miloy'Nay." She said calmly.
The small robed figure peered out from behind the crate with bright blue eyes on a pale blue oval face and looked at the stranger suspiciously. The gesture was returned along with a gentle voice. "Miloy'Nay." The figure moved back behind the crate again.
"Wait," Mayla took a step forward. "I want to ask you a few questions."
"What do you want?" came the smooth flowing voice of a young male. "I am not allowed to talk with strangers. Even those who know my people's tongue."
"We are new here, and would like some advice from you." Mayla said calmly. Smith stood still watching the exchange.
The child looked to be about 12 years old. All he was wearing were tattered clothes and robe with too many tears and holes. He cringed away, as if anticipating Mayla to leap at him. But she didn't. He slowly peered back out. "What is it that you want to know?"
"My name is Em. What is your name?"
"Aseyu."
"Aseyu," Mayla repeated. "It means water flowing down a hidden path, doesn't it?"
The boy edged a little farther out now. "Yes, my father gave me that name."
Mayla nodded. "A father's wisdom is told through his children," she said, quoting another creed hoping it would gain a bit of trust. "You are Mülan."
"I am."
Smith took a slow measured step closer to Mayla, quietly speaking over the subvocal. "Mülan? I've never heard of them."
"As you shouldn't. They became extinct nearly 120 years ago in our…at home." Mayla murmured. Then out loud, "We are looking for someone. We think he is important to the Terrans. Would they keep him in the colony, or someplace else?"
"I have never seen or heard of anyone being important down here." He said, glancing quickly up and down the narrow pathway, and behind him. "They may be keeping him nearer to the barracks. That's where they take you to be punished. I hear screams from there everyday."
"Can you take us there?"
"Why should I help you?" 
"I'll let you have this." Mayla pulled something out from beneath her cloak.
The boy peered out again and saw what she had in her hand. Now seemingly bolder, he stepped out and faced her. "For that I would take you to the Empress herself."
Smith looked at the item in Mayla's hand. It was a small rectangular device that just had two lights on the end. She didn't know what it was.
"Only to the barracks," Mayla reiterated. "Where are they?"
"The only way is through the colony," the boy said. "The way is heavily guarded, and no prisoners are allowed near it."
"Alright, then take us closest you can." Mayla still held out the item to him.
He walked up to her and took it. "Follow me."
Mayla lowered her goggles back into place over her eyes and the pair followed the boy. But Smith had her doubts. It was too easy. "What was that thing you gave him?"
"I don't know. I stole it off that hulk I bumped into."
"You picked his pocket?"
"Only the ones I could access," Mayla said. "Keep your eyes open. Let's not put our entire trust in this boy."
"Well, he did say he'd take us to the Empress himself for that thing."
"Let's be sure not to let that happen."
 
Commander Victoria Smith
Rogaran IV Underworld
Stardate 2211.16
The nurse fell in behind Mayla and the boy. As the trio advanced toward the barracks, she pulled the hood forward to conceal most of her facial features. Even with her face smeared with dirt and grime, Victoria was concerned that someone would mistake her for Dr. Smith. 
Of course, knowing that the mirror version of Victoria had a taste for medical experimentation on prisoners, it was completely understandable that if she were captured, she'd end up left for dead. 
For a brief moment, a wave of dread overcame her as she speculated whether or not this was the way she would check out…murdered in a Terran prison. She brushed off the feeling and quickened her pace to fall in line with Mayla and the boy…what did he say his name was?
As they worked their way through the shadows of the prison, the trio started to close in on a makeshift marketplace. At the last minute, they wheeled to the right and started to follow a darkened path along the edge of the market. 
From time to time, Victoria peered out from beneath her hood. Her green eyes darted about as she studied her surroundings. She noticed the crowds to her left had grown, and many prisoners were actively bartering with "merchants" for necessary supplies and, more importantly, medicine. Her heart sank as she listened to the repeated pleas for medical supplies that would have little to no impact on whatever disease was currently spreading throughout the colony. 
The nurse struggled as instincts told her to help these poor souls…were they not no different than those cast aside on Helios? 
She halted in her tracks briefly and peered into the marketplace. From the shadows, she quietly watched as a Bajoran woman pleaded with a merchant for a meager supply of herbs…which would offer little help to the ailing infant child she held in her arms. Victoria knew she likely carried supplies that could help the woman.
The nurse returned her attention to Mayla and her new friend. The pair were advancing further into the shadows and slowly out of view. Victoria wondered to herself if she was truly needed for this mission and whether her talents would be put to better use helping the sick and infirm of the colony. 
Smith watched as Vree and her young companion rounded a corner and disappeared from view. Once alone, she stepped towards the marketplace to help the Bajoran woman….but quickly caught herself.
"Damnit." She cursed as she looked towards Vree’s last know position. Victoria knew the Trill needed her to infiltrate the administrative levels of the penal colony. She sighed in frustration and turned away from the marketplace. Seconds later, she broke into a quick jog to catch up to Mayla.
Luckily, the boy and Vree were standing in between to tents as she hurried over to them. "Guards."
She looked at the two who were clearly not dressed as miners. Everyone gave them a wide berth as they carried a large crate between them down another path. "At least now we know what the guards look like," she murmured into the subvocal.
"If we were anywhere else in our universe, I'd take their uniforms. But here, we know almost nothing about their hierarchy or duty stations." Vree said, eyeing the pair carefully, having her eyes create images and sending back to the Resurrection.
"We can go now," the boy said and continued walking with the pair following.
ISS Vengeance
ISS Gambit
Arrival at Rogaran IV
Stardate 2211.16
The Imperial flagship Vengeance and the escort ISS Gambit dropped out of warp in the Rogaran system and moved into orbit around the fourth planet. Vengeance was huge…a massive battleship built by Emperor Jaegar after he ascended to the Terran throne. The vessel was massively armed and armored, and was equipped with the best technology the empire had to offer.
Empress Kane sat on the bridge of her new ship and looked at the viewscreen image of the prison colony below. She was taking in the view when Commander Dahrt at tactical chimed in, "Your highness," he said, no sign of the Iotian accent the Prime Universe Dahrt displayed when he spoke. "There's another ship in orbit. It's a Carnora warship."
"Ryramorl," Taryn muttered under her breath. "What is it doing?"
"Orbiting," Dahrt replied. "The penal colony indicates Ryramorl showed up and asked for dead or living prisoners to…eat."
A look of distaste crossed Taryn's lovely face. "And the colony is obliging?"
"Yes majesty," Nick replied. "By order of the Hand."
"Very well," she said, standing. "I'll be beaming to the colony. Keep an eye on the Carnora. They are allies but unpredictable. Hopefully they'll receive their…free meal…and be on their way."
Like Jack, she despised the Carnora, but as Durham had probably deduced she did owe them a favor or two. They had sacrificed most of their military helping overthrown the Alliance, which enable Jaegar to restore the empire.
If giving them scraps like starving dogs would keep them loyal, she had no problem obliging them. 
In fact, as she walked to the transporter room, Taryn wondered if she could set them up with a farm of their own on the occupied Klingon homeworld, let them kill and eat Klingon refugees there to keep them satisfied. They had been good allies in the past. Perhaps an infusion of food and sport would keep them eager to serve the empire again someday.
Empress Kane transported to the penal colony below, where she was met by Commander Jahkar and a team of Royal Guards. Together, she and Jahkar walked to the command center of the prison seeking Dark and Durham to check on their progress.
Lt. Commander Daryl Thompson
Rogaran IV Penal Colony, Sickbay
Stardate 2211.16
Daryl awoke. It felt as if his head was stuffed. His thoughts where slow and cloudy, as if having a real, real bad hang over. His vision was blurry, as was his hearing. What had happened? He couldn't remember. He tried to concentrate, but everything blurred in and out of existence. He heard soft sounds around him, but couldn't make anything of it. Then he felt a tingling sensation in his neck, and partly, the haze lifted. He squinted and tried to gain focus, and slowly his view became a bit more clear. He saw two figures standing by the end of the bed he was laying on. They seemed to have an argument, but their tone was soft. Then one of them turned towards Daryl. 
"Ah, our sleeping beauty is finally waking up" 
The voice sounded familiar, but Daryl didn't recognize it. He tried to sit up a bit more, but noticed his movement was restrained. 
"How are you feeling? " 
Another familiar voice, female this time. Daryl tried to answer, but no sound came out. Another tingling sensation. Daryl noticed his mouth was dry. His tongue stuck against his palate. 
"Can I get some water"
He managed to bring out. A few moments later, he felt how someone stood beside him and helped him up a bit. Then he felt a glass against his lips, he opened his mouth and tasted the cool water. He drank until the glass was empty. 
"Thank you"
He said, in between swallows. 
"I feel numb. " He replied, in answer to the question. "As if every emotion and feeling is out if reach. "
"That is correct" The female voice said. 
"You've been through a lot.We gave some meds to block short term memories. You should rest now" 
Daryl decided that the familiar voice was right. He laid down again, and almost immediately he dozed off. 
Durham stood besides the bed Thompson laid on. Smith was checking some readings on her tricorder. 
"How is he doing? " He informed. 
"Worse than I thought" Smith said, sternly. 
"But why are we still treating him as he served way beyond his purpose? 
"Because I promised him. And he hasn't quite yet fulfilled his purpose for us, Commander Smith. So you better keep him alive until I or the Empress says otherwise. And keep Dark away from him. That's an order. "
Lt. Commander William McCulloch
Lt. Tiri Sh’avelith
Lt. Cody Beckett
Rogaran IV Underworld
Stardate 2211.19
As Will, Tiri and Cody broke off from Jahkar and the others, he inhaled slowly and deeply…allowing the sour odors of fecal waste, body odor, rotting flesh, and vomit to fill his nostrils. They were all smells that the Scot was intimately familiar with due to his earlier incarceration at the Starfleet prison facility known as Severus IV.
The Scot walked easily amongst the prison population because he had the experience and knowledge of what he could and could not get away with. During his first year of incarceration, McCulloch and his fellow prisoners were routinely beaten, robbed, tortured, and humiliated by their marine guards and prisoners loyal to their overlords. When the prisoners finally revolted against the cruel treatment, McCulloch took command of the revolt. After a bloody standoff, more humane conditions were established … if one could call the rise of black markets, prison gangs, and sex trafficking humane.
"Avoid direct eye contact with the other prisoners unless necessary, and for bloody sake, don’t engage or interact with groups of prisoners larger than three. More likely than not their part of a gang that will want to lure you away to either rob or rape you. Understand?"
"Acknowledged," Tiri replied matter-of-factly. There was no response from Beckett.
"Seven, report," Will demanded as he continued to advance through the crowd. The Scot noted that Tiri was still on his right flank. There was still no response from Beckett. 
McCulloch put his arm out before Tiri to signal the pair to halt. He quickly looked behind him to see Beckett conversing with two younger men trying to hand him a duffle bag with food, supplies, and illicit items. 
"Four, on me." Will quietly grumbled as he made his way back towards Beckett. He abruptly pushed the lieutenant aside and confronted the two young men. The Scot estimated the pair were no more than twenty years old, respectively.
"Whatever you are offering, he’s not interested."
"We are only trying to help this newb survive while incarcerated here."
"Nothing here is offered for free out of the kindness of strangers." Will hissed as he stepped towards the larger of the two men. "What do you expect in exchange?"
The two men stepped back slightly. After exchanging glances, the larger one resumed the conversation.
"You want to barter? What do want to trade?"
"We have no interest in trading." Will calmly but firmly replied.
"Oh, but I think you have something you can trade up." The smaller of the pair announced as he eyed Tiri. "Something very …delicious."
"Oh for pete’s sake." Will scoffed loudly before stepping towards the smaller male and seizing him by the throat. The man immediately started to gag. Will squeezed harder and watched his target’s eyes bulge before quickly releasing him. As the man doubled over and gasped for air, McCulloch gently patted him on the back as he looked around to ensure no one had taken an interest in the interaction.
The larger male looked as if he was going to speak but chose not to. He gulped loudly, turned around, and disappeared into the crowd.
"We’re done now?" Will demanded of his victim.
The man silently nodded in the affirmative as he stood back up. Will immediately grabbed him by the throat a second time and pulled him close. He gestured towards Tiri.
"The woman you’re eying like she’s a treat is mine." Will coldly announced. "I see you even glance at her again, and I’ll kill you. Am I clear?"
The man nodded rapidly in the affirmative.
"Your name." 
"Jonas Schmidt."
"Well, now I know you properly. So sod off before I change my mind and snap your neck."
After the prisoner scampered away, Will turned his attention back towards Beckett. 
"Nobody will offer you anything for free inside here. There’s always a catch. Try not to engage them…at all." The Scot announced before pausing briefly. "Let’s keep moving."
Tiri watched McCulloch’s interactions with the inmates at the Mirror Universe penal colony and was shocked at what a complete ass he could so easily become. She knew he was a hard case but he seemed to take to this sort of lifestyle without the slightest hesitation.
She’s done undercover work before, mostly infiltrating Orion Syndicate and Consortium criminal empires. This wasn’t the same as that. While rubbing elbows with gangsters, assassins and mercenaries was one thing, this was something completely different. A penal colony filled with criminals who had nothing to lose and would slit your throat for a slice of bread.
The disguised Andorian did everything McCulloch said and stayed close to him and Beckett. After sweeping along the middle of the open cavern filled with ramshackle structures and crowds of dirty inmates milling about, she glanced to Will, "Should we start asking around?"
"You’re right. We should," McCulloch answered as he scanned the cavern and carefully studied each shelter. After a brief moment of silence, he gestured towards a shanty off to their left. The structure was dilapidated, devoid of windows, and protected by several rough prisoners who had nothing better to do than look for trouble. The Scot noted most other prisoners avoided the structure.
"There," Will announced as he pointed at the building. "We start there."
"You have to be sh*tting me." Cody protested as he eyed the group surrounding the building. "Listen, if you’re trying to prove how tough you are in a prison setting … you have succeeded."
"It has all the earmarks of one of the more powerful prison gangs in this vicinity."
"Why the hell would they want to talk to us" Beckett demanded in a hushed whisper.
"Remember what I said," Will answered. "Prisoners aren’t going to give away anything for free, especially intelligence on Daryl."
"But why *them*?" Beckett pressed.
"A group like that doesn’t rise to power playing nice with their Terran guards or by sticking their heads in the sand."
"And a group like that will probably share information for the right price or if it benefits them," Tiri noted.
"Or they could simply kill us," Cody noted.
"Possibly," Will retorted. 
"What do we offer them?" The Andorian asked.
"The spare laser drill in my tool kit," McCulloch answered as he patted the case slung across his back. "That should fetch a hefty price for them in this facility."
"Or they could simply seize it from you and find the other fun stuff hidden in that case." Beckett pointed out.
"It’s a risk worth taking," Will conceded. "But I’m open to other suggestions."
"Let’s go, boys," Tiri interjected as she left the pair and started walking toward the gang.
"F*** me," Cody hissed as he and McCulloch fell in line with the Andorian.
As the trio approached the shanty, a rather large Nausicaan stepped forward and blocked their path. 
"Beat it, before I rip your hearts out and use them as sponges for my next bath." He hissed as his cold stare darted back and forth between Cody and McCulloch.
"We’re here to see your boss," McCulloch growled. "We’ve got something to trade."
"What makes you think she’ll trade with you…a lowlife newb."
The Scot stepped forward and into the Nausicaan’s personal space. As he inhaled deeply, a look of boredom spread across his face. After a moment, he chuckled softly.
"This isn’t our first rodeo inside a prison colony, you filthy piece of Ferengi crap," Will warned. "You can tell your boss we’re here to trade, or…"
"Or what?" The Nausicaan demanded.
"We’ll take our goods to your rival."
The thug laughed and shook his head in disbelief. "Wait here."   
After approximately five minutes, the guard returned and gestured for the trio to enter the shanty.  
"She’ll see you now," He hissed as he leaned towards Beckett. "All three of you."
McCulloch entered the dimly lit and foul-smelling room, followed by Tiri and Beckett. After Beckett crossed the threshold, a muscular Bolian slammed the door shut and stood in front of it…thereby blocking their escape.
Across the room, a tall, slim woman with blonde hair and green eyes was leaning back in a chair as she studied the group. Occasionally she would slowly suck on the makeshift cigar she held in her right hand. 
The two men flanking her on either side simply scowled at the three.
"Eight, is that who I think it is?" Beckett asked over the subvoc.
"It’s her, but it’s not her," Will noted without taking his gaze off the Terran version of his childhood friend …Colonel Kathleen Fraser of Starfleet’s Marines.
"What do you want?" Fraser demanded in a heavy Scottish accent. "It better be worth my time, or I’ll be dumping your lifeless bodies down an abandoned mine shaft."
"We have something that could benefit you if you’re willing to help us."
Fraser eyed McCulloch sourly. After a moment, she looked over at the bodyguard to her left.
"He thinks he has something that could benefit us." She mocked. "Well lucky me. To think I was without benefits before meeting this British ass."
Kathleen stared at McCulloch for several seconds before pointing directly at him.
"You, shut up." She hissed before turning her gaze towards Tiri. "You, I’ll speak with. What do you want? Be f***ing quick about it before I trade the lot of you for some of M’gar’s hooch." 
Sh’avelith was finally up to speed and able to fall in line with McCulloch’s quick improvisation skills and strong ability at deception which made him one of the best undercover operatives she’d ever seen. Her own experience in undercover ops flowed back to her and she looked Kathleen straight in the eyes.
"We’re looking for someone," Tiri announced.
"Found someone I’d say you have," Fraser smirked. "Spit it out lass, who are you looking for in this forsaken hellhole?"
"His name is Thompson," she said.
Fraser’s eyes narrowed, her face poker perfect otherwise. From the look on the faces of the two bodyguards, however, Tiri saw a glimmer of recognition in the name.
"Thompson…that’s a pretty common name. Like looking for a Smith, Jones or Anderson, ain’t it?" Fraser laughed. "You’ll have to do…"
"Daryl Thompson," Tiri whispered, leaning in closer to the woman. "Heard of him?"
Fraser looked at Tiri and took a deep drag off the cigar before blowing the foul smoke back in the undercover-Andorian’s face.
"The bloody Hand? Of course I’ve heard of him," Kathleen muttered. "Last I heard he was staying down in the underbelly of this place. Not sure exactly where he is….or why the bunch of you would want to speak with him. He’s trouble and anyone associated with him is in trouble, so maybe you ought to forget you ever heard his name."
From the back of the room, Cody cleared his throat. "You said he’s in the underbelly of this place. Could you at least point us in the right direction."
Fraser hesitated for a brief moment …realizing she may have already said too much. She cast her gaze upon Tiri one more time.
"You associate yourself with a Brit and a Kiwi?" Kathleen scoffed. "Young lady, you need to choose better company."
The Andorian nodded eagerly in agreement. Will shot her a sideways glance but chose not to press the issue. He turned his attention back to Fraser and started to speak. However, the woman held up her hand and signaled him to remain silent.
"Did I give you permission to speak?"
"No ma’am."
"But yet you want to open up your trap to do what? Charm me?"
"Perhaps ma’am."
"Should I listen to him?" Fraser demanded of Sh’avelith. The Andorian merely shrugged her shoulders. Will scoffed softly. 
"Can we discuss a trade?" He pressed.
"What for what?"
"A new laser drill for being pointed in the right direction."
Fraser eyed the Scot suspiciously for several seconds before gesturing at Tiri. "Show me."
McCulloch unslung the case and handed it to Sh’avelith. She quickly set it down on the table and cracked it open. The Scot gestured towards one of two laser drills that did not have a phaser pistol stored inside the tool’s shell. The lieutenant hefted the device up and squeezed the trigger. A whine followed a loud whir as the laser drill powered up. Fraser leaned forward with interest and gestured for one of her guards to retrieve the device.
Tiri readily handed it over to him and watched as it was placed in Fraser’s hands.
"It’s brand new," McCulloch noted.
"Shut up, Brit." She retorted as she closely examined the device.
"I think you’ll find it meets your needs," Beckett added.
Fraser looked up from the drill and eyed Tiri. "Seriously, you must keep your men in line, young lady. Do you always let them talk so much?"
Before Sh’avelith could answer, the Scottish woman continued. "What’s to stop me from simply taking this drill and killing two out of the three of you?"
"Because I can get more of these." Will coldly answered. 
A thin smile quickly spread across Fraser’s face as she eyed Tiri cautiously. "Very well. But before I point you down the yellow brick road, I want to know why the three of you are so interested in finding the Hand."
Cody stepped forward and spoke before Tiri or Will could. 
"That's actually none of your business. But, since you asked so nicely, he owes us. Unpaid work. As we heard he was around somewhere here, why not find him and get even. "
Tiri looked to Fraser and waited to see what she would say or do. The woman glared at Beckett a moment, then smirked. 
"Well, from what I’ve heard, Thompson ain’t going to be able to pay you," Kathleen said amusedly. "In fact, I don’t think he’ll be doing much of anything much longer."
Tiri frowned, "Why?"
Kathleen shrugged, "The drill and I’ll tell you what I know. And you, missy, you work on finding me more. Right?"
"Of course," Tiri lied. "The drill is yours, the information about Thompson first."
Fraser flicked some ash from the cigar and looked at Tiri, ignoring the others from this group of strangers. 
"Daryl Thopson, the former Hand, was captured by imperial agents and was taken from the lower depths of this place. The caverns below the mines," Fraser said. "He was taken to Grand Inquisitor Dark and the new Hand, some guy called Durham. They are somewhere in the administration level – a couple miles above us I suspect."
"You don’t know where?" Tiri asked. "Or why?"
"I’m good sugar," Fraser chuckled. "But I ain’t that good. I hear things, but there’s a limit to what I know. And certain things I know better than to go sticking my nose in. They took Thompson, that’s all I know. Oh…and they took his little girlfriend."
Tiri raised an eyebrow and glanced back at McCulloch before turning her gaze on Fraser, "Girlfriend?"
"Orion girl," Fraser said. "K’Chary. They took her too." She then looked at a pair of her goons and nodded toward the drill. The men moved to secure the merchandise…
"Wait." McCulloch announced as Fraser’s henchmen closed in on the drill. The pair ignored the Scot and seized the drill. 
"What?" Fraser sighed in frustration. "Unless you’re about to offer me something else, our little meeting is over."
"There has to be a way to the administrative level." Cody pressed. "Can you at least point us in the general direction?"
Fraser snickered before carefully eying the trio. "There are only two ways you end up on the administrative level…being selected by Dr. Victoria Smith for experimentation or gaining the unwanted attention of the Terran Empire. Which method do you prefer?"
"Point us in the general direction," McCulloch repeated with a slight growl.
Fraser paused momentarily as she considered the request. After a moment, she stood up, came out from behind her desk and approached McCulloch. She quickly backhanded him hard enough that he spun slightly to the left. When McCulloch stood up straight, she struck him again. Beckett started to interject, but the Bolian guarding the door stepped forward and signaled not to do anything stupid.
Fraser glared at Tiri before gesturing at McCulloch. 
"If you ever wish to sell him to me, let me know. I can put him to work in one of my cheaper brothels. In the meantime, I would have your mouthy friend checked out at the medical station west of here. Who knows, you might even get the attention of Dr. Smith. Now get the hell out of my office."
The Bolian stepped aside and opened the door he was guarding. McCulloch slung his tool case over this shoulder and followed Tiri and Beckett out of the shanty. The Nausicaan guard made an obscene gesture at the Trio as they passed and made their way back into the crowd.
McCulloch grabbed Tiri by the left arm and gently pulled her closer to him. 
"You were bloody brilliant back there *young lady*. Damn brilliant." He whispered.
Tiri looked up at the Scot. It appeared he was almost beaming with pride.
Tiri grinned, "Thanks. So, we should go find the others and tell them what we know. Getting to Daryl is going to be an epic challenge."
She then led the way back through the throngs of prisoners, looking for the rest of the team…
As she did, Will reached out to Jahkar on the subvoc.
"Two, Eight. We have a lead."
Jahkar acknowledged, "Copy that. Regroup where we entered the enclave. Report your findings to Havoc. Two out."
[Back to top]
==S5, E1, Act 8: An Unexpected Ally==
Commander Mayla Vree
Rogaran IV Penal Colony, Mirror Universe 
Stardate 2212.04
Mayla and Smith had just begun to emerge from hiding when a text message suddenly appeared in her eyes that caused her to immediately stop, grab Smith's arm and pull her back into the shadows between two prefab containers.
'Starburst. Crimson nova.'
Mayla immediately activated her subvocal controller in her eyes and opened a channel to the whole team. "Phoenix, this is One. Crimson Black protocol." Without a moment's hesitation, she clocked the young man out and sat him up against the wall.
Smith looked at her with a puzzled look, not understanding the code, nor why she just knocked out their prisoner. Mayla leaned in and whispered into her ear. "Switch to our back up frequency, do you remember it?"
It suddenly felt like a hand squeezed her heart. "I do."
"Do it, now." Mayla ordered in a firm voice. Smith has heard that tone before.
The Trill peered out into the dimly lit crowd to see if anyone looked like they were coming after them. The message was directly from the captain, using his cranial interface to get a short text message out to her.
"What's happened?" Smith said, now over a backup frequency she and Mayla had used a long time ago. "What is this Black Crimson protocol?"
"Switch to the team frequency 617Gamma Zero." Mayla said, pulling back further into the shadows. "And change back into your clothes."
"What?" Smith was about to object, but that tone kept her anger and curiosity in check.
"What the hell happened?" Jahkar's voice came over with a grunt.
"I received a text message from the captain. 'Starburst', 'Crimson Nova'. The ship's been compromised. We're on our own."
"Do we know anything else?" Smith asked.
"No," Mayla answered back immediately. "But if they are compromised, we might be too. They're going to come looking for us."
Jahkar swore over the subvocal. "Is this Imchek VII all over again?"
"May be." Mayla just said, running through different plans of action in her head. Jahkar, part of Bravo Squad at the time of the Imchek VII event, had been the sole member left on board the Intruder when it had been hijacked.
"Maybe that's why they kidnapped Daryl," Sh'avelith said, "to get to us."
"Or the ship," Beckett chimed in. "That coaxial drive is pretty valuable."
"We need to get Daryl and retake the ship. Or destroy it." Mayla said factually. "Options?"
 
Commander Victoria Smith
Rogaran IV Penal Colony, Mirror Universe 
Stardate 2212.04
With this new development, a wave of questions and scenarios ran through her mind as she stripped off the Terran uniform and quickly tossed it back into her pack. Of course, she sarcastically wondered to herself if she was going to be spending most of the mission half naked with all the changing in and out of disguises. 
The nurse grumbled slightly as she grabbed handfuls of dirt and began to rub them over her face, hair, and exposed skin. Afterward, she changed back into her original outfit. She quickly seized her combat blade back from Vree and strapped it to the small of her back.
Victoria wondered about the fate of Union XII, the condition of the Resurrection's crew and the likelihood of success of the mission. As Mayla and the other team members reviewed options, Smith listened intently…choosing initially not to speak. 
Finally, when there was a break, she cleared her throat and shared her thoughts.
"May I speak?" She inquired over the subvoc as she stared at Vree. She knew the Trill would not like her suggestion … but it had to be put on the table.
"Go ahead 9T," Jahkar answered.
"I can't believe I'm saying this but based upon my experience …. Excuse me Jairin's experience … I think we still need to stay the course and insert me as Dr. Smith."
"Absolutely not," Vree retorted. " If the Resurrection has been compromised, the Terran Empire probably knows of your role in this mission."
"Perhaps, but if we can replace the doctor before I am detected, we may have a slight advantage."
"If you can successfully replace her without being detected beforehand is the operative phrase," Tiri noted.
The nurse paused momentarily, expecting McCulloch to interject as well. Surprisingly, he said nothing.
"I know the risks and am willing to take them," Victoria quietly announced as she continued to watch Mayla. "But if it means you get Three out of this awful place, I'll do it."
"If you are captured, your counterpart will torture and experiment on you before killing you." Vree noted matter-of-factly. "The mere presence of Trill memory analeptics in your system would inspire Dr. Smith to turn you into her personal lab rat."
Victoria nodded at Vree. "I understand, commander. Whatever the team decides to do, I will follow. But I am prepared to stick my neck out if it means Three comes home."
Lt. Gysyd Riisos (NPC)
The Medical Jump Ship Gentle Annie Ethridge
USS Resurrection Hangar
Stardate 2212.04
Gysyd leaned back in the command chair inside the cockpit of the Gentle Annie, studying the medical records of each operative currently deployed. Seated in front of him were Lieutenant Vesol Tusot and Corporal Tyvi Pyme. 
Tusot, the jump ship's pilot, was busy running tests on the ship's stabilizer while Pyme, the Gentle Annie's weapons officer, was dividing his time between cataloging micro torpedoes and running a diagnostic on the targeting systems. The remainder of Union XII was spread throughout the jump ship, the Resurrection's hangar, and the medical bay.
The Orion male nurse was the second in command of Union XII and the exact opposite of his superior officer Victoria Smith … which she rarely hesitated to remind him of. When the lieutenant was asked to join the combat medical team as her right-hand man, she made it explicitly clear that he was not to be her "yes man". 
As the Orion continued to make notes on the medical history of Jahkar, Lieutenant Tusot spun in his chair.
"Gysyd, we've lost contact with the bridge."
"Come again?" Riisos asked as the holographic display feeding real-time tactical and operational information from the bridge became unstable and disappeared. He looked up and shared a concerned look with the Rigelian pilot. 
"Patch me through to the bridge."
"Aye." Tusot replied. Seconds later, he signaled to Riisos that a channel was open.
"Bridge, this is Lieutenant Riisos. We appear to have lost communication and data links with you. Please advise."
There were several seconds of dead silence before Gysyd repeated the request. Again, there was no response.
The Orion nurse sighed loudly as he tapped his comm badge. "Riisos to Hannigan. Report to me."
The Irish warrant officer, who was in the Resurrection's hangar bay inspecting surgical equipment, quickly dashed up the Gentle Annie's ramp, passed through the emergency medical bay and armory and entered the cockpit.
"Sir?" She immediately inquired.
"Who on our team is closest to the Bridge?"
Fiadh reflected momentarily. "Ensign Hixwir Gace and Petty Officer Kex Sis. They're in the Resurrection's medical bay."
"Instruct Sis to go to the bridge and ask why communication and data links are down."
"Sir?"
"Please humor me Ms. Hannigan," Riisos replied with a slight tone of annoyance. "Have her check in with us afterward."
"Yes, sir."
Ten minutes later Hannigan returned to Riisos' side. The lieutenant looked up at his warrant officer.
"Well?"
"Something is not right." Fiadh reported hesitantly.
"What do you mean something is not right?" Riisos pressed.
"She can't get anywhere near the bridge. Kex reported the turbolift to the bridge has been deactivated. She tried to pass through one of the access tubes but couldn't because containment fields were in place."
What the hell?" Tusot announced in confusion as he looked back at Hannigan.
"Anything else?" Riisos asked, unsure if he wanted to hear the answer.
"She is also reporting all comms with the bridge are down."
"Sir, what the hell is going on?" Corporal Pyme demanded.
The lieutenant rubbed his chin several times as he reflected upon the unusual development. Was Lazarus running another unannounced drill on Union XII? 
After another moment of hesitation, he looked over at Hannigan.
"Where are our rifles and pistols currently located?"
"Here on the jump ship." 
Riisos nodded in understanding. He quickly tapped his comm badge.
"Union XII, report to the Gentle Annie for inventory of surgical equipment." 
He cleared his throat as he rose from the command chair and looked about the cockpit at his companions.
"I have no idea what is happening, who is watching or who is istening to us. As soon as everyone arrives, suit up and arm yourselves…but do nothing unless I either issue orders or the poo hits the fan. Understand?" 
"You think the bridge has been compromised?" Fiadh pressed.
"I don't know, but this time we're not going to sit on our hands." The Orion answered as he pulled up the ship's manifest and tried to locate senior crew members who were not on the bridge. Oddly, he couldn't find Lt. Commanders McGuire or Carmichael. However, he was able to locate three security officers - Ensigns Thrice and Sullivan and Lieutenant Jackson.
The lieutenant quickly holstered his phaser pistol and powered up his rifle before slinging it over his shoulder. 
"Have the team gear up." He repeated as he walked down the ramp. "I'll be back after I speak with security."
The Orion nurse muttered to himself as he exited the hangar, wondering if Lazarus was indeed running his team through another unannounced drill.
Colonel Jahkar
Rogaran IV Penal Colony, Mirror Universe 
Stardate 2212.06
Jahkar felt better after the pain killers, but internally he could feel the broken ribs were bad. Tiri inspected the damage, feeling around the flesh of his right ribcage and by the look on her face he could tell it was a bad break.
She stepped back and he lowered his shirt, then put his long coat back on before turning to see the sour look on her face. 
"Two broken ribs from what I can feel," Tiri muttered. "I wish I had my medical tricorder so I could determine the extent of the damage. I'm afraid the break is bad enough it could splinter and puncture your lungs or heart."
The Marine nodded. "I figured it was bad. There's nothing we can do right now. We don't even know if we can get back to the ship."
They stepped out from behind the ramshackle dwelling they'd been behind while Tiri gave him the injection and checked his damaged ribs, then moved back to the rest of the team. As they rejoined the others, they heard Mayla asking for options over the subvoc and Jahkar chimed in.
"Turning back now isn't going to get us any closer to retrieving Daryl," Jahkar said. "The captain and the rest of the crew are going to have to fend for themselves. We get Thompson and get back to Resurrection. Maybe by then we'll have a clearer path."
Lt. Commander William McCulloch
Rogaran IV Penal Colony, Mirror Universe 
Stardate 2212.06
Will and Cody were still fifty meters ahead of the team and seated in the shadows of the rocky alcove when Vree's emergency transmission came in. Neither initially reacted to the news. Instead, McCulloch leaned back against the rocky wall, pulled his rifle close to his body and sighed in frustration. 
As he listened to the others discuss options, the Scot came to the obvious conclusion: he and the rest of the team had likely just signed their death warrants. The thought of taking a dirt nap in the Mirror Universe, let alone on this God-forsaken rock, troubled him deeply. Nevertheless, he kept the dire thoughts to himself.
Eventually, he heard Victoria join the discussion … offering to risk capture and torture if it allowed for the rescue of Daryle Thompson. He felt Cody eying him as Vree, Smith and the others discussed the nurse's offer. McCulloch knew Beckett was waiting for him to object to the proposal. However, he chose to remain silent. If he voiced his opposition, it would appear as if he either doubted Victoria's abilities or was overprotective of her. On the other hand, if he approved, he knew Vree would probably question his judgment. 
He didn't doubt Victoria's capabilities. In fact, he believed she was more than capable of carrying out her assignment even though she was not an operative. However, her proposal bothered him because they had made plans for after the mission. 
But future plans don't mean squat when the present is going to crap faster than anyone would care to admit and they were all likely to become playthings of Emperor Kane …if they survived. A big "if".
McCulloch removed the targeting scope off his rifle, put the weapon aside and crawled to the alcove's edge. He again peered through the device and carefully studied the dozens of rows of pre-fabricated shacks and the turbolift banks beyond. After hearing Jahkar express his opinion, he finally spoke. 
"I agree with Two. We can't turn back."
"How do we get to the turbolifts?" Beckett inquired. 
McCulloch continued to study the area before him. After a moment, he answered over the subvoc. 
"I suggest One and 9T hold their position while we move towards the northwest corner of the settlement before curving towards them in support. We draw Terran forces away from them and towards us."
The Scot paused momentarily as a section of the housing units caught his attention. 
"Correction, Two and team should move southwest to northeast along a pathway approximately 200 meters to the west of the center of the settlement. The street appears to have several water containers at the entranceway and some form of awnings shielding it from high-ground observation. It could provide us with cover and allow us to move somewhat undetected."
"What about One and 9T. Options for them?" Jahkar pressed.
McCulloch studied the settlement and the turbolift for the third time. He shook his head in frustration as he contemplated proposals. 
"The best option may be they hold their position until we can create a distraction that will draw off the guards closest to them."
"Give us another option Eight," Vree demanded. "We just can't create another riot."
Will paused briefly. "One and 9T cut westward towards the center of town to connect with Two and his team. We could reassess entry points into the administrative levels at that time."
McCulloch waited for the team's response to his suggestions. Secretly he was hoping someone had a better suggestion to put on the table.
Lt. Commander Daryl Thompson
Rogaran IV Penal Colony, Mirror Universe
Stardate 2212.07
Daryl had been awake since a few hours. The suppressors they had been giving him had faded away, and Daryl slowly remembered what had happened the past day. He once more freaked out and had killed two guards before they stunned him. He had been placed in a cell, and now he just sat there. His eyes where red and swollen of all the crying. Now and then he sobbed. He was broken. Once more. But below, deep below his thoughts, his sadness and despair, the anger smothered, like a beast, a demon, waiting for it's chance to break through… 
The door of the cell opened, and Durham walked in, with a plate filled with food. One of the guards accompanying him, stepped forward, while the other had his weapon trained on Daryl. Durham nodded, and the first guard brought the forcefield down. Durham stepped forward and placed the plate on the table in between them. Then he stepped back and the forcefield was activated again. The guards then disappeared. For a while it was silent. Then Durham spoke. 
"Daryl, listen. I have lied to you, yes. But this, this should not have happened. But I can't do anything about it. But believe me that it wasn't meant from my side to kill K'Chary. "
Daryl looked at the plate of food and took a few bites from the food. He ignored Durham's words. 
Durham nodded "I understand you feel betrayed. I can't help that. Can't even blame you for it. "
Durham studied Daryl, who still took small bites of the food. 
"Hey guess what, there is good news. Your friends have arrived. If you are lucky, they play along nice and give us the ship. Then you and all of them can go back to your own universe and live you happy lives. How about that? "
Daryl ignored Durham, yet he registered every word. 
Durham scoffed as he didn't get any reaction from Thompson and walked out of the room. 
Lt. Commander Ryramorl Ra'yral
Rogaran IV Penal Colony, Mirror Universe 
Stardate 2212.10
Ryramorl listened, then took a deep breath. "I think… perhaps we need Reepchip as a sneak again. Here is what I'm thinking: Reepchip sneaks up on the gun placements and takes the guards out. He's small, and he is nimble enough to climb up there."
"And how would he take them out?"
Ryramorl looked at Reepchip. "Are you strong enough for the Dagger of the Hidden Hand? Can you, say, collapse a human throat?"
Reepchip took a deep breath. The memory of his failure on Cardassia nagged at him. "I… I think I can. And if not, I have my blowpipe."
Lt. Cody Beckett
Rogaran IV Penal Colony, Mirror Universe
Stardate 2212.11
Beckett listened to Ryramorl's proposal. He looked at Will, who raised an eyebrow and shook his head. 
"There are 2 nests. Each nest has at least six guards. I have seen Six fighting. But aren't six guards a bit much for him? We need a distraction so Six really has the element of surprise here." Beckett chimed in. " Eight, can you coordinate with Six and take out a few guards right before Six jumps in and takes out the rest?" Beckett asked McCulloch and waited for his reply. 
Lt. Commander William McCulloch
Rogaran IV Penal Colony, Mirror Universe
Stardate 2212.11
After Beckett finished speaking, Will peered through his targeting scope yet again. He could see the nest on a rocky outcropping above the settlement. But he couldn't see the other one.  
There had to be another weapons placement …. Basic defensive tactics demanded a second or even a third ambuscade be set up for supportive actions. Where the hell were they?
"Eight, do you agree?" Beckett pressed the Scot for an answer. McCulloch held up his hand to signal Cody to remain silent as he visually scanned the settlement below and its residents.
"I've got faith in Six. He can do it," Will finally announced over the subvoc. "But he needs to be bloody quick about it."
"What about providing suppressive fire to support Six?" Jahkar asked.
"My rifle's targeting system will let me take out four of the six guards in quick succession. However, as soon as I do that, this whole place may wake up and make our little riot look like a prom." The Scot reported. "But it may give One and 9T the distraction they need to get inside the administrative levels." 
"Assume Six takes the nest, what next?" Tiri asked.
"On our signal he'd have to turn the nest guns on the other placements." Beckett noted.
There was a long, awkward silence. Finally, Will spoke.
"I'd think Six should eyeball the target site before we commit."
"Agreed." Cody quickly answered.
"Two, can you send Six forward to me?" The Scot requested. He then realized Vree had been silent for much of the conversation. "One, should we proceed?"
Lt. Tiri Sh'avelith
Rogaran IV Penal Colony, Mirror Universe
Stardate 2212.11
As the others talked, Tiri opened a secondary channel to Mayla Vree and in a low voice spelled out Jahkar's condition to the commander.
"I just thought you should know; his ribcage is Klingon…it is like meshwork around his lungs and heart. Very protective, but it was fractured on the right side and from what I can feel a piece of it is broken and pushed inward."
Mayla took in both Tiri's report and the discussion led by McCulloch, miraculously keeping the two conversations separate in her own head. "What does that mean?" she whispered to Tiri.
"He's in pain, but the meds I gave him should take the edge off. If he takes another hard blow to that side, it could splinter and puncture a lung."
Mayla nodded and the conversation amongst the team continued…
Captain Quentin Lazarus
Beneath the Rogaran IV Penal Colony, Mirror Universe
Stardate 2212.11
Nala heard all of the crew into one corner of the bridge and erected a forcefield around them to keep them detained. She then set to work familiarizing herself with the ship's controls. 
Lazarus sat on the deck, one knee raised, back against the bulkhead behind him. The other six bridge crew were either seated on the deck or standing, watching helplessly as Danae Nala moved from one station to another on the bridge.
Sornax was kneeling beside Dahrt, who was laying on the deck, face white, sweat running down his brow. Lazarus looked to Sornax, who shook his head grimly.
