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The vorta known as Ikor stood in the center of the bridge, the cylindrical consoles in front of him chirruping as they received telemetry from the Jem’Hadar fleet. The virtual display visor covered his left eye, the black void of space with the twinkling of stars showing on the tiny screen.
“The last of the Jem’Hadar ships has joined the fleet.” First Ka’ana reported, fixing his display visor. “Total ship count is now over 3,372. The fleet has signalled their readiness.”
The vorta remained still, only turning his head to the First. “What of the minefield?”
First Ka’ana pressed the side of his visor. “The minefield has been destroyed. We should have no further problems.”
The Vorta smirked, “Then inform command that we are ready to pass through the wormhole.”
“Transmitting….” The First tapped on his console, a second of silence before his console chirruped, “We have been given clearance to proceed into the wormhole.”
“Contact the rest of the fleet and tell them to proceed forward at full impulse.” The Vorta ordered.
The First’s console chirped. “The fleet has acknowledged your order and is following at full impulse.”
“Order all fighter craft to board their carriers before we enter the aperture.”
“Fighter craft have boarded their vessels.”
“How much farther to the wormhole opening?”
The First peered at the screen behind him. “500 kilometers to aperture….400 kilometers...300 kilometers…200 kilometers….100 kilometers…we are entering.”
The bridge rumbled softly as the dreadnought passed through the mouth of the wormhole, blue spindles of energy flowed like ribbons in a calm wind, rings of white surged over the walls of the wormhole.
Ikor smirked confidently, turning to the rear of the bridge. The view of hundreds of Jem’Hadar attack ships, cruisers, and dreadnoughts in close proximity to each other filled the display’s small screen. The reinforcements the forces in the Alpha Quadrant requested, the final push to ensure Dominion control.
“We shall exit the wormhole in three minutes, our primary forces and Cardassian allies are still currently dealing with the Federation and their allies.”
The Vorta chuckled. “What of Captain Sisko?”
The First checked on his console. “Deep Space Nine has sent a transmission. They’re saying the Defiant has entered the wormhole.”
Ikor looked at his second-in-command, eyebrows furrowed before chuckling. “I guess that answers my question.”
“They are in visual range.”
Ikor turned to face the front of the bridge, his display visor showing the Defiant several hundred kilometers away. “Trying to be the hero, as always.” Ikor said derogatively, “Order the first thousand ships to lock weapons on the Defiant, I’m not going to let one little ship get in the way.”
First Ka’ana nodded, typing away on the cylindrical consoles before him. “The fleet’s acknowledged your order and are locking weapons.”
“Order them to hold their fire until the Defiant is within 400 kilometers.”
“The Defiant is locking weapons as well.”
Ikor scowled, “A martyr…. how far are they?”
“800 kilometers and closing.”
He gritted his teeth. “Hold your fire….”
“600 kilometers….”
“Almost….”
“500 kilometers….”
“Almost...”
“They are within 400 kilometers.”
Ikor smiled devilishly, “All ships…..fir-”
The bridge rocked suddenly as waves of electricity washed over the walls, floor, and ceiling. Portions of the walls began to disappear and reappear, growing in size with every repetition. The airless expanse of the wormhole’s diameter showed through the phased portions of the hull.
“What the….First, what’s happening?”
“I’m not certain, There is a vast EM field surrounding the entire fleet. All of our ships are reporting the same phenomenon.”
The bridge rumbled violently as lights flickered, the sound of metal creaking echoed throughout the bridge. A single loud clank ended the noise, the lights cutting out and left the bridge in darkness for several seconds before reactivating.
Ikor gripped the center console tightly, breathing heavily as the lights reactivated. “First Ka’ana….what happened?”
Ka’ana rose quickly and tested his console. “I don’t know, sensors are down and so is main power.”
Ikor pressed the side of his visor, the display only showing static. “First, is your visor operational?”
