The Rescue
Posted on Sun Jun 14th, 2020 @ 3:25pm by Commander Sherwin Porter & Patton O'Sullivan & Lieutenant Commander Chire & Captain Wilkan Targaryen & Administrator Weyoun 12
2,582 words; about a 13 minute read
Mission:
Exodus
Location: Main Sickbay, USS Enterprise
Timeline: 2430-01-09, 10:30
Admiral's Log, Supplemental Entry:
Enterprise has just witnessed the return of one of our greatest threats in history: Genesis. Created by Doctors Carol and David Marcus, Genesis was intended to be a new method to rapidly terraform livable worlds. Instead their dream became quickly perverted into a true weapon of mass destruction capable of eliminating entire civilizations in an instant. Now, deep within the worlds of the Gamma Quadrant, an enemy has turned the powers of creation itself upon the Federation's greatest enemy: the Dominion. As we rescue survivors of their craft I find myself troubled with a simple thought: are the Dominion the victims here or the perpetrators?
Admiral William Teagarden walked down the corridor of the Starship Enterprise with Lieutenant Inju Rilke from Security at his side. He didn't like having a guard walking with him aboard his own ship, but the thought of the alternative right now wasn't appealing either. With the destruction of the Dominion Battleship and the unidentified craft having fled the scene, they were now responsible for picking up the pieces. With all the Jem'Hadar that were aboard the ship he couldn't help but wonder if they would soon make a play to try to take over the Enterprise.
He actually wondered if he wanted them to try.
The Admiral sighed at the thought as they walked toward the large emergency room section of the Sickbay. Weyoun had been one of the first survivors brought onboard by the Enterprise. If William had gotten his way then the esteemed Vorta would still be waiting in a pod for someone to bring him aboard. Of course he'd also been demanding to see the Admiral, no doubt in some effort to parlay for assistance yet again.
Stepping into the expansive emergency room, William was immediately assaulted by the stench of it all. Every biobed was full with a member of the Jem'Hadar crew. Amber colored blood had puddled on the carpet in more than one place as the medical staff struggled to keep up with the demand. William wondered how the Saucer Section Sickbay and the clinic in the Security Section looked as he walked through.
Chire was bustling around offering what help she could. She was no doctor and only had taken the regular medical classes offered at the academy for graduation. Still she felt this might provide her with some invaluable insight into the Dominion. So far she had learned that they were more stubborn than any hatchling she'd ever laid eyes on and they smelled way worse. Still . . . she was reserving judgment as they watched her and she watched them, not the least bit intimidated by anything they did.
Sawbones walked by, quickly stopping, "Admiral are you injured?"
"No, Sawbones, I'm fine. I was looking for Doctor Porter," the CO explained.
"Right over there," he motioned toward the center of the room and the biobed adjacent to the Nurse's Station.
Laying on the biobed was the irrepressible Vorta known as Weyoun. Dressed in the same suit they'd seen him in only a short while ago, his uniform was torn in several places exposing the flesh below. Weyoun though had the same devious, salesman like smile on his face. He looked at the Admiral, "My dear Admiral, thank you for the rescue."
William sighed inwardly, knowing he lost a bet. He'd bet Captain Bishop that Weyoun would start by complaining and, instead, he'd thanked him. "You're welcome. How is he doing, Doctor?"
The CMO looked up from the huddle when he heard his name. He issued one more quiet directive to the two nurses with whom he'd been in deep discussion, before dismissing them back to the Jem'Hadar they'd been treating.
"Admiral," Sherwin addressed his friend as he moved a step closer to the panel next to Weyoun and put his thumb on it. The invisible force field went back up around the bed, protecting the officers by only encapsulating Weyoun. "There have been substantial casualties," he said first, glancing around the Medical Bay. Addressing the specific question, he looked at Weyoun, "Aside from a gash across his abdomen I've patched up...and the occasional belligerence, he's quite healthy."
"Wouldn't you be belligerent as well, Doctor? Being locked behind a forcefield. So uncivilized." The Vorta protested in his diplomatic way. "I can assure you that you and your crew are not at risk from my Jem'Hadar. We have far larger concerns as you can see."
The Admiral thought carefully about his next steps and what had been said here today by Weyoun. He, reluctantly, nodded, "Weyoun is free to go, Doctor. As he said we have much larger concerns right now than him and his ship was the victim in this." He only hoped that he was correct. Weyoun had a lot of Jem'Hadar available aboard the Enterprise. If they decided to fight it would be a very difficult fight to win, especially as they were functioning with little more than a skeleton crew.