"Lt. Nala, Nick needs medical attention," Lazarus told her. "He's going to die."
The Trill smirked, "Do you think I care about that?"
"Oh, I forgot, everyone from this universe is a cold-blooded killer," Lazarus said. "So, how long do you think the rest of the crew is going to be unaware of what's going on here?"
Nala stood at tactical looking over the holographic displays as she listened to Lazarus. She glanced over at the captain and smirked, "Long enough. I'm going to phased cloak this ship and then navigate out of here."
Lazarus nodded, "That will be a neat trick…I can't wait to see you do that."
The Trill tapped in some commands and was met with a glaring alert that something was wrong. She tapped in the commands again and again a negative response from the display, this time prompting Nala to frown and slam her fists against the console.
Lazarus looked amused, "Problem, lieutenant?"
"Why are the phased cloak controls locked out? I have control of the bridge," she demanded.
"That's a ship's system that requires special clearance to engage. And before you try to fire up the coaxial drive, in case you're thinking you can just warp out of here, that requires the authorization of a command officer."
"Damn you!" she snarled. "You're going to authorize the phase cloak, captain. Or I'm going to start killing your bridge crew."
Lazarus gritted his teeth and shot a stern glance toward the Trill, "I'm not giving you control of this vessel, Danae, or any of her system."
"So be it," Nala muttered, pulling out the phaser and walking over to where the bridge crew was being held. She stood before the forcefield and set the phaser to kill. "Computer, lower forcefield."
The forcefield dropped and Nala trained the weapon squarely on the officers gathered there – Lazarus, Sornax, Dahrt, Revu, Kolar and Lakim. She looked them over and motioned for Kolar to step out. 
The Tellerite, Ensign Kolar, stepped forward and Nala raised the forcefield again.
"Captain!" she said firmly as she made Kolar step away from the imprisoned officers. "Give me access to the phased cloaking device or the ensign here dies. You have 10 seconds to comply."
Meanwhile…
Lt. Commander Tommy Carmichael tapped his comm-badge for the eighth or so time, "Carmichael to Lazarus, please respond," he said. There was no response.
The engineer shook his head, "Computer, locate Captain Lazarus?" 
The computer responded with a negative tone, indicating it could not comply. Carmichael frowned deeper and looked to Lt. Daven Corhees, who was working in engineering at the time. Corhees was already aware there was a problem.
"Computer access has been cut shipwide from the bridge," Corhees said. "Comms are also down."
"Cut from the bridge?" Tommy asked.
"Yes, sir," the lieutenant replied.
Carmichael turned and left engineering. He moved briskly through the corridors of Resurrection until he located Lt. Commander Darva McGuire who was coming out of the brig section of the ship where she maintained her office.
"Commander," he said. "I think there's a problem."
Darva nodded, "I've had two crew members report being unable to enter the bridge. Computer access and communications are down."
"So, you are aware," Tommy said. "What do you intend to do?"
"I'm taking a team to the transporter room and we're going to beam onto the bridge," Darva said. "Can you work on regaining comms and computer access?"
Tommy nodded, "I'm on it."
He was about to turn back to engineering when Corhees appeared running up the corridor, "Sir! I tried to scan the bridge and there's a dampening field in effect. It's blocking sensors."
"And will prevent transport," Tommy concluded, turning to Darva who stood in the corridor behind him. "Commander, you're going to need another plan."
Corhees took a deep breath and looked at both Tommy and Darva. "If Reepchip's correct–if he knows something we don't… perhaps we can ask the ship itself for help?"
"And how do you propose to do that? Reepchip’s the only one who can talk with the ship, and he says all he’s gotten is feelings," pointed out Tommy.
"...point."
Lieutenant (JG) Reepchip Charatetet
Stardate 2212.14
Rogaran IV Penal Colony, Mirror Universe
Reepchip came over to McCulloch. "Reporting, sir," he said. He listened to what William had planned and eyed the nests. His eyes narrowed. "Should be easy to climb–I think I can do it." He chittered, determined not to let his team down again.
Commander Warlord Ryramorl Ra'yral
Battleship Chieftain's Fang
Stardate 2212.15
Ryramorl was getting impatient–usually by now they would have their meal and be on their way. "What is causing the delay?" he growled. He looked around at some of his warriors. "Perhaps we should beam down and see if they need help in locating our meal."
"Or raising one of them from infancy," responded his second-in-command Rolandhro. Ryramorl thought of it, pondering if he should transport down and see what was going on..
Empress Taryn Kane
Greg Durham
Grand Inquisitor Jack Dark
Rogaran IV Penal Colony, Mirror Universe
Stardate 2212.16
Kane and Durham, eager to proceed with the operation to seize the Resurrection, set their plans into action. 
"Dark, we'll be in the operations center for the prison," Durham told the inquisitor. "Keep at Thompson, see what you can get from him."
Dark nodded and then looked toward the beleaguered Daryl Thompson, "As you wish. I'll let you know if we have any breakthroughs."
With that, Kane and Durham, joined by a squad of Imperial Guard out in the corridor, left the detention center and headed to operations. 
Now alone with Daryl Thompson, Jack Dark produced several needle-tipped probes from his fingers and turned to advance on the hapless Shadow operator. "Are you ready to talk, Daryl, or shall we take your pain to another level?"
Kane and Durham took up residence in the operations center, sending the warden off to his office to deal with other business to keep him out from under foot while they made their move on Resurrection. 
Before they could get underway, however, they received another hail from Commander Warlord Ryramorl Ra'yral, seeking an answer to his request for prey.
Durham was about to give him a terse reply, when Taryn stopped him and smiled wickedly. "You have assets moving to the cavern where the Resurrection is waiting?"
"A unit of special forces commandos," Durham responded. "They have been waiting in one of the deeper chambers of the mines for orders to go down into the deep caverns. I deployed them about an hour ago, they are en route."
"I want Commander Jahkar and his team diverted to assist them," Kane said. 
Durham frowned and turned toward the empress with a look of uncertainty, "Jahkar and his team are supposed to neutralize the Shadow Ops team which is likely on its way here."
Kane's mouth flashed a wicked smile, "Why send our best troops to deal with a small team of infiltrators when we have a ship full of starving, ravenous Carnora sitting in orbit asking for handouts? They would much more prefer hunting, killing and then eating their prey."
"You want to send Commander Warlord Ryramorl Ra'yral and his crew after the Shadow Ops team?" Durham asked. "Is it wise to allow Carnora in the prison?"
Taryn smirked, "What are they going to do? Go berserk and kill some inmates? Less mouths to feed as far as I'm concerned."
"I can beam them as deep as level 34," he said. "From there they'd have to take turbolifts down to level 50. I'll have the captain of the prison guard meet them on 34 and give them instructions."
Taryn nodded, pulling up a comm-screen at a nearby terminal. She opened a channel to Jahkar who was waiting on level 50 with his team. "Commander, new orders. I want you and your team to take the hovertrain from your location to the mines, then head down into the underground caverns to back up Durham's special ops unit which is being sent to capture the Prime Universe ship."
There was a short span of silence, then Jahkar muttered, "As you wish, your highness. We'll hold until reinforcements arrive."
"They are on their way and…oh…by the way," she said. "The reinforcements are Carnora."
The channel was silent for an even longer period of time, then Jahkar responded, "If you believe that is wise?"
"I do," Kane said. "Make it so."
Commander Warlord Ryramorl Ra'yral
Battleship Chieftain's Fang
Stardate 2212.16
Ryramorl listened to Empress Kane as she told him what she wanted. "Send down some of your hunters, two dozen and no more. We want you to take down some infiltrators. We'll let you have their carcasses and those of any killed in a recent riot." The monster listened closely, then slowly smiled, showing all his teeth. "As you wish, Empress," he said. He would have liked to send more–a full warband or more, but it was not likely the Empress would let that many anywhere on the same planet as her. He then turned to the crew. "Assemble a hunting band! We're being sent down to the prison to hunt prey!" There was a loud roar of approval from the Carnora.
He left Shor'Talo, who had sided with Ryramorl and helped him kill and eat Shor'Ghan, at the controls of the ship. At the Empress's Command, the hunting party–25 strong–were transported down.
The captain of the guard groaned as he saw the bloodthirsty monsters appear before him.
Ryramorl grinned broadly, showing all his teeth, and enjoying the captain's annoyance. "Here, to do the Empress' will," he growled.
The captain wished them all very far away, preferably on the other side of mortality, but orders were orders, and these were known to be ferocious warriors, however despised they might be.
Lt. Gysyd Riisos (NPC)
USS Resurrection 
Stardate 2212.16
"Comms are now down shipwide," Riisos announced as he returned to the hangar with Ensign Thrice and Lieutenant Jackson of Security. The two security officers noted that most of Union XII were arming themselves and putting on their tactical armor.
"Your team thinking the worst?" Jackson asked as he watched the combat medical team power up their rifles and sling medical packs across their backs.
"We're preparing for all scenarios."
"When the hell did Union XII get Type V rifles? And the armor?" Thrice whispered to her counterpart.
"Gifts from Commander Vree and Lt Commander McGuire during the last mission." Fiadh Hannigan interrupted as she crossed the hangar and joined the three officers. She quickly nodded at the Orion nurse. "The team is ready to move out on your orders, sir."
Before Riisos could answer, Lieutenant Kapello arrived in the hangar and pointed furiously at Thrice and Jackson.
"Where the hell have you two been?" He coldly demanded. "McGuire wants all available security personnel to report to her now."
"Looks like we have a party to crash." Fiadh casually noted.
"We need to get to McGuire asap," Kapello growled as he eyed the medics. "That includes Riisos' team…the medics are coming with us."
"Engineering coming as well?" Ensign Gace inquired.
"Hopefully engineering is assembling a team because we need to resolve whatever this…issue…is as soon as possible."
Gysyd nodded in agreement. "Gace, take the team to McGuire. I'll be there momentarily."
The Orion watched as the three security officers and the five medics left the hangar. Afterward, he turned his attention to Lieutenant Tusot as the pilot walked down the ramp of the Gentle Annie. In tow was Corporal Pyme.
"What are you thinking?" Tusot pressed as he looked about the hangar.
Riisos paused. "I don't know. Part of me wants to believe this is another unannounced drill by the Captain. But…"
"But?"
"But my gut is telling me the poo has hit the fan in a really bad way and we're about to have a Terran problem."
The pilot nodded in understanding.
"Orders Gysyd?" He asked.
Riisos contemplated the situation as he studied the jump ship. The Gentle Annie was not a typical Starfleet medical shuttle. It was armed with a small complement of phaser banks, a pair of micro torpedo launchers, and a mounted aft gun designed to provide suppressive fire when needed. 
"Tusot, I need to know something."
"Ask."
"If things get really ugly, will you and Pyme turn the Gentle Annie around and fire its weapons into the interior of this ship to prevent it from falling into Terran hands if ordered to do so?"
"Without hesitation."
Lt. Cody Beckett
Rogaran IV Penal Colony, Mirror Universe
Stardate 2212.17
Beckett peered over the rim of the alcove, studying the situation himself, thinking of scenario's how to get through the defenses and into the turbolift. Then, some movement. Two of the turbolift's doors opened, and out of both a flock of Carnora entered. It was at least a dozen. He tapped McCulloch on the shoulder, as more Carnora showed up.
One of the guards stepped forward to what looked like their leader…Ryramorl…Beckett cursed, and incidentally a howl and a snarl were audible from the growing group of Carnora. 
Beckett opened a channel to the team. 
"We got a huge problem. Carnora are entering the prison. A lot of 'em… at least 20 now, and counting…Their leader seems to be Ryramorl, the Mirror Universe version. "
As if stung by a bee, McCulloch perked up, turned around and peered through the targeting scope. 
"Bloody hell. No, no, no!" He kept repeating, as the flock of Carnora kept growing, and the roaring and snarling grew louder. "One, Two, we need a change of plan, quickly. They are sending in Carnora. I read they occasionally let them hunt on prisoners to keep their bloodthirst in check. We can't fight them - they're almost at platoon strength."
The Scot was met with silence. Will scanned the terrain one more time before turning his attention towards the nest. He then looked over at Reepchip before speaking into the subvoc so everyone could hear.
"Most of the team needs to skeddadle and regroup elsewhere." The Scot pressed.
"What do you mean *most*?" Vree demanded.
"We're only going to get out of this mess is Reepchip and I move forward with the plan." Will answered bluntly, aware of the potential consequences of what he was about to propose. "Reepchip takes the nest and turns the guns on any of the other batteries. I'll provide suppresive fire until he completes that task. That will likely draw the Carnora towards me. There's a choke point they'll need to clear to get to me and I can slow them down … but for only so long. I'm sorry Six, but once they start pushing through that choke point you need to train the nest guns on the Carnora."
Beckett looked in disbelief at the Scot. 
"That's madness! " He chimed in
"Don't try to be the hero again, McCulloch" He added. 
"You have a better idea? " McCulloch retorted. 
Beckett bit his lip and looked away, as he didn't have a better idea. Time was running out. The Carnora where getting restless. They had to move quick.
Commander Mayla Vree
Rogaran IV Penal Colony, Mirror Universe
Stardate 2212.17
"Acknowledged," Mayla responded to Sh'avelith's report on Jahkar's condition. "Do what you can, he won't be getting to a med bay any time soon."
From their hidden location, the pair watched as the Carnora spilled out from the lifts. Smith could hear an exasperated breath come out of the Trill commander. She put a hand on her shoulder.
"What are you thinking?" She whispered into the subvoc.
"I'm thinking we've been set up. We came here without investigating why they kidnapped Daryl. Which means there's an infiltrator on the ship, maybe even from the very beginning. They know our complement, and who came on this mission." Mayla carefully eyed one Carnora roaring past them. She gripped her min staff in her hand, ready to deploy at a moment's notice if they were to be attacked. The guard they had taken had been completely disarmed, and she was now wearing his uniform. Smith had his weapon, a single Romulan disruptor.
"Like I said, if I dress up, we can at least gain entry into the lifts and improvise from there." She said through gritted teeth dreading having to put back on that awful costume.
"Frell," Mayla uttered beneath her breath. All around them was now utter chaos as she listened to the team's incoming reports. There was no support from the Resurrection as overwatch now, they were on their own. "Alright, get into your costume again. We're going up."
Smith tensed for just a moment before removing her clothes again. Mayla opened a channel to the team. "Phoenix, this is One. With or without the Carnora, we cannot win here. Maintain the chaos. 9T and I are heading up."
With that decision made, she waited for Smith to finish her transformation.
Lt. Commander William McCulloch
Rogaran IV Penal Colony, Mirror Universe
Stardate 2212.17
"Are you ready?" The Scot asked Reepchip somberly. 
The Muran nodded in silence as he quickly peered out from the rocky alcove the trio were hiding from. From time to time, he chittered to himself.
"You’re going to be fine Mr. Charatetet." Will encouraged. "Just stay focused, remain calm and show me what I know your capable of accomplishing."
"Yes sir."
"Cody?"
"Yes?"
"Return to Two, that’s an order."
"Will, I have to object." Beckett protested. "This attempt at self-sacrifice is not necessary. You don’t have to do this."
"I have no intentions of dying today, Cody." Will calmly answered as he adjusted his targeting scope.
"Really?"
"I don’t."
"What assurances do I have?"
"I’m hearing rumors that Commander Smith’s disguise is on par with …what was it McGuire told me… a ‘glorified stripper’." The Scot answered with a confident smile. "I have every intention of seeing her in that kit before I check out my friend."
Beckett mulled over McCulloch’s words briefly before nodding in agreement. "We’ll send you the rallying coordinates."
"Good luck Cody."
"Same to you." Beckett answered before quietly retreating down the passageway to join the team. He glanced over at Reepchip who was looking at the ground.
"You were lying to Lieutenant Beckett." The Muran noted accurately.
McCulloch paused before nodding in the affirmative. "If I told him there was a chance I would not come back, he would insist fighting by my side."
The lieutenant started to speak, but quickly chose not to. He already knew what McCulloch would say. After a moment of awkward silence,Reepchipe gestured that he was ready.
"Let me get into position." Will ordered.
"Understood."
"Give ‘em hell Lieutenant."
"Yes sir."
A minute later, the Scot was in position. He signaled for Reepchip to prepare to move.
"Here I go," he said, and at William's command headed for the nest.
"Bloody hell that Muran can move." Will curse as he watched him scramble up the rocky wall of the cavern and assume a holding position below the nest. 
McCulloch activated the smart gun targeting system on his Overwatch rifle and one by one he programmed the four targets he selected. He quietlty calculated the distance on each and compensated for any cavern breeze that could impact the trajectory of his shot. Once satisfied he still had a lock on his four targets, he contacted Reepchip over the subvoc.
"Six, go!"
Will squeezed the trigger of his rifle four times in rapid succession and watched as the shots sailed across the cavern towards the ambushcade. As Reepchip started to pull himself up into the nest, the first two shots sailed over his head and slammed into the heads of a pair of guards. The remaining two shots quickly followed, eliminating two more targets.
The Scot watched through his targeting and waited nervously for work from Reepchip.
Lieutenant (JG) Reepchip Charatetet 
Rogaran Penal Colony 
Stardate 2212.17
Reepchip took a deep breath and looked at the nest. "Here I go," he said, and at William's command headed for the nest. The rough-hewn rock was easy for the small creature. He could only hope that the smells would keep these Mirror Carnora from scenting him. As he got up to the nest carved into the rock, he pinned himself as McCulloch took out a few guards. When one of them came to the window, Reepchip struck–a sharp telekinetic jab to the throat sent the man stumbling back, coughing.
That got the attention of the others, but by that time, Reepchip was in the nest, hiding in a corner. From his spot he was able to quickly shoot the guards with poisoned darts. That done, he went to one of the guns, making sure it was pointed at one of the other nests as he figured out how to fire it.
From one of the dead guard's communicators, he heard a yell, "Watch where you're pointing–"
CHUCHUCHUCHUU
With the controls figured out, Reepchip quickly took out both nests. Then he took aim at the Carnora, aiming a spray of fire at them.
Commander Warlord Ryramorl Ra'yral
Rogaran IV Prison Colony
Stardate 2212.17
The Carnora had been rudely surprised by the gunfire. Snarling at the betrayal, Ryamorl turned around to demand an explanation from the captain, only to see that more guards lay dead than Carnora and the Captain was one of them. When he saw the riot, he realized he'd been duped. Turning to one of his hunters, he growled, "Get to the surface, call for a full warband. They promised a hunt, and we're in a warzone."
"As you command."
"The Empress will pay for th–" he roared in frustration as the Spray-And-Pray idiot firing at his messenger had his prayers answered.
With a roar, he spun and fired several shots towards the nest, and was rewarded by an explosion in the nest.
Lt. Commander William McCulloch
Rogaran IV Penal Colony, Mirror Universe
Stardate 2212.17
As soon as Will saw Reepchip turn the guns on the other Terran nests, he quickly turned his attention towards the Carnora in the cavern and targetted the first two he saw. He quickly squeezed the trigger and watched as the pair of warriors collapsed to the ground dead. He found a third target and fired again. The shot raced at at downward angle and passed through the Canora’s head. 
Suddenly he heard a blood curling roar and saw dust rise from the cavern floor. He followed the cloud and realized the Carnora were advancing on his position. A chill ran down his spine as he envisioned one of the beasts ripping him in half.
McCulloch steeled himself started looking for potential targets. As he did, he heard Reepchip firing the nest’s guns. He quickly looked in the Muran’s direction and realized he had successfully taken out the other ambush posts and was now firing at the Carnora.
Will looked back into his scope and scanned the Carnora’s position. Reepchip’s suppressive fire had confused the pack and their advance towards Will came to a quick halt. The beasts began to roar with madness as they came under fire from what appeared to be Terran forces.
His attention was drawn towards a pair of Carnora near the back of the pack. He zoomed in closer and smirked slightly. It appeared Ra'yral’s mirror universe counterpart was was in command. The warrior was howling with rage and waving his arms furiously. 
The Scot tried but couldn’t get a firm lock on Ra'yral, so he chose the next best target - the warrior who appeared to be Ra'yral’s second in command. Will fired twice and watched as the shots tore through the Carnora’s chest and exited out through his back. The warrior staggered and then fell backwards and hit the rocky floor with a loud thud.
Will saw Ra'yral look in his direction and roar in anger. Suddenly, Reepchip opened fire on the Commader’s position. When the dust had cleared, the Carnora warrior had moved out of sight.
There was a very brief moment of silence, followed by an angry howl and the rhythmic thud of collective movement.
"Bloody hell." Will muttered as he realized six Carnora who were shielded from Reepchip’s fire were quickly advancing on his position. 
Suddenly, the Carnora pack heading towards the Scot’s position threw him a curveball. 
Will expected they would simply try to push through the choke point, allowing him to slow their advance and eliminate them quickly. Instead, the half dozen warriors fanned out before the target area and began to lay down suppressive fire. Although he wasn’t sure, he swore he saw two more warriors probing for a flanking route to his position.
The Carnora disruptor fire slammed into the forward wall of the alcove he was hiding in. Will quickly hugged the ground as everything around him violently shook. From time to time, he would pop up and return fire … only to be met with a heavy response of energy blasts.
As the Scot contemplated his fate, he failed to notice the back wall of the alcove dissolve away to reveal a secret access tunnel used by Terran security forces. Four men and a woman quietly advanced. The lead Terran raised his pistol and fired twice at point-blank rage into the Scot’s back. 
McCulloch dropped his rifle, stiffened in pain and crumpled to the ground, severely wounded. As he started to lose consciousness, he watched as three Terran security officers quickly set up a heavy gun and opened fire on the Carnora position.
As everything faded towards blackness, another security officer quickly checked Will for vitals.
"He’s alive." The officer reported. "He’s hurt badly, but he’s alive."
"Excellent." The woman answered as she approached her target and rolled Will onto his back with her right boot. "This one caught my attention after one of our probes flagged him during the riot."
"He looks remarkably similar to Colonel Sharpe." 
"Doesn’t he?" She answered. "Let’s get him up to level 41, so I can confirm or deny my suspicions of who this person really is. If it’s who I think it is, Empress Kane will be very, very pleased."
As Will continued to drift in and out of consciousness, he tried to focus on the woman’s voice. It sounded so familiar yet so angry and jaded. He slowly opened his eyes, blinked twice, and looked up. Staring down at him was Victoria. 
Was it Victoria undercover or Dr. Smith?
"Wow, that really is a glorified stripper’s costume you’re wearing," he mockingly announced as he looked her up and down. He waited for the woman’s reply, hoping it was the nurse who would likely answer with a sarcastic comment.
Instead, Victoria leaned over Will, growled softly and punched him in the face rapidly. His eyes and nose quickly swelled up and he began to drift again into unconsciousness.
Nope, it’s Doctor Smith …definitely Doctor Smith … he noted to himself before everything faded to black.
Commander Victoria Smith
Rogaran IV Penal Colony, Mirror Universe
Stardate 2212.18
The heavy roar of exchanging fire startled Victoria as she struggled to get her boots on. Once dressed in her Terran medical uniform, she tossed her pack and first disguise aside yet again and visually inspected herself. Once satisfied, she peered out from the shadows to see what the Carora were doing. The entire pack had moved away from them, but she could still see the exchange of fire between the Carnora and the weapons nest Reepchip occupied. Simultaneously, she saw white and red energy bursts streaking across the cavern skyline in a downward angle before striking various Carnora officers as they tried to scramble for cover. 
The combat nurse instantly knew the sniper shots were coming from McCulloch. Her memory drifted back to when she was first married to him. At the time, he told her that he always took out officers first, NCOs second and enlisted last. Will explained that he followed this pattern to cause confusion and panic amongst enemy troops.
Victoria adjusted the hidden weapons on her right hip and left boot before putting aside the combat knife she typically concealed in the small of her back. As she did, she heard an ear-piercing roar followed by a low, drawn-out rumble. The nurse looked to the west and saw Reepchip’s position was engulfed in a ball of flames. Chunks of rock and debris sailed across the cavern and landed randomly onto prisoner housing quarters and makeshift shops. 
She audibly gasped and quickly brought her hand up to her mouth in shock. There was no way Reepchip could have survived that blast she thought to herself. She felt tears well up and she quickly turned away. Victoria tried to calm herself as she fought off the urge to wretch..
Seconds later, she saw multiple Canoran disruptor blasts pound Will’s position. The nurse doubled over and began to dry heave. This was not good…first Reepchip and now the man she was falling in love with again. She desperately tried to gain control of her emotions and quickly came to the conclusion the only way she was going to successfully complete this mission was to rely even more on her Trill memories.
"Are you ready?" Vree called back to her.
After several seconds of reflection, the nurse straightened up. The memories of Jiarin were now in control. Her dark green eyes briefly fluttered before she confidently strode out from the shadows and passed Mayla.
"Let’s go." She announced as she passed the Trill and began to walk towards the nearest Terran turbolift. Vree quickly scrambled and fell in on the nurse’s right flank. As the pair approached, a pair of guards signaled for them to halt. Victoria disregarded the command and continued to close on the pair. For once, Vree was confused but chose to remain at Smith’s side.
"You did not just order the Empress’s Chief Medical Officer to halt, did you?" Victoria demanded in a loud authoritative voice. She closed the gap and quickly seized the female guard by the jaw, squeezed as hard as she could and walked the guard backwards until she came in contact with a bay wall. She pulled the guard back from the wall and then slammed her as hard as she could against the wall a second time. The guard stammered and tried to explain herself. 
"Here is a suggestion Private."Victoria hissed as she slapped the guard across the mouth. "Shut up and answer my questions. Otherwise, a personal bodyguard will tenderize you before I turn you into next week’s medical experience. Am I clear?"
"Yes…yes Doctor." The young girl nervously answered as she cautiously eyed Vree. The other guard had simply disappeared from sight and probably ran away.
"I am the Empress's personal doctor and despite what many may think, only *I* have her ear. Do you really want to piss me off?"
"I’m sorry Doctor!" The woman pleaded. "I knew you were down on the cavern floor looking for potential patients to experiment on, but I had no idea you would be returning though this sector! Please, don’t liquidate me!!"
Victoria shot a sideways glance at the Vree. 
Doctor Smith was nearby. Where she was exactly the pair did not know, but with her down in the cavern, it increased their chances of infiltrating the administrative section undetected.
"Prepare the turbolift for me soldier. I want to return to my office."
"Do you wish to go directly to level 41?"
Victoria backhanded the guard as hard as she could. The poor woman spun 180 degrees and almost stumbled to the ground. She quickly caught her breath, straightened up and brought herself to attention.
"Where else do you think I am headed, you foolish imp?" Smith growled as she studied the soldier. "Prepare my turbolift now or I will have my bodyguard dispatch you in the most unpleasant way I can think of."
The guard quickly programmed the turbolift to ascend directly to level 41 with no stops in between. Unnoticed by the pair and the guard, a shadow seemed to move beside them into the lift just as the guard exited and the doors began to close.
As the doors slid shut, Victoria doubled over and fought off the urge to dry heave.
"I can’t do this Mayla." She announced over the subvocal as she struggled to control her emotions. "Reepchip is dead and I’m pretty sure I just witnessed Will getting killed as well." 
Vree started to respond but the nurse held up her hand and signaled the Trill to remain silent. 
After several additional seconds of gagging, Victoria stood up straight and adjusted her so called uniform. She sniffed loudly, ran her hand through her hair and without making eye contact with Mayla, simply announced "Ignore me. I can do this. We keep going."
Lieutenant Commander Ryramorl Ra’yral
Rogaran IV Penal Colony
Stardate 2212.18
Ryramorl heard how injured Jahkar was and made sure to position himself to protect the colonel from the riot, which had now turned into a stampede with the firefight going on. "Keep moving," he growled. Seeing the nest where Reepchip had gone explode into flames made him bare his teeth, but he would mourn his friend later. Now was the time to worry about the living. The Grey Tribes would take care of their own.
Lieutenant (JG) Reepchip Charatetet
Rogaran IV Penal Colony
Stardate 2212.18
Reepchip looked into the eyes of the Mirror Ryramorl and immediately scrambled for safety. As a spray of rocks exploded off the ceiling, he leapt from the nest and scrambled to a ledge in the cavern. One of the shots must have hit the gun because it exploded in a fireball that filled the nest. The muran scrambled to the furthest nest and curled into a ball, trembling. He couldn’t do this. He couldn’t do this. He couldn’t–
<Shaman-Warrior Charatetet!> snarled a voice–the voice of Karassar Charatetet, one of the warriors he had Dreamed with during his visit to Carnor. <Do your duty!>
"I…"
<GET UP, STOP PISSING ON YOUR TAIL, REPORT IN, AND EXECUTE YOUR DUTY, SHAMAN-WARRIOR!> yelled the memory of Karassar.
Reepchip got up and keyed his subvoc. "One, Two, Five, Eight, this is Six," he said in a trembling voice. "The nest has been destroyed. I am uninjured, but a bit rattled. I can’t get at the Mirror Carnora from here. Awaiting orders."
Commander Mayla Vree
Rogaran IV Penal Colony, Mirror Universe
Stardate 2212.18
"Center yourself and focus on what we're doing. I need that focus as if you were saving someone's life." Mayla calmly said with a slightly distracted voice. Her eyes watched the lift approach level 41, but a slight darkening stirred just slightly outside of her peripheral vision. Her eyes darted around them but didn't notice anything out of the ordinary in the large lift.
The doors opened on level 41 to find two guards standing on either side of the door. They didn't flinch nor reacted when they stepped out. Smith addressed one of them.
"You, walk me to my office," she said without a single waver in her voice.
"As you wish, Doctor." The man's eyes stared blankly forward and led them down several halls before coming to a door. He stopped and just stood at attention.
"Return to your post." Smith said, as she opened the door.
"Yes, Doctor," he simply said and walked away.
As soon as the door closed behind them, Smith let out a deep breath. They had surprisingly made it this far.
They found themselves in an ornate room that was half office and half lab. There was a biobed on the 'lab' side of the room along with what looked like several standing cadavers in some state of preservation. Doctor Smith apparently took her work with her even when she wasn't torturing experiments.
The shadow in Mayla's mind's eye intruded into her peripheral vision, clouding her perception of what she was seeing. Experiencing the same thing, Smith brought her hand up to her eyes just as one of the cadavers seemingly came to life. At the same time, a hand reached out from the cloud in her mind and grabbed her arm, pulling her and Smith into an alcove in a corner flanking the lab half of the room.
It wasn't often Mayla Vree was surprised. Her acutely tuned senses from her genetics and training gave her hyper alertness to her surroundings. But this was different. There was no physical arm that pulled her aside.
"Who are you?" The figure whispered in a low, even voice, looking into Mayla's face who had narrowed her eyes into slits of concentration.
"Who are YOU?" Mayla asked in return in a forced tone. There was a moment of silence until Mayla felt an intense tickling in her mind. She immediately set up the mindblocks Jackson Bryce had taught her decades ago, and now with Sorvek's practiced disciplined mind, she was able to ward off the mind probing. "Get out of my mind."
The mysterious figure made no movement but to gesture to Smith to stay at drawing her disruptor. "You have memories that belong to someone else. I will ask you again. Who are you?"
Mayla almost recognized the voice; a voice she hadn't heard since her childhood. Without giving up her own name, she said another name. "Dee?"
Now the eyes beneath the hood narrowed to slits. "I do not know you. And I KNOW she is not Doctor Smith despite her appearance."
Now Mayla nodded and raised the volume of her voice to just above whisper. "You're Captain Dee of the former Terran Resistance." She now put several pieces of intelligence together. One was from her memory of her universe's Desiree Klomden of Bravo Squad, and Sorvek's memory of reading Kyril's report on the Captain Desiree Klomden of the mirror universe.
She was a combat telepath.
The figure now reached out and physically took a grip of her arm. Mayla had to be careful. Whereas combat telepaths were banned in her universe, her father's doppelganger in this universe took full advantage of a telepath's abilities. He enlisted Desiree Klomden to lead and train a group of shunned telepaths for a combat role-designated Ghost Squad. They were used primarily for mind warfare. Ghost Squad was a subunit of Shadow Squad, the equivalent organization to Shadow Operations led by Kianna Ammelis.
The grip on her arm tightened as a force pushed more persistently into her mind. She held a hand to her head. "Stop it. I'm Mayla, Kyril's daughter."
"You lie," she said, but didn't detect any subterfuge. "Saavy never had a daughter."
Mayla shook her head. "Not Kyril Savien. Kyril Vree, of the other universe."
Klomden then released Mayla's arm and the pressure in her mind immediately ceased. "So Bravo Squad did make it back. Did they save the galaxy?"
Mayla pursed her lips. "Yes."
"That is some good news for a change." Her eyes darted to one side before darting back to lock onto Mayla's eyes. "Why do you have his memories? Is he dead? Do you carry his symbiont?"
Mayla shook her head. "He's not dead, and it's a long story."
"Is he here with Bravo Squad?" She asked, almost as if with a hopeful tone.
"No. The Terrans kidnapped one of our team members and we're here to retrieve him. Why are you here? I take it you're not with the Empire."
"I was sent to infiltrate the colony to find the Generals. Security here is tight, and only a combat telepath could get in."
A combat telepath? Smith nearly recoiled, trying to follow the conversation. "The Generals?"
"Ammelis and Jasid," Klomden said. "They were captured while undercover, but the Empire doesn't know who they have because both are in genetic camouflage and their appearances altered."
"That's why they sent you. Only you can find them among the prisoner population." Mayla deduced.
"Correct. Who are you looking for?"
"Daryl Thompson."
Only Klomden's eyes gave away her puzzlement. "Interesting. They've been torturing him everyday. He's from your universe?"
Mayla only nodded. "Are you heading down into the Colony?"
"I followed you up here when I sensed something familiar about you. I thought you may have been one of the Generals."
The Trill gave Smith a glance before looking back to Klomden. "You help us get Thompson out, and we help you find the Generals."
"I work best alone." Klomden then looked at her critically. "But I will help you only because of what your father did for the Resistance's cause. If Jaeger hadn't killed Naakon, the Empire would be a much different place."
"So, the Resistance is still active?" Mayla asked.
"Very much so. If I had my way, I would go straight to the throne and kill everyone there," she said coldly. This was a marked difference between the two universe's Desiree Klomdens.
"I have people down in the colony right now participating in a distraction."
Klomden nodded. "The rioting. They sent the Carnora in, it will end quickly."
"Not if I know my team," Mayla said. "Can you get us to Thompson?"
"As long as he isn't in a torture session." Klomden took a step towards the door, but then stopped. "Walk with purpose. I can shadow us past people without giving us a thought. And don't make eye contact."
Smith smirked uncomfortably. "That's how we got this far without being discovered."
"Yes, I was with you in the lift. I can distract people's attention to something else and take no notice of us. I can't make us invisible, but I can make people think we're no one of importance even though they see us." Klomden looked to the both of them who returned her a nod of understanding. "Let's go."
Even with Kyril's reports on Ghost Squad, it was difficult to gauge, or even imagine the capabilities of a combat telepath since there weren't any in their own universe to compare to or even have researched. But one thing she remembered from the reports is that the mind of a combat telepath is slightly unstable due to the deaths they incur using their abilities. There was an incident report on the USS Revenant when one of her telepath's minds fell into a psychological chasm of despair and chaos that created a psychic detonation that affected everyone on the ship.
But Captain Desiree Klomden was the best of them. It was Kyril who had helped keep her mind grounded from losing herself in her abilities in the vast space of psychic energy. Mayla only hoped his guidance remained with her after all these years.
Lt. Cody Beckett
Rogaran IV Penal Colony, MU
Stardate 2212.19
Beckett moved away from the alcove. He disagreed with Will sending him off, but he couldn’t disobey a direct command. He carefully moved along the side of the rocky cavern, trying to keep out of sight, as he almost ran into two Carnora, mauling an inmate. The inmate screamed as the two Carnora literally were tearing him to pieces. Beckett noticed that the inmate had thrown away his gear.
One of the pieces was a big casket, the same one as McCulloch had had with him. It probably held a plasma drill…Quickly Beckett thought of getting the drill. It would get him in full sight of the Carnora, yet, he if he was fast enough he could use the drill to kill them. He quickly looked behind him and saw three smaller Carnora approaching, their mouth bloodied, their eyes wild, snarling. The drill suddenly became his only chance of getting out of here.
Without another second of hesitation, he jumped up, grabbed the casket, and in his run towards some rocks about 15 meters ahead, he opened the casket, grabbed the drill. The whining sound of activation sounded…along with the snarling and roaring of the Carnora behind him.
The last two meters towards the rocks he made a sliding, turning around in the move, and squeezing the trigger of the drill. The huge purple plasma beam hit the first Carnora full in the chest, burning through the creature completely, and hitting the second one on the leg, which completely vapourized. The first Carnora slammed onto the ground, his smoking remains sliding over the floor before coming to a halt. The second screamed as it humped around on one leg. The three other Carnora’s were nowhere to be seen and had probably taken cover. Cody quickly looked around, then he aimed and fired again on the second Carnora. The creature whined and yelped as it was hit, then also hit the ground, dead. The smell of burned flesh was everywhere. Then, a heavy explosion Rumble through the cave. Rocks and dust fell down and Cody only hoped his friends where ok…but he had other worries now, and he quickly checked the environment once more.it looked safe, but he knew the three furred killers were around some, and he quickly moved back towards where he expected the rest of the team, the plasma drill ready to fire. 
He opened a subvoc to Jahkar, Tiri and Ryramorl. "Two, Four, Five, this is Seven. I’m on my way back to you. I have three hostile Carnora on my tail. "
While hoping to receive a reply, Beckett slowly drew back towards the last known location of the others. He checked the battery of the drill. It was on 60 percent. That give him a little piece of mind, as he heard the groaning and roaring of the three Carnora slowly grow louder…
[Back to top]
==S5, E1, Act 9: Yule Be Sorry==
Lieutenant Commander Ryramorl Ra'yral
Rogaran IV Penal Colony
Stardate 2212.19
Ryramorl heard both Reepchip's call for orders and Beckett's response. He growled roughly–Jahkar was in no shape to fight, and guarding him just got harder. On the other hand… "Copy that, Seven. Just a head's up, Six is still alive; he just reported in." He looked at Jahkar. "Should I tell Six to try and rejoin us?"
Commander Warlord Ryramorl Ra'yral
Rogaran IV Penal Colony
Stardate 2212.19
The warlord howled out over the din, calling to what hunters remained to fall back and regroup. The Carnora coming for Beckett heard the call, and started falling back. As the group rejoined them, the Warlord growled, "That bitch empress deceived me, may the Claws of Hellthunder gut her! She said 24 was all that was needed–a hunting party, not a full warband. We're headed back to the surface, contacting a ship, and bringing reinforcements." He looked over his warriors, doing a quick headcount to see who was left–coming up with less than half his original hunting band.
He raised his wrist and spoke into it. "Ryramorl to Chieftain's Fang. I need reinforcements. Send down–"
"Grand Inquisitor Jack Dark to Chieftain's Fang and Warlord Ryramorl," a voice interrupted him. "Send down so much as a clump of fur, and we'll obliterate the ship and wipe out what remains of the hunting party. Do I make myself clear, Warlord?"
Ryramorl growled deeply as he realized that the Empire had him by the testicles. "Clear, Inquisitor," growled Ryramorl. He cut off contact and growled in hatred of the Grand Inquisitor. "We have to press on," he growled to his warriors. Taking formation, they came forwards.
Colonel Jahkar
Rogaran IV Penal Colony
Stardate 2212.20
Jahkar heard Ryramorl's question and he gave a curt nod in response. 
"Seven is on his way back here, too," Jahkar said as they continued to press pass running, screaming inmates trying to get away from the Carnora predators ripping through the place. "We'll regroup and rejoin the others."
His ribs were throbbing in pain, but he pushed it aside and continued on. He wanted to be in the fight, but he knew they were trying to shelter him from further injury. 
Jahkar hated being a liability and he felt like he was holding the rest of the team back, making them ineffective in this fight. 
"Then," he added as an afterthought, "we join the fight. I'll be fine, just get us through these Carnora and up to that admin level."
 
Lieutenant Commander Ryramorl Ra'yral
Lieutenant (JG) Reepchip Charatetet
Rogaran IV Penal Colony
Stardate 2212.20
"Six, this is five. Get back here and regroup."
"Five, this is six. I copy." The area emptying quickly, inmates fleeing back towards the tunnels or diving into hiding. He dashed along rooftops, staying away from the ferocious Carnora, then gave a loud chitter as he saw Colonel Jahkar and his team, and leapt down. He could sense the colonel's pain, so took a defensive spot between Jahkar and the chaos
As they moved towards their goal, Ryramorl looked at the snarling band of hunters–and looked straight into the eyes of their leader. The two Ryramorls looked at each other–and roared out ungodly howls, howls that declared the other a mortal enemy.
Lt. Tiri Sh'avelith 
Rogaran IV Penal Colony
Stardate 2212.23
Tiri activated the retractable staff and the small cylindrical device suddenly sprang into a six-foot metal staff which she readied as the two Ryramorl's roared at one another. 
"What I wouldn't give for a phaser right about now!" Tiri pointed out as the surviving band of vicious Carnora approached, led by Ryramorl's Mirror Universe counterpart.
She looked to Jahkar, seeing the pain on his face, and she added, "Why don't you stay back and let us handle this."
Umbra Prime
Sol Sector
Stardate 2212.24
'Twas the night before Yuletide, when all through the station, not a sensor was stirring, not even a bio-neural gel pack.