Ka’ana pressed the side of his visor, static appeared on the display momentarily before clearing up. “Affirmative.”
The Vorta continued to press his display visor. “What do you see?” Ikora ordered.
The Jem’Hadar turned in his spot, staring blankly into space. “I see….a moon….with a strange pattern of craters on it.”
“What else?”
The Jem’Hadar turned again, facing the rear of the bridge. “...A G-Type star…”
“What about the rest of the fleet?” The Vorta questioned.
“I cannot locate any other Jem’Hadar ships.” The First replied, looking at his console. “Sensors have been reactivated….I am detecting Jem’hadar ships at the outer edge of this system.”
“What system are we in, First?”
The Jem’Hadar tapped at his console. “Unable to identify.” He responded, “I am detecting another ship in close proximity.”
The Vorta’s eyebrows furrowed again. “Sisko?”
“No. It is not even the Defiant.”
The First’s response puzzled the Vorta. “Then what type of ship is it?”
“I’m….unable to identify, there is no Federation ship with that hull design in our databases.”
“Do we have weapons?” The Vorta questioned.
As if on cue, the floor hatch at the rear of the ship was thrown open with a loud clank, a Jem’Hadar climbed the ladder and approached the First.
“First, the others are requesting information as to what has occurred.”
“That is not important as of now.” The First replied almost immediately, “Right now, do we have tactical and defensive capabilities?”
“Negative, First. Shields are currently non-operational and so are weapons.”
“What about warp, Second?” The Vorat chimed in.
The Second faced Ikor. “Our warp nacelles have been damaged. Impulse, however, remains operational.” He responded.
“First, have you been able to scan the unknown ship?”
The Jem’hadar typed busily on his console. “I’m detecting interference of some kind, it is making scans of the vessel difficult. I cannot identify their offensive and defensive capabilities.”
“Fighting blind….” the Vorta pondered. “Activate the impulse engines, set a course for the rest of the fleet.”
The Jem’Hadar nodded. “Setting course for the fleet.” he said, the hum of the impulse engines quietly rose in pitch as the ship moved behind the moon.
Several hours passed as the Jem’Hadar dreadnought travelled through the system, passing through the rings of the second gas giant in the system. Balls of white energy whizzed by the dreadnought, moving at incredible speeds before stopping suddenly in the distance.
Ikor sighed, leaning on the center console with head in hand. “What is our ETA with the fleet?” he said impatiently, “And was it necessary to hide in the gas giant’s rings?”
“It was necessary to ensure that the unknown ship was not following us. The sensors are not operating at peak efficiency with the interference I am detecting.” The Jem’Hadar replied dully.
The Vorta sighed again, running a hand through his coarse black hair as he straightened up. “Have you established contact with the fleet?”
Ka’ana nodded, “There is too much interference.”
Ikor sighed, pacing around the center console.
More hours passed as the dreadnought passed two cerulean colored gas giants, a small planetoid at the edge of the system slowly passed as the ship slowed in speed.
“We have reached the fleet.” The Jem’Hadar said
“What’s their status?” the Vorta ordered.
“Unknown, I shall attempt contact with the 382 ships.”
The Vorta turned to face the First, a bemused look on his face. “ 300….where’s the rest?”
“Unknown, those are all the ship beacons that can be detected.”
Ikor nodded, chuckling. “No….no no,that’s not right. Check again.”
“I do not need to check again, there are only 382 ships in the asteroid field.” Ka’ana said through clenched teeth, a look of anger in his eyes.
The Vorta returned the expression before looking away. “382 ships...and no clue where we are…can they be contacted?”
“I have managed to establish contact.”
“And?”
“The other Vortas and firsts are meeting to discuss what has occurred. They’re requesting our presence.”
“Accept their request and have them send a engineering detail to our ship to repair it. I need some answers….” Ikor ordered as he opened the floor hatch, climbing down the metal ladder before closing the hatch with a loud clang.
~~~>> <<~~~