The Bajoran Incident: Civil War III Chapter Sixteen

To the surprise of Sisko, Janeway, and Chakotay, they had to wait just two hours before Hudson returned. Upon entering the room, he took the seat he had occupied previously.

"Well?" asked Sisko. "What did the other commanders say?"

"They have agreed to help you, but with a few changes to your plan."

"Which are?" asked Chakotay.

"That we will act as your backup only. If you need us, we'll be there, but we will not help in the attack on Bajor unless you really need us."

"And what about the Maquis joining the Free Federation?" asked Janeway.

"One step at a time, Captain. For now, we will help you with this one operation."

"Well, it's a start," said Sisko, extending his hand. "Welcome aboard, Cal!"

Hudson looked at Sisko’s hand, and after a few tense seconds, grasped it. Sisko could tell that he didn't have Hudson's complete trust, but for now, that was enough.

 

With his main hope of detecting the Free Federation ships nearby gone, Travis decided to take matters into his own hands. Having had the sensors of a runabout enhanced, he dispatched the ship to the point of the last known fluctuation.

At that last known point, aboard the Valkyrie, Lom was trying frantically to repair the damaged systems. He and his team of engineers were walking the proverbial tightrope. Darkmagus' operation had caused extensive damage to many systems. Watt paced up and down nervously on the bridge.

"Captain!" Ro said. "I'm picking up a runabout heading straight towards us!"

"Have they detected us?"

"No. It's possible they've come to investigate the sub-space fluctuations we've been putting out."

Then, the lights brightened for a split second until they darkened again.

"Watt to Engineering! What's going on?"

"The cloaking device is about to fail, Captain!" Lom reported. "There is nothing I can do!"

The lights continued to brighten and dim, as, for split seconds, the Valkyrie became visible, able to be picked up by not just the runabout, but the station as well.

"Divert power from other systems if you have to, Commander!" Watt ordered.

"There's no point, Captain! There is nothing I can do!"

 

As Avon looked down at his sensor panel, he studied the information closely.

"Zen was right," he said. "The Valkyrie's cloaking device is close to failure."

"Without it they'll be like a sitting duck!" said Blake. "Zen, is it possible to establish a direct link to the Valkyrie's main computer?"

"Yes."

"What's your plan?" asked Avon.

"Zen, would it be possible to use your self-repair system to repair the Valkyrie's damaged systems?"

"It won't work!" said Avon. "You're talking about two vastly different computer systems here! They'll be totally incompatible!"

"Will it work, Zen?" Blake asked again, giving Avon an icy stare at exactly the same time.

"Unknown. Self-repair system has never been used in such a way before."

"There's a first time for everything!" said Blake. "Establish the link, Zen, and contact the Valkyrie to let them know what we are doing!"

Zen went silent for a few seconds before speaking again.

"The link is established, Commander."

 

"They're doing what?" said Watt, turning to Ro.

"Commander Blake has established a direct link between his computer and ours," Ro reported. "They're going to use the Liberator's self-repair systems to repair ours!"

"They'd better hurry!" Lom said from Engineering. "The cloaking device is about to shut down!"

Seconds later, Watt joined Ro at the panel. Sutek watched from the engineering station.

"Remarkable," the Vulcan said. "Power to the cloaking device is returning to normal in a matter of seconds. All the damaged systems, shields, all of them, are returning to normal."

"I wouldn't have thought it possible," said Ro.

"Nor I," said Watt. "What's the situation in Engineering, Lom?"

"Very relieved, Captain. All systems are up to full power."

 

The Jem'Hadar pilot slowly approached the coordinates he had been given. He was annoyed, not about the mission, but at the fact that the voice of Commander Travis was constantly in his ears.

"Have you found anything yet?" Travis kept asking.

"I am approaching the coordinates now, Commander. The sensors are on a constant cycle."

The pilot brought his ship to a full stop as the sensors made a full sweep of the area. He enjoyed the moment's silence as Travis stopped barking into his ear. Then, while just staring out into open space, he thought he caught a glimpse of something for a split second. Leaning forward, he checked the sensor panel.

"Have you found anything yet?" Travis asked again.

"I thought I saw something for a moment, but the sensors didn't pick anything up. It's probably just a sensor shadow or something."

"Very well. Return to D.S.9."

Travis smashed his fist into the table. He had been convinced there was a Free Federation starship somewhere out there.

 

Night fell as Shakaar returned to the camp after a scouting excursion. Tired and hungry, all he wanted to do was get some rest. He did not want to entertain any visitors to his camp. That all changed when he found out who the visitor was.

Ever since the Imperials took control of Bajor, Vedek Bareil had gone underground. With the help of other resistance cells, Bareil had managed to elude the Imperial forces. He had risked life and limb attempting to get to Shakaar's camp.

"What is it, Vedek?" asked Shakaar. "I'm tired and hungry. Whatever it is better be good."

Bareil followed Shakaar as he went towards the mess tent.

"I've brought news from my contacts in the Free Federation."

"I didn't know you had any contacts in the Free Federation!"

"And that's the way I like it."

As Shakaar tucked into his hasperat, Bareil continued with his talk.

"A Free Federation force is on their way to Bajor as we speak. Their intention is the liberation of Bajor."

"How many ships are there?"

"Four. The Defiant, the Liberator, the Valkyrie, and Voyager."

"Are you serious?" Shakaar laughed, almost choking on his food. "Just four ships against the Imperial fleet? What troop strengths do they have? I think Admiral MacCleod and the old James Watt are losing their marbles!"

"To be honest with you, Shakaar, I'm beginning to feel the same way, especially after the other piece of news I have for you. The Istarian, Darkmagus, has used his powers to reconstruct the celestial temple."

"The wormhole? He's reconstructed the wormhole? Life, my friend, has just got a whole lot more difficult!"