With Phoenix Squad and the Resurrection deployed on a mission, the standard crew went about their duties to maintain station functions. Among them were upgrades to the hangar to streamline the ship's deployment as at some point, every second could count. Even though the entire station had gone through a refit, there were still constant upgrades to less vital areas of the station's systems as the most system critical projects were prioritized to be updated first.
The entire station ran weekly drills, and sometimes surprise ones. Not only on defending the station in case they were ever attacked, but also on Phoenix Squad's immediate deployment or recovery in times of urgency. Every person had a job to be sure the team members and whatever equipment they required reached their ship as smoothly and quickly as possible. Umbilical and docking ring releases were rehearsed often to ensure there were no hangups upon being detached from the Resurrection. All of this was run from the dockmaster control booth linked to Ops as they had a windowed view of the now darkened hangar. The window was also partially a computer screen where information was shown on the window itself that was visible only from inside the booth.
But tomorrow will be a day of rest. It was Yuletide. Admiral MacLeod gave most of the personnel the day off, and he had already left on a shuttle to return to Earth that evening to spend time with friends.
Although the Resurrection wasn't currently in the hangar, the dockmaster control booth was still manned, albeit by just one person. The ensign on duty had his feet up on the console and was reading a novel on a personal padd when a notification appeared on one of the screens on the window. It was an incoming authorization. Before he could put his feet down to open the message, something stirred inside the darkened hangar. He ignored reading the message and quickly activated the lights inside the hangar to find a ship floating in the center of Resurrection's hangar.
But it was definitely not the Resurrection. It looked like a Ju'day class raider, similar to an old Maquis raider, but altered in a way he had never seen before. Flanked on either side were two smaller, black, spindly and aggressive looking fighters he had also never seen before. They looked like an attacking insect with two arms reaching out from above the elongated and pointed fuselage. The trio of ships had just 'appeared' in the hangar without warning.
Just as he reached for the alarm panel, the message notification he had skipped reading flashed opened. 'Delivery for Umbra Prime. Authorized by Admiral Argonne Jasid and Admiral Kyril Vree.'
His hand paused, wondering what the hell was going on. Then he received a communication feed from the station's Operations. Admiral MacLeod's face appeared on the window in front of him; a transmission clearly relayed from Earth as he was in civilian clothing. Then another window opened up beside him with Captain Sessi's face on it from Ops. The ensign stood up at attention.
"Admiral! Sir!" He nearly stammered with surprise. It must be important if the Admiral was contacting them on his day off on Earth.
MacLeod looked at the ensign closely for a moment. "Ensign…Himeta?"
"Yes, sir." He said, gathering himself and quietly sliding his novel out of sight. "Three ships have just appeared in the hangar-"
"Yes, I've just been informed," he said with an irritated huff in his tone. "They will be leaving us with some cargo. I want the items inventoried, unloaded, and the engineers to look them over. I've been told they will enhance the security and defense of the station. Keep me updated on its status."
Abruptly, his window closed out. Umbra Prime's 2nd in command, Captain Sessi, a female Kelpien, looked at him with her large eyes. "Ensign, I'm assigning two engineering teams for this project. I want you to coordinate the inventory and status of the items and their capabilities. I'm told there are instructions for each crate."
"Aye, sir. I'll get right on it."
"Very good. I want a report and a schedule for installation from you by the start of the alpha shift. Ops, out."
His shoulders sagged with relief when her image disappeared. Now shifting his focus to the larger ship, a cargo hatch below it opened and a tractor beam began pushing out several large bundles of crates into the zero gravity of the hangar. In all, there were 67 numbered crates of varying sizes. Before the last bundle even cleared the ship's perimeter, the cargo hatch closed and the three ships instantly vanished.
The ensign had more pressing matters at hand than to ponder what or how the three ships performed the act. He immediately activated the hangar's tractor beams to move the bundles towards the open cargo bay hatch where the engineers were wearily waiting; upset their upcoming day off was intruded upon. But as soon as they opened the crate with the number 1 on it, their eyes lit up with excitement. The ensign suddenly appeared from around the corner, out of breath as he had ran down from the control booth.
"What is it?"
Another engineer began opening another crate. "A Mark VI Whisker system. It's about time we received one."
"Wait a minute, the newest one available right now is a Mark V. And that was just deployed a month ago." Another engineer held out a padd that came with the crate she had opened. "This one has capabilities I didn't know they could ever have."
One thought ran through all of the engineers' minds, immediately pushing aside their lost day off. A new toy to add to the station. It was going to be a very, merry yuletide day tomorrow. 
Elsewhere in the station, in each member of Phoenix Squad's quarters, including Victoria Smith and Quentin Lazarus, a package had been meticulously transported onto each of their bunks while the cargoed bundles were being unloaded. Each one was wrapped in a brightly colored wrapper with a bow tied across the top. There was a single small card attached to the bow that had only two words printed on it in standard script.
'Merry Yuletide.'
 
Lt. Commander Daryl Thompson
Rogaran IV Penal Colony, administrative leave 42
Stardate 2212.24
The pain was excruciating, once more. This time, Dark had resorted to chemicals and had Daryl injected with several poisons. Daryl winced…he felt terrible. The poisons had caused unbelievable cramps and convulsions through his whole body. He sweated like a pig and before he could recuperate, the next wave already hit him. 
He had vomited several times and almost choked in it. Dark really seemed to enjoy his suffering, as he just stood there, watching how Daryl fought to endure the pain. 
Daryl was well aware of that. And he hated Dark for it. The hate, it was growing inside, like never before. It fueled his anger and his will to survive. His only focus now was to survive, to live long enough, to finally get the chance to kill this monster of a man. 
Another injection. Daryl felt the biting fluid enter his body. Within moments his nervous system reacted on the chemical compound, and his body felt like it was on fire. Daryl yelped and gagged, eventually crying it out for pain, wrestling and writhing in his chair. The pain was unendurable, and yet, he had noticed that one of the leather wrist cuffs was giving in. Even though he was numbed to the core by the pain and suffering and from exhaustion, he kept track of everything, as if he had heightened senses. Like a wolf preying the deer, Daryl was waiting for the right moment to strike. At last, the pain slowly subsided, and Daryl painted heavily. Once more, he vomited, retching, as his stomach was already empty. Drifting in and out of consciousness, he noticed Dark seemed to watch him intensely. He only had an eye for Daryl, and his reactions on the chemical compounds and drugs that were administered to him through old fashioned syringes with big needles instead of hypo's.
Then, the door swooshed open, and two guards entered, carrying someone in between them, followed by Dr. Smith. The man was placed on the biobed next to Daryl, and Dr. Smith walked towards him to check the readings of the man. Daryl turned his head to watch what was happening but saw nothing as Smith blocked the view. Dark walked towards her. He seemed irritated. Words were exchanged, whispering, as they glared towards each other. Daryl used the moments of inattention to try to get his hand free from the leather cuff, and surprisingly, he managed to do so. He exhaled silently. The next moments, the conversation ended, and Smith walked out of the room, followed by the guards, with in between them the biobed with the unconscious man. Dark muttered something under his breath, still not paying attention to Daryl.
Daryl quickly opened the leather cuff holding his left leg. Now his left and leg where free to move. He quickly laid back in silence. He still felt nauseous and a bit dizzy, but he had to take the chance. That man that had been brought in seemed familiar. Something was happening around here, he felt it in his gut. His wild guess was that Phoenix Team was here.
While he pondered, he carefully looked around the room for objects he could use. Dark was a formidable opponent with his nanite abilities. Yet, Daryl never had been so sure. And he would avenge K'Chary's death. Even if that meant he would be killed. 
 
Lt. Commander William McCulloch
Rogaran IV Penal Colony, Administrative Level 41
Stardate 2212.24
"Wakey wakey, eggs and bakey," Victoria softly encouraged.
McCulloch stirred in his bed and moaned as he started to wake up. His entire back felt as if it was on fire. His head throbbed, and there was an odd, heavy pressure on his left hip. He blinked several times and looked about at his surroundings. He was clearly in a medical bay but the lighting was much dimmer than he was accustomed to. He could see shadows moving about but had no idea who or what they were.
Then there was that odd pressure on his hip. Why did it feel like something was pressing down on him? Will looked to his left and quickly discovered who was the source of the discomfort. Dr. Smith was resting her chin and folded arms on his left hip. She smiled slightly as the two made eye contact.
"Well, look who's awake." She purred.
Will tried to sit up and move away from her, but he couldn't. He was restrained across his chest, stomach, thighs, and ankles. His wrists were shackled to the biobed.
"Yeah, about that," Victoria announced as she lifted her head up and gestured toward his restraints with a wave of her hand. "I'm an old-school girl who likes old-school methods of securing my patients. Containment fields are a hindrance when one wants to dig deep into a patient's body."
The Scot felt a chill run through his body. This woman was as evil and dangerous as Taz had warned. He tried to collect his thoughts, but he felt so drowsy and confused. Was she drugging him?
"What do you want?" He demanded.
"Well, where to begin, Mr. Sharpe."
"I'm not your concern."
"Oh, I suspect you're more than that. We caught you with exquisite foreign tech that's not part of the Empire's weapons collection."
McCulloch desperately tried to focus … he HAD been drugged. 
Before he could speak, the Doctor continued. "You bear a striking … almost a mirror image of Colonel John Sharpe, commanding officer of the 95th Infantry Battalion."
Victoria stood up, leaned across the bed, and closely studied her captive. Will watched as her green eyes looked deeply into his…He wondered if she was trying to detect any physical signs of fear or hesitation. 
What made things even weirder for the Scot was whatever body spray she wore smelled very pleasant, if not downright seductive.
"But you're not John Sharpe, are you?" Victoria coyly asked as she walked to the back of the bed and leaned forward onto his pillow. Their heads were now side by side. 
"I think I know who you are." She playfully whispered. 
"I am Sharpe." Will lied. "And in the name of the Empire, I demand you release me."
"I'm not convinced you are." She giggled slightly. "Colonel Sharpe is currently on Trill suppressing an insurrection with efficient brutality. I love reading about his regiment's exploits. They are one of the most vicious yet loyal battalions throughout the Empire."
"I demand nothing less from my men of the 95th." McCulloch bluffed. "And the reports of me being on Trill are part of my cover."
"Interesting. So tell me, Colonel, why are you here in an undercover capacity?"
"Empress Kane requested I come to this colony and assist her in defeating the Federation operatives who were expected to infiltrate this prison colony."
"Really?" Smith gasped. There was almost a hint of mock excitement in her voice. "How exciting that the famed John Sharpe answers his Empress' call without hesitation. How long have you been at the colony, Colonel?"
"Almost a week. I had a squad of men with me, but we were separated when the riot broke out." 
Will's mind was still foggy, and he was unsure if the doctor even believed the nonsense he was spewing. He sure as hell didn't buy it.
"Tell me, why were you firing on the Carnora war band?" She continued.
"I saw them firing on our defensive placements."
Victoria briefly leaned back and ran a hand through the Scot's hair. Seconds later, her fingernails scratched gently across his face. She then leaned forward a second time and whispered into his ear.
"My apologies for the skepticism, Colonel. We should be able to resolve this mix-up quite easily."
"Thank you."
"I suppose we could get confirmation from Her Majesty about your mission. She's in Operations right now, I'll call her down."
"You should." McCulloch agreed, wondering if it would present an opportunity to assassinate Kane.
"Or we could try to locate your men to confirm your claim."
"Please do."
"But we're not going to do either Colonel."
"Why?" Will asked weakly.
"As I said before, you're not John Sharpe."
"I am sorry, Doctor, but you're mistaken."
"Oh, but I disagree." Victoria excitedly replied. "Would you like to know how I know you're not him?"
"Humor me."
"You're an inch and a half taller than Colonel John Sharpe." She coldly announced before forcefully grabbing Will's hair and pulling his head towards her. "Would you also like to know who I *think* you are?"
"I suspect you'll tell me regardless of whether I want to hear it."
"I've seen the intelligence files and the drone footage of your little firefight with the Carnora."
"And?"
"If I were a betting girl … and to be honest, sometimes I am," Victoria gushed. "I believe you're the Federation operative William McCulloch. Those sniper shots in the cavern are textbook McCulloch."
"I have no bloody idea what you are talking about."
Victoria gleefully clapped several times. "Oh, you even used your catchphrase ‘bloody'. Our intelligence reports said your preferred choice of words include ‘bloody' and every other expletive in the English language."
"I'm not who you say I am. As commanding officer of the 95th, I demand -"
"Shhhh." Victoria replied in a soothing voice as she pressed her index finger against Will's lips. "No need to be so confrontational. You don't need to tell me who you are. I'm already comparing the DNA sample we took from you against the DNA records of the Terrans John Sharpe and William McCulloch. It's only a matter of time before the truth comes out."
"This is a waste of time."
"Oh I disagree." The Doctor replied as her tone became very dark. "And very soon, the two of us will have a very long chat about the little red-headed plaything of yours."
As McCulloch tried to respond, Victoria forcefully pressed a hypospray against his neck. Seconds later, everything went black.
Lt. Commander Daryl Thompson
Administrative Level 41, Rogaran IV Penal Colony
Stardate 2212.24
Dark had been preparing another injection. This one would hurt. Really hurt. It would break him. Or kill him. Dark seemed satisfied with either outcome. He turned around, and stopped in his tracks as he saw the chair was empty. He was surprised. Apparently he had underestimated Thompsons resilience. Carefully, he laid down the injection, and scanned the room. 
"Well done, Mr. Thompson. Once again, you managed to surprise me. But you can't go anywhere. " Dark slowly walked towards the chair and laughed "You really are an interesting opponent. A lot smarter than our own Daryl. " Dark teased. He scoffed. "He had himself killed. You, on the other hand, are much tougher, smarter and inventive. Yet, once we're done here I think I'll beam your brains out of your skull and preserve them for further investigation. I find your ways fascinating! "
He heard something behind him and turned around quickly, but there was nothing there. 
Dark was getting impatient, fed up with this game. 
"Now come out of your hiding, and be a good fella. We still need some information from you. I thought killing your little girlfriend would be--" He gasped as he felt how an injection protruded his skin and a fluid entered his veins. With immense speed and force he turned around, making Daryl smack into the nearest cabinet. But it was too late. The compound fluid immediately started to do its work, and Dark yelped as the first cramps came around. 
Daryl crawled up, and saw Dark coming towards him. From his backside, four mechanical tentacles (OOC-AK: Imagine Doc Oc from Spiderman) ending in menacing claws hovered beside him. But Dark was having trouble keeping focus. The fluid compound was doing it's job properly. Dark suddenly started vomiting, and fell to his knees. The tentacles fell down on the floor and it seemed Dark was having trouble controlling the nanites. Daryl took his chance and jumped forward, knee forward, hitting Dark full on the jaw. Dark flew backwards, sprawling on the floor. 
Daryl jumped after him, grabbed him by the collars and pulled him from the floor. With one hand he started pummeling Dark. Daryl hit him as hard as he could. He was fueled by rage and hate, and didn't feel anything. He only had one purpose at this moment: kill the monster that had killed his best friend in the most savage way he could think of. Dark was floating in and out of consciousness, his face becoming a bloody mess. Daryl released Dark, and performed a flying roundhouse kick, making Dark crash into one of the bio chairs, toppling over. The tentacles flew around uncontrollably. 
Once more, Daryl grabbed Dark and dragged him across the floor to the table with all kinds of flasks and bottles where Dark had composed the injection with. He looked at a few of the bottles, nodded, and unscrewed one."Ha- Have mercy…please…" Dark brought out. His eyes and nose were Zwolle. Daryl grabbed Dark by the cheeks, forcing open his mouth and poured the complete content of the bottle in. Dark gagged and coughed, and his eyes grew wide as he found out what Daryl just had done. 
"No mercy" Thompson just said. Dark started to scream. Daryl just held him, and slowly Dark's cheeks, lower jaw and his neck started to dissolve. Pink foam formed where the acid liquified tissue and bone, and fell onto the floor, combined with blobs of blood. Daryl just held him, without showing emotion. 
"You will pay for this" Dark brought out, his voice sounding strange. Daryl saw that the nanites still were working, as several parts of Dark's face started to heal, while others were dissolved, which gave a strange effect. Suddenly, Daryl was punched by one of the tentacles, and Dark laughed. "You can't kill me that easily," Dark said, and his voice sounded almost normal again. 
Daryl didn't hesitate, grabbed a large laser scalpel and slashed Dark's neck. Dark gargled, and blood gushed out of the deep cut. A second tentacle attacked, but Daryl was fast enough to evade, only being hit by another. He couldn't keep on his feet and had to release Dark, who sank to his knees for a moment but quickly rose to his feet again. The wound in his neck already was healed as well by the nanites. Daryl raised his eyebrows. This version of Jack Dark was pure evil but was far less dangerous as the one he and his team fought in his own universe. 
Dark laughed, as the nanites did their job and healed the wound in his neck quickly. 
Daryl grabbed a bunch of flasks and bottles and threw them as hard as he could towards Dark. The fluids hit Dark's in several places, inflicting damage, but not enough to slow him down… 
Daryl cursed, and quickly examined the room for objects he could use against Dark. Then, without warning, one of the tentacles grabbed him and tossed him across the room. Daryl crash landed into the agonysuit. He felt a crack in his ribs, and a flash of pain as he fell onto the ground. Quickly he got up as Dark, almost fully recovered closed in on him. The tentacles attacked and Daryl dodged them. One of the tentacles pierced through the agonysuit, cutting open wires and tubes. Coolant fluids and hot plasma vented into the room, blocking their view. 
An alarm started to blare. The hot plasma melted everything in the vicinity. Daryl quickly darted around the suit and caught Dark looking into the other direction. Without hesitation Daryl leaped again forward, kicking Dark hard in the back, pushing him directly into the hot plasma stream. 
Dark howled and roared, as the plasma melted away large chunks of his torso, including two of the tentacles, that fell onto the floor, a piece of Dark's ribcage still attached to one of them. 
Dark finally managed to get out of the stream, screaming and yelling and fell onto what was left of his knees. He breathed heavily and his face was almost completely eaten away by the plasma. The other two tentacles disappeared, dissolving back into Dark's body, partly fixing the part of the ribcage. Jack Dark gasped a few times, as his inner body and lungs were recovered. But the plasma had done severe damage. But Dark also refused to give up and started to limp towards Daryl, who, in the meantime, had gotten hold some kind of torture device, resembling a large plasma based knife. He moved towards Dark, now without the defenses of his tentacles. Dark grunted and gasped, saliva and blood spewing out of his damaged face. His body had been damaged beyond the point of repair. 
Daryl kicked Dark hard in the chest, and Dark fell on his back. He tried to crawl up, but Daryl was faster, and he pushed Dark back on the ground with his foot. Dark's arm changed into a blade, but as he reached back to strike, Daryl cut off the arm completely in one slash. Dark roared. A raspy sound, as his voice was damaged. 
Daryl looked at Dark. It was time to end this. "No mercy" Daryl repeated, Then he struck again, cutting off Dark's head clean. The head sailed through the room, and landed, making a sopping sound. The roar changed into a short gargle, as blood spilled onto the floor. The body convulsed, here and there reshaping because the nanites now were out of control. 
Daryl grabbed the remains of Dark's body and threw it in the plasma stream, where it dissolved further, until nothing was left. The Grand Inquisitor of the Terran Empire was dead. 
Daryl fell on his knees. He was exhausted. The fight had taken its toll, Dsryl actually didn't think he would make it against Dark. But he had to try. And he won! K'Chary wouldn't come back, but at least Dark would not kill any more innocent victims. After some minutes, Daryl gathered himself and got up. It was time to leave. He didn't know where to go and how to escape yet, but staying here was an idea. He walked towards one of the exits. It didn't open. He forced open the panel and rewired the door. The next moment it slid open. Daryl stepped outside, and bumped into Dr. Smith. In blind rage he grabbed her by the throat, raising his other hand, still holding the plasma knife. 
"Daryl, stop! " A voice demanded. He fluttered with his eyes. Then he recognized where the familiar voice came from. It was Mayla Vree. They had come. Finally. Daryl sobbed one time, as emotions overwhelmed him. Then he collapsed and everything faded into black.
 
Lt. Commander William McCulloch
Administrative Level 41, Rogaran IV Penal Colony
Stardate 2212.24
As Will slowly awoke, he realized he was still strapped to a biobed but in a semi-upright position. He felt worse than before - the pain had intensified and spread throughout his body. The room was spinning, leading him to believe he had been drugged again.
He groggily wondered if Dr. Smith had done anything to treat the disruptor wound to his back or at least stem an infection. 
He quickly scanned his surroundings. Although he had no idea where he was, it was clear that Will had been moved to another location. There were several other empty biobeds in the dimly lit medical wing and half a dozen medical tables. 
"You're awake Mr. McCulloch," Victoria announced as she emerged from a nearby office.
"Sharpe." Will corrected, hoping the doctor would eventually believe the lie. Instead, she retrieved a handheld mirror, walked over to him, and held it up. 
The Scot looked wearily at his image in the mirror … the bruised and swollen face of William McCulloch looked back at him. Smith had surgically restored his original features, and now his cover was formally blown.
"The Bravo Squad traitor and loyal servant of the Black Watch, William McCulloch, here with me," She purred. "No wonder Victoria bedded you… you are such a bad boy."
The hairs stood up on the back of Will's neck. Smith had revealed information known only to certain elements of the Resurrection's crew. And by doing so, she inadvertently revealed a Terran spy was on the ship. 
McCulloch chose to play along, hoping to gather more information from the doctor.
"What are you going to do with me?" He demanded.
"All in good time," Smith replied as she leaned forward until her face was within inches of his. She continued speaking. Damn that body spray was intoxicating.
"Tell me, William, what's the defective nurse like in bed? Do the Trill memories make her a little wilder, or is she still so boring that she thinks flannel is sexy bedwear? Come on, you can tell me."
"Sod off." McCulloch hissed as he glared at the Doctor. He struggled to maintain his composure. Whatever drugs Smith had injected in him were taking a toll on his ability to remain focused.
"I'll take that as an admission that my twin is about as exciting in the sack as a dead fish," Victoria huffed as she patted the Scot's inner right thigh and stood up straight.
"What are you going to do with me?" Will demanded a second time.
"Are you always in this much of a rush?"     
Rather than answer, Will chose to spit at her. 
Smith backhanded him as hard as she could across the face. She became flush with anger, and her entire body tensed up. The doctor eyed Will for several seconds before spinning on her heels and walking to a nearby table filled with surgical tools. She retrieved a laser scalpel and returned to Will's side. She activated the device and made a long incision along his left cheek. McCulloch recoiled in pain.
"Oops, that's going to leave a mark." She announced softly.
"You need to dial it down a notch." McCulloch barked as he felt warm blood run down the side of his face. He had no idea why he would foolishly chastise her like that …it had to be the drugs.
"So what is going to happen to William McCulloch?" Victoria slowly asked as she made another incision cut across his forehead. "Well, the easiest option is the Empire simply executes you for infiltrating this prison facility and attacking our guards. But we're not going to do that."
"We're not?"
"No." Smith muttered as she examined Will's torso before pulling up his shirt. She smirked slightly and started carving her initials along his body's right side. McCulloch did his best not to scream. 
"Vicky is going to love my work! I even carved ‘Dr" into your side as a reminder that you belong to me, not her." She smiled in satisfaction. After a brief moment of reflection, she sighed. "No, we're not going to kill you just yet."
"I'm not cooperating with you."
"I know. I suspect Empress Kane will simply want to use you as a distraction."
"A distraction?"
"Our William McCulloch is the boogeyman of the Empire. A fallen hero that mothers refer to when they need to scare their children. I suspect Her Majesty will announce his capture and then publicly execute you. It will do wonders for public relations."
"I doubt your William McCulloch will appreciate the gesture."
"If only he could object," Victoria mocked. She casually walked to a nearby wall and tapped the control panel. There was a loud hiss followed by the wall rising into the ceiling. A wave of cold air and cloud vapors quickly exited the secured area before revealing a large preservation tube containing the bloated body of the Terran William McCulloch. Adjacent to the tube was a tattered flag of the Coldstream Guards, the Mirror Universe's equivalent of the Black Watch.
The Scot felt his heart sink as he gazed upon the corpse of his mirror counterpart.
"William McCulloch and his Coldstream Guards were an interesting band of soldiers." Smith continued as she stared at the lifeless body. "Unfortunately, he advocated far too much for equal rights for all sentient beings as the war neared an end. The Empire could not and would not tolerate such subversive ideas."
"What a shock, the Empire suppressing dissenting views with cold brutality."
"It's necessary for the Empire's survival, especially after the last war." Smith replied before continuing with her tale. "We dispatched the Coldstream Guard to several locations and then ambushed them. They fought well, but we crushed most of them in the end."
"William McCulloch and his family survived."
"I see you've been reading intelligence reports on Terran activities."
"Footnotes of reports."
"Sad," Victoria paused for a moment. "He was a great warrior and to be perfectly candid, he would have excelled as a Starfleet officer in your world …just as you would have thrived in ours."
McCulloch shifted uncomfortably at Smith's observation. She picked up on his reaction.
"The fact that you are forever branded a traitor bothers you, doesn't it?"
"I don't know what you're talking about."
"Well, let me help you remember."
Smith activated the laser scalpel again and cut a long incision down his right thigh. McCulloch growled at her.
"Really? You hapless b*tch!"
The doctor simply laughed at him before continuing her story.
"McCulloch, his family, and approximately 150 of his soldiers and their families fled to a colony outside of Terran territory. They settled there hoping to begin life anew."
"But you found them."
"We did," Victoria announced bluntly as she sliced into the Scot's left ankle. "And that's where I came in."
"What the hell did you do?"
"It was over much faster than I would have liked. But watching my toxic nerve agents eradicate their families, especially the children, was worth the effort." She coldly answered.
All Will could do was scoff at her and shake his head in disgust. He tried his best to ignore the pain that shot through his body, but he faltered. 
"McCulloch survived. For years he tried to raise a new Coldstream Guards to fight the Empire but failed. And we were so close to capturing him."
"How did he die?" Will asked, struggling to erase the mental images of children convulsing and choking on their own vomit after exposure to Smith's chemicals.
"In the end, he drank himself to death. Two months ago our secret police found his body in a random alleyway behind a pub in Stirling, Scotland. Understandably, dying in the gutter is not the narrative the Empress wishes to convey to her subjects. They need to see a very public execution."
McCulloch sighed and gave Victoria an almost bored look. "That is not going to happen. When this is over, I am going to kill you."
"Such empty promises. You haven't even heard the third option the Empire is prepared to offer you." The doctor announced as she pressed the scalpel against his left calf and squeezed the trigger. The beam cut through the skin and muscle and exited the opposite side. The Scot yelped as a searing pain shot up his leg.
Victoria put the scalpel down on a nearby table before returning her attention to McCulloch. "Are you going to be a good boy?"
McCulloch couldn't bear the continuing pain so he nodded in the affirmative. 
Secretly, he wanted to get closer to her so he could smell the scent of the body spray again. It was so seductive. 
Wait, what the hell was he thinking? Was the perfume Smith was wearing containing some mind-altering chemical designed to seduce him slowly? 
"Excellent. The Empire will return you to the Federation if you help us."
"I'm not going to help you."
"You haven't heard me out."
"Whatever the hell you are going to ask for, I'm not giving it to you."
"It's relatively simple," the doctor answered as she sat on the biobed next to him. "I want Commander Victoria Smith."
Lieutenant (JG) Reepchip Charatetet
Rogaran IV Penal Colony
Stardate 2212.28
Reepchip looked at the approaching Carnora and chittered. 10 of them, fully armed against… well, them. And they had the issue of Jahkar.
When he heard Tiri wish for a phaser, he said, "Well… I think I can stun them."
He went ahead of them, growling. The Warlord snarled in hunger–he hadn’t had a Muran to eat since the destruction of his homeworld.
Reepchip took in a deep breath, steeled himself, cupped his paws around his muzzle and–"RAAAAAAAAAAAAAIIIIK"
The Mirror Carnora clamped their paws over their ears in agony, just as vulnerable to a Muran’s defensive shriek as the Olverns Reepchip knew.
"Come on, guys, while their ears are still ringing!"
The other operatives made their way past the groaning Carnora, Lt. Commander Ryramorl wincing as the sound kept ringing in his ears.
Warlord Ryramorl was the first to recover from the pain, and roared in frustration as he saw that his prey had given them the slip. And the absolute chaos the hunters’ presence caused was the perfect cover for their targets. Snarling, the warlord turned to chase them. "Get them!
He charged the group, heading straight for his counterpart, while another hunter sighted the injured Jahkar.
Lieutenant Madhaven Chopra
USS Resurrection Engineering
Stardate 2212.28
Lieutenant Chopra agreed with Tommy Carmichael–Lieutenant Corhees’s suggestion was unlikely to work. But something twigged in his mind–namely, the fact that they could control both the coaxial and transdimensional drive from the same panel–which HADN’T been supposed to be possible.
"Sir, Corhees’s suggestion just made me wonder: how much of the ship can we control from down here? For all we know, we might have a backup bridge at that console right there."
Carmichael walked over to an engineering console and tried to pull up ship controls he could divert from the bridge and frowned, "Locked out. Somebody has taken the bridge. McGiver and her security team are going to have to prepare to mount an offensive and retake the bridge."
 
Colonel Jahkar
Rogaran IV Penal Colony
Stardate 2212.28
The two Ryramorl’s clashed in the open cavern, most of the prisoners had dispersed or were seeking cover in the ramshackle, shanty town built here.
Bypassing the two raging beasts were the other two Carnora, hot on the tail of Beckett who was coming toward them with the drill still in hand.
Jahkar and Tiri stood ready as Beckett neared. Jahkar moved first, running out past Beckett and throwing an ax at the face of the nearest approaching Carnora. The creature flung its huge arm out and brushed the ax aside like it was a mosquito, then attempted to trample Jahkar.
The marine colonel sidestepped the attack, dodging the beastly Carnora and pivoting to come around behind it where he hurled the other ax into its back. The weapon stuck in the creature’s hide and it gave a piercing howl, before turning and swinging its huge battle axe at the Klingon-Romulan.
Jahkar ducked the big ax and launched a kick into the creature’s midsection. The blow staggered the Carnora slightly, its emaciated body revealing weaknesses a healthy Carnora surely would not display. But it wasn’t fazed enough that it couldn’t grab Jahkar’s leg and toss him aside.
He landed on his backside, the jolt sending pain through his body from the damaged ribs. Jahkar grunted and shrugged off the pain in time to get to his feet and evade another incoming strike from the battleax, which clanged loudly off the stone surface of the cavern.
The marine spied the handaxe he’d thrown when he and the Carnora first engaged and he ran toward the weapon, the Carnora coming after him with an ax raised over its head. He slid across the dirt and stone, arriving next to the dropped weapon just in time to pick it up, turn from a nearly prone position and throw it toward the lumbering beast. The ax spun head over handle several times before it struck the Carnora directly in the throat, piercing its windpipe and tearing open a carotid artery which immediately started spurting blood.
As the creature fell over, the life fading from it, Jakhar plucked the ax from its neck and when it had fallen face first to the ground, he snatched the other from his back and he turned to look for another target.
Lt. Tiri Sh’avelith
Rogaran IV Penal Colony
Stardate 2212.29
Tiri was ready to fight as the Carnora approached and, of course, Jahkar rushed forward and engaged the first of the warriors who arrived. She turned her attention to the other two, one who looked like Ryramorl’s doppelganger was charging straight at their Ryramorl, while the other seemed intent on coming after her.
Suddenly, the Mirror Ryramorl and the Carnora coming toward her were both knocked senseless by some unseen force. The Warlord version of Ryramorl stumbled aimlessly across the cavern and crashed into Commander Ra’yal before falling to the ground, while the one determined to get to her clutched its head and fell flat on its face.
Jahkar was fighting the other Carnora who seemed unaffected by what Tiri assumed was some kind of psychic attack by Reepchip.
However, a micro-second later the sound blast that hit the Carnora swept over Tiri and her acute hearing and antennas – though concealed – caused her to suffer a massive surge of pain through her head. She staggered, screamed as she clutched her head and then collapsed into a heap on the floor.
Commander Victoria Smith
Administrative Level 41, Rogaran IV Penal Colony
Stardate 2212.31
"Wait!" Victoria announced as she scanned around Dr. Smith's office for several seconds until she found the items she needed. She quickly crossed the room and retrieved two power cells for her disruptor and a leather-encased medical kit.
"What is this woman's obsession with leather and all things skanky?" The nurse asked as she shook her head in disbelief. She cracked open the case and pulled it open to find it was filled with various emergency medical equipment, including four hyposprays. 
Victoria quickly removed the hyposprays, removed the cartridges and put the devices aside. She stepped back and pulled up the right side of her skirt. Strapped to her upper thigh were six hypospray cartridges. 
"When we get home, we need to discuss how and why a combat nurse can successfully conceal items on her person." Vree quietly announced. There was almost a slight hint of pride in the Trill's voice.
Victoria quickly looked up and flashed a brief smile as she loaded the cartridges into the hyposprays and returned them to the case. She then slung the case across her back and signaled that she was ready. However, Desiree stepped in front of Victoria before the pair could leave to block her path. 
"This one has so many memories of another …. A Trill." The captain noted with curiosity. 
"We can run a case study on me later. Right now, we need to find Daryl." Smith quickly answered.
"But it's not the memories that are a hindrance. You are using those memories as a weapon right now."
"I never thought of it that way."
"That is good," Klomden noted. "But there is something else, you are…conflicted. I sense you lost someone important to you, yet you still want to continue this mission rather than mourn."
"I will mourn when my assignment is complete." Victoria sadly answered as tried not to think of Will and his death at the hands of the Carnora.
"You tell those who answer to you to risk their lives to bring others home to loved ones." The Captain pressed, trying to understand who this Smith was. 
Victoria hesitated to answer as she was slightly unnerved by Klomden probing her thoughts and memories. She simply nodded her head in the affirmative.
Dee pointed at Vree and then Smith. "You kill, she saves. An interesting combination."
"She also mothers us far too much, but that is unimportant." Vree quipped as Victoria rolled her eyes.
"Who are you bringing Daryl Thompson home to?"
The nurse hesitated again but chose to answer. "We promised Lt. Commander Darva McGuire we would bring Daryl home."
"No, I suspect *you* promised her," Dee noted.
"I did."
The captain mulled over Victoria's response, nodded with approval and gestured for the trio to leave the office, Victoria was the lead, with Mayla slightly behind on her left flank and Klomden in the shadows along the right wall.
Smith walked down the passageway with an air of authority about her. She noted most of the Terrans either tried to avoid eye contact or changed direction when they saw her coming. For the few that made eye contact, they shuddered and moved quickly past her.
As the trio advanced further into Level 42, Dee suddenly halted and looked with grave concern at Victoria.
"You are in danger."
"Of course I know that, we all are right now."
"No, I am sensing a heated discussion over your fate, I can't determine where it is coming from … someone is trying to protect you from another but is quickly faltering." 
Lt. Commander William McCulloch
Administrative Level 41, Rogaran IV Penal Colony
Stardate 2212.31
"Are ye daft woman?" Will slurred in his heavy Scottish brogue. "If you think I'm going to let you anywhere near her, you are clinically insane."
"You won't help me?" Doctor Smith asked as she sat closer to McCulloch and again rested her hand on his inner thigh.
At that moment, he realized just how much danger he and Victoria were in. This Dr. Smith was more cunning than a black widow spider luring her witless prey into a trap and only springing it when it was too late for the victim to know what was happening. Between the injuries from the disruptor blast, the scalpel cuts and the drugging, she was wearing him down very quickly. And dammit he just couldn't resist that perfume.
As he hesitated to respond to her unwanted advances, he sadly sighed. This was how William McCulloch would die….strapped to a biobed, bleeding out and at the mercy of an insane version of his ex-wife. 
"Will you help me Will?" She purred as she leaned in and kissed him. After several seconds, she pulled back and bit her lip before playfully saying. "Maybe in return, I can be everything your Victoria wasn't."
"How can I help you strapped to this bed?" He countered.
"I just need to know where Victoria is on the Resurrection."
McCulloch suddenly realized he had an advantage. The Terrans believed Victoria was still on board the Resurrection.
"I can't say where she currently is on that ship. I don't know."
"Will, I need you to think. I need to know where she is before our operatives storm that ship and she is accidentally killed. She is too important to me"
"I need to think about it."
"You don't have time." The Doctor snapped as she pulled back from the Scot and stood back up. "You and I both know she's on that ship running around with her pretty little medical team…what's it called…Alliance Six?"
"You're not even close on the name." 
"How that team of children and flunkies ended up on a covert operations vessel as so-called combat medics is beyond me."
"She's probably in the aft medical bay." McCulloch lied, knowing there was no aft medical bay. "That's where the team usually assembles before any mission."
"Makes sense." Victoria quipped before turning to leave. 
"What about us … you and me?" Will asked, hoping to keep Smith in the room.
"I'll get back to you Will." 
"What do you want with Victoria?"
Smith stopped and looked over her shoulder. A smile spread across her face.
"Of course," She announced in a mocking tone. "You care about her. Are the two of you thinking of remarrying? That's a crap show I would love to watch play out."
"What are your plans with her?" McCulloch demanded.
"Come now, Will, deep down, you know my plans are with the defective basket case." Victoria quietly answered as she returned to the biobed. Her demeanor had become very dark and cold. "Commander Victoria Smith has been on my radar for half a decade since I learned about the Trill memory analeptics being implanted in her. I intend to weaponize those analeptics to the Empire's advantage."
"You're going to do what?!?"
"Think about the possibilities…our soldiers and officers sent into battle with the implanted memories of veteran warriors. Our generals and admirals provided with the experiences of the greatest tactical minds. The Terran Empire will be unstoppable."
"You're bloody insane. I may step aside and let Victoria gut you instead."
The doctor scoffed. "The meek, little red-headed girl with the head issues isn't going to lay a finger on me. And you, William McCulloch, are going to deliver her to me."
"Like hell, I will."
Victoria returned to the surgical table and retrieved a laser bone saw. "Your subvocal is still intact and operational, Lt. Commander McCulloch. You are going to contact Commander Smith and request an emergency medical evacuation. You will provide coordinates the Empire gives you and encourage Victoria and her team to render assistance asap. Otherwise I'm going to start lopping off body parts."
"No." Will nervously slurred. The room was starting to spin due to his continued blood loss.
Dr. Smith smiled thinly. "So noble, William McCulloch. You'll protect the nurse until the bitter end. I hope she appreciates what you are doing for her."
Will simply looked away.
"Rather than cut your leg off, I am prepared to sweeten the deal in exchange for the capture of Commander Smith. Are you interested?"
"This conversation is over."
"No Will, it's not." Smith countered. "What if I told you I have the ability to reverse the effects of the Trill memory analeptics."
McCulloch looked at the doctor in shock. "What?"
"Now that got your attention." Victoria replied as she put the tool down. She struggled to conceal her glee. "I can reverse the process, and you can have that sweet, nerdy, and painfully shy nurse back and all to yourself. Wouldn't you like to recapture those years you lost after her injury and your incarceration? To have sweet and innocent Vicky doting over you again and sharing stories of her teenage adventures at summer camp in Maine? I can make it all happen."
"Your bluffing."
"No, I'm not."
"I won't let you do that to her."
"You're the one strapped down Will." Smith retorted before trying to soften her demeanor. "Think about it. A chance to reclaim your marriage and the true personality of your bride."
McCulloch scoffed just as the door opened and several of Victoria's assistants strode in. "You'll kill her as soon as you're done with her."
"You have my word, as the Empire's Chief Medical Officer. I will convince Empress Kane to grant you and Victoria safe passage back to your universe once I am done or if you prefer, to a territory of your choice within the Empire. Who knows, maybe the two of you can be of further service?"
"I need a moment to think this over." Will answered.
As he contemplated the offer, he secretly prayed that he had successfully activated his subvoc after Dr. Smith had alerted him of its existence. Hopefully, their conversation for the past few minutes was being transmitted to some member … any member of his team.
Commander Mayla Vree, Commander Victoria Smith, Lt. Commander Daryl Thompson
Administrative Level 41, Rogaran IV Penal Colony
Stardate 2212.31
Mayla caught him before he hit the floor. Victoria staggered to one side as Klomden reached out to catch her. The nurse started to gag but signaled to Dee she would be fine.
"Get back inside, quickly," Mayla said, carrying Daryl back in where he came out from. In one look she saw what had transpired. Daryl had just escaped himself just as they came to rescue him.
Victoria collected herself quickly and pulled out her medkit from the pack Mayla was carrying for her. Mayla gently lowered Daryl to the floor as Klomden took up station at the door as if she was listening for anyone coming down the hall behind the closed door.
"We apparently came just in the knick of time," Klomden said emotionlessly.
"Thompson used to be part of Bravo Squad, trained by Kyril." Mayla gestured around her. "He did good for himself here, but we may never know what kept him going through all that torture." She kept the rest of Daryl's story to herself, knowing fully well this wasn't the first time the man had been tortured. Mayla looked over to Victoria who gave him a nod.
Slowly, Daryl started to drift back into consciousness. As his eyes fluttered open, he immediately gazed upon Victoria. Fear and anger overcame him and he struggled to crawl backwards away from her.
"Leave me alone!" He sobbed.
"Easy Daryl!" Victoria calmly replied as she tried to prevent her patient from hurting her or himself.
"No, no more experiments on me. I'll kill you!"
Victoria seized his face with her right hand and forced him to focus. "I am not not Dr. Smith."
"Stay away from me you sadistic b*tch!"
"Do I need to freakin' throat punch you like I did McCulloch in the alleyway on Vulcan?"
Daryl froze for a moment. The first time he met the nurse named Victoria was just before Sorvek's funeral when she had attacked Will.
"Will's ex-wife?" He asked as tears began to stream down his face.
"Well, technically we're dating again but I digress."
"Really?" Daryl reluctantly answered. "Did he suffer a head injury or something?"
"Excuse me?"
"Nothing." Daryl replied as he laughed softly with joy at the thought of being rescued.
Victoria eyed Daryl suspiciously before resuming her medical scan of him. After a moment, she cleared her throat and leaned towards him.
"I have a message from Darva for you."
A look of hope spread across his face. Victoria leaned in and whispered the message in his ear before returning to her task at hand.
"He's going to be okay," she said with relief. "He's sustained some pretty serious wounds, but I've given him heavy doses for the pain, and the repair nanites I injected him with will start working on his internal wounds as soon as they codify his DNA matrix. It'll take a few days, but at least he won't get any worse. Can't say for sure mentally. His encephalographic patterns are a mess, as is his limbic system. Engrammal patterns are off scale. I don't know what they did to him, but he is a hot mess. His emo chip is functioning on low power. " She shook her head. "They messed him up pretty good. Not only physically."
"Understood. Keep him stable. We need to leave before we're discovered. Captain Dee, prepare for us to move out. We're heading back down to -"
Chatter came over both of their subvocals of a conversation that someone had their's switched on to receive wide. The conversation caused both of them to look at each other as they immediately figured out who was speaking.
Victoria's face became livid with anger. "I'm going to kill that bi-" 
Mayla gave her a few sharp SO hand signals and looked over at the betazoid. "I need you to take us to Doctor Smith, right now."
"That's the duality I've been sensing," Klomden said, looking one side to the other. "She's not far."
Mayla looked at Victoria as Daryl was becoming more coherent. "Let me take care of it," she said with a hardness to her tone. As much as Victoria wanted to interject, that tone stopped her. But she bolstered courage and spoke up.
"Look what she's done to Daryl, and now to Will, and you want me to just wait here for you to 'take care of it?'"
"I don't suggest we leave both of them here," Klomden said. "I can't cover for her if both of them are discovered."
Mayla didn't hesitate. Klomden was right. With Thompson out of commission for the time being, Smith could be captured and the Empire would have worse things happen to her. "Very well, can he stand?"
Victoria and Mayla pulled Thompson to his feet, who now came more awake. "Mayla?"
"Yes, I'm here. With Victoria. We're getting out of here."
He looked over to the other cloaked figure. "Desiree?"
Klomden looked at him with a blank face and shook her head.
"Story for another time," Mayla said. "Can you walk on your own?"
He tried, and failed. The drugs and medical nanites were zapping his energy. Victoria looked at Mayla and shook her head. "I'll help him."
She positioned herself on Daryl's right side, draped his right arm across the back of her shoulders and then pulled down on it. At the same time, she wrapped her left arm around his waist and pulled him close. The then popped him up slightly so that his hip rested on hers.
"You good, Daryl?" Victoria asked.
Daryl nodded in the affirmative. Despite the noticeable size and weight difference between the pair, Victoria had a firm hold on him.
Klomden led them down the hallway, walking with as much purpose as they could while Daryl shuffled along with them. They tried not to look too conspicuous when guards looked 'passed' them on their way to their duties. The betazoid was right, their destination wasn't too far. They were already standing outside the door in less than a minute.
"I sense only two people in there. Doctor Smith is one of them." Klomden pulled out a phaser. "I'm ready when you are."
Mayla gave her a nod. "As soon as we're in, close the door and lock it behind us."
Klomden gave her an affirmative nod, already reading her thoughts. For a brief moment, she had a focused intent look on her face before she opened the door. She surrounded the peripheral visions of the people inside to not pay any attention to the four assistants walking in as if nothing was out of the ordinary.
The four strode in as if they belonged there. Inside, what they saw was a much more extensive lab than the one in Doctor Smith's quarters. But their focus was the woman hunched over the man strapped on a biobed.
"I need a moment to think this over," the man on the biobed said, which echoed over the subvocal. He glanced over to them and then back to Doctor Smith. "I've made a decision."
Evil Smith cocked her head and gave him a pleasant smile as a shadow moved towards her. "And that is?"
"That we're going to make sure you go to hell, painfully."
A smile graced the face of Doctor Smith as a darkness shut off her peripheral vision. "Such a nice sentiment. I was kind of hoping you'd say that." The euphoria of what was to come was making her lightheaded. "But right now, let's talk about how long it'll take for me to remove that leg."
One of her assistant's hand, or whom she thought was an assistant, reached out and gripped the hand with the scalpel with so much force she nearly yelped.
"I don't think so, Doctor Smith." With a quick turn of her wrist inward, the hand forced the scalpel to slice open her own side from front to back.
"What the hell are you doing?" She yelled with a painful voice at the shadowed figure, now wondering why this guard was suddenly in her lab in the first place. Before she could react, her arm was twisted behind her and was slammed onto her face on the floor. Darkness closed in completely, but she remained awake, but unseeing.
"Cloud her," Mayla ordered the Ghost Squad leader as she held the evil woman down on the floor. In an instant, Doctor Smith was unable to see, smell, or hear anything. "Keep her mind in limbo while I strip her down."
Commander Victoria Smith
Administrative Level 41, Rogaran IV Penal Colony
Stardate 2212.31
At that moment, Victoria propped Thompson up against a table before hurrying to where Will was laying. His cosmetic surgery had been reversed, and he was William McCulloch again. She immediately began tending to his wounds.
Victoria scanned Will with her medical tricorder and grimaced. He was in horrible shape and needed to be transferred to a proper medical bay. He was passing in and out of consciousness and moaning in pain. 
The disruptor blast to his wound was deep and was starting to become infected. Dr. Smith's cuts were more profound than she expected and nearly severed two arteries. If she could patch him up … and it was a big if… It was unlikely he would walk out of this facility on his own. 
Then there were the drugs she detected in his system. Her Mirror Universe counterpart had pumped him with a wide array of mind-alternating narcotics and exposed him to some sort of … pheromone. 
Victoria quietly placed her tricorder aside on a nearby table. She remained silent as her eyes narrowed. She glanced over her shoulder at Mayla and noted the Trill was focused on stripping the doctor. The combat nurse quickly reached down into her skirt and withdrew the sgian-dubh on her hip. She spun on her heels and moved across the room with lightning speed. 
As she closed on the doctor, she let out a growl that best resembled an angry tomcat. Dee attempted to block the nurse's advance, but Victoria easily sidestepped her. Her Trill memories aided her as she narrowed down the best choices to kill Dr. Victoria Smith and make her suffer at the same time. 
Vree pushed away from the detained doctor, stood up and attempted to stop Victoria. As with Dee, the nurse easily moved past the Trill, flipped the sgian-dubh and caught it mid-air by the handle. As she prepared to plunge the weapon into the doctor's abdomen and then pull upwards towards her neck, a weak voice called out from behind her.
"Victoria…stop!" Will cried out "No!"
The nurse halted mid swing, and nervously looked back at McCulloch. Her green eyes, which were wild with rage, met the Scot's. He nodded in the negative as a signal for her not to do it. She turned to Vree, who was staring at her in shock.
"Don't do this, Victoria." Will pleaded. "Don't give the Empire any more of reason to hunt you down."
"What does that mean?"
Will hesitated momentarily. 
"Spill it, that's an order." Victoria demanded.
McCulloch sighed. "Doctor Smith told me the Terran Empire wants to weaponize your analeptic memories for future military operations."
Mayla looked away momentarily. Smith stiffened and looked at the doctor with blind rage.
"Victoria," Vree calmly interjected.
"She tried to seduce, torture and kill MY fear céile. Now they want to use me as a lab rat?" She argued. "And I can't respond in kind?"
"When did you learn to toss out Gaelic words?" McCulloch pressed as he changed the subject, trying to calm the nurse.
Victoria lowered the blade, looked down at the ground and smiled slightly. The question had surprisingly de-escalated the nurse. "I've been teaching myself Gaelic for the past six weeks."
"Interesting choice of word, nerd." McCulloch teased with a slight smirk as he struggled to focus. He sighed loudly. "Victoria, don't go down the same road I went down so many years ago. You're better than this."
"She tried to seduce and kill you."
"I know, but it's over." Will noted. "We don't need you neck deep in a blood feud. Almost everybody in the room needs you to help us get Daryl the heck out of here in one piece."
"And then we go home?" Smith nervously asked.
"And then we go home."
"Victoria, put the blade away." Vree asked reassuringly as she gazed at the nurse. "Let me handle this." 
Victoria hesitated momentarily as she thought about carving out the doctor's eyes and wearing them as earrings. Ultimately, she scoffed, sheathed her blade and then pointed angrily at Mayla.
"I want a word with her before you do anything….and when I'm done, you better make her experience with you as miserable as possible."
Victoria spun on her heels to return to Will. As she did, she pointed at Daryl.
"You, park your butt next to McCulloch, mister. I want to do another medical check on you next."
Smith started to treat the Scot's injuries. As Victoria worked on his leg, the Scot gazed wearily upon Dee for the first time.
"Why is my therapist here?" he asked in confusion.
Klomden just gave him a blank stare as she turned her attention back to Mayla, who had just dumped all of the Doctor's clothes into the refuse chute.
There were plenty of various pieces of equipment quite capable of binding Doctor Smith into immobility. With Klomden's continued clouding of the Doctor's senses, she began to thrash at every attempt of moving her.
Mayla administered a sedative from her hypoglove and the Doctor relaxed. Effortlessly, she carried her and unceremoniously dumped her on an empty biobed. Strapping the naked woman to the bed and locking her hands and feet to the bed, only then when Mayla looked over to Daryl who was now standing on his own.
"Daryl, if you feel up to it, sweep the room and gather whatever weapons you can find. They know we're here, no point in trying to hide any weapons we're not supposed to have." With that said, she opened her subvocal to the rest of the team to inform them their location and that Thompson and McCulloch were both in their custody.
Then Mayla looked over to Klomden. "I need you to codify her mind," Mayla said coldly, referring to the Doctor.
"That's going to take time," Klomden said. "More time than we have here. What information do you need? I can try to look for anything that pertains to that."
Vree walked over and stood next to Victoria. The nurse had finished treating Will and Daryl as best she could and was now packing up both medical kits - her own and the Terran kit she stole from Dr. Smith's office.
"Well?" The Trill asked impatiently. 
Victoria sighed. "They're both in rough shape, but I've patched them up as best I could. Hopefully, it's enough to get them through an extraction."
"And if it's not?" Mayla pressed. 
Victoria held up a pair of hypospray cartridges. "If not, I'm going to pump them with enough of this concoction that they're going to start knocking down walls to get us out of here."
"Do I want to know what is in those cartridges?"
"No, you don't." The nurse answered as she looked past Vree and saw the doctor starting to stir. "Excuse me."
Victoria brushed past the Trill and walked over to Dr. Smith's biobed and leaned over. As the doctor slowly came to, she looked side to side before staring up at Victoria. The look of shock on the doctor's face was quickly replaced with an expression of contempt and disgust. She tried to lunge at the nurse but the restraints held. As a result, she was reduced to simply snarling at Victoria, who didn't move or back down.
"Comfortable?" The nurse rhetorically asked.
"Well, look at me," the doctor answered as she gave the combat nurse a once over glance. Everything about Victoria…her uniform, hairstyle and physical build were a mirror image of herself. The doctor's eyes narrowed. "I wish I had known you were right under my nose all this time. Pretty daring of you to walk into a secure Terran facility posing as me."
"I got this far didn't I?"
"I have to admit our intelligence reports on you may have been wrong. I honestly didn't think you had it in you to do this."
"And yet here I am." The nurse quipped.
"If you are this brazen, think of the things you and I could do together," The doctor coyly suggested. "We could be so bad together." 
"Will we have to snuggle?"
The doctor quietly seethed at Victoria's answer. This was not the nurse she expected …so confident…and sarcastically fresh. 
"I've been watching you for some time." The doctor announced after a brief pause.
"So I've been told."
"I can help you."
Nurse Victoria cocked her head slightly to the side. "Help me, how?"
"Didn't McCulloch tell you? I can reverse the effect of the Trill memory analeptics. All I need is your cooperation."
Victoria looked back at Will as he struggled to rise from his biobed. The doctor picked up on her hesitation.
"I suppose he didn't say anything to you." 
"No, he said nothing," Victoria replied as she continued to watch WIll.
"I am not surprised," The doctor answered. "I have to give him credit. He was determined to protect you from harm. How very noble."
"It is." Victoria replied as she smiled with satisfaction before turning her attention back to the doctor.
"I have so many questions I want to ask you about your … defect." Doctor Smith announced.
"All right, that's it," Victoria huffed as she forcefully seized the doctor by the throat, pushed her into the biobed and started to squeeze. As the doctor audibly gasped for air, the nurse leaned in and began to whisper just loud enough for both the doctor and Vree to hear.
"I am not some toy or pet you get to play with. I am Victoria Smith-McCulloch, commanding officer of the combat medical team Union XII, the banrigh of the future clan McCulloch and keeper of the memories of the Trill Jiarin. I should snap your neck right now simply for carving your skanky ass initials into my man's ribcage, but I won't. So know this, it was this defective nurse that helped end your evil practices and avenge those who died at your hands. I hope you enjoy rotting in hell, you miserable b*tch, because when we're done with you, that's where you're headed."
Victoria released her grip on the doctor's throat. The doctor gagged for several seconds before verbally lashing out at the nurse.
"You dare to attack the chief medical officer to Empress Kane? I am going to enjoy bringing the weight of the empire down on your bony little ass. I am going to rip you apart from the inside out! And then, as you're lying in a pool of your own blood, I am going to make you plead for mercy as I do unspeakable things to William McCulloch! You don't threaten me and live to tell the tale!"
The nurse shook her head in disappointment. "I hold an advantage over you."
"You have nothing over me."
"I beg to differ. Have you met my sister?"
"Sister?" The doctor asked in confusion before recoiling in fear. Mayla Vree had emerged from the shadows and was now standing next to Victoria.
"This Trill is your…sister?" Dr. Smith nervously asked.
"Yeah, those crazy analeptics combined with all the wild adventures we've shared over the years have created a very strong, sister-like bond. I guess it should have been in my intelligence report." Victoria announced as a wicked smile spread across her face. "You see, I'm the older sister who mothers and nags her too much. She's the younger one who likes to push my buttons. Yet despite our differences, you should know that when someone threatens me, my sister becomes very protective and will do anything … and I do mean anything … to keep me safe."
The doctor shook with fear as her eyes darted between Victoria and Mayla. 
"You screwed around with the wrong nurse. Goodbye, doctor." Victoria announced before spinning on her heels and walking away, knowing Mayla would handle the remainder of the ‘conversation'.
Lt. Commander Daryl Thompson
Administrative Level 41, Rogaran IV Penal Colony
Stardate 2212.31
Daryl nodded in the affirmative on Vree's request. He was glad and relieved his team had finally found him, and would happily perform every order given. As far as possible within the boundaries of his condition. He still felt awful and weary and his body ached in most places. The hypos and the med nanites he had taken did their job and at least for now, Daryl was able to function. He quickly swept the area, and found two closed lockers. He looked around once more, then remembered the axe he had used to kill off Dark. He took it out of his pocket, then saw how dirty his overall was. It was covered in blood and vomit. He shrugged and activated the axe and with few strikes, the locked doors were forced open. 
"Subtle, as always" Came a weak voice from the other side. Daryl looked up, and grinned. 
"Good to see you too, and still in one piece, Will" Daryl replied, grinning broadly. 
"I'm upright and breathing…allegedly. It's good to see you, my friend." Will 
said. Daryl nodded. 
"It's good to see you too. Where is Beckett, and the others?"
"They will soon join us, they were a decoy to get us up here" Victoria intervened. Daryl nodded, as he pried open the door of the first locker. 
"Bingo! " He exclaimed. 
The locker contained 3 phaser rifles, ammo packs and some hand phasers. The second one revealed another set of rifles, more ammo packs and two small crates with each 8 programmable grenades. 
Daryl passed a pair of rifles to Victoria and WIll, both of whom quickly powered up the weapons. The nurse then slung hers across her back with the pair of medical kits, powered up her disruptor pistol and gestured for the Scot to get up off of the biobed.
"Can you walk?" She inquired.
Will put weight on the leg that Doctor Smith had cut through and started to collapse. Victoria sighed and prepared to support McCulloch in the same manner she had done for Daryl earlier.
"No," McCulloch objected. "I can do this on my own."
"Are you sure? The nurse demanded. "If you aggravate that injury, I may have to use a fireman's carry to get you the hell out of here."
"I'd actually like to see that." Daryl quipped from behind the pair.
"Quiet Mr. Thompson," Victoria answered as he handed her a spare power cell. "You're not much better."
"By the way," McCulloch interrupted as he looked the nurse up and down. "This … uniform."
"Don't get any creepy ideas about this outfit. If you think…"
"I want you to burn or bury it." Will interrupted as Daryl nodded in approval. "I don't want to ever see you in something like this again."
"And what do you want to see wearing instead Mr. McCulloch?" She demanded.
"Flannel, definitely flannel." Will answered with a wink as he hobbled towards Vree with Victoria's help.
Commander Mayla Vree
Administrative Level 41, Rogaran IV Penal Colony
Stardate 2212.31
Victoria walked away. And with the sedatives now completely worn off, the Doctor now gave Mayla a death stare to cover her fear and defiance and spat at her. "You have no idea what you're bringing down on yourself if you don't let me go. I'll have the might of the entire Empire on your ass."
"Do you really think the Empire could go to war with the Federation? Are you so arrogant to not know that we also have people infiltrated on this side of the universe, watching what happens here?" Mayla looked over the controls to the biobed which she easily figured out how to use.
"Your Federation is as weak as they come. The Terran Resistance fought well against the Alliance, but we excised that cancer of a weakling Naakon who wanted to follow your pathetic Federation charter." The woman announced proudly.
Mayla just nodded. "I see. I guess there's no use in trying to persuade you otherwise. Our conversation is over, then. We will enjoy your trip to hell." She looked down at the biobed controls and tapped a few keys. This was of course, no ordinary medical biobed. In fact, it had a whole host of capabilities that wouldn't be found in any Federation facility. She opened an onscreen menu and nodded with satisfaction. "I have to admit, your Empire does have some interesting technology. I wonder what this button does?" She pressed at another on screen keystud and a forcefield appeared around the subject. Not only did it completely enclose it, it also prevented any sound from penetrating too.
The Doctor began to scream and struggle but no sound penetrated the forcefield. Mayla could see it in her eyes what the Doctor probably has seen hundreds of times in her victims strapped to this same biobed.
Abject fear.
Mayla reached over to an overhanging mirror, probably used for the same purpose she was about to use it for now. She positioned it close to the victim's face so she could see her own face.
Mayla slid her finger to another menu, and pressed a few options. One was to insert a biotap into her spine, and the tech was so advanced, it allowed her to turn off the pain receptor signals going to her brain. Another menu was a series of… invasive procedures to be performed on the subject, and an option to administer whatever it needed to keep the person alive and conscious.
Without any hesitation at all, knowing fully well she would be immediately courtmartialed and tried for torture and murder, she selected every available procedure to be performed at an accelerated pace. Pressing the activation key, she took a step back from the biobed. And steeled herself to watch whatever perverse procedure the biobed was programmed with.
Klomden put a hand on her arm. "She still believes she will be rescued. I'm sensing some tension rising in the people around us in this area. We should leave soon."
Mayla's eyes didn't move from the procedures the biobed had already begun on the Doctor. "You take the team and head back down to the Colony to sweep for the Generals. I'll catch up."
Victoria, staring at the carnage that was occurring inside the forcefield of the biobed, walked over to Mayla with McCulloch. "The hell you are."
McCulloch hobbled over and put a hand on Victoria for support. "I'm with her, Commander. We leave together. I'll be damned if I'm going to leave you to be captured here."
"I won't be captured here," Mayla said.
"I sort of want to watch this," McCulloch said through gritted teeth. The Doctor's face was that of an angry face, but not one who was in pain due to what the biobed was vivisecting out of her. The mechanical arms and laser scalpels moved quickly, slicing here, cutting there, removing muscles and tissues, others administering meds and cauterizing severed tissue to keep the body alive. "Why isn't she in pain?"
Mayla walked over and pressed a keystud to deactivate the biotap, and restored the pain receptor pathways. They didn't hear the screams, but they could instantly see it as the tsunami of pain erupted into the Doctor's mind. It was a pain they hope to never experience.
"Good idea." McCulloch said coldly. "Irony of ironies."
Victoria gripped Mayla's arm. "We're done here, Commander. Time to go."
Mayla turned slowly to face her. What she saw wasn't fear or apprehension. It was resolve.
"I've programmed the bed to vaporize the contents in 15 minutes whether the programs finish or not with its work." Mayla said. "I think she deserves to suffer the entire program run time, but we can't have someone come in here to rescue her." She turned to Klomden. "And just in case she does escape this, destroy her mind and memory. Leave her with nightmares of the Terran Empire, and what she did to all of her victims. Leave her with pain and suffering."
Both Victoria and McCulloch turned to stare at Klomden. They were never going to look at their Desiree Klomden the same way again.
"You are not your father," Klomden said. "He would never approve of anything like this."
"No, I am not him." Mayla shot back. "And as I recall, he didn't approve of Saavy exploiting combat telepaths either."
Klomden didn't react to the comment. "Alright." She approached the head of the biobed and began her work.
"There is a part of me that wants to stay to watch the satisfying end." Victoria said.
"She died when I cut open her abdomen with her own scalpel. Period. None of this happened." Mayla turned away from the biobed.
"Commander, there's something else you should know," McCulloch said.
"What?"
"Doctor Smith said the Resurrection has not been taken yet. The Empress has dispatched several Terran operative teams and are en route to capture it. The Doctor was pressing me hard for Victoria's location on the ship as she didn't want her killed during the boarding action."
"Kane is here?" Mayla asked.
"She told me she's up in Operations," McCulloch said, wondering if Mayla's mind was heading towards what he was first thinking when he had heart of the Empress' presence.
Mayla looked around the lab and unfortunately, it was only a lab, and not an armory despite the weapons Thompson found. "How about we create an incident that will supercede their orders to storm the ship?"
McCulloch nearly cracked a smile before asking. "What do you have in mind?"
Mayla looked at Thompson and McCulloch to see who was in better shape. Obviously, Thompson was clearly in better fighting shape than McCulloch at the moment. "We make a play for Kane."
"Hold on here," Victoria interjected immediately. "You are the only one here in good enough shape to take on the whole damn planet." She thumbed over to Thompson and McCulloch. "These two can barely stand on their own."
Both men instantly took it to heart, but stood tall in front of their commander. "We can do it."
Mayla gave the two a gaze from head to toe. "I'm sure your heart is in it, but your bodies aren't. I'm not talking about a direct confrontation. This is a mining facility. There has got to be some type of equipment here we can use to make it look like the admin levels are being attacked with her as the target. Maybe even some sort of explosives." Everyone looked to Daryl who amongst all of them, had the most experience with mining. He gestured to the eight grenades he had on a nearby biobed with the hand phasers.
"We've got those."
Mayla walked over and perused the weapons Daryl had gathered. Victoria handed over her phaser rifle and took up a hand phaser. "A rifle is too clumsy for me if I need to be the field medic. My disruptor and phaser will do."
The Trill checked the rifle and took a phaser herself and put it into a pocket. "Find a power tap, rig it with a grenade or two. I want this lab destroyed in twenty minutes. The doctor won't be done with her…treatment yet, but it will have to do."
Daryl nodded and grabbed three of the grenades and started studying the room.
Klomden spoke again. "We really need to leave soon."
"As soon as Daryl is done, we leave." Mayla ordered, pulling Victoria and McCulloch away from the gruesome scene inside the Doctor's biobed.
Will looked back one last time at Doctor Smith and grimaced. Afterward he motioned for the nurse to move towards the center of the room. The Scot hobbled after her … his legs throbbing and occasionally buckling as he applied weight to it. 
"Are you going to be able to make it?" Victoria pressed.
"I'm going to try."
"Try isn't good enough." She chided. "If you can't keep up, you need to tell me."
"I'm not letting you carry me out of here."
"I don't have to. I have other options."
McCulloch nodded silently in agreement before turning his attention towards Daryl. He limped over to his newly freed companion and watched as Thompson strung a trio of grenades together. 
"What are you thinking?" Will quietly demanded.
Daryl pointed to a large panel along the floor. "If I can get access to one of the exhaust lines running from the mines up through the administration level, I can plant these grenades inside of them."
"And when they detonate?"
"It will be as if I took a flamethrower to half of this facility if successful. We may even toast Her Majesty in the process."
McCulloch let out a low whistle before looking back at Mayla.
"Commander," he announced. "I believe Mr. Thompson has a potential solution."
"Spill it." The Trill ordered.
"Thompson believes if he can locate a medical gas line or better yet an exhaust ventilation system, he can light half of this facility up like a Yuletide tree."
Mayla nodded. "Do it." So much for keeping within the scope of their mission parameters to just rescue Thompson and leave.True to his word and skill, Thompson set up the grenades at a critical chemical gas juncture in an open panel on the floor near Doctor Smith's biobed. Set at maximum yield, the detonation would consume the room and ignite all of the different flammable gas running to this room that he noticed that went to every biobed. Doctor Smith really had this lab set up for every means of torture for her the variety of races of the experimental subjects. And because of that, this room had unknowingly become a powder keg. The fires would rage through the gas lines to wherever else they led to, including the source. He was about to announce his readiness until he had another thought. He took an extra grenade and stood it up on the floor just next to the open panel with the other three grenades. He programmed it to detonate if anyone entered the room. If anyone did, the grenade would detonate the other three immediately. It was going to be their failsafe in case someone comes in here and disarms the grenades before they went off.
Thompson hobbled over and gave Mayla a nod while passing out the remaining grenades to the team. "I'm done. It's set for nineteen minutes and forty seconds. Movement fuse on a detonator grenade."
Mayla patted him on the shoulder. "Good thinking."
"We need to be out of this room in 30 seconds."
Klomden was already standing next to the door, finished with destroying the Doctor's mind was an easy task. She'd done it hundreds of times. "Remember, don't make eye contact with anyone, walk with purpose. Confirm we're heading back down to the colony?"
"We are," Mayla said, looking at the wounded members of her team. With a quick mental switch of frequency of her subvocal, she informed the rest of the team they were headed back down to the colony with both the package and Phoenix 8.
"9T in the lead, then Klomden, I'll take up the rear. Let's get out of here."
They filed out carefully with Mayla making sure the door closed behind them.
Lt. Cody Beckett
Rogaran IV Penal Colony, Mirror Universe
Stardate 2301.03
Beckett noticed the distance between him and the two Carnora's becoming less and less. The drill was preventing him from sprinting, but it was his only weapon and he refused to let it go. 
He was relieved, as he saw Jahkar running towards him, with his axes ready. In a glimpse Beckett saw the clash of both Ryramorls, but he had no time to take an elaborate look, as there was yet another Carnora chasing him. Beckett jumped, and dove forward, turning around in mid-air while aiming and initializing the drill the Carnora was on too him, and for a moment Beckett thought he had reacted too late, as the Carnora, bigger and stronger also leaped forward to grab him. Then the drill fired, and hit the Carnora in the chest. The creature growled and howled, then it dropped onto the floor, partly on Beckett's legs. Beckett yelled, and fired again in a reflex, evaporating most of what was left of the Carnora. The smell of burned flesh and fur penetrated his nose, and he gagged. Quickly he got up, and checked if there where other Carnora, ready to attack, but nothing happened. It appeared they had retreated.
There was still chaos around them, but less. Now it was time to get to the elevators. He ran towards Tiri and Jahkar. Jahkar was in bad shape, and Tiri appeared to be unconscious. Reepchip and Ryramorl joined as well, then over subvoc, the heard the message from Phoenix One : 
"Heading back down to the colony with both the package and Phoenix 8."
Beckett fist pumped as he heard the news. They had found Daryl! And McCulloch as well. He looked towards Jahkar and waited for the Colonel to lay out the next steps to secure the elevators so the others could get back safely. 
"Four is down!" Jahkar announced, his voice breaking a little as he moved to the Andorian ans checked her pulse. "She went down the same time as the Carnora were taken down. Reepchip? Was that you?"
USS Resurrection
Rogaran IV
Stardate 2301.03
"You cold-hearted, inhuman…" Lazarus snarled after watching the Mirror Lt. Nala shoot Kolar and vaporize him there, just outside the forcefield surrounding the bridge crew. "I’m not giving you access to the ship’s classified systems!"
Nala looked over the group of officers still remaining and selected another, "You, step out of the forcefield." She keyed commands into the holographic keypad and the forcefield facing her opened. This time, she’d selected Revu, who started to walk toward the opening, hesitantly."
All of a sudden, Ensign Lakim charged past Revu, nearly ushing the Bajoran aside, and he charged Nala in a surprising move. Nala fired the phaser at him, the blast striking the Orion male mid-chest, disintegrating his body into dissolving molecules right in front of her.
This gave the others the chance they needed. Laying on the floor, critically injured, Nick Dahrt rolled over and produced a tiny Type 1 phaser he’d had hidden up his sleeve in an ejector device which, when he triggered it, sent the weapon into his hand so he could bring it up and fire.
The phaser beam struck Nala in the midsection, stunning her and dropping the Trill to the deck. This gave the rest of the bridge crew the chance they needed to get out of the forcefield.
Captain Lazarus scrambled past the unconscious Mirror Nala and ran over to his chair where he accessed the manual controls and began to release the lockouts on the controls.
"Security to bridge!" Lazarus announced into the comm when he had rested control from Nala. "Also, emergency transport for Lt. Dahrt to the med bay, ASAP!"
Immediately after this, the ship’s communications picked up and incoming signal, which Sornax opened upon arriving at the tactical station.
"Centurion Nala, this is Commander Jahkar," a familiar, yet darker sounding voice sounded across the bridge speakers. "I am in the chamber beneath the Resurrection with a team of Imperial Guard. Bring the ship down to a level so we can access the dorsal airlock and get inside."
Sornax turned toward the captain, "Looks like we have company."
[Back to top]
==S5, E1, Act 10: Repel Boarders==
Lt. Commander Ryramorl Ra’yral
Lt. J.G. Reepchip Charatetet
Rogaran IV Penal Colony
Stardate 2301.03
Ryramorl didn’t get the full effect of Reepchip’s shriek, but it was enough to stagger both him and his counterpart. He turned to glare at the Muran when he heard Jahkar say "Four is down!"
He came over, holding his head. "Agavan devour your mold-ridden birthing sack, Six, did you forget we’re in a guts-piled cavern?!"
Reepchip looked at Tiri in horror, realizing that he’d effectively hit her with friendly fire.
Ryramorl went to help Tiri to her feet, cursing Murans and their borne-of-Agavan’s-harlots defensive shriek.
Commander Mayla Vree
Administrative Level 41, Rogaran IV Penal Colony
Stardate 2301.03
"Stop," Klomden softly said to Smith, as she raised a fist to relay the message. "Quickly, down the hallway on the left, split up and stand against the walls as if you were standing guard."
Without hesitation, the team complied quickly. Smith, and Klomden stood on one side of the hallway, while Thompson, McCulloch, and Mayla stood on the other side. They heard several footsteps walking down the hallway they were just in and they stood still as voices approached.
"The Empress will commend you if what you say is accurate," a low murmur of a voice barely echoed off the walls of the hallway.
"It is, I saw Doctor Smith bring him in. I am unsure why she didn't report it to you or the Empress."
"You are sure it was Sharpe?" which came out in a soft grumble.
"I'm sure, Captain Morn," the man nearly stammered. The captain of the Imperial Guard rarely spoke much except when giving direct orders. The always brooding look on his face was peaked by the fierceness of a quick death in his eyes, not someone he wanted to deceive.
Captain Morn was a quiet Lurian who had followed Kane ever since he left General Naakon's command soon after the Resistance's assault on Bajor from Terok Nor. His skill as a master tactician gained her attention and quickly ascended into her inner circle of protectors and advisors. He walked into view at the junction of the hallway as Klomden and the members of Phoenix team stood 'guard' along the adjacent hallway.
"He is supposed to be on Trill," was all the Lurian said.
Mayla immediately recognized the Lurian, having many thoughtful conversations with her own universe's version of the man who often patronized Quark's Bar at Deep Space Nine. The footsteps receded and Klomden gave them the signal to move. They had less than a minute before this entire wing would be enveloped by fire.
"We need to get out of here fast," Thompson said. "As soon as they walk into that lab…"
The team moved quicker this time, almost running. As soon as they reached the lift, luckily for them, the doors opened, and two guards walked out. 
Surprised by the running people, they quickly brought their weapons up, but were suddenly confused about what they were seeing. All they saw was Doctor Smith storming towards them, and they got out of the way quickly.
As soon as Mayla was through, Klomden jabbed at the keystud that would take them back down to the colony. The doors closed and the lift began to move painstakingly slow.
True to Thompson's word, in less than a minute, there was an explosion as if a photon torpedo had exploded inside the lab. Then it was followed by a whooshing sound of air and multiple explosions ringing throughout the facility. The lift rocked and tremored. Heat and smoke leaked through the lift doors, but it kept moving.
Lt. Commander Daryl Thompson
Lift heading down the the Colony, Rogaran IV Penal Colony
Stardate 2301.03
The distant tremors faded quickly, and then an alarm sounded. The light dimmed, and red warning lights faded in and out. Daryl looked at the others as the lift started an up and down jerking motion.
"Alright, it's hit the fan." He said, checking the ammo pack in his rifle again. "Let's get ready."
McCulloch grumbled as he brought his rifle up to the ready. Despite Victoria's treatment, his leg still throbbed, and he knew it was going to be difficult for him to keep up. Nevertheless, he was going to do his best. He quickly cleared his throat and waved his hand quickly to get Vree's attention.
"If acceptable Commander, might I suggest you and my therapist take point," 
"She's not your therapist," Vree angrily corrected as Will continued.
"Smith is on Thompson and I'll take the rear guard."
The Trill quickly mulled over the suggestion before nodding in approval. "Agreed."
"Any fantastic or wondrous hidden tunnels you want to tell us about Daryl before we step out of the lift and start shooting?" McCulloch demanded as the team took up their assigned positions and waited for the lift to hopefully arrive at their level.
There was no such luck. The lift suddenly stopped, grinding to a halt.
Empress Taryn Valeria Octavia Kane
Greg Durham, the Empress’ Hand
Rogaran IV Penal Colony
Stardate 2301.08
"Well, that was a huge cluster…" Durham muttered before Empress Kane whirled on him and glared.
"How was I supposed to know they’d defeat the Carnora and cause a riot in the colony?" Taryn snarled, "If those commandos from the alternate universe are on this level, we’re in danger."
Greg nodded his head, concurring with her assessment. "We need to get you back to your ship."
"That means I need to travel up the lift to the upper arrival level of the prison complex," she said. "Can we reach the turbolift without encountering them in the corridors?"
Greg shook his head and checked internal sensors, "Unknown. I’m securing the doors to the ops center with forcefields. I suggest staying put here until the threat passes."
Durham broke out phasers and swords from the ops center armory and passed the weapons around to not only he and Taryn, but the other 10 centurions staffing ops. 
Still weeks away from her Imperial Coronation, Empress Kane suddenly realized she may have placed herself in harm’s way by being here. She hadn’t even been able to firm up her reign and consolidate her power and she was possibly going to die here.
"Kill anyone who forces their way through those doors," she commanded. 
Just then, everything around them shook and sparks flew from several consoles as the lights in ops flickered on and off. Alert klaxons went off throughout the prison complex, including ops, which was now bathed in a red glow.
"What was that?" Kane demanded, steadying herself against the rail encircling the ops center.
"Massive explosion on level 41," Durham reported, checking his screens for data. "There’s a lot of damage down there."
Taryn gritted her teeth, "Source?"
"Looks like it was centered in a lab on 41," he said. "As I said before, empress, we need to get you out of here."
A centurion at another station in ops spoke up, "Getting anyone out will be difficult. The lifts were damaged in the blast. We can’t get anyone up to a level where they can be transported out from orbit."
Taryn looked at Greg, both grimacing as they realized they were trapped here.
Lt. Commander William McCulloch
Commander Victoria Smith
Lift heading down the the Colony, Rogaran IV Penal Colony
Stardate 2301.09
"You have to be kidding me." Victoria announced to no one in particular after the turbolift ground to a halt.
"Report." Vree demanded as Thompson furiously tapped the turbolift display and examined the diagnostic report.
"The blast knocked the entire turbolift system in this sector offline." Daryl responded as he continued to study the display.
"Can you fix it?" McCulloch demanded.
Thompson growled in frustration for a brief moment before shaking his head in the negative. "The entire system is fried."
"Options?" Victoria pressed as she nervously glanced back at Will and Mayla.
Will looked about the turbolift momentarily before announcing the obvious option. "We’re going to have to exit the turbolift from above and climb up the shaft to the next accessible level."
"Neither of you are in any condition to climb that distance under controlled circumstances, let alone in a turbolift shaft." The nurse protested. "Can’t we go down?"
"No." Thompson replied. "It appears that the shaft below us is blocked by another lift."
"Seriously?" Victoria quipped in frustration.
"I don’t think we have any other choice." Will answered matter of factly. ‘We’re going to have to go up to get down."
Vree quietly nodded in agreement.
Victoria sighed with frustrations and reached into one of the two medical kits she had slung across her back. After feeling around for several seconds, she retrieved a pair of hypospray cartridges that each contained enough adrenaline to launch McCulloch and Thompson into a medicated frenzy. She quickly loaded each into a hypospray and tucked the devices into the waistband of her military skirt. Afterward she waved a finger at the two men.
"The moment either of you two boys start to falter or slack off, you better tell me. Am I clear?"
"What the hell are those?" Daryl interrupted as he pointed at the pair of hyposprays.
"A last resort to help you get up this shaft and back home." 
Colonel Jahkar
Lt. Tiri Sh’avelith
Rogaran IV Penal Colony
Stardate 2301.10
Jahkar knelt beside Tiri and checked her pulse and breathing. She was alive and seemed to have a strong, steady pulse. Hopefully her condition would be temporary.
Around them things were still chaotic. Prisoners running around, fighting with guards. The Carnora hunting party had been eliminated, though he had lost track of the two Ryramorls who were last engaged in a fierce battle.
Most of the squad was up in the administrative facilities of the penal colony, no doubt fighting it out with whoever had Thompson up there. That just left him, Tiri, the Carnora and Beckett – the latter three being nowhere in sight amid the riot.
Jahkar dragged Tiri behind one of the shacks and waited there with her for one of the others to show themselves.
"Five, Six and Seven, I need a sit-rep," Jahkar announced into the subvocal. "I’ve moved Four to a safe location, three shacks to the left of the market center. I could use some backup here."
Right after he finished the transmission, Tiri’s eyes fluttered open, and she nearly sat up with a start. Panicking, she looked around bewildered, her breathing rapid as she came out of the unconsciousness brought on by Reepchip’s cry.
"W-what happened?" she asked. "Ohhh….my head…it feels like it's on fire."
"Reepchip happened to you," Jahkar muttered, easing Tiri back to the ground. "Some kind of sonic cry, blast…I don’t know."
Tiri shook her head, "I didn’t know he could do that. I’m…so dizzy."
"Hopefully that’s just a temporary side effect," he said. "Can you stand up?"
She tried to get to her feet, but suddenly wavered and slumped back to the ground. "Too…dizzy."
"Got anything in your med-kit for dizziness?" Jahkar asked.
"Negative," Tiri responded. "I packed light."
He squatted beside her, lifted her up and slipped his arm under her own and supported her back with his hand. He then slowly lifted her to her feet as he stood up. Once they were standing, he let her lean against him for support.
"Hold onto me," he said. "Let’s go find the others."
Lt. JG Reepchip Charatetet
Rogaran IV Penal Colony
Stardate 2301.12
Reepchip chittered and sniffed the air. There! Andorian and that weird hybrid Romulan/Klingon scent. He dashed over. 
"Six reporting," he chittered. He looked over Tiri and realized she couldn’t stand on her own, and he knew it was his own fault for using his defensive shriek in an enclosed space. 
He chittered in apology–he would apologize properly with fully bared throat later; now was not the time. 
"Tiri… can I help? There’s a way through telepathy I can ease the worst of it–though I’m not sure it works on Andorians." He felt awful having blasted not only the Mirror Carnora, but his own teammates as well.
Tiri shook her head and held up a hand, palm open toward Reepchip, "No, Reepchip, I’ll be OK. Just getting my head sorted out, that’s all ."
Lieutenant Commander Ryramorl Ra’yral
Rogaran IV Penal Colony
Stardate 2301.12
The two Ryramorls struggled with each other–but the Lieutenant easily overpowered the warlord and threw him crashing through a wall–where the warlord staggered, tripped, and fell through the floor. "Pathetic" growled the Lieutenant. "Five to Two. Coming."
He sniffed the air, trying to find their scents, when he heard Reepchip’s chittering and followed it. He saw Jahkar trying to hold her up and came over on Tiri’s other side. "Colonel–allow me. I’m in better shape." He growled a bit and said to Tiri, "His shriek didn’t QUITE get me. You must have been blasted with a full echo." He then glowered at Reepchip, whose ears were flat with shame.
Colonel Jahkar
Rogaran IV Penal Colony
Stardate 2301.13
Jahkar handed Tiri off to Ryramorl and stepped back, allowing the Carnora to handle her care from here on. He was frustrated inside, slowed down and left behind while the rest of the team was in the administration complex of the prison saving Daryl. He wanted to be there with the others, but instead had been slowed down by his injury and tangling with belligerent prisoners and feral Carnora.
He left Reepchip and Ryramorl to tend to Tiri and climbed up on top of one of the taller shacks in the makeshift shanty town, grimacing from the pain in his chest as he pulled himself up.
From there, he could see across the huge open, subterranean cavern to the banks of turbolifts on the far wall. Smoke billowed from the destroyed gun emplacements and he could see bodies strewn about from the fighting.
"Two to Four, Five, Six, Seven," said Jahkar into his subvoc. "We need to regroup and move to secure the turbolift banks. The rest of Phoenix is going to need an exit when they come back down from the admin level. We are going to establish an exfiltration route for them. 
"Six, how long before you can have Four ready to move out?"
Lt. JG Reepchip Charatetet
Rogaran IV Penal Colony
Stardate 2301.14
Reepchip calmly took Tiri’s hands and concentrated. The Andorian’s mind was different from Carnora minds, but he was certain he could handle this. He felt that distinct mental dissonance that came from a sensory overload and concentrated on soothing it. As it was an Andorian mind, he dared not go further than this. Tiri would have at best a near-ache in her head, at worst a mild headache, but when he was done, she would at least be functional, and the effects of the shriek would pass.
Again, he chittered in apology, then said over his subvoc, "Six to Two–Four can move out now." 
Captain Quentin Lazarus
USS Resurrection
Stardate 2301.14
A medical team moved Lt. Nick Dahrt from the bridge to the med bay in the aftermath of Lt. Danae Nala’s capture…or at least the Nala from the Mirror Universe. Lazarus watched as Nick was taken from the bridge and smiled as the young tactical officer gave him a thumbs up as he was carried away.
Dahrt would survive, but they had lost two of their own and Lazarus was fuming over their senseless murder. Outside, the Mirror Jahkar and a team of his elite guard were demanding to be allowed aboard, not knowing Nala was now their prisoner.
The captain walked over to the tactical station where he was joined by Sornax. Before they could discuss what was happening, Lt. Commander Carmichael and Darva McGuire ran in with a team of security officers.
"Captain," Tommy said. "What the hell happened?"
"Nala over there isn’t the Nala from our universe," Lazarus snorted. "She seized the bridge, killed two of our officers and nearly killed Dahrt. Fortunately, she over-estimated her ability to effectively manage a group of Starfleet hostages by herself."
Sornax smiled, "A rather poorly executed plan, I must say."
"Indeed," the captain continued. "Now we have another problem to deal with?"
The voice crackled through the speaker again, "This is Commander Jahkar! Centurion Nala, bring the vessel down to ground level so we can board."
Tommy looked at Lazarus and Sornax, "You know, we could target them with the ventral phaser bank and vaporize them."
"We could," Lazarus said. "But we’re not. McGuire, take that security team and grab anyone else who can wield a phaser and move to the main cargo bay. I’m going to take the Resurrection down to ground level, open the main hatch and let the Mirror Jahkar and his team come aboard."
McGuire raised an eyebrow, "Are we shooting to kill or stun?"
"I want prisoners," he said. "They may come in handy."
"It is unlikely the Terrans will negotiate for the lives of their people," Sornax concluded. "We may be stuck with an evil Jahkar and his stormtroopers."
Lazarus turned to to Darva, "Get on it. Commander, take the ship down to two meters off the surface of the cave and wait for the security team to be in place."
Carmichael grabbed one of the phasers from the bridge armory, "I’ll go with you."
Lazarus held up a hand, "Sorry, commander. I need you here. When it’s time to get out of here and back to our own universe, I need to make sure this ship is ready to go."
Tommy stopped, set the rifle back down and nodded, "Right, understood captain."
As Darva led her team off the bridge, Carmichael left to go back to engineering, clearly disappointed he would not be able to fight the evil empire that had brought them to this god forsaken place.
Warlord Ryramorl Ra’yral
Rogaran IV Penal Colony
Stardate 2301.17
He was now the only survivor of the hunting party. The Warlord growled as he struggled to find a way out of the cellar he’d fallen into. After a disaster like this, he knew if he returned to his ship, he’d be killed and eaten.
Unless… unless he could use Taryn Kane’s disdain for his people and her cruelty against her…
He contacted his ship. "This is Warlord Ryramorl," he snarled. "The Empress has betrayed us. She promised us a proper hunt, she has made us our sport. She set a fully-armed team of commandos against us, headed by none other than Commander Jahkar. I am the last. I shall seek revenge. Shall I fail, I will tear out my own throat, and the ship will be yours, Shor-Talo."
Shor-Talo growled in response. "As you say," he snarled. He then began scanning the planet, trying to pick up Jahkar’s and Taryn’s life signals. If Ryramorl did not have his revenge, Shor-Talo would.
Sensors did not detect Jahkar (both Jahkars are too far down to be detected by sensors), but the Carnora were able to pinpoint Empress Kane on level 50, in the command center of the prison at the very top of the administration section of the facility. Nine floors below that, on level, the Carnora detected damage from a recent explosion. Something was happening in the Terran prison facility, without a doubt.
Shor-Talo grunted and pointed out his discovery. "Sensors indicate damage to most of the turbolifts in the facility, meaning Kane is likely trapped on level 50. The problem, warlord, is we can’t beam down to level 50. We would have to beam to the facility on the planet’s surface and find a working turbolift."
"Do it!" Warlord Ryramorl hissed. "Kill them all…Kane and all of her people. If the Carnora are to become extinct, then let us take as many of them with us as we can!"
Moments later, two large groups of bloodthirsty Carnora beamed to the surface and began their assault on the Rogaran IV Penal Colony.
Lt. Gysyd Riisos (NPC)
USS Resurrection, Main Cargo Bay
Stardate 2301.17
"They’re coming along for the ride." Lt. Commander McGuire retorted as she studied the four medics and nurses of Union XII. 
"Are you sure?" Ensign Thrice pressed. "I understand they’re *our* medical team but do they have any combat experience … or even training? They must just end up in the way"
"Last I checked, Union XII saved your life during the ship-to ship battle with the Sons of Cardassia." Darva replied matter-of-factly. "They can handle this exercise."
"Repel a boarding action?" The Trill security officer questioned.
"Don’t judge them too soon Ensign." McGuire chided before turning her attention to the acting commander of Union XII. "Lieutenant Riisos, report to me!"
The Orion nurse jogged across the hangar and stopped mere feet away from the security officer. He quickly saluted her.
"Lieutenant, my understanding Union XII has a complement of ten. Obviously Commander Smith is deployed with Phoenix Team. I see four medics before me. Where are the remaining five?"
"Four sir." Riisos corrected.
"Four?"
"We lost a team member during the last mission." The male nurse answered. "Petty Officer Mendes is on medical leave."
Darva sighed. "Where are your other *four* team members?"
"Ensign Gace and Senior Petty Officer Gatc are tending to the wounded from the bridge incident."
"Where is Warrant Officer Hannigan?"
"She’s here with us in the hangar sir."
"Good, I want her with us."
"Aye sir."
"And the other two?" McGuire demanded
"Lieutenant Tusot and Corporal Pyme are on board the Gentle Annie awaiting orders from me."
"Orders?"
"I was concerned there may be a boarding action." Riisos admitted. "I ordered the pair to prepare the Gentle Annie for defensive action and if necessary, fire into the ship to repel potential borders."
"You did what?" Darva demanded as her eyes narrowed and she studied the Orion nurse. Before Riisos could answer, she held up her hand as a signal for the lieutenant not to speak. "I’ve heard rumors this ‘medical jump ship’ was armed to the teeth … is it true?"
Riisos grinned and quickly nodded in the affirmative. "We’ve got phaser banks, mounted defensive guns, flares, chaff and a pair of micro photon torpedo tubes loaded to the gills."
A wicked smile quickly spread across the Scottish security officer’s face before she patted the lieutenant on the shoulder and looked back at Thrice. 
"Our medical geeks have potential ensign. LIeutenant Riisos, keep those two members of your team onboard the Gentle Annie and instruct them to await further instructions from me."
"Aye sir."
"Who’s with you now?"
"Warrant Officer Hannigan, Ensign Zalir and Petty Officer Sis."
"Welcome to the party Lieutenant."
Commander Jahkar
Imperial secret police team
Rogaran IV Penal Colony, 
Stardate 2301.17
The Mirror Jahkar and his team of 12 Imperial special forces watched as the Resurrection finally began to descend toward the surface of the cave below. Still, there was no response from hails to Nala, but at least she was finally complying with his request.
He marveled at how similar this USS Resurrection was to his ISS Gambit, but from everything they had learned this ship possessed not only a phased cloaking device, but some sort of warp drive that could move the ship from point A to point B instantly. 
With this kind of power in her hands, Empress Kane would soon extend the power of the empire across the Alpha Quadrant…and perhaps beyond.
Resurrection stopped about a meter above the floor of the cave and hovered there as the cargo bay door on the dorsal cargo bay opened. Jahkar smiled when the door was fully open and he began to walk toward it, when suddenly a chilling thought came over him.
What if this wasn’t Danae Nala’s doing?
Jahkar stopped and held up a fist, prompting everyone else in the unit to freeze. 
"Spread out," he ordered into his own subvocal communicator. "Ares 11 and 12, deploy stun grenades."
The team spread out in a semi-circle around the open cargo bay door and trained their rifles on the ship, all assuming a crouching position. Two members of the unit ran up, activated and tossed two stun grenades each up into the dark cargo bay. The grenades detonated with a flash and a bang and then they waited to see what would happen…
Lt. Commander Darva McGuire
USS Resurrection
Stardate 2301.18
McGuire and her security team were in the cargo bay when the door opened and the cold, damp air of the cavern flooded inside. Expecting the Terran force might deploy stun or flash/bang grenades, she had erected a forcefield for her team to stay behind when the doors first opened.
As predicted, the grenades were lobbed in and went off, the forcefield dissipating the blasts. As soon as the smoke had cleared, McGuire ordered the forcefield down and her team moved.
Commander Jahkar and his centurions had jumped up onto the boarding ramp and moved into the bay with four soldiers crouch-walked forward, two-by-two, on either side of the ramp, while another four including Mirror Jahkar lined up across the end of the ramp, weapons trained forward.
Using cargo containers and crates as cover, the security team waited for orders to fire.
Lt. Commander Darva McGuire has assembled a team consisting of Sentaa, Rolston, Auriak, Stone, Kapello, Riisos, Hannigan, Thrice and Grop.
Using a video feed from a visual probe she had placed above on the cargo bay ceiling, McGuire watched the Terran squad advancing into the bay through the heads-up display in her helmet visor. When they were close enough, McGuire keyed the subvocal communicator sending the audible signal ordering her team to attack.
They all came around from behind their cover and unleashed the first volley of phasers blasts at the attacking Terrans…
Warrant Officer Fiadh Hannigan 
USS Resurrection 
Stardate 2301.20 
Fiadh looked about as Darva pushed her team forward to repel the Terran borders. 
The Irish nurse was one of two members of Union XII that accompanied McGuire’s team. The remaining two medics were part of a security force that was held in reserve just outside of the cargo bay. Also within a short striking distance was the Jumpship Gentle Annie Ethridge. Lieutenant Tusot and Corporal Pyme were on standby, waiting for orders from the bridge or Lt. Commander McGuire to deploy. Once dispatched, the jumpship was to swing wide behind the assailants, train its full complement of weapons on them, and force them to surrender or mow them down.
Unlike most Union XII's counterparts, the 28-year-old nurse had combat experience. For three years before joining Union XII, Hannigan had split her time between nursing duties and laying down suppressing fire for Starfleet infantry detachments driving back the marauders and pirates who were determined to destroy the distant Federation colony she was assigned to.
As the security team surged forward, she and Lieutenant Riisos shifted positions and quickly slid to the flanks. This would allow each to watch the security officers under their charge and move to them if they needed medical assistance.
Admittedly Hannigan was uneasy about McGuire’s plan of attack. Based on her experience, it was too aggressive a plan and easily overextended her security team. But she also knew her place … she was merely a warrant officer, and McGuire was a senior officer.
The Resurrection’s security officers continued to advance and fire out into the cavern. Occasionally the nurse saw a black-clad figure jerk and fall backward. As Darva neared the open cargo bay door, Fiadh shouted several warnings. She saw a pair of enemy operatives manning an unknown weapon on a tripod. Seconds later, there was a loud thud followed by a black projectile sailing into the cargo bay. It slammed into the read cargo bay wall before detonating. The EMP pulse quickly spread across a wide radius, disabling the security team’s weapons and equipment. Hannigan quickly cursed as her medical HUD went offline. Seconds later a pair of silver cylindrical objects were tossed from the outside and bounced across the cargo bay floor.
Fiadh immediately recognized the shape of the two objects and cursed.
Grenades.
She quickly tossed her rfile aside, dived onto the floor and covered her head.
An ear-piercing crack followed a bright flash. Metal shrapnel shot across the room before embedding itself in security officers and storage crates. There was a series of loud, painful shrieks. The nurse quickly looked up. The first victim she saw was Union XII’s Lieutenant Riisos face up and dead on the floor. A large jagged piece of metal had pierced his helmet and face.
Fiadh looked about, only to see the security team in a state of confusion. Some were retreating while others were trying to repel the Terrans, who were now surging forward into the cargo bay. The nurse looked to her left and saw Darva McGuire on her knees, clutching her stomach. There was a look of shock on her face. Hannigan scrambled to her feet and raced to the commanding security officer. As she closed the distance, she saw deep red blood oozing from her stomach onto the floor. 
Darva was confused and her breath shallow. She kept looking down at the bloodied pair of metal shrapnel pieces sticking out of her abdomen.
"Look at me," Fiadh commanded as she unslung her medical kit. Darva merely nodded in silence.
"Give the command to deploy the reserve force." Fiadh urged as a disruptor blast sailed over her head. "Sir, you need to give that command or these damn’d Terrans are going to take the cargo bay."
Darva nodded in understanding and quickly gave the go command to the reserve forces. Seconds later, additional security officers and medics poured into the cargo bay. Fiadh quickly flagged the attention of Union XII’s Petty Officer Kex Sis. The medic quickly raced towards the pair while Ensign Zalir raced to treat a pair of wounded security officers along the left flank.
"Covering withdrawal!" Hannigan barked at the petty office. "Prepare to execute a covering withdrawal!"
The Bolian immediately took a position before Fiadh and Darva and began to lay down suppressing fire. As she did, Hannigan gently pushed on McGuire until she was prone. The security officer continued to gasp and looked wildly about.
"Look at me!" The nurse barked as she physically examined Darva’s wound. "You’re going to live but I’ve got to pull the shrapnel out before I extract you."
‘You’re going to extract me?"
"I’m carrying your sorry ass out of here and get you up to the medical bay, sir." Hannigan assured. 
‘Do it." Darva growled as she looked down at the shrapnel.
Fiadh cracked open her medical kit and tried to scan her patient. She quickly cursed. The EMP pulse had disabled all of her equipment.
"Sis!" She barked. "Give me your damn med kit."
The Bolian unslung her medical kit and kicked it back towards the Irish nurse before resuming covering fire. Fiadh opened it up, retrieved a medical tricorder and scanned Darva. Although she was at risk of bleeding out, the scan revealed no damage to major internal organs. The nurse nodded in approval before loading a hypospray with a cartridge containing pain killers. 
Sparks sprayed about her as disruptor blasts slammed into nearby storage bins. She slapped the hypospray against Darva’s neck and pressed the trigger. She watched as Darva’s eyes began to flutter slightly.
"I’m sorry sir, but sedative or not, this is going to suck," Hannigan announced as she slowly pulled the two shrapnel pieces out of McGuire’s stomach. Darva snarled before letting out a painful shriek.
"Sir, we’ve got to move," Sis announced as she gestured towards the cargo bay door. The fighting between the Resurrection’s security forces and the Terrans was devolving into a hand-to-hand fight.
"Where’s Zalir?" Hannigan demanded.
"Can’t see him sir."
"As soon as we exit the cargo bay, you contact Gace for an emergency beam out to the medical bay." Fiadh ordered as she feverishly worked to temporarily patch up Darva’s wounds so she could be moved from the cargo bay. "My comm badge is shot to hell thanks to that EMP pulse."
"Yes sir."
Hannigan again nodded before seizing Darva by the forearms. She tugged on the Scottish officer and quickly pulled McGuire up and onto her shoulders. Once ready, she quickly barked out, "covering withdrawal on my mark, three, two one…go!"
The nurse slowly pushed herself onto her feet with Darva slumped across her shoulders in a fireman’s carry. Fiadh moved towards the interior door of the cargo bay while Sis retreated backward and laying down suppressive fire. As Hannigan and McGuire cleared through the doorway, a disruptor blast hit Sis square in the chest. She stumbled slightly to the side before collapsing to the ground with a loud thud.
"Mother F…." Hannigan growled before checking herself. She set Darva down on the floor and raced back into the cargo bay. She seized Sis by the back of her armor and dragged the medic out of the cargo bay.
As she did, a disruptor blast struck her in the arm. Fortunately, her armor deflected the bolt and she was unharmed. The nurse angrily looked across the cargo bay, raised her right hand and gave an obscene gesture to the Terrans. Afterward, she slapped the control panel to the interior cargo bay doors and watched them quickly slide shut. She quickly retrieved a pair of isolinear tags and slapped one on McGuire and the other on Sis. Afterward, she retrieved the Bolian’s comm badge and tapped it.
"Hannigan to Ensign Gace. Emergency beam out of two. Tagged and ready for you sir."
"Acknowledged." The Betazoid ensign replied over the comm.
Seconds later, Darva and Sis disappeared in a wave of blue-white lights.
Fiadh slumped down against the wall and sighed. She ran her hands through her blond hair as she listened to the ongoing fight inside the cargo bay.
"Bloody hell." She muttered to herself as she retrieved Sis’s comm badge and rifle. She rose to her feet, hefted the weapon to the ready and tapped the comm badge. "Warrant Officer Hannigan to Bridge."
"Who?" An unknown voice replied.
Fiadh rolled her eyes. ‘Warrant Officer Fiadh Hannigan of Union XII. Lt. Commander McGuire has been extracted and transported to the medical bay with one of my team. The fight down here is getting a little too close for comfort … either send additional reinforcements or launch the Gentle Annie so she can pin these sons of b*tches in before they get an upper hand. They came in looking for a fight and they sure as hell are holding their own."
"Thank you, Warrant Officer. We’ll take it from here." A male voice responded. 
Was that Captain Lazarus? The nurse wondered to herself before shifting her chest armor slightly and re-entering the cargo bay fight to retrieve additional wounded for treatment and extraction.
Captain Quentin Lazarus
USS Resurrection 
Stardate 2301.21
Commander Sornax looked at Lazarus as the captain headed toward the turbolift, taking a couple of bridge crew members with him as he went. The Denobulan hesitated a moment, and then decided to speak his mind. 
"With all due respect, captain," Sornax said. "Perhaps we should have just left the Terrans in the cave and kept the cargo bay doors closed."
Lazarus ignored the commander and boarded the lift with Ensign Revu and Ensign Blo’kar. Once they were aboard, he ordered the lift down the lowest deck aboard the ship and as the door closed he muttered, "Damn know-it-all."
When the lift deposited them on deck six (Vigilant-class is slightly bigger than a Defiant-class ship). Waiting there were Lieutenants Creed Sullivan and Phil Jackson, each fully geared up and armed. They also carried armored vests and additional rifles which they handed to Lazarus, Revu and Blo’kar. They quickly suited up and the five jogged down the corridor toward the cargo bay. 
As they ran along the corridor, Lazarus saw the blood trail along the deck left by McGuire’s extraction moments earlier.
They arrived at the door to the cargo bay and found backup personnel to the security force, mostly Union XII, standing guard there in case the boarding party got past McGuire’s team.
They were surprised when someone else came running up from behind them. They turned to see Lt. Commander Carmichael approaching, armor on and weapon in hand.
"I thought I told you to stay in engineering? Lazarus said in disbelief.
"Sorry sir, but your place is on the bridge so if you’re here then it’s pretty bad and I’m not just going to sit by while you…"
Lazarus held up a hand, "I don’t need a lecture from you. I already heard enough from Sornax."
Inside the cargo bay, the gunfight had turned into a melee. What remained of both teams were locked in hand-to-hand combat, either slugging it out or fighting with bladed weapons. The centurions carried shortswords, much like their ancient Roman counterparts, while the security team was relying mostly on fights and feet.
Lt. Earl Stone had assumed command after McGuire was extracted. The lieutenant, who’d lost an arm on the Andorian mission, had moved the team to engage the boarding party in hand-to-hand combat after they’d suffered losses in the initial combat.
Melee hadn’t proven to be much better of an option. Already, Kapello was down and wounded, while Sentaa and Auriak were unconscious and effectively prisoners.
The Terrans had lost four of their own, as well as two who were seriously injured and out of the fight – half their force. 
Commander Jahkar, wielding two swords which once belonged to a long extinct Romulan secret society called the Qowat Milat. 
Jahkar from the Mirror Universe had learned all there was to know from one of the last members of that sect. Once he had been instructed in all of their ways, he turned against the master and killed her – his mission complete.
He recognized from the way the fight was going that they’d inflicted heavy casualties on the Resurrection’s security force, but his team had also sustained losses having been cut in half. Unlike Resurrection, he had no additional source of soldiers. He could call for backup, but it would take more than an hour for anyone to arrive.
Backup was not a bad idea…but he would need to stall for more time. 
As he pondered his next move in the cargo bay, a diminutive Ferengi came out from behind a stack of containers and came at him. It was Grop, who had his phaser sidearm aimed at Jahkar and was ready to pull the trigger. But when they made eye contact, he froze.
"Colonel Jahkar?" he stammered.
The Mirror Jahkar could have killed him with very little effort. But he used the momentary distraction to swing the sword, using the flat side to knock the phaser from his hand. Grop snapped out of his lapse of judgment and drew a pair of stun batons from the small of his back, which he lunged at Jahkar with.
The Mirror Jahkar used his blades to block the Ferengi’s flurry of attacks, deflecting them with ease. He grinned, keenly aware of Grop’s tenacity and obvious skill with his weapons. He hated Ferengi…sniveling, groveling little beasts…but this one at least showed some spark of fire in his eyes.
Today was Grop’s lucky day. Jahkar met his attacks gracefully and with superior speed and accuracy, then he pivoted himself next to the Ferengi and slammed the pommel of one of the swords down on the back of Grop’s head. 
Rendered unconscious by the blow, Grop slumped to the deck and lay there unconscious. At that moment Ensign Kyle Rolston came over a stack of boxes and landed behind Jahkar, who he attempted to strike with a collapsible sword he’d taken from the armory as part of his loadout. Jahkar turned and parried the sword, then he thrust his elbow up and slammed it into Rolston’s jaw knocking the ensign backwards.
"Do you even know how to handle that blade?" Jahkar asked Rolston in a low voice. "Boy."
Rolston staggered a little, righted himself and lunged at the imperial soldier. Jahkar countered his careless attacks and grinned as he watched the fear creep into the young man’s face.
~These Starfleet types are pathetic fighters~ he thought as he blocked Rolston’s moves. ~Do they even have one among them who can fight? Not one true warrior?~
Bored with Rolston, he waited for the ensign to make another futile attack and he executed a 
Skillful move with the blades which took Rolston’s sword, pulled it from his hands and sent it clattering to the deck.
Jahkar then launched a sidekick into the young man’s face, knocking him to the floor with blood flowing from a broken nose. Once he was sprawled on his back, Jahkar moved over him and placed a boot against his throat.
Activating his subvocal communicator, he opened a channel, "Ares One to Command. Send backup unit immediately."
It was Ensign Jala Thrice who came upon Jahkar and his two prisoners. She had her own sidearm drawn and aimed it at Jahkar, but noticed right away the predicament her colleagues were in. Jahkar was pressing a heavy boot into the throat of Rolston, while he poised one of the Milat blades over Grop’s heart and pressed down until the ensign gave a faint groan.
"Order your people to surrender or they both die," Jahkar stated plainly. "Do not test me, Trill. I will not hesitate to carry out my threats."
Warrant Officer Fiadh Hannigan
USS Resurrection
Stardate 2301.21
The fight in the cargo bay was brutal. As security officers and Terran commandoes grappled in hand-to-hand combat, Nurses Hannigan and Talir raced about desperately trying to drag or carry the wounded to safety so they could be extracted to the medical bay. The need for medics became so dire that Ensign Gace and Senior Petty Officer Gatc were required to turn medical treatment over to the EMHs and rush down to the cargo bay to render assistance.
At the height of the conflict, Lieutenant Stone ordered Union XII to fall back and set up a security perimeter in the event the Terrans broke through and a medical extraction point to relay the wounded to the medical bay.
As the four nurses and medics regrouped away from the fight, Ensign Gace pointed out the obvious: someone was still going to be needed to back into the fight and retrieve the wounded. Before anyone could answer, Fiadh quickly volunteered.
After being issued a fresh medical kit and fresh power cells for her rifle, the Irish nurse quickly rushed back into the fray. Over the next fifteen minutes, Fiadh Hannigan dragged or carried two more wounded crew members out of the fight and to her fellow medics for treatment. 
On her third foray into the fight, her attention was drawn toward Grop, who had a pistol trained on the Mirror Universe Jahkar. The next series of events passed too quickly, one moment Grop hesitated, and the next, both he and Rolston were on the ground and at the Terran’s mercy.
Fiadh swept in behind Ensign Gace, her rifle at the ready.
"I have the shot." The nurse softly announced as she came up alongside the Trill. 
"Don’t even think about it." Jahkar hissed as he bore down on the blade against Grop’s chest. The Ferengi gasped in pain as a wide grin spread across the Terran’s face.
Thrice visibly hesitated, her eyes darting back and forth between Jahkar and Hannigan.
"Give me the word, sir." Fiadh pressed as her finger started to squeeze the trigger of her rifle.
Before the Trill could answer, there was a roar followed by a rush of hot air blowing in from the cavern. Fiadh briefly turned away to shield her eyes from the dust that blew into the cargo bay. Seconds later, a bright floodlight shone into the room, blinding those near the doorway.
Lieutenant Vesol Tusot
Corporal Tyvi Pyme
Medical Jumpship "The Gentle Annie Etheridge"
Stardate 2301.21
"Gentle Annie, you have the go command and are clear for launch." The Bridge announced over the comm. "Follow attack pattern Beta-two-zero on approach."
"Understood. Tusot out." The Rigelian pilot announced as the Arrow Class jumpship (shorturl.at/RSUW9) quietly rose from the hangar bay and started to rotate one hundred and eighty degrees in preparation for deployment
"Weapons online, sir." Corporal Pyme announced from his seat located to the right of the pilot.
"Give me a run down Pyme."
"Micro photon torpedoes are in the tubes, both phaser banks are fully charged, chaffes and countermeasures are ready and shields will be online in ten seconds."
"Belly and dorsal turrets?"
"Guns ready on your command."
"Stand by on my mark," The lieutenant announced as the jumpship cleared the hangar and sailed into the cavern. Seconds later, the Gentle Annie yawed sharply to the left and hugged the Resurrection’s hull until it was within fifty meters of the dorsal cargo bay. Tusot looked out of the cockpit and let out a low whistle. He could see the Terrans and the Resurrections security team entangled in a desperate fight. On the starboard side, Pyme noticed a small squad of Terran commandos rushing across the cavern floor toward the cargo bay. For some reason, the attackers were oblivious to the Gentle Annie above them.
Tusot quickly tapped a few keys as the ship banked to the right and started to swing along the Terran flank.
"Deploy chaffe!" The Rigelian pilot barked as he quickly lowered the jumpship until it was a mere ten meters from the cavern floor. A series of flares shot up from the aft portion of the jumpship, blanketing the cavern with a blinding white light. 
Tusot smiled briefly, knowing that if the Terrans had any weapons to take the Gentle Annie down, they were now blinded. 
"Corporal?"
"Sir?"
"Mow those b*stards on the cavern floor down."
A center panel along the belly of the Gentle Annie slid open and a pair of Type VII phaser cannons quietly lowered and rotated until they locked onto the Terrans crossing the cavern … who were now well aware of the threat from above. 
The Gentle Annie’s belly and dorsal guns were designed to offer cover fire when Union XII's medics were deployed directly into a combat scenario from the jump ship. Now they were being used to take out an enemy determined to capture the Resurrection.
The turret whined loudly before firing multiple phaser bursts in rapid succession. The beams tore across the cavern floor and slammed into the Terran raiders. Jahkar’s commandos tried to return fire but the effort was futile. Seconds later, the soldiers outside of the Resurrection were either dead or hastily retreating.
"So much for their reinforcements." Pyme quipped as he scanned the cavern floor for any troop movements.
"That group was only a reserve force, not reinforcements," Tusot noted as he guided the Gentle Annie along the cavern floor and up towards the dorsal cargo bay of the Resurrection. "I’m sure help from the Terran Empire is still on the way."
The jumpship roared as it swung into line with the cargo bay entrance. Tusot quickly activated a set of exterior forward lights and locked them onto a Terran that looked exactly like Colonel Jahkar. The soldier was standing over two Federation security officers in a hostile manner.
"Is that?" Corporal Pyme started to ask.
"He’s nobody" Tusot quickly answered before activating the ship’s external com system. "You have a weapons lock on him?"
"Phasers are locked on target sir."
The pilot cleared his throat before speaking into the external comm system. "Jahkar, drop your weapons and stand down or we will open fire. This is your only damn warning!"
Pyme’s relaxed hand hovered over the keys of his weapons display, waiting for the order to fire.
Commander Jahkar
USS Resurrection
Stardate 2301.21
Commander Jahkar couldn’t help but grin as he locked eyes with the pilot of the gunship hanging outside the cargo bay doors. Fools. Did they not hear a word he’d said?
Without hesitation, he pressed his foot down and began to crush Kyle Rolston’s throat. Rolston came out of the fog he was in and began to struggle, using his hands to claw at and push Mirror Jahkar’s heavy boot.
At the same time, he thrust the blade down but Grop managed to slide away from him, preventing the blade from piercing his chest, instead allowing it to thrust through his shoulder. The Ferengi squealed at the top of his lungs as he was impaled on the sword. Jahkar looked up at the gunship and bared his teeth. "I warned you! Now back off or they die!"
Lieutenant Vesol Tusot
Warrant Officer Fiadh Hannigan
Corporal Tyvi Pyme
Dorsal Cargo Bay, USS Resurrection
Stardate 2101.22
"Damnit!" Tusot cursed as Mirror Jahkar openly defied his command to surrender. The Terran knew if Pyme opened fire with either the Type VII or Type IX phasers, he would take out Jahkar and everyone within a ten-foot radius of him.
"He’s calling our bluff," the corporal quietly conceded as Tusot slowly backed the jumpship away from the cargo bay entrance.
However, Hannigan and Thrice had seen enough. As Jahkar snarled in triumph at the jumpship and started to turn his attention back to Thrice, both women fired their weapons. Thrice’s shot struck Jahkar in the chest, causing his armor to shower in sparks. As he stumbled backward and struggled to regain his balance, Hannigan’s shot sailed through Jahkar's forehead and exited out the back of his head. The Terran went limp and collapsed to the ground dead. To be sure he was no longer among the living, Fiadh walked over to the body and fired three more shots into Jahkar’s head and neck. 
"Jacka**" She announced as she spat at the lifeless body.
The nurse looked behind her to see Thrice tending to Grop and Rolston. She quickly sent a hand signal to Tusot before rushing over to provide medical assistance.
"Is she asking us to do what she I think she is?" Pyme asked.
"She is." Tusot nodded in the affirmative before pulling the Gentle Annie back even further from the cargo bay so Pyme would have a clear shot with the dorsal guns.
"Reduce the shots' energy strenght and aim high. Don’t hit anyone, corporal. But this should be enough to scare the sh*t of them."
Meanwhile…
"You two are idiots." Hannigan chided the two wounded security officers before signaling to Thrice to help her drag the pair out of harm’s way. "It’s about to get hot."
As Thrice and Hannigan dragged Grop and Rolston to safety, the Gentle Annie opened fire. A volley of phaser bolts slammed into the upper level of the cargo bay. The entire bay shook as a deafening boom filled the room. Seconds later, the jump ship fired a second volley before closing the distance between it and the cargo bay.
Several of the Terran commandos looked about in shock and terror as they suddenly realized they were trapped between a jump ship and the Resurrection’s crew. Upon seeing Jahkar’s lifeless body, most threw down their weapons A pair of Terrans took their own lives rather than become prisoners of the Federation. 
The fight inside the cargo bay was over.
"Get their weapons and round them up!" Captain Lazarus barked as he walked over to Hannigan and Thrice. He quietly studied both Grop and Rolston.
"Will they live?"
"Yes. But will they remain stupid? That’s up to you." The nurse sarcastically answered.
"You must be Warrant Officer Hannigan." Lazarus quipped with a slight smile.
"So, I’ve been told," Fiadh answered without looking up. She was too busy preparing the Ferengi for medical extraction.
"We’ll talk later Ms. Hannigan."
"Aye sir."
[Back to top]
==S5, E1, Act 11: Into the Home Stretch==
Warchief Shor-Talo Ra’yral
Rogaran IV Penal Colony
Stardate 2301.26
Shor-Talo had sent down two full warbands along with some technicians to get into the colony. Meanwhile, he contacted Empress Kane.
"You treacherous bitch," he snarled. "You thought you could use US for your sport? US?! We who helped you crawl to the throne? You called down a hunting party, and you threw them against your own warbands! If my kind are to go extinct, then you can lead the way to Hell!"
Below, the warbands stormed the topmost buildings. A heavy field gun blasted open the bay doors to the colony, and the warbands stormed forwards, rifles blazing as they blasted their way to the turbolifts. Amid the smoking carnage, one of the Carnora fiddled with the controls and snarled. "They’re not working."
"Can you get them to work?" demanded Warchief Yoroya, a grizzled veteran of the battles that had brought Taryn to power.
"Give me time, I think I can."
"Do it."
Mirror Carnora engineering would have seemed like witless wrench-bashing to the likes of Lt. Commander Carmichael–a couple of heavy field guns had their energy packs used for power, and a tangle of cables ripped from elsewhere connected the energy packs to one of the turbolifts. It would work–barely, but it would work. The turbolift slowly groaned to life. Knowing that the packs would only do so much, they managed to cobble together (with some sparks and even a small fire) a better power source for that lift. They then called it up, but the lift was slow.
Commander Mayla Vree
Commander Victoria Smith
Lt. Commander Daryl Thompson
Lt. Commander William McCulloch
Rogaran IV Penal Colony
Stardate 2302.01
The Scot looked up the elevator shaft as Vree gestured for him to go up first. As he tried to pull himself up, he winced and groaned. The mirror Victoria had done enough damage during her torture sessions that it was difficult to even perform simple tasks as a pull up.
"That’s what I thought." The nurse calmly announced as she withdrew the hyposprays containing pure adrenalin from the waistband of her skirt. 
"Do it." Vree announced with a curt nod.
Daryl looked at Smith, reluctance in his eyes. "You're kidding, right?"
Smith shook her head, while she prepared the hypospray.
"No, I am not. There is no other way. We can't just throw the both of you over the shoulder, climb through the turbo lift system and defend ourselves."
McCulloch smirked, an amused look on his face as he was probably visualizing what Smith just described. 
"What?" Victoria smirked as she puffed up and stepped towards the Scot. "You don’t think I can’t carry you? I’ll carry you to the top of this turbolift and toss you over…how about that?"
Will chuckled slightly and held up his hands in surrender.
Daryl looked at Vree, who gave a slow nod.
"It feels…wrong. Dark gave me adrenaline so many times during the torturing…" He suddenly felt awful, his stomach felt like it was making saltos inside and he had to push back the urge to vomit. Cold sweat appeared on his forehead and he sank to one knee. 
Victoria knelt down next to Daryl and looked him in the eyes as she softly smiled.
"I’m not going to do anything you don’t want me to do Mr. Thompson." She calmly announced. "If you want to use me for support, we’ll do that."
Daryl remained silent, contemplating what the nurse had just said. She continued.
"But I want to be perfectly transparent Daryl. You’re best shot of keeping up and getting out of here in one piece is if I pump you full of adrenaline. But whatever you decide, I’ll be by your side and will do my best to bring you home."
Thompson eyed Victoria suspiciously before looking away. "Why are you of all people so interested in going above and beyond to ensure my well being? Don’t tell me it’s a nurse thing, because it’s not." 
"I told you, I made a promise to Darva." Smith replied sympathetically. "I’m bringing you home."
After another moment of silence, Daryl smiled weakly and gestured towards the hypospray in Victoria’s hand. "Do it."
Smith pulled him up, helped by McCulloch and pushed the hypo spray in Daryl's neck. 
"It's not the time to break down, Daryl" McCulloch muttered softly while he kept Daryl on his feet. Within seconds, the nausea disappeared, and it felt as if his senses were stretched. 
The strength returned, but Daryl knew he would pay the price for it later on. While McCulloch waited for Victoria to give him his adrenaline dose, Daryl shouldered his rifle, and swiftly climbed to the top of the elevator via a small maintenance ladder and opened the small terminal beside the emergency latch. It opened, and Daryl peered through it to see if it was not another trick of the Terrans. 
"Ok, let's do this" He muttered, and pulled himself up through the latch and stepped onto the top of the turbo lift. 
He looked around and saw some levels above them the damage the explosion caused. The entry doors were completely blown away, and fire and smoke burst into the shaft. They were lucky they were going down, as the dark smoke that erupted into the shaft probably was quite poisonous. Now and then, small debris fell down. Daryl looked around and saw more turbo lifts having come to a halt. Carefully he peered down. About 6 meters below them, another lift stood still. 
Will was the next one up onto the roof of the turbolift. The Scot quickly surveyed the damage above them and then peered over the edge to look at the stalled lift below them.
"That’s a hell of a jump, Daryl."
"We may have no choice." Thompson answered as he gestured to the fire above them.
McCulloch glanced above and sighed. "Those turbolifts may not be dead in the water."
"I’m pretty sure I can get one going."
"I certainly hope so, otherwise we’re climbing up and into a fire." Will answered as he returned to the access hatch and gestured to Vree. "Toss the nurse up."
"You’re a funny a**." Victoria growled as Mayla gave her a ‘ten finger lift’ and hoisted her up to reach the access ladder. Seconds later, she was on the roof as well.
As Victoria studied her surroundings, Will quickly signaled for Daryl and her not to move.
"One, hold." McCulloch announced over the subvoc.
"Eight, what do you see." The Trill demanded as she maintained her position below.
"There’s a drone directly above us and it’s definitely not one of ours."
"Oh sh*t." Victoria cursed.
"No one bloody move." Will whispered as the drone started to descend towards the trio.
"We must have been spotted." Daryl announced.
"You think?" Smith quipped.
"If not, we’re about to be." The Scot answered matter-of-factly.
The drone halted momentarily above the three before slightly adjusting course and maneuvering towards Smith.
"Will…" Victoria’s voice shook as the drone halted at eye level with her. For several seconds it visually recorded and scanned her before backing away and shooting up the turbolift shaft out of sight.
Victoria looked down through the access panel and signaled to Vree. "We need to go NOW."
"What the hell just happened?" Mayla demanded as she exited the turbolift.
"That drone just scanned Victoria." Will stated as he pulled Klomden up through the hatch. "Which means the Empire is going to either think Dr. Victoria Smith is trapped down here and needs to be rescued."
"Or what?" Daryl interupted, clearly pointing out the obvious. 
"The Terrans know we’re behind the explosion and Smith’s death and they’re coming for us."
Before anyone could answer, there was a loud, metal on metal grinding noise. The team looked at each other with concern as Daryl approached the edge of the turbolift and looked down. The turbolift just below them slowly descended as sparks shot out in all directions.
"The emergency brakes are giving way," He noted as Will approached and peered over as well. Seconds later, the turbolift dropped another thirty meters before grinding to a halt. 
"Whelp, good thing we didn’t jump down there." The Scot noted.
Before Thompson could answer, there was a loud whine, followed by the sound of steel snapping. A loud roar filled the shaft as the turbolift rapidly dropped and disappeared from sight. Several seconds later, there was a soft boom followed by a flash of light at the base of the shaft.
"Looks like we’re climbing up." Vree noted as she studied the layout of the turboshaft above her.
"There." Victoria announced as she pointed to an access ladder a few meters away from them. The rungs led up to the next three landings…of which the latter two were on fire.
"I’m guessing that’s Level 46." Smith asked as she eyed the lowest level that was not engulfed in flames.
"We're close," Daryl said. "A few more levels and we'd be at the colony."
Klomden, who had been quiet the entire time now spoke up. "We have to move quickly. I'm sensing a build of forces coming our way."
"Affirmative, we go up and then down." Vree countered before she turned her attention to those under her charge. "We’re moving now…try to keep up."
As quickly as they could, the team moved with her in the lead. She scurried up the handholds to the doors and looked for the manual access panel. As with any other underground facility, the controls were easy to figure out and even before McCulloch had reached her, she was already pumping the door open. A bit of black smoke billowed out and into the shaft. The smell of burnt wiring and flesh wafted out in the blinking red light of the damaged facility.
“We've got smoke," Mayla said, and as soon as the door was far enough open for her to slip through, she didn't hesitate and pulled herself through first and brought up her phaser rifle, checking up and down the corridor. They were at a T junction where the lifts were accessible from 3 directions. The level was half filled with smoke and fires from various parts of exploded conduit in the walls. In the distance she could see shadows running back and forth. "Clear," she said over the subvocal.
McCulloch pumped open the rest of the door and hauled himself through, then helped the others behind him. Klomden came up last.
"We need to find a clear way back to the colony." Mayla said out loud to Klomden.
"There's an administration lift in this direction. I'm sensing there's an increasing amount of people coming this way," she quietly said and pointed to the left. "And they are on alert."
Mayla looked at the rest of them who had taken up a defensive position behind them. "We're moving," she ordered and headed down the right side of the hallway.
Colonel Jahkar
Rogaran IV Penal Colony
Stardate 2302.02
Jahkar led Tiri, Ryramorl, Reepchip and Cody from the shanty-town at the entrance to the mines off across the massive underground cavern, heading toward the distant banks of turbolift shafts that rose up into the prison complex. 
Smoke was still billowing from the destroyed phaser cannon nests which guarded the lifts, a field of dead Carnora and inmates from the prison scattered across the cavern floor between the mines and the lifts.
"Sounds like the fighting has stopped," Jahkar told the others. "Still, keep a heads-up. There’s no telling if there are any surviving Carnora out here looking to make one of us a snack."
When they were closer, they could see a few small groups of angry inmates milling about, carrying on about the empire allowing "monsters" to come into the colony to hunt and kill them.
As they began to pass through the unruly groups of inmates, Jahkar activated his subvoc and opened a channel to the others.
"We might be able to use these angry inmates to our advantage, in the event we need a distraction," the marine whispered. "Anyone see any guards? Or any of our people?"
Lt. Cody Beckett
Rogaran IV Penal Colony, in the caverns
Stardate 2302.02
Cody walked along as Jahkar led them towards the turbolifts. Jahkar was in bad shape, and Tiri still needed support. Ryramorl had his huge paw around her shoulders. It took him little effort to support her. 
Cody looked around the cavern, now more a battlefield than anything else. Groups of angry inmates were yelling, and here and there were still fights, but so far, they left the undercover group of SO operatives alone. 
The turbo lifts came into sight. But it was a mess. Lots of bodies on the ground, and heavy damage to the nests destroyed by Reepchip. Beckett saw also structural damage here and there and wondered about the cause of it. Had it something to do with the rumbling and shaking earlier? As Beckett looked closer at the turbo lifts he noticed that one of the lift doors was open, but where normally was a lift, now only a dark hole was visible. 
Beckett raised his eyebrow as he wondered what had transpired in the upper levels. 
Jahkar's voice came in over the subvoc. 
Beckett answered.
"No guards, but check the turbo lifts… there seems to be something going on there. One of the doors is open but no lift. I guess Vree and the others are having fun up there.. "
Lt. Commander Ryramorl Ra’yral
Lieutenant (JG) Reepchip Charatetet
Rogaran IV Penal Colony
Stardate 2302.02
Ryramorl growled. "The Carnora here are pathetic. We may bow to the Masters, but we have retained our strength and hunt our own meat, instead of begging for scraps from our enemies." He held on to Tiri, until she could stand on her own. "I do not think that’s what Commander Vree and the others must do could be counted as fun."
"Are there any of the Mirror Carnora left?" asked Reepchip. "The ones sent down here?"
"Aside from their leader, I do not know. I think… I think they were a hunting party, rather than a full warband. They seem to have expected easy prey, and were unprepared for the battle they faced. Their armour should have been a lot stronger, were they ready for actual battle. I would not have been so casual, were I hunting zharins, never mind hunting down thinking prey."
As they approached the turbolifts, Reepchip tried the controls and got no response whatsoever. "Whatever happened up there–I think it knocked out the turbolifts. They’re stuck up there, and we’re stuck down here."
Colonel Jahkar
Rogaran IV Penal Colony
Stardate 2302.02
They reached the turbolifts and Jahakr noted there were eight banks of lifts total, as well as two service lifts capable of moving freight or large numbers of personnel. The readouts above each lift door were all glowed red, indicating they were out of order.
As they watched, one of the red lights flickered a couple times, then became green. Jahkar studied the readout on the wall next to the lift door and saw that particular lift – one of the service turbolifts – was just reactivated and was on the surface level.
"They’re already sending someone down," Jahkar muttered.
"I saw another lift a few dozen meters in that direction that is separate from these," Charatetet said. "That one may still be working."
Without hesitation, they moved away from the approaching lift that housed whomever may be coming down. All they knew was that if it wasn't Vree and her team, it would be bad news. As they arrived at the lift, the guards that were standing there had been killed and mauled. But the lift control panel was darkened.
"Reepchip, Cody, do you two think there’s a chance you can get one of this turbolift working so we can send it up to the team?"
Lt. Cody Beckett
Rogaran IV Penal Colony
Stardate 2302.02
Cody looked at Reepchip. Reepchip was a good engineer and quite the tinkerer. As was Cody, in his mining days he had to jury rig stuff together to keep things going more than on one occasion. He thought for some moments, thinking of possible scenarios, then nodded towards Jahkar. 
"We can give it a try. We don't have many tools though. I brought some stuff, and the plasma drill has a small toolset. We can see how far we come with that. "
"Copy that. Get to it" Jahkar replied. 
Cody nodded and looked again at Reepchip. "Let's try to open one this panel and see if we can run a power bypass. Hopefully it's not damaged by someone who was trying to do exactly what we're going to try to do."
Reepchip nodded and got out the tools. The Muran was quickly grateful that he’d been allowed to form the MadCap Engineers, as beside playing with obsolete (or highly-advanced) tech, they’d also been challenged to get desperately broken tech working with only a few tools. He scrounged around for anything he could find, and eventually managed to grab some cables from a nearby shack that had been destroyed in the fighting. These he and Cody hooked up to the control panel. Then Reepchip looked around for a power source that might work. 
Lt. Tiri Sh’avelith
Rogaran IV Penal Colony
Stardate 2302.02
Tiri kept a watch out as Cody and Reepchip went to work. She still had a ringing in her head, but otherwise the effects of the scream the Muran had let loose had dissipated. Having her antenna restrained already was making it difficult for the Andorian, but the blast Reepchip had delivered had nearly taken her completely out of the game.
She surveyed the area behind them, across the cavern toward where they’d come from and Tiri saw no immediate threats. Prisoners were congregating in some places, chanting "down with the empress!" and other insults toward the Terran Empire neither Kane nor her people likely were hearing.
Suddenly, she noticed in the distance, near the entrance to the shanty town, a couple of prisoners went flying into the air, thrown by something she was unable to see at this distance. They were each propelled nearly twenty feet into the air, only to plummet to the floor of the cave where they landed hard – she guessed. 
"Hey, Ryramorl," she called, now seeing a hulking figure in the distance moving toward their position. "Tell me you killed yourself…I mean, your double from the Mirror Universe. And if so, tell me what THAT is coming toward us on our six."
Lieutenant Commander Ryramorl Ra’yral
Rogaran IV Penal Colony
Stardate 2302.02
Ryramorl snarled, seeing the other Carnora coming for them. "I wish it were my double," he growled, seeing the brute coming their way. "That’s a Usarin, the largest of the land Carnora," he growled.
The monster bellowed in a strange language, and Ryramorl winced. "Someone my double betrayed and left here to rot." The 8’ creature looked strangely gaunt for a Carnora, and his apelike arms hurled prisoners aside as he sought to avenge his imprisonment. [Warlord! I will rip you limb from limb for this!]
Ryramorl stepped ahead of Tiri and roared back, [The pathetic wreck you call Warlord I flung away like so much garbage.]
The Usarin gave a low, rumbling roar as he lumbered towards them, salivating. Ryramorl got ready to do battle, when off to the side, he saw Warlord Ryramorl emerge from the destroyed shack. The warlord looked at the Usarin and said, [...Joshagk? How are you still alive?! You were to die here, for punishment for your failure on the raid on Jaeger’s compound!]
The Usarin saw two Ryramorls and stopped in utter confusion.
Lieutenant Ryramorl saw an opportunity. [Come with me, Joshagk! Come with me, and I’ll do my best to get you out of here!] He didn’t know if he could keep his promise–or if this Joshagk would even survive the coming battle–but if he could get this monster on their side, he might be an asset.
Lt. Cody Beckett
Rogaran IV Penal Colony
Stardate 2302.02
Beckett unshouldered the plasma drill and checked the power cell. It was 50 percent. He quickly powered down the drill, opened a hatch, pulled out the power cell and connected it to the cables.
A soft hum was audible as the lift controls came back to life again. Cody ran some diagnostics on the panel and concluded that luckily, this lift system had completely independent systems from the others, but it had still taken quite a beating, apparently from the explosion. Most of the other lifts were still dead in the water. 
Lt. Commander Ryramorl Ra’yral
Lt. (JG) Reepchip Charatetet
Joshagk
Rogaran IV Penal Colony
Stardate 2302.02
Reepchip saw the power level, and slipped away to find more cables so they could try and hook that one lift up to the colony’s power grid–such as it was. As he did, he saw the huge Usarin coming towards them, and scrambled out of reach, chittering. He saw the huge Usarin look up at him in utter bafflement.
Joshagk could not believe his eyes–the Muran had been hunted to extinction! And he saw two Warlord Ryramorls before him–one the lank bastard he remembered sending him on a mission years ago and leaving him to rot, another a powerhouse saying he could get them out of here. He looked between the two, snarling.
The one he remembered railed at him for failing in the raid the previous year, while the strong one tried to convince him that he could get him out of this prison. He made his choice, and came towards the Warlord, and backhanded him, sending him flying. Then he turned to Lt. Commander Ryramorl. [I come with you.] He paused. [If you have to leave me behind, then kill me first. Do not leave me to rot.] He held up his paw, showing he’d been declawed, robbing him of that means of suicide.
Ryramorl nodded. [In that, you have my vow.] He came over to the others, the Usarin in tow. "This is Joshagk–he’s a Usarin Carnora. He’ll help us on one condition–either we take him when we leave, or if we can’t take him, we kill him rather than leave him in this hellhole." Hopefully his teammates would allow Ryramorl to fulfill his vow.
Ryramorl then asked Joshagk to help Reepchip find a power source. [If you attack the Muran, I WILL leave you to rot and leave you a cripple to boot!]
Joshagk wurfed in bafflement–if this doppelganger was protecting and even working with a creature that would normally be a snack, they HAD to be from another universe. Reepchip made a mark on a wall, where he thought he could get better power and asked Joshagk to break it open. Joshagk grabbed a large rock from the rubble and bashed the wall, soon smashing it in. Reepchip rapidly started attaching more cables, and carefully strung them out to Cody. "These should work," he said, making sure his teammates were between him and this monster.
Lt. Cody Beckett
Rogaran IV penal colony
Stardate 2302.02
Beckett saw the Usarin, towering even above Ryramorl. And he was happy when Ryramorl was able to convince the Usarin, called Joshagk, to join them. Cody noticed Reepchip became a little nervous about the Usarin's presence. He couldn't blame him. He himself also felt reluctant to come close to the furry giant. He focused on the job at hand, and while he was rigging the additional power cables into the lift system, some of the diagnostic logging on the panel caught his eye. Power fluctuations pointed out they weren't the only ones trying to get the lifts to work. Cody looked closer and tapped in some commands to get a more detailed view. Apparently on the upper levels, someone was trying to get a lift up.
Colonel Jahkar
Rogaran IV penal colony
Stardate 2302.03
Jahkar lowered his guard after Ryramorl and the Mirror Carnora seemed to…work out their differences. He ordered Sh’avelith to cover their flank while he went to check on Beckett and Reepchip. He stepped into the access conduit where Beckett was working and observed as the display lit up indicating there was a working lift on a separate display.
"What’s this?" he asked, indicating a green light on one of the service turbolifts.
"It’s a service lift. It looks to be functional and heading down from the surface," Beckett replied.
Jahkar frowned. "That’s either Imperial forces or…"
"Those bloody Carnora," Beckett concluded.
Jahkar opened a channel, "Phoenix Two to One, Eight and 9T. We’ve repaired and secured a lift. I’m sending it your way." He gave them their location relative to the primary lifts.
Commander Mayla Vree
Level 46, Rogaran IV Penal Colony
Stardate 2302.04
They received Jahkar's message, and it just so happened that Mayla's team were already nearly there.
"Two, One, acknowledged. Enroute." Mayla responded while still keeping alert.
"There," Klomden pointed to an ornate set of doors. "Administrative lift. It runs independently of the rest of the facility for high profile prisoners to move from one level to another. Especially those the Empress deems so. And it might be far enough away from the lab to be too damaged." she said, not hearing Jahkar's message.
"Can we get access to it?" Mayla asked her.
Klomden looked at Smith, then back to her. "It's worth a try."
"Let's get back into formation with 9T in the lead. Let's see if we can use it."
With Smith in the lead, she led them with purpose straight to the lift doors. There was no one guarding the lift. It seemed no one even came down this hallway. As they approached, Smith eyed the lone panel next to the door and guessed that was the security panel. She put her hand on it and it chimed with a green light. From the status indicators, it looked like the lift was working just as Jahkar said. Within moments, the doors slowly opened, showing an empty lift inside.
"All aboard," Smith said, taking the first step in while Mayla stayed outside standing guard while everyone piled in. As Daryl limped in, she followed in backwards as Smith pressed the colony level button. The doors closed without anyone seeing them and the lift began to descend. The team took a moment's breather when a new voice suddenly came over all of their subvocals.
"Phoenix, Havoc. Crimson Green. I say again, Crimson Green."
Mayla opened the frequency to respond. "Havoc, One. Crimson Green received."
"Sitrep."
"Havoc, this is One, Three, Eight and 9T. We are in the express lift on level 46 and heading back down to the colony. Two and his team are waiting for us at the Colony. What's your status?"
"We repelled boarders and are nominal."
"We'll contact you when we reach Bullseye," Mayla said using the code word for their entry point.
"Acknowledged. Good luck."
Mayla looked over to Klomden. "Do you have a plan how we can sweep the colony to find Jasid and Ammelis?"
She gave him a smile, the first one she showed ever since teaming up with them. "I'm sure they are fully participating in the riot."
The trill returned the smile. "So they'll be in the thick of it."
"I think so."
Mayla looked over to get a visual status of Thompson and McCulloch. "I want you and the rest of the team to take 9T to Bullseye and back to the ship. Klomden and I have two high profile prisoners to find and extract with us."
McCulloch shook his head. "What happened to the plan of just getting Daryl out and that's it?"
"We wouldn't have gotten him out with Klomden's help. So now we're returning the favor. Do as I ordered. We'll meet you back at the ship."
"I object to that order." Victoria unexpectedly announced. "We shouldn’t be leaving you behind."
McCulloch and Thompson looked at each other. Actually, they tried to avoid Smith's look as they both acknowledged the order. Knowing she wasn't going to get any support from the two men, Smith looked at Mayla. 
"No, I don’t agree with this." The nurse pressed. Vree remained silent and looked down towards the ground. "At least take Jahkar with you."
"He's hurt, and I won't ask him because he'll come despite his injuries."
Victoria cursed at Mayla before chiding her in Trill. "You made me a promise and I intend to hold you to it."
"She’s short and feisty." Klomden whispered to Vree.
"You forgot overly protective." Victoria interrupted as she eyed Klomden.
Vree smirked slightly before telling Smith "I promise."
Victoria knew deep down inside the trill could take care of herself. But she still couldn't help but to worry about the slight possibility of losing her. She took a quick breath and gave Mayla a nod of acquiescent.
"You’re a pain in my a**" Victoria huffed in Trill before slightly smirking. She adjusted the two medical kits slung across her back and turned her attention back to McCulloch and Thompson's medical status.
"Not one scratch on you or I promise you I will separate you from your spots." The nurse warned as she powered up her disruptor, passed the Trill and punched her hard on the arm. 
The lift doors opened to surprisingly only faint sounds of phaser fire and yelling. She gestured to the two men to follow her and stepped out to see Jahkar and the rest of the team quickly getting into a defensive formation seemingly facing an oncoming threat from the left. McCulloch stopped next beside the Trill and watched Victoria walk ahead to get a health status on Jahkar not knowing what was approaching.
"She’s a lot tougher than we give her credit for." Will conceded.
Mayla nodded in agreement. "I know. We've been in worse scrapes."
"Personally, I hope you come back with a couple of scratches. I would pay money to watch Commander Smith skin you alive."
Vree simply shook her head in disbelief. "No contest. She'll lose." Then she tapped a finger at her own temple. "But up here, she'll probably win in the end. Now get moving. And if anything happens to her, you'll be answering to me, Mister McCulloch."
"Good luck, sir." Will announced with a wink as he handed the Trill an extra pair of power cells for her rifle. He then turned his attention to Klomden and nodded curtly at her. "Best of luck ma’am."
As he walked away, Klomden seized the Scot by the wrist. 
"Whether you realize it or not, you are back on the path you were meant to be on." She whispered. "I can sense it."
McCulloch nervously stared at Klomden, unsure how to respond.
"Lt. Commander, let’s go!" Victoria hissed as she advanced further away from the turbolift.
"Just stay keep doing what you are doing Mr. McCulloch." Klomden replied with a slight smile.
"Ma’am." The Scot answered before leaving the turbolift. 
Lt. Tiri Sh’avelith
Rogaran IV Penal Colony
Stardate 2302.05
Tiri rubbed one of her antennae through the headband she wore to conceal them. They ached after being restrained for so long and the Andorian found herself fighting constant nausea and dizziness as a result. 
Reepchip’s sonic blast hadn’t helped that feeling one bit, but for the most part she was over it.
Jahkar was checking on Beckett and Reepchip, Ryramorl was having an intense conversation with the big Carnora who’d lumbered up on the scene, so Tiri moved to take another look over the landscape of the massive cavern.
That was when she saw a mob approaching, still a way out but moving steadily toward the turbolifts. Best she could tell, they were an organized group of inmates and they looked to have armed themselves with anything they could wield as a weapon.
"Four to Phoenix," she opened a channel to the entire team. "There’s a mob, approximately 50 inmates, moving toward the turbolifts. Hard to tell for sure, but they look rather unhappy. Armed with clubs, pipes…maybe shanks Too far off to tell without enhanced opticals. ETA at the turbolifts I’d estimate at 5 minutes."
Carnora Forces
Rogaran IV Penal Colony
Stardate 2302.05
Realizing only one lift would be insufficient, the Carnora cobbled together "repairs" to other lifts, getting six of them going. Meanwhile, one of their engineers worked with a computer that hadn’t been gutted and soon found the position of their quarry: Empress Kane. They crammed into the lifts, those with the large guns going first. The plan was simple, blast through Level 50 until they found Kane and tore her to pieces. The lifts slowly descended to the levels, with their cargo of death and destruction.
Warchief Shor-Talo Ra’yral
Chieftain’s Fang
Stardate 2302.05
The hunting party disaster and Ryramorl’s desire for revenge had been a boon for Shor-Talo. Ryramorl had, naturally, taken strong hunters loyal to him with him down to Rogaran IV. When he demanded a force to exact retribution, it had only been too easy to send 200 of Ryramorl’s most fanatical followers down to the surface, including much of the bridge crew. Now, surrounded by a crew loyal to himself, Shor-Talo calmly cut off communications and went to the replicator to create a new Warlord’s Cloak.
One spear, two prey, as the saying went. Kane would be killed, and Ryramorl and his goons would eventually be slaughtered on Rogaran IV—or rot there, which was perfectly fine with him, too.
Shor-Talo was now Warlord of the Chieftain’s fang. He had a different strategy: instead of crawling before the Empress, he would find a small world out of the way, a place where his people could grow and bide their time until they were strong enough to once again hold the galaxy in fear.
Commander Victoria Smith
Lt. Commander Daryl Thompson
Lt. Commander William McCulloch
Rogaran IV Penal Colony
Stardate 2302.08
Jahkar quickly gestured for Smith and McCulloch to retreat just as they were suddenly surrounded from people joining the mob from every direction, all with a like mind heading in one direction. The team was quickly swept into the mob, separating them and being herded along.
McCulloch caught up with Thompson, who was staring straight ahead with his mouth wide open. 
Ahead of the pair, Victoria was locked in a hand-to-hand fight with a Terran male twice her size…and easily overpowering him. From what the Scot was able to ascertain, the nurse had jumped up onto her opponent, locked her knees on the man’s hips, seized the front of his tunic with her left hand, and repeatedly drove her right elbow into his throat.
Will looked hesitantly back at the turbo-lift, which had closed shut without Vree and Klomden inside, before looking over at Thompson.
"What the &*^% is this?" The Scot asked in confusion as he gestured towards Smith.
Seconds later, her opponent was flat out on the ground. Victoria again seized him by the tunic and struck him across the jaw with a closed fist. Broken teeth skipped across the floor as the man groaned and passed out from the pain. 
The nurse stood up straight and wiped the streak of blood oozing from the corner of her mouth. Afterward, she straightened her skirt, re-holstered her disruptor that had fallen out during the scuffle, and adjusted her medical gear. Once satisfied, she jogged over to a nearby computer panel and quickly tapped it. The device quickly scanned her. Once satisfied that she was "Dr. Smith", access was granted. 
Victoria casually glanced back at Daryl and Will. Both of the operatives were staring silently at the nurse in disbelief. Seconds later, she pulled up a map of the level they were on.
"Something I can help you boys, with?" She announced to no one in particular while studying the schematics.
"Where the $%^& did you learn to fight like that?" Thompson demanded incredulously. 
"A girl never tells." She replied with a quick flash of a smile. "C’mon. The lift to the mines is two hundred meters down street and then to the right."
"Did you teach her those moves?" Daryl pressed as he studied Will. The Scot merely shook his head in the negative.
"Gentlemen, let’s go."
The trio quickly dashed down the street towards the turbo lift to get down into the mines. As they neared the transport, they heard a shout from behind, followed by a salvo of disruptor fire. A pair of Terran security officers were bearing down hard, firing as they advanced.
"I’ve got them. You two get to the lift." Thompson barked before returning fire. 
McCulloch seized Smith by the left bicep and pulled her towards the lift. 
"They have Dr. Smith prisoner!" One of the security officers called out as he directed his fire toward Will. "Take them the %$#^ down!!" 
Daryl dropped to one knee and fired a series of successive bursts, and watched as the energy blasts slammed into his intended targets. He then retired to the lift, where he found Victoria frowning.
"Problem?" He asked.
"The lift is in shambles. I don't know if it'll take us all the way down to the mines." 
"It’s better than being here." McCulloch noted as more Terran soldiers poured into the passageway.
"Computer, Mine level." The nurse announced. Seconds later, the doors slid shut and lift descended towards the mines below.
Seconds later, the turbolift came to a shuddering halt, and the doors opened, allowing the trio to step into a semi-concealed alcove just off an extensive and brightly lit staging area.
McCulloch immediately cursed … as did Thompson and Smith. 
Approximately fifty meters ahead of them, a full platoon of armed Terran soldiers supported by heavy artillery and armor were preparing for deployment. They must have been the garrison for the mines to keep the prisoners working.
"There has to be at least 75 of them." the Scot whispered as the three dashed behind a nearby stack of cargo bins.
"&^%$ we’re screwed." Thompson hissed as he looked about the area for an escape route.
Suddenly, Will and Victoria’s subvocs activated.
"Phoenix Two to One, Eight and 9T. We’re heading down to the mines. 
"Holy sh*t, I never thought I’d be so happy to hear that marine’s gruff voice." Smith quipped as she looked down and nervously exhaled.
"Now we just have to figure out how to hold these guys off until they get here," Will announced matter-of-factly as he mentally plotted how to create a sufficient distraction. After a brief moment, he answered Jahkar.
"Two, this is Eight. We are at the lifts in the mines. And we have a potential … obstacle … that is limiting our choices."
"Obstacle, Eight?"
"We’re just off of some sort of staging area. I’m looking at a platoon supported by light mobile artillery … three guns, possibly a fourth and two hover canons. They’re all preparing for a military operation."
There was an awkward pause. "Opinion, Eight?" 
"Based on the packs and equipment they're carrying, they’re gearing up for a military assault. I’d say they’re spoiling for a fight."
There was a second, longer pause before Jahkar spoke again. "We're almost there. Three’s status?"
Will glanced over at Thompson, looked him up and down and smirked. "We have the b*stard."
"I think we have an answer as to why these troops are assembling," Victoria noted over the subvoc. "They're headed up to the Colony to reinforce. We need to get the hell out of here."
"I think we need to fall in with these Terrans until we can get to the right tunnel into the Underground." The Scot quietly proposed.
"We what?" The nurse hissed as Daryl continued to study their surroundings.
"We need to get by that garrison." McCulloch countered. "If they see you, they will think you’re Dr. Smith and you can order them away or something."
Victoria sighed in frustration before nodding in agreement. She just wanted to return to the Resurrection and stop pretending to be her evil and skanky mirror counterpart. She again closed her eyes and concentrated on her Trill memories before signaling that she was ready.
"No, there’s another option. Wait here for my signal." She announced as she stood up, unslung her med kits and started to move along the flank of the staging area towards a small collection Terran officers studying a holographic map of the prison shanty town.
"Is she insane?" Daryl demanded as he watched the nurse advance on the group of officers. McCulloch remained silent, anxiously gripping the edge of a large storage container while counting the Terran officers with Victoria. Propped up against the container was his rifle.
"There are six officers, four male, two female." Will reluctantly announced.
"They all seem deathly afraid of her." Thompson noted as one officer shifted uncomfortably as Victoria appeared to chastise and dress him down. Another was quickly tapping something onto a padd before handing it to the nurse.
Nearby, well-armed Terran soldiers started to look over at the growing spectacle on the monitor.
"This is not going to work." The Scot complained as he looked over again at his rifle. "They’re eventually going to figure something is off."
"Want to bet on that?" Daryl replied as he jabbed the Scot hard in the ribs with his elbow before pointing towards the group of officers. "Look."
An officer handed Victoria three long, camouflage cloaks and power cells for disruptor rifles. Afterward, she spun on her heels and quickly returned to their position.
"What the bloody hell just happened?" McCulloch hissed.
"Shut the #$%^ up." Victoria snapped back as she slung her pair of medical kits. "Put these cloaks on now, pull up the hoods and follow me. Do not make eye contact and move as fast as you can. We don’t have time."
"What the hell is going on?" Thompson pressed.
"I will explain once we get away from here." Smith answered. "But we need to go now."
"No," Will protested. "We need to know something in the event we get stopped."
"I told them you are both my bodyguards and we, per the Empress’s orders, are going out to collect additional prisoners I had 'stored' in the mines for a sanctioned experiment."
"And they bought it?"
"For now, they did." The nurse huffed as she started to walk into the crowd of soldiers. "Move."
Thompson and McCulloch instinctively followed. The Scot felt his stomach drop as he weaved through the crowd of armed Terran soldiers. Collectively they looked vicious, grim and battle-hardened. Worse, from the tension in the air, he could tell they were spoiling for a fight in the aftermath of the unknown explosion.
Occasionally, a soldier or officer would glare at the trio but quickly looked away once realizing "Dr. Smith" was with them.
"Keep moving. We’re almost there." Victoria whispered as she confidently marched through the groups of Terran soldiers ready to deploy. Once clear of the last group of soldiers, she activated her subvoc.
"9T to Two. Closing in on the tunnel to the Underground."
"Stand by 9T." Jahkar replied. "We broke through a side tunnel and heading to the Underground."
The trio continued walking for a few more minutes, now completely out of sight and earshot of the garrison. As soon as they went through the hidden tunnel opening into the Underground, she doubled over and dry-heaved before trying to catch her breath and calm her nerves.
"You OK?" Daryl quietly asked.
Smith nodded in the affirmative before straightening up and glancing over at her companions. "We need to get the hell out of here."
"We will." The Scot answered reassuringly. "As soon as we link up with Jahkar’s team, we’ll return to Havoc."
"No you don’t understand." Victoria protested. "We need to get the hell back to the Resurrection like yesterday because the poo is about to hit the damn fan. Those officers I was speaking with? They told me they’re about to deploy into the prison colony to drive back the two separate mobs storming the facility. When they contact administration for orders, they'll know we shouldn't be down here."
Smith gulped loudly and again paused to calm herself. She then shook her head in the negative. "Only one of the mobs is composed of prisoners."
"The other?" Will asked, unsure if he wanted to hear the answer. Smith looked around at how unnervingly empty the Underground level was.
"Victoria." Will demanded. "Who is in the other mob?"
"Not who…what." She answered as her voice shook. "A Carnora war band. They’re hungry and really pissed off."
"Oh my God." Daryl whispered in disbelief.
"The Terrans are going to deploy any moment now." Smith quietly reported as she regained her composure. "And we’re going to be caught in that damn mess when they get down here. Every one of us. You, me, Tiri, Jahkar…all of us."
Daryl changed the subject slightly. "One of the officers handed you a padd. What was on it?"
The nurse smirked slightly, trying to make light of the situation. "He was foolish enough to share with me the Terran plans of deployment and where I could safely hunt for some of the prisoners still working in the mines without being exposed to the coming battle."
"An escape route?" Thompson eagerly asked.
"Or a safe haven … if we can get to it." Will grimly noted just as he heard a sound of approaching footsteps from around a shanty. Jahkar and the rest of the team appeared much to their relief.
"You have to be sh*tting me." Victoria complained as she looked over the medical condition of Jahkar and his team before tossing the Terran padd to Jahkar and unslinging her medical kits. 
Lt. Commander Daryl Thompson
Lt. Cody Beckett
Rogaran IV Penal Colony
Stardate 2302.10
Daryl had his weapon ready as he heard the footsteps. But as Jahkar, Tiri, Beckett and the Carnora came around, Daryl lowered his weapon. And immediately raised it again as the Usarin came in sight. The Usarin stared at Daryl with a cold look in his eyes. Ryramorl stepped in front of Daryl. 
"He is with us" He calmly stated. Daryl lowered his weapon again, still a bit stunned by the appearance of the huge Carnora
"Good to have you back, Lt. Commander" Ryramorl said, as he stepped away again. 
"Daryl! " A voice sounded. It was Beckett. He made his way towards Daryl and gave him a bear hug. 
"Man, am I glad to see you! " Beckett stated. 
"Me too buddy, me too. " Daryl said in an emotional voice. He cleared his throat. Beckett looked at him. 
"You look terrible, mate. What the heck did they do to you? 
"We can talk later" McCulloch intervened. 
"The Terrans will arrive anytime soon. We need to move."
Both Daryl and Cody nodded and readied their weapons. 
In the distance, Beckett saw movement. Black and grey figures moving about. The Terrans where here. 
Lt. (JG) Reepchip Charatetet
Rogaran IV Penal Colony
Stardate 2302.10
With Smith, McCulloch, and Thompson back, Reepchip looked out to see the prisoners approaching and winced–with their small number, and one of their best fighters being injured, they’d be no match.
As he tried to get another look, he came face-to-face with Warlord Ryramorl, the evil Warlord still refusing to die. The Warlord came towards him, the two Carnora locking eyes, and Reepchip skittering back.
The Muran remembered Ryramorl’s words from earlier: asking if he could wield the Dagger of the Hidden Hand, and also congratulating him for the vision he gave the belligerent Ensign back on Cardassia. Now Reepchip was about to use the Dagger of the Silent Voice—if he could. He locked eyes with the hungry Carnora who was snarling at him. Reepchip concentrated hard–not having physical contact meant he could only project empathically, but hopefully, if he could raise the warlord’s rage towards the crowd... 
<They are laughing at you,> he tried to send to the Warlord’s mind as he stayed out of reach. <They know you are hungry. They know you are weak. They think you’re pathetic. They despise you. They saw your band get slaughtered and laughed and laughed and laughed.> He lured the Warlord away from the others, as he kept telepathically filling the warlord’s mind with thoughts that the crowd was mocking and jeering the warlord for his hunger and weakness. He fed the hate the Warlord felt for the Empire, for the Empress, for everything, and this slowly weakened the mind. Reepchip gripped the side of the building as he could now speak to the Warlord with the Silent Voice, and with it he began whispering into the Warlord’s mind: <Kill them all. Kill them all. Kill them all.>
The warlord looked towards the crowd, and began to mutter. Reepchip felt a thrill and fear–was it working! Louder and louder the Warlord began to chant the words [Kill them all. Kill them all. Kill them all.]. Reepchip shifted so he could see the approaching crowd, concentrating solely on them—a single thought to his comrades could send a berserk Carnora the wrong way.
And then the warlord gave a terrible, Hell-born howl and threw himself heedlessly towards the approaching mob. The mob suddenly found themselves with a maelstrom of claws and teeth in their midst. The berserk warlord was heedless of the blows and stabs that shredded his body as he mindlessly butchered anything in his path while prisoners did everything they could to take this sudden terror down. Before long, the warlord fell, his skull completely caved in.
But driving the warlord berserk had an effect of Reepchip–the Muran had the Fires of Agavan stoked within him as well. He watched the Warlord charge into the crowd, the Muran snarling and growling in a way nobody had ever heard him do before.
Joshagk
Rogaran IV Penal Colony
Stardate 2302.10
At the sight of Commander Smith, Joshagk gave an enraged roar and went for her, but Ryramorl was instantly in his way. [oshagk! No!]
[She stole my claws!] the young Usarin bellowed, trying to get around Ryramorl.
[That one is to Dr. Smith what I am to the Warlord who abandoned you! Dr. Smith is not here!]
Joshagk snarled but calmed down. Having beyond doubt seen two Ryramorls, a creature he’d only heard of… this alternate Ryramorl must be speaking the truth.
Ryramorl managed to keep in the monster’s way as he explained to Victoria, “This is Joshagk. He was left to rot here by my double. He allied himself with us in return for either taking him with us when we leave, or killing him if we can’t take him.”
Phoenix Squad
Rogaran IV Penal Colony
Stardate 2302.10
As the opposing forces in the cave clashed, gunfire ripping through the crowd as the Terrans, prisoners and Carnora fought, Jahkar led the team away from the battle and down into the tunnels heading toward the Resurrection.
The distraction created by the warlord, thanks to Reepchip, had given them the additional diversion they’d needed to slip away before they got caught up in the raging fight.
Looking back, Jahkar saw no one in pursuit, so he urged the team to keep moving…
Empress Taryn Kane
Greg Durham, Hand of the Empress
Rogaran IV Penal Colony
Stardate 2302.10
"Sit-rep!" Kane called out to Durham, who was at the security console in operations. His expression was grim.
"Two lifts operational. One is a standard lift, it is recently repaired and being sent up from the mine level," Durham reported. "The other is a service elevator. It is on its way down from the surface. Visual monitors are not working but based on the weight and the fact we’ve lost communication with the surface facility I’m going to take a leap here and say it’s a Carnora war party from the ship in orbit."
Kane did say anything at first, but she hardened her resolve and slowly turned to Durham, "Option, Gregory?"
"Suffice to say the lift coming up from below is either angry inmates or the Shadow Operations team trying to retrieve their people," he said. "Two to one the other lift is Carnora. We have no other turbolifts available."
"Get to it!" Taryn barked.
"There is a Jefferies tube that runs vertically adjacent to the service elevators," Greg said. "We could take it, the climb up to the surface would take some time but we could make it topside and have the Gambit or your flagship beam us out."
"Taking the tube down would be faster…we have repelling gear in the armory down the corridor," she said. "It’ll be like old times in the Resistance."
Durham sighed, "Down would make it so we’d have to fight our way through Shadow Ops, the rioting prisoners and the Carnora detachment. Not to mention the explosion on the level beneath us. There could be smoke or fire in the tube going down."
Taryn crossed operations until she reached Durham and the two moved together toward the exit. As they left, the remaining ops crew watched them leave, shocked and scared that they were being left to their own devices.
As they exited ops, Durham looked back at the crew and shouted, "Hold off anyone who tries to stop your empress from escaping. That is a command."
Once they were out of the room, the highest-ranking centurion looked around at the others and scrambled toward the main doors, "Every man and woman for his or herself! Run!"
As they made their way to the Jefferies tube access point, hidden in a corridor off the main turbolift station on this level, Taryn and Greg grabbed up phasers from the armory as well as a bag of grenades and the two entered the shaft.
As they climbed inside, Kane shed the crown and excessive armor pieces she wore over her clothing, leaving her dressed in a black bodysuit and boots. Once in the Jefferies tube, they began their climb up, a look down confirming damage to the tube on the level of the explosion. Going down the tube was not an option.
As they began their ascent, the duo maintained silence so they would not be heard by anyone on the floors as they passed by.
Captain Quentin Lazarus
Rogaran IV Penal Colony
Stardate 2302.10
Lazarus and Sornax stood in the cargo bay after it had been closed and bodies of the dead Terrans, including Jahkar’s double, dumped back into the cave below. Helm took the ship back up to about 20 meters off the cave floor and there it remained, waiting for the team to return.
Kneeling on the deck in front of the captain and commander were three surviving soldiers from Commander Jahkar’s squad. Two had injuries but made them keep kneeling – despite Sornax’s concerns about "proper treatment of prisoners."
"So, let me get this straight," Lazarus said after hearing one of the three’s explanations of what was happening. "Nala was sent to hijack the ship and hold it long enough for a team of commandos to board and seize it?"
The injured soldier nodded, blood running steadily down the side of his face. "Y-yes."
"You’ll pay for this Redmond," one of the other prisoners hissed at the soldier who was talking. "Traitor to the empire."
Lazarus looked at the soldier who spoke and he glared, "Shut up." Then he turned back to man known as Redmond.
"So, she manipulated us into using this cavern and everything," Lazarus said. "This whole kidnapping, everything, was to get their hands on this ship."
Sornax raised an eyebrow, "What about Commander Tazhenkov? We left him back on Earth. Is he one of yours?"
The soldier shook his head, "I…I don’t know anything about a Tazhenkov. Nala was the only plant I knew about. This is the team that was used to capture her. We captured her when she was solo, operating separately from her partner. Our Nala was then inserted back in her place and no one ever suspected a thing."
"Where’s Nala now? Our Nala?" Lazarus asked.
The soldier who had been talking lowered his gaze and remained silent, but one of the other prisoner cackled and spoke up, "She’s dead. They extracted her symbiote, used a mind probe on it and transferred all its knowledge to our Nala’s symbiote. She died not long after the worm was gutted from her."
Lazarus drew back his fist, but the Denobulan first officer grabbed his wrist and stopped him, "Sir…"
The captain yanked his hand away and looked back at the prisoners, "You and your people killed Danae Nala and some of my crew. Maybe I should take you three back with us to be held accountable?"
The three had nothing to say in response, so Lazarus waved for security to take them and lock them in the brig. Once they were gone, Lazarus turned to Sornax, "One more question, one more interruption and you and I are going to have a problem Commander Sornax."
"Sir, as first officer it's my responsibility to offer you alternatives and to advise you against making possible mistakes or violations of protocol," he said. "I am just doing my job."
"This isn’t a standard Starfleet ship, commander," Lazarus growled. "You’ve worked for intel, I get it. But Shadow Ops is not the same. You and I need to be on the same page, or this isn’t going to work out."
The Denobulan sighed and nodded, "I will do my duty, captain. However I see fit."
"Noted, commander," Lazarus said. "We’ll talk more when and if we get home. I need you to get Resurrection prepped to depart. As soon as Phoenix is aboard, we need to leave immediately."
Commander Mayla Vree
Colony, Rogaran IV Penal Colony
Stardate 2302.10
Klomden took hold of the back of Mayla's cloak as they moved as quickly as they could away from the receding mob. Klomden had shielded their location from the mob just as the rest of Phoenix team was swept into it. They waited a few minutes watching in anticipation of discovery, but they just passed by without a second look. As soon as it was clear, the two women left the lift and headed in the direction adjacent to the moving mob.
Because both Jasid and Ammelis were Betazoid, Klomden kept her senses open and searching while she steered Mayla in a direction that they might be just beyond the periphery of her senses. But the direction led them towards the mob.
Klomden suddenly stiffened. "I sense Jasid. He was in that mob."
"Can you contact him?" Mayla said, leading them into a dark crevice between two shacks.
"Yes. And Ammelis is with him. It's safe enough here. I'm telling him to come back this way to meet us here for extraction."
"Good." Mayla said. She thought it was going to take a lot more effort than this.
They remained hidden as the sounds of the mob echoed throughout the Colony walls and ceiling. In a few minutes, two people came back around from the side street and approached their position cautiously, trying not to draw too much attention to themselves in case anyone was following them. Both were armed with Terran phaser rifles and brought them up when Klomden stepped out to wave them over.
But they didn't lower their weapons when they saw Mayla. It was only then she got a good look at the two Betazoids. Both looked as if they were at least a hundred years old but moved as if half that age.
"Who is this?" The man asked.
"She's with the extraction team. Follow her lead to her ship."
"Lead on," he said, throwing a look to the old looking woman as if in silent command to bring up the rear.
"You lead. We need to get to the Underground," Mayla said.
The man nodded. "I know a way into the mines from here."
"Are the lifts working?" Mayla asked.
"This won't be a turbolift," he said. He led with intense alertness as if he and the woman were in tune with each other's movements. Within minutes, they arrived at a shanty that looked just like any other shanty. He slid aside a panel that looked like rusty debris to reveal an opening. "Inside, quickly."
He quickly replaced the panel after he entered with everyone else. The old looking woman was standing at a back corner of the shanty in front of a large raised circular object on the ground. Pressing a hidden latch, the top slid open. Mayla walked over and looked down.
"It's an old service access tunnel they sealed up years ago. We opened it up again after we discovered it." she said.
Mayla looked at that the metal rungs of a ladder that just descends into the dark abyss. "How far down is it?"
The man walked over and handed her a wrist light he had hidden in a hole in the ground covered by rocks. "About a hundred meters straight down."
Klomden held up a hand. "The Carnora are coming. They've already entered the Colony."
"Let's get moving," Mayla said as she climbed onto the first rung that led down.
The man entered last and shut the access lid above him. Descended they did, only hearing each other breathing as Mayla set the pace. Even through the rungs, they could feel tremors and vibrations of explosions echoing through the rock. Occasionally a thump would echo down to them, sprinkling some dust over them.
By the time they reached the bottom, sounds were echoing louder from above. The man leaped from the last few rungs of the ladder and quickly led them down a low tunnel until they emerged inside a short decrepit room that was filled with anything from old rusted equipment to trash. The thick putrid smell of the room washed over them as if submerging in a pool of filth. He started up a slime covered wall ladder up to a hole in the ceiling.
They came out in a little used part of the mines. "This is one of the oldest part of the mines, the guards would leave dead prisoner's bodies here to rot." the man said.
Mayla just nodded as she gestured for him to continue leading. They saw no one as they moved from one tunnel to another. But occasionally they would hear voices echoing from somewhere. The four moved quietly as if they were a veteran team who has worked together for years. Mayla took note that it felt like muscle memory as if it was the same technique and formation as a Shadow Ops team. Then she remembered that Ammelis had been the CO of the Terran Resistance's equivalent team, Shadow Squad, originally trained by her father.
They easily reached one of the hidden entrances to the Underground. Once through, Mayla took the lead to Phoenix Team's point of entry. As they moved through the narrow streets, the area was barren of anyone, which was a marked difference from when she first arrived here.
"Where is everyone?" Klomden asked.
"Probably rioting or trying to escape. This is the deepest part of the mines. If there was a chance of getting out, this would be the last place they'd be," the man said.
They reached the buildings where Bullseye was behind. There was still no one around as they easily slipped in between the shacks and to the wall. Mayla led them to the exact location of their entry. The hole was still sealed, immediately giving Mayla indication that the rest of the team had not arrived yet. She opened her subvocal and contacted the ship.
"Havoc, One. I'm at Bullseye. I'm coming through the tunnel, plus three persons."
"Acknowledged."
When they emerged into the cavern, the other three stopped. "What kind of ship is that?" The woman asked.
"I'll explain later," Mayla said. "We need to get on board."
As they ran towards the underbelly of the descending ship, it opened a ramp for them to board. Mayla made note of the bodies littered around on the ground, and the Resurrection personnel standing at each of the three comm relays ready to retrieve them as soon as the rest of the team arrived. They weren't going to leave any tech behind if they could help it.
The trio ran up the ramp to be greeted by four Resurrection security personnel. Once inside, the ramp quickly closed.
"There are Starfleet markings on this ship," the woman said, who now looked from Klomden to Mayla. 
Mayla gestured to them to hand over their weapons to the security team.
"Yes, I'm from Starfleet. Shadow Operations."
The man and woman glanced at each other and repeated after her. "Shadow Operations. Is Ky here?"
Mayla sat down on a crate container. "No, he's no longer in Shadow Operations."
"But he's still alive? And your galaxy is safe from the Linea?" the man asked. 
"Bravo Squad averted the invasion for now. Thanks to your assistance." Mayla now got up and gestured towards the door. "I can answer your questions on the way to the infirmary."
"We have many questions," the man said. "First, who are you?"
"Mayla Vree. Kyril is my father."
"Mayla Vree," the man repeated. 
Then the woman suddenly reached out a hand to put on her shoulder. "You're May-may."
Mayla laughed. "Yes, I am. And Zach is doing fine."
A big smile appeared on the old looking man. "That is good to hear. Let me formally introduce myself. I am Argonne Jasid and she is Kianna Ammelis."
"It is an honor to meet you. My father has told me nothing about you in this universe other than in his reports. But Zach had often spoken about Uncle Argo and Aunt Kia."
"It's been over ten years," Amellis said. "Do you have a picture of Zach?"
"I can show some to you. But I'm afraid I cannot leave any with you. Our presence in this universe must remain as sterile as possible."
"We understand. What are you doing here?" Jasid asked.
Mayla gave them the short version about one of the members of her team's kidnapping and how they were able to team up with Klomden.
"Where should we drop you off at?" Mayla asked the trio after explaining.
The elderly couple looked to Klomden, who rattled off coordinates in a star system to Mayla. "I'll inform the bridge to-"
Just as they turned a corner to reach the infirmary, Captain Lazarus appeared around another corner who was on his way to the cargo bay. He stopped when he saw Klomden and the elderly couple. "Commander? Where's the rest of the team?"
"They got caught up in a mob in the Colony and will be along momentarily as soon as they can break away."
"Who are they?" he asked while eyeing the trio.
Mayla made the introductions. 
"We're to drop them off at the Mutara system." Mayla said.
"I'll inform the Bridge," he said as he eyed the two elderly looking couple. "You don't look like Jasid and Ammelis."
"Cosmetic surgery. It saved us from the Empire recognizing us when we were captured along with dozens others." Jasid said.
"Very good. Are you headed to the Infirmary?" Lazarus asked.
"Yes, they should be checked out." Mayla answered for them. "Then I'm going back out to cover the team's extraction."
"I'll take them to the Infirmary. You carry on. We depart as soon as they're on board."
[Back to top]
==S5, E1, Act 12: Escape from Rogaran==
Commander Victoria Smith
Rogaran IV Penal Colony
Stardate 2302.09
The team continued to advance in a Northeasterly direction. They were in a single-file formation with Victoria and Thompson near the middle. From time to time the nurse would spot check Daryl to ensure he was able to continue. 
As the team pressed forward, from time to time they would look back at the fighting behind them to ensure no one was trailing them. Fortunately, it appeared no one was. 
As the group pressed forward, Victoria occasionally detected a shadow moving along her left flank, but she saw nothing … leading the nurse to conclude her eyes were merely playing tricks on her. The fourth time it happened, the nurse mistakenly ignored it.
Seconds later, a wounded Canora warrior, perhaps part of Warlord Ryramorl’s decimated pack or the war band attacking the Terran facility, emerged from the shadows and quickly seized Victoria by her ankle. The black-furred warrior easily tossed the nurse several meters out into the open and pounced on her as soon as she hit the ground. 
Victoria flailed her arms and kicked her legs to get out from underneath the monster, but the efforts were futile. The warrior backhanded her across the face, and she saw stars. 
“I will enjoy killing you and feasting on your carcass for murdering my family, you Terran b*tch.” He growled.
Victoria ignored the dire warning and struggled to free herself. As she desperately fumbled for her disruptor, she pushed herself back with her legs and slid partially away from the Carnora.
Jahkar and Ryramorl quickly closed on Victoria. As they did, she managed to kick her assailant square in the snout with her left foot. This merely angered him and before she could draw her leg back and kick again, the wounded warrior caught her by the ankle, howled, and quickly bit down on her left thigh until teeth met bone. 
Victoria screamed as blinding pain shot up her leg. As he started to tear flesh away from bone, the nurse was able to finally unholster her disruptor, jam it against the head of the Carnora, and fire at point-blank range three times. The Carnora’s head exploded, and the body slumped down onto her.
Ryramorl was the first to reach the nurse and easily pulled the dead warrior off her. 
Smith’s left leg was a bloody and mangled mess. Pools of blood were starting to form underneath her. Her entire body shook and she was quickly slipping in and out of consciousness. She desperately looked around for Will, but her field of vision was becoming tunneled. 
Jahkar instinctively pulled the pair of medical kits off of her and fumbled through its contents before withdrawing a hypospray.
She could hear Tiri over the subvoc sending a series of messages to the Resurrection. From the bits and pieces she was able to ascertain, the Andorian reported “9T down”, “severely injured,” and “crashing”.
She saw Jahkar load the hypospray with a cartridge as McCulloch barked for him to administer a sedative because she was going into shock.
Oh &^%$ no, she thought to herself. There was no way she was checking out in the middle of this clown show. She quickly grabbed Jahkar’s wrist, leaned slightly up and growled.
“If you &^%$ing administer any sedative on me, I will neuter you.” 
The marine eyed the nurse in stunned silence. Before he could answer, she twisted his wrist as hard as she could and glared weakly at him. Her breath was becoming shallow. 
“Victoria, tell us what to do so we can help you.” Will frantically asked.
“Tiri, I want Tiri next to me.” She gasped “NOW.”
Instantly the Andorian appeared and nodded.
“I’m here, sir.”
“My med kit. Get…my…” Victoria ordered as she struggled to remain conscious. McCulloch seized one of the two kits…the Terran one … and handed it to Tiri. Smith ripped it away from the Andorian and threw it aside.
“Not the Terran kit, my kit.”
“That kit, there!” Tiri barked before receiving it and cracking it open. 
“Hypospray…and the red cartridge.” She motioned towards her kit. “Give them to me.”
Victoria fumbled as she tried to load the cartridge. Tiri gently guided her hands and helped Smith load the device and administer it. 
“Again,” Victoria demanded as the lieutenant reloaded the hypospray with another cartridge and pressed it against the nurse’s neck. 
Victoria then pointed towards a series of green cartridges neatly stored inside the kit. 
“Load three cartridges and inject them into my leg one at a time, Tiri,” She whispered as her voice started to slur. 
Victoria became emotional as she choked on her tears. She suddenly realized she would likely never speak to her parents again.
“Where’s Will?” She gasped as she looked wildly about the circle of operatives treating her. 
“He’s here,” Ryramorl assured as he slid slightly over to the right to reveal the Scot working feverishly with Jahkar to retrieve and pass medical equipment to Tiri.
“We need to sedate her.” McCulloch begged Tiri. Behind him, Beckett was communicating with the Resurrection on Victoria’s status and requesting a medical evac.
“N…No…No sedation until I say so.” Smith slurred as her eyes started to roll back in her head. “Tiri, cauterise the wound. Do it.”
“I need to inject a painkiller first.” The Andorian medic countered.
“There’s no time.” The nurse answered as she groaned in pain. “Do it…cauterise the wound.”
“Do it.” Will reassured as he held onto the nurse’s right hand.
Jahkar handed the lieutenant a long, wand-like device before seizing Victoria’s free hand. Seconds later, the smell of burning flesh filled the nostrils of the operatives surrounding the nurse.
Smith growled as the flesh and muscle of her left thigh started to burn. She fought every urge not to break down in front of the operatives, but eventually, she relented. 
“I just want to talk with my momma one more time.” She whimpered as her eyes again started to roll back. “I need to talk with her, Tiri. I’m not going to be with her again.”
“!@#%ing sedate her, or I’ll do it myself!!” Jahkar demanded.
“Will, where are you, help me!”
“I’m here, focus on Tiri!” The Scot answered as he desperately rummaged through the medical kit for any cartridge that contained a sedative. 
Sh’avelith continued to work as quickly as she could on Victoria’s wound. Behind her, Beckett was still arguing with the Resurrection.
McCulloch loaded the hypospray and handed it to Tiri. She pressed it against the nurse’s neck and listened for a soft hiss. 
As Sh’avelith resumed her efforts to save the commander from bleeding out, Victoria drifted out of consciousness. 
Lt. Commander Daryl Thompson
Rogaran IV Penal Colony
Stardate 2302.10
It all happened so fast, within seconds. Daryl saw how Victoria was mauled by the Carnora. But before he could get a clean shot, the head of the Carnora exploded as she killed him herself. 
Smith was in bad shape, losing a lot of blood. Daryl teared his eyes from the scene and moved away a few meters when he smelled the scent of burning flesh. 
Once more, the memories of the atrocities Dark did to him came back into his mind. His stomach wrenched, and he felt nausea coming up. Again, then sweaty palms. He had to pull himself together and looked away. He scanned the environment to see if no one else was getting close, especially not another Carnora. Man, these creatures were ferocious. Daryl pinched his eyes. The adrenaline was wearing off, almost none existing. His whole body hurt like hell, and he felt the throbbing of his own heartbeat in his nears. He fell on one knee, as another round of cramps in his ribs and stomach area became so intense, he barely could breathe…It really was time that they got back to the ship… 
"You ok mate? " He heard Beckett's voice. He looked up and sideways and saw the big New Zealander crouching next to him. 
"No, but I'll manage" Daryl brought out. 
Beckett studied Thompson's face for a moment, then he nodded. 
Lieutenant (JG) Reepchip Charatetet
Rogaran IV Penal Colony
Stardate 2302.10
Reepchip saw a Carnora warrior go towards Victoria and raced towards him–but he was too far to catch up. By the time he did, the warrior was already dead and the damage done. He snarled in frustration, and this time it was Joshagk keeping away from the Muran. Reepchip glared around, looking more feral than ever.
Daryl’s hopes were soon dashed, as the warrior turned out to have a Terran guard hunting him. As the guard came upon the, he spoke into the communicator. “What about Carnora prisoners?” he asked.
The whole of Phoenix Squad heard the chilling response. “Total. Extinction.”
The guard pressed the phaser to Reepchip’s head—and never got to pull the trigger. A berserk Olvern was strong, but a berserk Muran was fast. There was a blur of claws and teeth–and Reepchip stood amongst the eviscerated remains, looking in shock around him at what he’d just done.
Lt. Commander Ryramorl Ra’yral
Joshagk
Rogaran IV Penal Colony
Stardate 2302.10
Victoria’s mumblings convinced Joshagk that this was a doppelganger from somewhere else—rumour had it Dr. Smith had tortured her own parents to death, and so surely would not mumble about never seeing them again.
Ryramorl looked at Joshagk. “You’re the strongest of all of us,” the Olvern said. “You carry her.”
“Remember your promise,” growled Joshagk.
“I will.”
“What’s your promise?” asked Will, looking at Ryramorl, then at the hulking brute.
“That either we take Joshagk with us, or we kill him instead of leaving him to rot. And personally, I hope we can bring him. I know a number of Usarin tribes who could use a male–even a young one like him.” He looked at Joshagk. “You’ll have to learn how to live on the plains, though. Most Usarin in my universe don’t leave their homeworld.
Her scent was the final proof to Joshagk that this was someone else–there were scents embedded in someone by the very lifestyle they lived, and she did not have the scent of Dr. Smith. He carried the unconscious nurse in his arms, following the group.
Personally, he hoped to leave this place forever as well.
Commander Mayla Vree
USS Resurrection, Rogaran IV Penal Colony Underground
Stardate 2302.10
Mayla didn't waste any time turning around and immediately headed for the armory. Phoenix Team was still out there, and she wasn't with them. The Empire already knew they were here, there was no further reason to be clandestine with the equipment they used.
"Vree to Infirmary, I need a Union XII away team to meet me in the cargo bay immediately," she ordered when she walked into the Armory. With Jahkar, McCulloch, and Thompson in the physical state they were in, she wanted to be sure their condition didn't get any worse before they got to the Infirmary. 
She went straight to her locker to retrieve one of her katanas and strapped it on across her back. She grabbed her T390P pistol with an extra clip and strapped it to her leg, and a phaser strapped to her other leg. Then on her way out, she picked up four sky-eye nanoprobes with a tricorder. She hurried back down to the cargo bay while linking her eyes to the nanoprobes through the tricorder. The four security officers and Union XII came to attention as soon as she ran in.
"What's their status, Commander?" Ensign Gace asked.
"Jahkar has some broken ribs and maybe internal injuries. Thompson and McCulloch have wounds received from torture." She grabbed one of the Terran rifles from one of the security officers. 
"Torture?!" Hannigan said. 
Mayla ignored her exclamation. "You're going to wait just inside the tunnel entrance, I'll be on the other side to cover their extraction. We may need to deploy into the Underground." She gestured to Security. "I want two of you to escort and assist them."
"Some of the enemy's assault teams are still out there, but unconscious."
"Then make sure they stay that way until the team gets back here." Mayla ordered. She signaled to one of them to open the doors. He contacted the Bridge to lower the ship to the ground and pressed the keystud.
Everyone moved quickly as if they had rehearsed it. As soon as the last of them stepped off the ramp, the Resurrection started to rise again before the ramp even started to close. Mayla led the team to the tunnel entrance where they hunkered down to wait.
By herself, she went into the tunnel and peered out the hole to see if it had been discovered yet. Not finding anyone there, she sent out all four nanoprobes in their AI stealth mode to give her a wide visual view of the immediate area. She headed back to the opening they had used earlier and stepped through in between shanties, listening for anyone who may come by.
Staying hidden in the shadows, she knelt down with her rifle at the ready. They hadn't heard from Jahkar's team in a while, it was time to check in on their status.
"Phoenix, One, I'm at Bullseye. What's your sitrep?"
Warchief Yoroyo
Rogaran IV Penal Colony
Stardate 2302.10
Yoroyo snarled as his warriors burst from the turbolifts and started firing at the Terran Soldiers coming their way. Their massive guns inflicted heavy losses, and the prisoners–well, the prisoners were falling by the hundreds, caught between the guards and the Carnora. He keyed his communicator, asking for more accurate intel where the Empress was–and got silence. He called again and again, but received no reply. Suddenly it dawned on him: Shor-Talo had used this retaliatory force to get rid of every major ally of the old Warlord, and he would abandon them down there. Not far away was the hacked and bashed body of Ryramorl.
Yoroyo howled out to his warriors. We have been abandoned by Shor-Talo! Conquer this place, or die in the attempt!
The warriors stormed forwards, refusing to be taken prisoner. As more Terran Forces poured in from another set of turbolifts, the Carnora were forced back. Then one started chanting as he fired into the forces, inspiring the others to start chanting—a rhythmic chant that fed their deadly rage. The cavern reverberated with insane howls as, en masse, the Carnora drove themselves berserk in a last-ditch effort to overcome the Terran Forces or die in the attempt.
Any hope that the Terrans would be able to take prisoners vanished as stun beams had no effect on the Carnora—even with phasers set to “kill” didn’t seem to take them down unless the soldiers scored a headshot. One blasted a hole in Yoroyo’s chest, but the warchief didn’t even register the sucking wound as he ripped the hapless Terran soldier in half and tore the head off another soldier before his own head was blown off.
The commander of the Terran forces shouted “phasers to vaporize!” Before long, the crossfire had half the shanty town in flames—but when the firing stopped, there was not a single Carnora left alive, but they’d done tremendous damage to the Terran forces. Bands of soldiers swept the ruins of the shanty town, seeking to destroy any survivors.
Warrant Officer Fiadh Hannigan
USS Resurrection, Rogaran IV Penal Colony
Stardate 2302.10
“Is she serious?” Ensign Hixwir Gace asked as she watched Vree advance alone down the tunnel.
“Sometimes I think that Trill is a bloody loon.” The Irish warrant officer quipped as she looked back at the two security guards protecting them.
“We only have two?” Hixwir asked incredulously.
“Those wee little lambs are responsible for protecting us…for now.”
“For now?”
Hannigan ignored the question and tapped her comm badge. “Hannigan to Lieutenant Tusot. Sir, Union XII is requesting air support.”
“You can’t do that!” Gace protested. “Commander Vree won’t be happy!”
“You think I’m afraid of her?” Fiadh countered as Tusot responded.
“The Gentle Annie will deploy in 90 seconds. Warrant Officer, please state the parameters of air support.”
“Sir, air patrol for detection of any hostiles and possible assistance with a medical evacuation relay.”
“Acknowledged. Tusot out.”
Two minutes later, the Arrow class jump ship sailed above their position before banking to the right and commencing an aerial patrol of the cavern.
“Now I feel better.” Hannigan announced to no one in particular.
Warlord Shor-Talo Ra’yral
Orbiting Rogaran IV Penal Colony
Stardate 2302.10
Shor-Talo was expecting the Empire to try something and had his weapons on standby. The Warlord’s vigilance was rewarded when one of his crew spoke up. “Sir! I’ve been tapping the communications and—the Empire has decreed we be wiped out.”
“Which means they’ll destroy the ship,” he growled. “Fire on the planetary defenses! EMP torpedoes. Let’s see them try anything with no guns.”
The crew hastened to follow out his order, and sent a volley of fire towards the colony. Through the scanner, they saw power stations exploding from the sudden overload of energy. Shor-Talo grinned roughly—the torpedoes had worked even better than expected. But the warlord was no fool. He brought the ship’s shields up. “Get the cloak ready!” he snarled as Terran ships closed in on the Chieftain’s Fang.
Colonel Jahkar
Mines, Rogaran IV Penal Colony
Stardate 2302.10
Although they’d rescued Daryl Thompson, making the mission a success, it had otherwise been a disastrous operation. Many casualties. Losses back on the ship from what it sounded like. Jahkar hoped he never had to deal with these Terran Empire lunatics again in his life.
That was, if they could get out of these tunnels and back to Resurrection.
Somewhere in the tunnels, amid the fighting, Jahkar had confiscated a rifle off a dead Terran. It felt good to have a firearm again, especially with all the phasers and disruptors in play down in the tunnels.
Tiri was still tending to Smith, while the Carnora were discussing something about bringing along one of the Mirror Carnora they’d encountered with McCulloch. Jahkar was chomping at the bit to get Smith up and out of here so they could make it back to ship.
Bringing along a Carnora was not something he wanted to do, but it would be the captain’s call…not his. Still, this development concerned him.
The Marine ignored the throbbing pain in his side and walked over to Beckett who had just finished his conversation with Resurrection. He looked agitated, but Jahkar needed him sharp. He was one of the few among them not injured or otherwise distracted.
Beckett moved over to talk to Thompson and Jahkar crossed to the opposite side of the tunnel and came alongside them.
Placing a hand on Daryl’s shoulder, Jahkar offered him a faint smile, “Good to have you back,” Jahkar said. “We all missed you.”
Daryl gave a faint smile, but Jahakr could tell he was in a lot of pain and he was tormented by everything that had transpired here.
The Marine huddled in close with both men, “I want you to both keep an eye on this Joshagk. Ryramorl seems intent on bringing him along and it sounds like he’s involving Will in this. If Joshagk becomes a problem, I may need one of you to put an end to him. We’re too close to being back to the ship for this to go sideways.”
“Why don’t you just tell them he can’t come along?” Beckett asked.
Jahkar sighed, “Because the alternative sounds like he wants us to kill him. And he may do something rash if we refuse to bring him along. There’s been enough killing today. The captain will decide his fate, but if he so much as threatens anyone in the team I want him stopped. Clear?”
Lt. Tiri Sh’avelith
Rogaran IV Penal Colony
Stardate 2302.10
Tiri had tended to serious wounds before, but she wasn’t a battlefield medic like Union XII. She was used to dealing with phaser and sharp-edged wounds, plasma burns and the occasional broken bone.
Smith's mauled leg was probably the worst injury she’d ever treated. Smith’s ill temper and argumentative state made treating her even harder. Medical personnel, especially doctors and nurses, always made the worst patients. But Tiri understood…considering what had happened and the extent of her injuries.
Jahkar had assisted her at first, loading hyposprays and handing her medical instruments from the medkit, but once he’d done all he could do, the Andorian gave him a knowing nod. She sensed his frustration with the situation and Smith’s ranting at his every action, so she let him know he could take a walk and leave her to deal with the patient.
Besides, Victoria had asked for her to stay by her side and that had to be a good sign. Of course, Smith had a plan for her own treatment and after instructing Tiri to administer several hyposprays, she ordered her to cauterize her wounds.
It was not ideal. Cauterization like that would likely cause damage to her leg that even 24th century medicine would not be able to fully heal. But she also knew what Victoria knew – if they didn’t stop the bleeding, she would die.
Sh’avelith followed Smith’s instructions to a tee and when she was through, she administered the sedation hypospray and Victoria was out like a light.
Tiri looked around after Smith was unconscious and determined what everyone was doing. McCulloch and the Carnora were at one end of the tunnel in deep discussion.
Jahkar was talking to Daryl and Cody and it too appeared to be serious. There were also the sounds of gunfire and explosions behind them in the direction of the battle. They needed to move out and soon.
“Listen up!” Sh’avelith shouted to get everyone’s attention. “Ideally we need a makeshift stretcher to move her, but if not I need Ryramorl to carry her the rest of the way to the Resurrection. Moving her is not a good thing, but we don’t have a choice from the way it sounds. Anyone have a suggestion on the stretcher or can you carry her, commander?”
“Joshagk already has her,” said Ryramorl, nodding to the big Usarin, who was cradling the nurse in his arms.
Empress Taryn Kane
Greg Durham, The Hand
Rogaran IV Penal Colony
Stardate 2302.10
The climb up the Jefferies tube was long and treacherous. The first couple dozen floors were a breeze for Durham and Kane, both of whom were in peak physical condition for their ages. But as the climb went on things became more difficult. 
Hanging onto the rungs going up the shaft became harder with each level as fatigue set in and the two found themselves slipping at times, barely able to hold on as they pressed on.
In orbit, the empress’ command ship, joined by the ISS Gambit, moved to intercept the Carnora vessel parked there but were unable to stop them from unleashing a volley of EMP torpedoes at the installation located on the surface of Rogaran IV. 
The warheads impacted on the shields protecting the surface installation and the resulting electromagnetic pulse collapsed the defenses there and knocked all the lighting and electronics in the surface defenses and in the main installation.
After the defenses were knocked out, the two Terran ships in orbit engaged the Carnora ship and began to blast away at it with phasers and torpedoes, fulfilling their prediction that the empire intended to render their species extinct.
In the Jefferies tube, the blasts above rocked the empress and her Hand. They steadied themselves as the lighting in the shaft flickered off and they were left in complete darkness.
“What happened?” Taryn asked, nervously. 
“The Carnora took out the surface power source, probably EMP-based weaponry,” Durham concluded. “Keep moving, your highness. As soon as we are close enough to the surface to be detected by the sensors of our ships in orbit, they’ll beam us out.”
“In the dark?” Taryn gasped. “These goddamn Carnora are on my last nerve!”
“Reach up, grab the next rung and pull yourself up,” he told her, rolling his eyes. “Christ, you were a spec ops soldier in the resistance for how many years?”
Kane bristled at his observation and continued upward, reaching from rung to rung, moving slower to avoid making a misstep in the blackness.
Warlord Shor-Talo
Chieftain’s Fang, in orbit over Rogaran IV
Stardate 2302.11
The Chieftain’s Fang was, like all Carnora ships had been, built to take a beating, but as the ISS Gambit and the empress’s command ship began to pound on the ship, Shor-Talo knew they had a fight on their hands. Gunners blasted back against the other ships, as Shor-Talo considered his options.
Carnora ships were known for having unpleasant surprises and extremely dirty tricks, and this ship was no different. Shor-Talo turned to one of the bridge crew. “Yarmal! Download targeting data into escape pods Three and Six! Lock onto those two ships!”
“Sir, yes sir!” Yarmal went to work. Before long, he announced the data had been downloaded, and the two pods were launched.
Aboard the ISS Gambit, the Captain was informed that escape pods had been launched. “Ignore them for now. They don’t have warp drive, they won’t go far. We’ll destroy them once we’re done with the—”
He was interrupted with a scream of “Sir!” He gasped as on the viewscreen the pods’ engines blazed to life, one rocketing towards his ship, the other towards the command ship.
The pod slammed into the ISS Gambit, its sheer kinetic energy overwhelming the shields and scoring a direct hit.
While the command ship managed to destroy the pod before it hit, it also had to quickly manoeuvre out of the way of the debris from the Gambit. While it was doing that, Shor-Talo decided to cut his losses and find easier prey. “Set a course to the Mutara system. Maximum warp, if we can manage it. We’ll hide out there and decide what to do.”
Lt. Commander William McCulloch
Mines, Rogaran IV Penal Colony
Stardate 2302.11
The Scot blamed himself for not ensuring Victoria was protected before the Canora attack. He should have spoken with Jahkar before leaving the Terran facility and requested that she be protected as the team advanced toward the Resurrection. She wasn’t an operative like them, and the team should have enacted measures to protect her.
Even worse, he felt helpless as the nurse bled out before him. He knew she had previously been to hell and back, but she had never experienced anything like today's attack. 
He fought back every urge to break down and simply give up. He felt the team's eyes were now observing him and how he would react to this ever-evolving situation. He didn’t blame them. Years earlier, Victoria was nearly killed when she was shot at point-blank range as the protected children and infants. Overcome with grief, Will betrayed Bravo Squad and joined a paramilitary organization to exact revenge on her assailants. 
Deep down, Will knew the team had nothing to fear. Even in light of all the events in this cursed Mirror Universe, the Scot didn’t want retribution. He knew there was a very distinct possibility she was going to die. As a result, he only wanted to focus all of their efforts on bringing Smith home safe and alive.
As the attack replayed again and again in his mind, McCulloch knew it was very humiliating for Victoria to beg for her life as she guided Tiri through the battlefield treatment of her wounds. He couldn’t unsee her suffering and wondered what today’s events would have on her ability to recover and her long-term mental health if she did survive. 
His attention gradually shifted to the Andorian who was doing everything she could to save Smith. As he watched her continuing to tend to the nurse, the Scot admitted he didn’t envy or want her role. Union XII was one thing…they were predominantly a combat support hospital with all the bells and whistles to receive and treat wounded and injured from the field. Tiri, on the other hand, was a front-line combat medic.
He continued to watch her with some concern. It was her facial expressions that gave it away. McCulloch had seen that look far too many times before … in previous service with the Shadow Operations program, with Kane’s Mercenaries and during solo and freelance missions. it was the face of a mentally and physically exhausted combat medic who not only put aside their injuries and limitations to save another but was confronted with horrific injuries they had never seen before. 
And yet she pressed on keeping Victoria alive. 
Will wondered how she did it. If he were in the Andorian’s role, he’d be drinking every night and injecting as many painkillers simply to forget.
Once Victoria had passed out, Jahkar quickly ordered Will to take the point. The Scot knew he was trying to keep McCulloch busy and distracted from Victoria. Unfortunately, the efforts were only partially successful. 
As the Scot stared down the darkened passageway, his disappointment and anger continued to fester and grow. It didn’t help the adrenaline Smith injected him with was starting to wane. He wanted to cry but he resisted the urge as the wounds from his torture session slowly began to throb.
It was his fault this happened.
Damnit! He should have been in a better position to protect her. He wasn’t, and he knew he had dropped the ball. Vree was going to skin him alive, but that would be the least of his worries if Victoria didn’t pull through.
This entire mission was a giant cluster and merely reaffirmed his previous conclusion that perhaps he was foolish to return.
As McCulloch fumed in silence, Ryramorl came up beside him. The Carnora studied him in silence before speaking and advocating on behalf of Joshagk. The Scot maintained an open mind and listened carefully as Ryramorl explained why his companion should be allowed to join them as they returned to the Resurrection.
“I have one question, Mr. Ra’yral.” Will pressed as he coldly stared ahead into the darkness. “Is it true that Joshagk said he would carry Victoria to safety if necessary?”
“He pledged that, yes.” The Carnora answered. “I would assist and protect Commander Smith with my life if necessary.”
McCulloch eyed the Carnora carefully. “Then you have my word I will vouch for your companion if he wishes to travel to our universe. And for protecting Commander Smith you have my loyalty.”
McCulloch looked away from Ryramorl and continued to fret in silence over Victoria’s fate. After she was transferred to the makeshift stretcher, McCulloch watched as Tiri attached various monitoring devices to the nurse before giving the signal to move.
“Eight, you’re on point.” Jahkar announced as the team moved out.
The Scot sighed upon receipt of the order. He wanted to be closer to Victoria but understood why the order was given. He would have done the same thing if he were in Jahkar’s shoes. Keep a possible danger or risk to the team up front where they could be easily dealt with if they went rogue.
But there was one thing he needed to do before they left.
“Two, hold.” He announced over the subvoc before slinging his rifle and walking back towards Sh’avelith. She seemed to take a slight step back as he closed on her.
“Take it off.” He ordered. “Whatever the $%^& is holding down your antennas, take it off.”
The Scot watched as she complied with the request. He then nodded with approval before stepping even closer to her. He quietly whispered to her, his voice shaking with uncertainty.
“Keep her alive Ms. Sh’avelith. If anyone can do this, it is you. I don’t care how you do it, just do it. I… I am begging you to keep her alive.”
Lt. Tiri Sh'avelith
Mines, Rogaran IV Penal Colony
Stardate 2302.11
Tiri looked up at Will as he spoke and slowly she nodded, not knowing what else to say. She reached up and removed the headband holding her antennae back and instantly she felt relief. She was able to sense much more of what was going on around them and the occasional dizziness faded away.
"I'll do everything I can, Will," Tiri said softly, sidestepping the formalities of rank. "I promise. But you have to know two things...one, she's in bad shape and two, we all need you to stay focused on getting us back to the ship. Leave her to us, you just take point and get us to where we need to go."
As they spoke, Joshagk carefully scooped Victoria up and held her in his arms, ready to press on to the Resurrection.
Lieutenant Commander Ryramorl Ra’yral
Lieutenant (JG) Reepchip Charatetet
Joshagk 
Colonel Jahkar
Rogaran IV Penal Colony
Stardate 2302.11
Joshagk suddenly realised he wanted to live, if it meant living wherever Ryramorl and Reepchip came from, and proving himself helpful would be a good way to do that. 
Meanwhile, Reepchip had overheard Jahkar and nodded to him. He then went to Joshagk and lept onto his shoulders, causing the Usarin to grunt in surprise. “Ummm…”
“If we can’t take you with us,” said Reepchip. “I know where the arteries are. I promise it will be quick.” He didn’t say what he’d do if Joshagk acted up, but didn’t feel it was necessary. 
Joshagk looked towards Jahkar. “I heard what you said,” said the youth. “If you cannot take me with you I will lay down, bare my throat, and ask that the killing be swift.”
He held Victoria gently, calmly walking with the group.
As Jahkar moved to return to his position in their line, he glanced back over his shoulder at Joshagk, “Laying down and baring your throat for execution is not the honorable death a warrior desires. I cannot speak for our captain, but it will be difficult to make an argument to remain in this universe one minute longer than we need to. At the same time, removing you from your universe and taking you to ours is a questionable decision. The captain’s hands may be tied in this matter. I would not get your hopes up that he will go along with either plan. But, you are helping us and, if what you’re saying is true, the empire is exterminating your people, an argument could be made for asylum.”
“Asylum?” Joshagk asked, cocking his head to one side as he looked at Jahkar.
“Protection granted by a nation to someone who has left their native world as a political refugee,” Jahkar explained. “I’m not sure if you qualify for such protection, but it is possible.”
Jahkar then fell back into line and the group continued on their way through the mines.
Ryramorl spoke up. “We could even say that he is fleeing from one place in the Khyrrian Empire to seek refuge in another. If the Carnora are in this universe, our masters ruled here, too.”
Empress Taryn Kane
Greg Durham, the Hand
Rogaran IV Penal Colony
Stardate 2302.11
Durham spent the climb in the darkness running different scenarios through his head as they got closer and closer to being beamed out of the Jefferies tube by the ships in orbit. He listened in the blackness of the shaft to Kane’s complaining and threats of how she would be taking revenge on her ever-growing list of enemies and slowly, he came to a conclusion of what he needed to do.
“As soon as we are aboard the Vengeance and we’ve dealt with the remaining Carnora here, we’re taking the ship and regrouping with the fleet before launching an all-out assault on any remaining Carnora outposts or ships still out there,” Kane muttered. “I will make them pay…all of them.”
“I’m pretty sure this is the last of them,” Durham said, suddenly increasing his climbing rate so he was catching up with Kane, who was several rungs on the ladder above him. “Like so many other species in our quadrant, they are extinct”
Kane scoffed, “And good riddance to them.” Then with an afterthought she said, “As for this debacle of an operation, I hold you and Dark responsible. And since he’s dead, Gregory, you will answer for the failure of the mission when we return to Earth.”
Durham moved faster, closing the gap silently behind Kane. “Your highness…we may have failed but there will be other opportunities.”
“We shall discuss it further back on my ship,” she said, then adding. “Perhaps you can make it up to me. Beg for my forgiveness? And I could have that little Andorian slave girl I found join us. How does that sound?”
Durham moved up the rung, reached up into the darkness and grabbed Kane’s ankle, causing her to nearly fall off. She gasped and grabbed onto the rung closest to her.
“Idiot! Gregory! Be careful….”
Durham pulled himself up, releasing her leg and grabbing onto the last few inches of her long lustrous, raven black hair. 
“What do you think you’re doing?” Kane demanded.
“As fun as a romp with you and the Andorian girl sounds, I think I’ll pass,” Greg hissed through clenched teeth as he gave her hair a hard yank with one hand, anchoring himself to one of the ladder rungs with his other hand. “I think I’ll claim your throne instead!”
Kane’s fingers slipped off the run she was clinging to as Durham snapped her head back and pulled her off the ladder. She gave a startled scream as she slid past him, her body sailing past Durham and into the void beneath them.
Taryn’s screams filled the Jefferies tube as she plummeted toward the bottom of the shaft. Durham figured she hit the damaged section of tube about 20 floors beneath them, far enough that she would not survive the fall. His estimates were confirmed when the screaming stopped after several seconds and the shaft went silent once again.
Durham righted himself on the ladder and started back up the Jefferies tube, climbing for about 15 more minutes until suddenly he was enveloped in a transporter beam and moment later found himself aboard the ISS Vengeance in orbit of the prison world.
Two centurions were there, looking to Durham for answers, ‘The Hand? SIr, where is the empress?”
Durham shook his head sadly and wiped the sweat from his brow, “T-those Carnora bastards…they killed her! Empress Taryn Kane is dead!”
Lt. Commander William McCulloch
Mines, Rogaran IV Penal Colony
Stardate 2302.11
Damn that Andorian for the ability to state the obvious. The interaction between the pair was now the third occasion where McCulloch initially believed the worst in himself before Tiri pointed out the obvious.
A mere few moments earlier, Will had convinced himself that Jahkar and the team wanted him out on point so they could keep an eye on him to ensure he did not go rogue like he did so many years ago. However, it was Tiri would who state otherwise. He was being charged with bringing the team … and, most importantly, Victoria … home.
At first he felt foolish for doubting his place within the team, but he quickly recognized now was not the time or place for a pity party. 
McCulloch looked back at the team one last time before seizing a fistful of dirt and grime from the cavern floor and smearing it across his face. Afterward, he quickly inspected his rifle and pistol to ensure they were fully charged. Once satisfied he was ready, he opened a subvoc to Jahkar.
“Two, Eight. Ready on your mark.”
“Stand by Eight.” The marine replied as the team readied to rally. “How far out ahead of us will you be?”
“Fifty to seventy-five meters sir.”
“You’ll mark the passageway as you advance?”
“Aye sir. I’ll leave scorch marks.”
“Eight, you are clear.”
“Sir, weapons free?” 
“Eight, you kill anything and everything you encounter until you reach Bullseye. Am I clear?”
“Crystal sir. You just sweep the crumbs I leave behind.”
“You are the tip of the spear, Eight. Notify One when you are fifty meters out. Good luck.”
“Eight advancing now.”
Will snapped his rifle up to the ready and silently moved forward, visually scanning the passageway as he advanced further into it. He observed a second passageway shooting off to the right approximately forty meters into the tunnel. McCulloch quickly scanned it and determined it was a dead end. Seconds later he fired a round into the left side of the passageway, signaling to Jahkar and the others to bear left.
Just then their commander's voice came over the subvoc. "Phoenix, One, I'm at Bullseye. What's your sitrep?"
Will immediately responded, keeping his frantic voice in check. "One, Eight, we are in the mines and advancing towards Bullseye. ETA uncertain at this time.”
“What is your position in relation to the team?”
“Tip of the spear, One.”
“Weapons free?”
“Weapons free, sir. I will need an occasional ping from you so we don’t engage each other in friendly fire.”
“Understood. Eight, Union XII is on standby. What is the medical status of Two and Three?”
“They’re mobile.”
“Apparently you are as well?”
“Yes sir.”
“They’re ready to receive the three of you once you reach Bullseye.”
McCulloch grunted silently as he rounded a corner in the passageway and entered a wider cavern-like area. Directly ahead the tunnel continued. The Scot fired three rounds across the cavern floor, leaving scorch marks for the others to follow.
“One, repeat last communication?”
“Union XII is ready to receive Two, Three and if necessary you, Eight, upon reaching Bullseye. We want the most seriously injured treated right away.”
McCulloch stopped momentarily in his tracks. Was Vree not aware of Victoria’s status?
“One, we have a more serious injury.” He reluctantly announced as he re-entered the tunnel after crossing the cavern.
“Report.”
Will almost choked on his words. “One, 9T is down and is in critical condition. We need a medical extraction as soon as we’re within range … she’s dying.”
"Acknowledged. The Underground is mostly abandoned. Union XII and I are deploying immediately and will meet you at the Underground entrance. We'll keep you updated to our position."
 
Commander Mayla Vree
Underground, Rogaran IV Penal Colony
Stardate 2302.11
"Union XII and security team to my position immediately," she said in a comm channel dedicated to just them. She quickly returned to the entrance just five meters away and waited for the first member of the medical team to appear through their makeshift tunnel from the cavern.
"Havoc, One, send out a security detail to cover Bullseye. Union XII and I are deploying into the Underground for a medical extraction."
"Affirmative, One."
With a few hand gestures on formation, she motioned to the four members and two security personnel to follow her as fast as they could. With the nanoprobes giving her a wide visual of the area, she could see their immediate vicinity was clear. She plotted the quickest course to the entrance.
"What's their status?" Hannigan asked.
"Smith is severely wounded, we need to get to her as fast as we can." Was all Mayla said in response as she sprinted out into the small street from in between shanties.
"That's all you have on her?" she said in a sharp tone as she broke out into a run. The way the Trill moved was uncannily fast.
"Save your breath and keep up." Mayla said in an even tone.
Her eyes darted from where she was going and the visual feeds she was getting from the four nanoprobes leapfrogging ahead of them to keep a lookout for any lifeforms. From the overhead scans there were maybe a few dozen lifeforms in all of the Underground from what they can tell. She paused at a corner briefly to let the others catch up a bit before she rounded it and took off on another sprint. As soon as McCulloch said Smith was dying, it spurred her into action that rivaled the time Smith had been kidnapped in the Outer Rim. She had forcefully questioned anyone who had seen anything, and as soon as she got a name, she went directly to their stronghold on a full-frontal assault and left no one alive in her wake. If she had to fight through an entire cadre of Carnora to get to Victoria, she would do it without hesitation. She constantly repositioned her rifle ahead of her in the ready position if anyone attempted to attack her or those following her.
"Commander, we need to slow down," Hannigan said out of breath, still almost a dozen meters behind her.
"Alright. Who can keep up with me?"
"Gace," Ensign Gace answered, stopping beside Mayla.
"Gatc, ma'am," the Bajoran medic answered, also stopping beside her.
"You two, on me then. The rest of you, follow the nanoprobe I'm leaving with you. I've programmed it to follow my path in proximity mode. It'll lead you to where we're at. Get there as soon as you can." Without looking behind nor waiting for acknowledgement, she suddenly sprinted ahead, taking Gace and Gatc by surprise who then both took off to keep up with her.
Lt. Commander Daryl Thompson
Lt. Cody Beckett
Rogaran IV Penal Colony
Stardate 2302.12
Once the team moved, Daryl fell in line in the rear, behind the Carnora that carried Victoria so he could keep a close eye on the Usarin called Joshagk. Behind him, Beckett closed the rear. 
He felt worse with every step he took and he wanted to just lay down. He was beyond exhaustion, and mentally he was a wreck. The only thing that kept him going now was the thought he would see Darva again. 
The next moment he collapsed against the wall and only then noticed he was dizzy. The world turned upside down and he gagged. He felt how he was helped upright again and heard Beckett s voice. 
"Come on buddy. Keep up. We are almost there. " 
The rest of the team had moved on, and Daryl saw a last glimpse of the Usarin, disappearing in the dark. 
Lt. Commander Ryramorl Ra’yral
USS Rogaran IV Penal Colony
Stardate 23.02.12
Ryramorl kept an eye out–then realized that he could no longer see Daryl. “Colonel. Where is Daryl?”
Jahkar looked around. “He must have fallen behind. Can you carry him?” asked the marine.
“I can.” He went back, rumbling deeply. “Three, this is Five,” he rumbled. “I apologize. This will not be comfortable.” Then he crouched, grabbed Daryl, and hoisted him across his shoulders. He nodded to Beckett. “I have him.” Ryramorl strode forwards to catch up with the team, making sure he remained in sight of Beckett, so he could follow as well.
Union XII
Underground, Rogaran IV Penal Colony
Stardate 2302.12
Hannigan sighed as she watched Gace and Gatc turned another corner after Vree. 
“Damn Trill,” She muttered before looking over at Ensign Zalir. “Orders sir?
The young Tellarite hesitated momentarily before answering. “Prepare a split extraction. We’ll send the patients to both the Gentle Annie and the Resurrection’s infirmary.”
“I suggest Jahkar and McCulloch to the Gentle Annie.” The Irish nurse replied as she snapped down the face shield of her helmet and studied the medical histories of Phoenix Team and Commander Smith. “If either needs surgery, the EMHs onboard can do it.” 
“Thompson and …” Zalir trailed off, hesitant to continue. 
Fiadh nodded sympathetically as her eyes started to tear up. “Commander Smith to the Resurrection’s infirmary with Thompson. Prep both for surgery.”
“Warrant Officer, make the call. I can’t.”
Hannigan exhaled loudly before tapping her comm badge. 
“Resurrection and Medical Jumpship Gentle Annie, Union XII is requesting a split medical extraction, pattern Alpha-Zeta-Tango-Twenty-Two. Multiple wounded, at least one critical. Prepare for preliminary patient information.” 
“Acknowledged Union XII.” A voice from the bridge grimly replied.
“Acknowledged. The Gentle Annie is coming about. Stand by,” Lt. Tusot announced over the comm.
The jumpship swung in a wide arc as its running lights activated…revealing red crosses on the wings and belly of the ship. In a more..civilized…fight, combatants on both sides would not fire on or attack a vessel marked with red crosses. Tusot knew he just made himself a target for any Terran forces still in the area. Nevertheless, he knew he needed to create a visual so the medics on the ground and the Resurrection could see where the jumpship was.
As the Gentle Annie came in hot, Tusot activated the autopilot, hopped out of his chair, and quickly sat in the command chair located in the center of the cockpit. He tapped a few keys and watched as holographic displays of Phoenix Team appeared before him.
“Tusot to Union XII, ready to receive patient information.”
“Resurrection to Union XII, ready to receive patient information.”
Hannigan tapped her helmet and focused on her HUD. One by one, she rattled off patient assignments.
“Colonel Jahkar, Klingon/Romulan male. Multiple combat related injuries, one possibly life threatening. Assign to the Gentle Annie for surgery.”
“Acknowledged.” Tusot answered as he keyed the information into the holographic display.
“Lt. Commander Daryl Thompson, Human male,” Fiadh continued. “Multiple injuries from illicit interrogation techniques. Surgery likely required. Assign to Resurrection for possible surgery.”
“Acknowledged Warrant Officer.” The bridge quickly answered.
“Lt. Commander William McCulloch, Human male. “Also multiple injuries from illicit interrogation techniques. Surgery may not be needed. Assign to Gentle Annie for evaluation.”
Again, Tusot keyed the information into the display before activating the jumpships EMH system and issuing instructions to it.
Fiadh cleared her throat as she started to become emotional while reading the final patient in need of immediate attention. Her voice shook as she reported the patient information. “Commander Victoria Smith, Human female, unknown critical injuries. Patient is reported to be non-responsive and at risk of death. Assign to the Resurrection for emergency surgery.”
There was a pause before the bridge replied. This time, it was Lazarus who spoke.
“Warrant Officer Hannigan, should we execute an emergency medical beam out once Commander Smith is in range?”
Fiadh looked over at Talir, who shook his head from side to side.
“Negative sir.” The nurse answered. “We will need to reassess upon her arrival but a beam out could exacerbate any critical injuries. We may need a physical extraction. Please provide an acceptable route to the infirmary on our mark.”
“Beaming mobile bio stretchers in twenty seconds.” Tusot interjected as the Gentle Annie reversed its engines and came to a full stop above the tunnel entrance. Seconds later, the jump ship was descending in preparation to land on the cavern floor.
“What about the remainder of Phoenix Team?” Lazarus pressed.
“We will assess once they are on site.”
“Understood. Resurrection out.”
Talir and Hannigan remained silent as they contemplated the fate of their beloved commanding officer. After a moment, the Tellarite spoke.
“I will join the Gentle Annie. Gatc will tag each of the wounded and assess the remaining members for treatment. You and Gace get Smith to the Resurrection.”
“We have a plan.” Hannigan calmly noted.
Colonel Jahkar
Underground, Rogaran IV Penal Colony
Stardate 2302.12
The team finally arrived at the entrance to the Underground and Jahkar looked around at the operators in Phoenix Squad, realizing they were all on the brink of total exhaustion. Tensions were high, stress created by the recent fights they’d engaged in and the medical conditions of many team members – the group was on the edge.
“One, Two, we are at the Underground entrance,” Jahkar announced as he opened a channel. “I repeat, we are at the Underground. We require immediate extraction. 9T is critical and needs immediate medical attention. Copy!”
"We're here," Vree answered as she appeared, quickly followed by McCulloch and two members of Union XII. Jahkar ordered Beckett, Reepchip and McCulloch to set up a perimeter. Sh’avelith checked Smith’s vitals and assessed her condition before moving to Thompson to do the same. Joshagk stayed with Smith, keeping her still and using his body to provide warmth for her, while Ryramorl stayed at Thompson’s side. 
Jahkar could see from her appearance and Tiri’s look of concern that Victoria was in bad shape. Jahkar had seen battlefield injuries before of this magnitude and he remembered very few of them having a happy outcome. He hoped Victoria Smith would prove that history to not be her own.
Ensign Hixwar Gace
Underground, Rogaran IV Penal Colony
Stardate 2302.12
The Betazoid nurse pushed her way past most of Phoenix team to examine Victoria. Hixwir stopped in her tracks upon seeing the extent of Smith’s injuries and briefly looked away. The odds of Victoria surviving her injuries were slim at best.
She knelt beside Victoria and withdrew her medical tricorder. Mayla took up a position behind her. There was a look of grave concern on her face.
“Ensign, report.”
Surprisingly, Gace ignored the request as she studied the readings. Suddenly, her eyes widened.
“Who the &*%^ treated her?” The Betazoid demanded as she looked about at Phoenix team.
“She treated herself with my assistance.” Tiri quietly announced.
Gace eyed the Andorian for a moment in silence.
“Sir?” The nurse asked Tiri.
“Yes?”
“You understand you may have saved her life and given us a fighting chance?” The nurse loudly announced as she tapped her helmet and stared directly at Vree. 
“Gace to Hannigan. I have Commander Smith. Ma’am has severe trauma to her left upper thigh. It appears multiple arteries have been severed but cauterized. Extensive muscle and demis damage. She is in hypovolemic shock due to excessive blood loss, and her heart is at risk of being unable to pump enough blood to the body. Organ failure is imminent if we don’t get her to the infirmary, she will die. Technically, she should be dead by now, but Lieutenant Sh’avelith may have saved her a**.”
"Chain extraction?” Fiadh asked just as she arrived.
“Chain extraction,” Hixwir repeated. “Get the mobile stretcher and let's get her back to the ship.”
The Betazoid looked about at the team and eventually rested her eyes on Mayla. She could sense grave concern…perhaps fear…in the Trill. She ignored it and cleared her throat.
“Listen up!” She barked. “What I am about to say is probably going to be interpreted as insubordination, so I apologize in advance. You are now on MY battlefield and what I say goes. If you don’t like it, file a damn complaint with whomever the hell you want.”
After a moment of tense silence, she continued. 
“We have one chance to save Comammader Smith. We are going to chain extract her. Phoenix Team will carry her to Bullseye. If you drop her, I will shoot you. Once we arrive, Union XII will transfer her to a mobile bio stretcher. Commander Vree, Lieutenant Sh’avelith and I will carry her to the Resurrection while Warrant Officer Hannigan prepares her for pre-op. Understand?”
“You’re going to do pre-op while in the middle of a sprint?” Beckett asked incredulously. 
“We’ve done it before, we’ll do it again.”
“They can do it.” Jahkar announced weakly.
Gace again turned her attention towards Vree. “Sir, when we hit that ramp up into the Resurrection, Warrant Officer Hannigan will likely hip-check you out of the way and take your spot in the extraction. Please don’t take it personally.”
“I won’t.”
“Once we’re inside, hopefully, the crew will direct us to the nearest turbolift and, in turn, to the infirmary. Are we all on the same page?”
The team nodded in silence.
Gace looked over at Vree. “Sir, may I speak freely?”
Vree briefly smiled. “Go ahead, Ensign.”
The Betazoid looked each team member in the eye and carefully studied each of them. After a moment she spoke.
“Commander Smith always tells us we must bring each of you home alive so you can be with your loved ones. I only ask that you do the same for her today.”
Each of the team members nodded in agreement. Once satisfied they understood their respective roles, Gace turned her attention back to Vree.”
“Commander Vree, sir?”
“Yes, Ensign.”
“Let’s bring your sister home to you.”
Lt. Commander Ryramorl Ra’yral
Joshagk
Bullseye, Rogaran IV Penal Colony
Stardate 2302.12
Joshagk rose. Now was the moment of truth—had this all been a lie, or would these people take him with them? He saw the others pick up Victoria. Ryramorl jerked his head over, and the big Usarin picked up Daryl to carry him. Reepchip guided the big Usarin towards the ships.
As they approached the ships, Commander Vree confronted them.
“Who is this?” she demanded, gesturing to the Usarin.
“This is Joshagk, a Carnora of the Mirror Universe. The Carnora have been slated for extermination in this universe. He has requested asylum in ours,” said Ryramorl. “He is the one who carried 9T from where she was injured to here.”
“And do you have any plans for transporting him? Aboard a military vessel?”
“Yes,” said Ryramorl. “We will keep him in the brig until we return home, then immediately turn him over to the Carnoric Embassy on Earth. They can help him from there.” He looked at Joshagk. “Sorry it has to be the brig, but as she said, it is a military vessel, so we need to keep you secured.”
“I understand,” rumbled the Usarin. It couldn’t be worse than the mines—could it?
Warrant Officer Fiadh Hannigan
Bullseye, Rogaran IV Penal Colony
Stardate 2302.12
Phoenix Team entered the cavern area with Commander Smith. The Irish nurse wanted to vomit upon seeing the woman she considered a mentor and very close …if not best friend … mortally wounded. 
Nevertheless, she pushed those feelings aside as she ran down a surgical pre-op checklist and loaded the necessary medical equipment into a pair of tool belts strapped around her hip and right thigh. Meanwhile, Gace, Vree, and Sh’avelith carefully placed Victoria on a mobile bio stretcher. 
A pair of security officers approached Fiadh and stood at the ready.
“What the hell do you two want?” She demanded.
“Orders from Lt. Commander McGuire.”
“Isn’t she in the infirmary recovering?”
“She is. But she’s well enough to order us to guide you to the infirmary. And…”
“And?” Fiadh huffed. She didn’t have time for this nonsense.
“She told us we would be placed in the brig if we didn’t get the “nice girl” to the infirmary.” 
Hannigan smirked slightly as she gestured for the pair to position themselves thirty meters ahead of the medical team. Afterward, she walked over to Victoria and tugged on the straps across her chest, hips and shins to ensure they were tight enough for the coming extraction. Once satisfied, she looked about at her companions. 
Gace would carry the front of the stretcher, Tiri and Vree the back. She would be on Vicoria’s right, preparing her for surgery.
“Are we ready?” Gace demanded.
Fiadh eyed each of them. “We’re ready. Once we hit the ramp, Sh’avelith will take point and help guide us to the infirmary. And Commander Vree?”
“Yes, Ms. Hannigan?”
“Apologies ahead of time, it won’t be personal.” Fiadh conceded. 
“Understood,” Vree replied.
“Sir?”
“Yes, Warrant Officer?”
“She’s my best friend, Sir.” The Irish nurse revealed. “I know she’s just as important to you as to me, sir. I just want her safe.”
“Then let’s not screw this up, Ms. Hannigan.”
“On my mark!” Gace suddenly announced as she, Vree, and Sh’avelith hoisted up the stretcher. Fiadh instinctively started pre-op procedures, including taking initial vital readings and assessing Victoria’s cardiovascular signs.
“Move!” The Betazoid nurse barked as the four women and Victoria dashed across the cavern floor. As they advanced, Fiadh ran sideways, calmly running multiple tests and assessing Smith’s vitals and organ functions. From time to time, she would withdraw various medical devices, and either place them on or insert them into Smith’s body.
“Approaching the ramp!” Gace barked as the team hoofed it toward the Resurrection.
“Nothing personal, sirs!” Fiadh announced as she broke away from Victoria, retreated to Tiri and Vree’s position and hip-checked the Trill hard to knock her out of the way. Hannigan then seized the back of the mobile bio stretcher before grasping Tiri by the scruff and pushing her forward. 
“Clear us a path, Lieutenant!” She barked as she watched the Andorian sprint ahead of them. The nurse looked back at Vree, who was getting back onto her feet. “Sorry sir!! Let the infirmary know we’re coming!!”
As the group crested the ramp and entered the Resurrection, they saw Lt. Commander Carmichael directly ahead, swinging his right arm in a wide circle and signaling for the group to turn right once they reached him.
“Where the hell do you have us going?” Gace demanded.
“Shortcut!” Carmichael replied as he fell into line and sprinted with the team. 
“We’re taking a shortcut?!!?” Hannigan demanded as she observed a trio of engineers ahead pulling open a panel to an access tube.
“We’ll pull her through. She’ll emerge on the other side in a storage bay, and then it's a straight shot and up one level to the infirmary.”
“Sweet mother of God, this is a mistake. Why are we listening to engineers on a medical emergency?” The Irish nurse declared as she watched Tiri close in on the access tube.
“Because Union XII saved several members of my team during the fight with the Sons of Cardassia. We won’t pass on an opportunity to return the favor.”
“How will we get Commander Smith and the stretcher through that tube?” Gace pressed.
“We’re engineers. Leave that to us.” The Lt. Commander replied as his team took custody of Victoria. Seconds later, he tapped his comm badge.
“Transport, beam Hannigan, Gace and Sh’avelith to the isolinear tag I set. On my mark, energize!”
Hannigan and her two companions were suddenly enveloped in a blue-white light. Seconds later, the rematerialized in a dimly lit storage bay. Waiting for them was a crewman who stood next to a hatch.
“Who the bloody hell are you?” Fiadh demanded as she looked about for Victoria. 
“I’m here to guide you through the cargo bay. It's a straight shot from here to the turbolift which will take you up to the infirmary.”
“What… is the ship's entire crew rallying to help us?” Gace sarcastically asked no one in particular.
“They are, sir.” The crewman countered.
“What?” Hannigan asked. There was a tone of hesitation in her voice.
“Commander Smith, let me use her communication system to talk to my pregnant wife back home every week.” The crewman announced. “I’d carry her to sick bay myself if I was allowed to.”
“Let me guess,” Hannigan answered as she tried to conceal her annoyance. “Help the nice girl.”
“Damn straight. She and your group are our lucky charm.”
“Your what?” Hixwir asked in confusion.
“We know what you guys do. It doesn’t go unnoticed.”
Before the two nurses could respond, there was a loud clank as the panel door swung open, and a pair of engineers pushed Victoria and the stretcher out. Fiadh and Hixwir quickly hefted the stretcher and nodded at Tiri and the crewman.
Seconds later, the group was weaving through a maze of storage containers until they reached a long passageway. At the end, one of the two security officers assigned to the medical team was furiously tapping a control panel to bring the turbolift down to their level.
“It’s stuck two levels above us!” the officer gasped before signaling the team to turn left. “The turbolift hasn't arrived! There’s an access ladder fifty meters down the passageway.”
“Useless a**hole!’ Fiadh hissed as she passed him and rounded the corner. Time was running out, and she, Tiri, and Hixwir were starting to lose steam.
When the trio arrived at the ladder, Sh’avelith wearily looked up. “It’s going to be challenging to get her up and through that hatch.”
Suddenly, a hand reached down through the opening. 
“May I help?” Captain Lazarus asked as he and Commander Sornax looked down at the medical team below him. 
“Sir?” Tiri asked in confusion.
“I do not intend to lose the commanding officer of my combat medical team today.”
Gace shot a hard look first at Fiadh and then at Tiri. ‘You two, switch! Fiadh, the infirmary, is just above us. Get the damn EMHs online.”
Fiadh nodded and quickly switched with the Andorian. 
Afterward, she leapt onto the ladder, seized Lazarus’ hand and let him pull her up and through the hatch. She then raced toward the Resurrection’s infirmary. Halfway down the passageway, she looked over her shoulder to see Lazarus, Sornax and her teammates pulling Victoria and the stretcher up through the hatch.
The Irish nurse entered the infirmary and breathlessly began to bark orders for the EMH to activate and prepare for emergency surgery.
From the corner of the infirmary, a recovering Darva McGuire watched in shock. 
Angry at the ordeal, Fiadh looked over at the head of security and coldly stated, “Commander Smith kept her promise to you, sir. She brought your boyfriend back but may have lost her life.”
Commander Mayla Vree
USS Resurrection, Rogaran VI Penal Colon
Stardate 2302.13
Mayla stood aside as the stretcher with Smith was taken away by personnel more qualified than she. Behind them, the rest of the team boarded up the ramp, followed by the security detailed at Bullseye and those standing guard with the comm relays. She quickly recovered and her four sky-eye nanoprobes. They weren't going to leave anything behind.
She handed her Terran rifle over to security and headed the long way to the infirmary. But one of the infirmary's nurses held her in check just as she reached the door.
"I'm sorry Commander, but it's crowded in there. I'll keep you updated on her status," he said sternly.
Mayla just gave him a nod and backed off. Turning sound she saw their three new passengers, standing in the hallway trying to keep out of the way after they were kicked out of the infirmary. Giving them a gesture to follow her, she led them straight to the armory. This was a breach of protocol, but the ship wasn't that big and she was sure the crew had more important things to do than to create a temporary billeting for the passengers. Just as the trio followed her into the armory, the bridge announced Black Alert. Mayla ignored it as if it was a daily routine as the ship jumped.
She wasn't too worried about revealing too much in the armory. The weapons ordinance and specialized equipment all were packed behind locker doors. She reached her own locker and opened it. She gestured for them to sit down on the bench and handed them a padd she pulled off the inside of her locker door.
"Here's a series of pictures of Zach. He's at Starfleet Academy now."
While the trio perused through it and chatting amongst themselves, she put away her katana and changed her clothes. When she was restrapping her pulse pistol and phaser to her thighs, they had reached the end of the images.
"You remain close to him?"
"I have, I still am."
"What about Ky?"
"Ky is on an extended shadow assignment. No one knows where he is." Mayla said it with a smile. "Just the way he wants it."
"That was your team they just brought into the infirmary." Ammelis said.
"Yes."
"The woman was in bad shape," Jasid added.
"She is a close childhood friend."
Klomden looked at her and slightly shook her head. Mayla pointed a finger at her. "I do have something to ask of you while you're on this ship. I request that you refrain from reading anyone's minds. You're on a Starfleet ship at the moment, and all three of you must keep to our protocols. Is that understood?"
"Aye, sir." All three gave her a salute, whether they were humoring her or not, she had only their word based on the respect they had for her father. And only what she knew of them.
"Let's head to the bridge."
Moments later, they walked in and on the viewscreen, they had already left the cavern and were in open space at warp.
On the bridge, Lazarus had ordered the jump and the crew executed a Black alert flawlessly…that was, until the coaxial drive engaged. Just seconds before Vree stepped onto the bridge, the console lights flickered oddly across the stations and the ship hesitated a brief moment before making the jump.
To the rest of the ship the *blip* was barely noticeable. But to Lazarus it was definitely unusual…reaffirmed by an immediate call to the bridge from engineering.
“Captain, before you ask the answer is I don’t know,” Carmichael said. “There was a surge in the coaxial drive causing a 1.2 second pause in the jump.”
“Could it be because we jumped from inside a planet?” Lazarus asked.
“Maybe…but unlikely,” the engineer replied. “We’re arriving in Mutara, so it seems the jump was a success. I’ll start running diagnostics.”
“Keep me informed,” Lazarus said as Mayla walked in. “Lazarus out.”
Lazarus turned around to look at them and gestured to Mayla's customary position on the bridge to stay out of everyone's way. "We’ve arrived in the Mutara System."
"The Mutara System is dozens of parsecs away from the penal colony," Jasid said. "It would take at least a few hours even at maximum warp to get there. How could we already be there?"
"Sorry, but that's classified." Mayla answered instead of Lazarus, eyeing Klomden to remind her to keep out of everyone's head.
"We overheard some of the Empress' personal commandos talking about assaulting a ship with a special type of propulsion that allowed faster than warp travel." Ammelis looked around the bridge. "You're here because they wanted this ship."
"Confirmed we’re in the Mutara System, Captain," the helmsman reported. 
"Sensors?" Lazarus asked.
"No ships on our sensors." Helm reported.
Lazarus turned to them. "Now what?"
Klomden gave them instructions. "There is a small cloaked comm relay hidden in this system that we use for transfers and pick ups. Open a hailing frequency on an ultra low theta band and send this series of numbers in Betazed once. Then we wait." She walked over to the helm and entered the series of digits.
Mayla remained silent the entire time waiting. She had tapped into the comms and computer in the infirmary and was following the progress on saving Smith's life in her eyes. There wasn't anything she could do but to just watch and wait to see if the infirmary could save her. She watched stoically and kept her emotions in check.
They didn't have to wait very long. In fifteen minutes, a ship came into sensor range.
"A ship just dropped out of high warp. It's big."
"On screen," Lazarus ordered. The image on the screen magnified to show a tiny speck that slowly grew larger.
"It's the Enterprise," Klomden said. 
"What's left of her," Ammelis added as she scrutinized its condition.
What looked originally like a Sovereign class ship grew to full size on the screen. The ship showed hundreds of scars on its external hull with exterior plating missing or patched together from spare parts of salvaged ships. There were haphazardly sealed hull breaches throughout the saucer section and secondary hull of the ship. It had seen better days.
"We're being hailed."
"Open a channel."
A short blonde woman who had also seen better days, appeared on the screen on a bridge that has had its fair share of battle damage. Her voice came out raspy.
"What the hell is Starfleet doing here using one of our frequencies?" the woman asked.
Klomden stepped forward to address her. "Captain Klomden, ma'am. They assisted me in the generals' extraction from Rogaran IV."
"I heard about that mission. So you got them out. Good. Nobody thought you'd succeed." Then she looked at Lazarus. "Quentin?"
Lazarus stood up. "Captain Quentin Lazarus, USS Resurrection."
She gave him a nod of acknowledgement. "Admiral Alynna Necheyev of the rebel alliance ship Enterprise. Thanks for your help."
"We'll beam your people over to your ship and we'll be on our way," Lazarus said.
"Our transporter is standing by." Then communications were immediately cut.
Lazarus gave Mayla a curt look as he sat back down. "Commander Vree, please escort our guests to the transporter room."
"Aye, sir."
Lt. Commander Ryramorl Ra’yral
Joshagk
USS Resurrection
Stardate 2302.13
As Victoria was taken away, Ryramorl asked to be put in contact with the Captain. “Sir. I have a Mirror Usarin prisoner who is seeking asylum in the Carnora Pentarchy. He carried Victoria from where she was injured to Bullseye. Is he permitted to come with us, or no?”
“On a top-secret military vessel?!”
“Sir, yes sir. He has agreed to be confined to the brig for the duration of the journey. Upon arrival at Earth, he can be immediately turned over to the Carnoric Embassy, sir.”
“And why would you let a Mirror Carnora seek asylum?”
“Sir. He said he’d help if we granted him asylum or, if we could not, then we would quickly kill him instead of leaving him here, sir.”
“And what is so important about him that you would agree to this, Lieutenant?”
“Sir. He is a Usarin, sir, and they are a decimated race. You could fit every single Usarin known to be alive into the New Stanford Stadium on Earth and have room to spare, sir.”
“... Fine. But make sure he doesn’t cause any trouble.”
Joshagk breathed a sigh of relief when he was permitted to board. Silently, he followed the security officers to the brig and entered one of the cells. The young Usarin leaned back against the wall and slept.
He was briefly woken up as Coaxial Drive engaged, and looked around in confusion. “What happened? Are we…”
“Eh, this ship’s got a weird warp drive. You get used to it,” said one of the guards.
Joshagk rumbled nervously, but leaned back, trying to get to sleep.
The guard watched the big Usarin, then leaned over to her colleague. “Wish Lokarchin had been this quiet,” she murmured.
Lt. Commander Daryl Thompson
USS Resurrection
Stardate 2302.13
The last part of the way back to the Resurrection was a blur of noises and shadows. After Ryramorl had picked him up Daryl had been drifting in and out of consciousness. Now and then he noticed the slow, rhythmic movement of Ryramorls tread. In those he also caught some words from familiar voices, but nothing made sense at this moment.
Then he felt how he was hoisted onto a stretcher. He barely noticed the hyposprays that were administered to him. Then everything faded to black. 
Lt. Cody Beckett
USS Resurrection
Stardate 2302.14
Cody was glad he saw the Resurrection hovering in the cave. It had been a successful mission, as they were able to retrieve Daryl. Yet, it had taken its toll. Cody stayed alert while the rest of the team brought in the wounded. Once everyone was in, he took a last sweep together with a few security officers to see if nothing was left behind. Then they entered, and the door closed. Cody went straight to the armory to change into a fresh uniform. Then he would go to the infirmary to get his own looks back, as he still resembled the space pirate Hayden Rupert. Then he could check on Daryl as well. 
Lieutenant (JG) Reepchip Charatetet
USS Resurrection
Stardate 2302.14
Reepchip quietly cleaned the blood off himself in the sonic shower. He would have been there for the others, but the Infirmary was packed. He himself was uninjured—but that was beside the point. After what he’d been through, he needed to meditate, especially after driving the Mirror Ryramorl berserk, causing so much death as a mere distraction.
He found an out-of-the-way corner, closed his eyes, and concentrated. As he did, he felt a Presence—that strange alien Presence of the ship that everyone else seemed to be unaware of. He politely acknowledged it, then turned his thoughts to what he’d done as a Shaman: Using The Hidden Hand to kill someone, using The Silent Voice to drive someone mad and kill and run straight to his death, tearing apart a soldier with his bare claws and teeth. He wasn’t sure how to feel about it, and as he pondered what he’d done, he got the strangest sensation.
The ship… approved!?
Reepchip also sensed something else from the ship. He wasn’t immediately sure what it was, but after a short time he began to feel as if the ship was feeling some sort of anxiety or stress—specifically the alien coaxial drive.
It was decidedly…unwell.
Reepchip’s opened his eyes and immediately contacted Lieutenant Commander Carmichael. “Lieutenant Commander Carmichael! Lieutenant Junior Grade Charatetet reporting!”
“Lieutenant Commander Carmichael. Go ahead, Lieutenant.”
“Something’s wrong with the coaxial drive, sir! It’s… just not feeling well. LIke it’s anxious or feeling stressed, sir.”
Lt. Commander Carmichael took a deep breath. So Reepchip had noticed, too. “It’s not telling you what is wrong?”
“I’m not getting anything specific, sir. Just that it’s unwell or upset.”
“Did you also notice a blip in the power?”
“No, sir, I was meditating, so I had my eyes closed.”
“Ah, okay. We’re already running diagnostics. Thank you for letting me know.”
“You’re welcome, sir.”
“Have you told the Captain?”
“Sir, no sir.”
“Make sure you do."
“Sir. Yes sir.”
Reepchip took a deep breath, and opened a channel to the Captain. “Captain. Lieutenant Junior Grade Reepchip Charatetet, reporting.”
Lazarus was not surprised—if the ship actually talked to Reepchip, surely it would have let him know if something happened. “Lieutenant. Report.”
“The ship is not feeling well,sir.”
“Did you notice the power fluctuation?”
“No, sir. I was meditating, so my eyes were closed. But I just felt something… wrong with the ship, sir”
“I already have Commander Carmichael running diagnostics. Did you feel anything specific?”
“Only that it was stressed or anxious, sir.”
“Very well. Thank you for letting me know. Lazarus out.”
Reepchip took a deep breath, and started his meditations again, but this time with a different purpose: ::Ship, please talk to me. Let me know what’s wrong.::
The ship, or more accurately the coaxial drive, responded with only one short statement: “Get. It. Out.”
Colonel Jahkar
USS Resurrection/Aboard the Gentle Annie
Stardate 2302.14
In the scope of things, Jahkar’s busted ribcage was nothing to repair compared to Smith and Thompson. He was briefly put under aboard the medical ship, an incision was made on the side of his ribcage that was injured, and Union XII personnel went in and fixed the damaged bone and cartilage.
During the procedure, the medics had undone the minor cosmetic alterations that had been done to Jahkar prior to the mission so he again looked like himself.
Within minutes he was closed back up and brought out from general anesthesia. When he was well enough to stand up, he was sent from the Annie, into the Resurrection’s hangar and was on his way.
McCulloch, he noted, was already gone.
Jahkar made his way from the hangar and went up to the infirmary, but getting close to that area of the ship was impossible. There were too many people crammed into the bay and the corridor outside the door.
The marine diverted himself, making it to the turbolift so her could go up to the bridge. Stepping out of the lift, he was a little out of place in his tattered clothing, but wanted to see what was happening.
As he walked onto the bridge he saw Mayla walking toward him with three familiar individuals following behind.
“Argonne! Desiree! Commander Ammelis!” he stammered, shocked to see two officers he’d served with in Bravo Squad, as well as the former CO of the Fearless under MacLeod. “What the heck?”
Vree held up a hand, either to halt Jahkar, or the three from taking a defensive position. But either way, Jahkar halted. "Colonel Jahkar, let me introduce you to Generals Argonne Jasid and Kianna Ammelis, and Captain Desiree Klomden. They are part of the rebel alliance against the Terran Empire."
Jahkar blushed a little, embarrassed at his gaff. He should have known better, considering where they were and what had been going on all this time.
“My apologies,” he said.
“Jahkar,” Klomden muttered. “I hope you’re nothing like the Jahkar from our universe. Lap dog to emperors and a cold blooded killer.”
The marine stepped aside, “No, ma’am. I am not.”
“By the way,” Lazarus called from the center chair. “That Jahkar died trying to take this ship a short time ago.”
Jasid nodded with a wry grin, “Good to know. But there will always be more lap dogs. Good meeting you, colonel.”
They dispensed with any pleasantries and left with Mayla guiding them. As they walked off the bridge, Lazarus drew closer and looked to the marine. “Why the hell are you here? You just had surgery. Go take a shower and rest. As soon as we’re done here Resurrection is returning to the Prime universe. Now, go!”
Jahkar nodded with a sigh and turned, following behind Mayla’s entourage a few moments later.
Lt. Commander William McCulloch
Jumpship Gentle Annie/USS Resurrection
Stardate 2302.14
William McCulloch was numb and sad. Nothing more, nothing less.
The mission was a giant cluster. After successfully leading the team back to Bullseye, he collapsed.
A Union XII nurse initially examined him inside the cavern and then directed him to the Gentle Annie for further treatment. While there, he was sure he received treatment for his injuries, but he couldn’t remember what. He also remembered the jump ship taking off at some point while he was in the medical bay and quickly landing in the Resurrection’s hangar. 
A half-hour later, he had been unceremoniously discharged and kicked off the jump ship. Initially, he wandered about the Gentle Annie’s hangar looking for his teammates but he was unsuccessful. 
Eventually, he made his way to the cargo bay, where the fight between the Terran boarding party and the Resurrection’s crew took place. He looked about in both amazement and horror at the extent of the damage done. Occasionally a petty officer would approach and offer to describe what happened, but Will simply waved them away.
Upon seeing dried blood stains smeared on the bay floor, the Scot decided he had had enough and left. 
McCulloch knew he was stalling to avoid going up to the infirmary. He just couldn’t bear to hear the inevitable, that Victoria wouldn’t recover from her injuries and would die. But, if she woke up, he, Mayla, or both should be there in her final hours.
Will tapped his comm badge and requested the location of Vree. When he learned she was on the bridge, he simply shook his head in disappointment. The Trill’s a** should have been parked outside the infirmary but it wasn’t. He was tempted to find her and speak his mind but quickly rejected such action. Victoria wouldn’t want it.
Eventually, the Scot found a turbolift and went up to the level the infirmary was on. As he made his way down the passageway, he noted the closer he got to the medical bay, the more security officers there were. They all seemed to watch him closely. Some gave him suspicious looks while others nodded sympathetically. Eventually, a Trill ensign stopped him. 
“You can’t be here, Lt. Commander William McCulloch.” Thrice softly announced.
“I just want to see her. Please ensign.” The Scot pleaded, hoping not to cause a scene. Nearby, a large male security guard eyed McCulloch carefully as he rested his hand on a pistol.
The Trill seized Will by the forearm, spun him around and started to escort him away from the infirmary. He started to protest but Thrice whispered for him to remain silent.
The pair traveled down a side passageway and eventually reached a viewport with a bench built into the wall.
“Wait here.” She calmly ordered. “I’m close enough to the infirmary to pick up bits and pieces on her medical condition. Whatever I hear, I’ll bring to you.”
“Why would you do that?” Will dejectedly asked as he slumped down onto the floor next to the bench. 
“Because I owe you.” Thrice countered. “You didn’t think I forgot that you saved my life during the fight with the Sons of Cardassia do you?”
Will looked up at the ensign and nodded from side to side. There was a brief, awkward silence before he spoke. 
‘What do you know.”
Jala stiffened slightly and hesitated. She softly exhaled and looked out the viewport, avoiding eye contact with McCulloch.
“I’m not going to lie, she’s not good, sir.” She sadly announced. “The wound, blood loss and shock to her organs are all taking a toll on her.”
“How bad is it?” Will hesitated to ask.
“She’s flatlined twice, sir, but …”
“But what?” McCulloch interrupted as he scoffed at the ensign.
Thrice bit her lip and looked down at the floor. “But they’re saying she’s a fighter, sir. I overheard one of the nurses say any other person in her condition would be dead by now. They don’t know if it’s her will to live or the Trill analeptics, but she’s still in the fight.”
Will nodded silently as he mulled over what she said. The Scot knew she was likely bull sh*tting him just to make him feel better. After a moment, he looked back up at the ensign.
“Thank you Ms. Thrice.”
“If I hear any news, I’ll come immediately.”
“Thank you.”
After the Trill security officer left, Will looked back out the viewport. From time to time he would wipe away the tears as they rolled down his face.
Lieutenant Ryramorl Ra’yral
Stardate 2302.14
USS Resurrection
Ryramorl had a naturally very soft tread when he was barefoot—so he was unsurprised that Will didn’t hear his approach. When he came closer, though, he realized William’s mind was in another world. Ryramorl left for a moment, then came back. There was a soft “tok” as he placed an clay cup on the ledge of the viewport, holding one himself. He looked at Will and gently said, “Let us Share Water.”
Lt. Commander William McCulloch
USS Resurrection
Stardate 2302.15
Will wiped his eyes and exhaled loudly before looking up at Ryramorl. He appreciated the gesture, although at the moment he preferred a Pickering Whiskey bottle. After gathering himself together and standing up, he took the cup.
“Thank you my friend,” The Scot quietly announced.
There was a brief pause between the two. Eventually, Ryramorl spoke.
“How is she?”
McCulloch hesitated but eventually relented and answered. “She’s… she’s in a bad place right now.” He answered, struggling not to choke on his words. 
“They’re still treating her, but she’s flatlined twice.”
This time the Carnora was the one who remained silent. After a moment of reflection, he replied. “I believe she will survive.”
“How can you be so sure?” Will countered, hoping for any explanation he could hang on to.
“Because she is both a healer and a fighter. A person like that does not simply give up that easily.”
McCulloch smiled weakly. He truly hoped it would be that simple.
Lt. Commander Ryramorl Ra’yral
USS Resurrection
Stardate 2302.15
“She is both a healer and a fighter. A person like that does not simply give up that easily.” Ryramorl raised his cup, and drank from it, giving McCulloch a look that told him the Carnora expected him to do the same—apparently, Sharing Water was some kind of ritual amongst his people.
Ryramorl paused, thinking of something that might give his fellow officer a smile. “She is a fighter, and such both dash into the arms of, and battle fiercely with the Lord of the Grey Tribes. She is also a healer. She is a healer, and she knows that there yet crewmembers that do not will their bodies to heal on their own lest they be forced to drink her potions. She is a healer, but she has yet to brew brews that write dark words in forgotten languages with their own smoke. She is a healer, but yet there remain crewmembers who do not quail at the taste of her medicines.”
“What are you saying about her skills as a healer?” demanded McCulloch.
“Come now,” said Ryramorl, his ears twitching. “All know that Healers are in an eternal competition to create the most dreadful-looking, foul-smelling, vile-tasting, gut-tormenting cure-all, but even Reepchip has yet to hide under the bed from her. She will not die. She has so much to do.”
Will nodded in agreement before looking back out the viewport.
“Thank you Ryramorl for the kind words.” He replied, sounding somewhat distracted.
Colonel Jahkar
USS Resurrection
Stardate 2302.15
Jahkar was heading back to his quarters, but decided he wanted to see how McCulloch was doing. He asked the computer to locate him and was surprised to find he was in a remote nook of the ship, near the medbay but away from the chaos of the lifesaving efforts happening there.
The marine located the narrow passage back to the spot he figured Union XII had stuck Will to keep him out of the way and walked in on the Scot and Ryramorl huddled in the tight quarters, both sitting in front of a viewport which looked out into space at the Mutara system.
“Sorry if I’m interrupting,” Jahkar said as he walked in. “Wanted to see how you were doing. There’s no way to get close to the medbay. Do you know how she’s doing?”
Lt. Commander William McCulloch
USS Resurrection
Stardate 2302.15
McCulloch knew it was only a matter of time before his teammates would start trickling in, and rather than being annoyed, he was grateful for their company and their willingness to support him…and Victoria …in their time of need.
Will thought how to answer Jahkar’s question but chose to be upfront.
“Colonel, it's not good.” 
“Define not good Will.”
“She’s crashed twice.” McCulloch quietly noted. “The wound and subsequent blood loss are taking a heavy toll on her body. She …”
The Scot hesitated as Ensign Thrice returned. The Trill motioned with her hand for McCulloch to join her.
“What is this?” Jahkar asked in confusion.
“Thrice is near the infirmary and promised to share with me anything she learned.”
“Do you want me to join you?”
Will briefly hesitated and almost answered ‘yes’. Instead, he nodded his head in the negative.
Jahkar and Ryramorl watched as the Trill pulled Will close to her and spoke in a low whisper. The conversation lasted several seconds before Thrice rested her hand on McCulloch’s right shoulder, patted it gently once or twice and then walked back to her post.
Will remained where he was, staring down at the floor.
“Lieutenant Commander?” the Carnora pressed.
McCulloch sighed and turned around to face his companions. “They prevented a third flatlining and are prepping her for another surgery.” 
“She’s still alive, then. That’s a good sign.” The marine replied, trying to put a positive spin on the situation.
Will silently nodded before continuing. “The entire situation is taking a toll on her body. Another crash could kill her.”
“She won’t crash.” Ryramorl confidently announced.
“A word sir?” The Scot asked of Jahkar. Instantly he was next to the Lt. Commander. McCulloch continued.
“There is one more thing.”
“Go on.” The colonel replied as he eyed Will carefully.
“Thrace told me she heard one of the nurses say the only reason Victoria made it to the infirmary alive was because of Lt. Sh’avelith’s actions. That information should be included in an official report. People above our pay grade deserve to know what she did.”
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