The CMO didn't point out that the force field hadn't been up previously. He'd only put it up now because the Admiral was there. "Of course, Admiral," he replied, removing the forcefield.
The Vorta continued, "Now that you have seen what we are facing I hope you understand the Dominion's position on this whole affair."
"It's certainly been eye opening," the El-Aurian answered as he stood across from the alien administrator. "Who are they?"
"We know very little frankly, Weyoun replied. "The Dominion have been attempting to gather more information ever since we first encountered them. So far we've had little success. They have been attacking our worlds for several months, decimated entire populations. The entire Dominion is concerned."
"What information gathering techniques have you implored?" Chire asked, completely speaking out of turn but it seemed a marvelous opportunity to see something. Because she wasn't intimidated didn't mean she wasn't careful however. Her wings were as tight against her back as she could get them but ready to spring out at any moment.
As the Admiral and Commander questioned Weyoun, Sherwin turned to his side and worked on open console next to him. As the health of each Jem'Hadar improved, he'd been working in tandem with Security to ensure there was at least a one-to-one ratio of guards to healthy patients. Despite the Admiral's statement that Weyoun was a victim and the implication that his crew was not a threat, Sherwin was not about to take that risk in his Medical Bay.
Weyoun looked at the tall, bird like officer that stood off to the side, "We have employed tried and tested methods utilized by the Dominion for centuries..."
"A Changeling infiltrated them then," William interrupted with an annoyed tone.
"Yes," he snapped then became solemn, "and was found and executed."
Teagarden put a reassuring hand on the Vorta's shoulder, "I'm sorry to hear that."
Weyoun rested his hand on the Admiral's then pulled away, "The Founders have been devastated by the attacks committed by this enemy. Their ships are dangerous, their weapons devastating. So many loyal Dominion servants have been destroyed by them. You saw what happened to the Rakhari." The sight of the Rakhar Homeworld being reborn in flame filled their mind's eye, seeing the surface of it being torn and ripped asunder before being remade in perfection. It was hauntingly beautiful even in memory. "We have no defense against their weapon when deployed. We've lost hundreds of ships, dozens of worlds. We're soon to be extinct," he reached out, "You have to help us."
William took on his most diplomatic, but firm tone, "We respect your plight, Administrator, and we understand how frightening this has all been for you." Weyoun offering a carte blanche signature on all of the Federation's demands on Gateway Station replayed in his head. "But, I have to discuss this with Starfleet Command and the President before moving forward. Rest assured that I will make the Dominion's case with the same fortitude that you would." He looked around the Sickbay, "Doctor Porter's team is more than ready to assist you, Administrator. They'll get you and your crew patched up while we travel to your nearest system."
"Thank you, Admiral," Weyoun wanted to protest - it was on his words - but he just lay there. "I await your decision."
The Admiral looked at his Operations Manager, "Take a walk with me, Commander."
For a moment Chire thought she was in big trouble until he opened his mouth again and responded before she could comment. She clasped her beak together and followed after him and the doctor.
Walking he passed Porter, "You too, Doc. Commander O'Sullivan join me in the Chief Medical Officer's Office"
"Yes Sir," Patton replied. He joined the Admiral and the others to the doctor's office to find out what there next move would be.
"Admiral," Sherwin acknowledged. He took a look at the medical readouts on the biobed and turned to the nearest nurse to whisper instructions to her. Then he walked past the Admiral, who was gesturing for the CMO to enter the office first. Porter moved around to the other side of his desk console and faced the others who were entering, but he didn't sit down.
The Chief Medical Officer's Office was adjacent to the Clinic portion of the Medical Bay and only a few seconds walk. Following the Chief Medical Officer into his personal office, William looked at his Operations Manager and waited for the Security Chief to arrive. He leaned against the wall and looked at the Doctor, "What do you think?"
Patton took up a spot and looked over to the doctor to see what his answer would be. This was one hell of a mess.
"His vital signs indicate that he is being truthful," the CMO replied. Tilting his head in thought, "and I've never witnessed the Jem'Hadar as being so...docile, almost as if they look defeated."
"I had noticed that," he answered with a long breath as he ordered tea from the replicator. "I can still remember the last time we were out here. They took control over the ship then and we had to retake it from them. Those are not the same warriors we faced then. Far from it." He sat down at the metal table that the Chief Medical Officer had for meetings - momentarily wishing he'd arranged for the Chief Medical Officer to have something a bit more comfortable at his disposal.
"So, the question becomes do we follow through on helping them or do we cut them loose?"
Sherwin sat down across from the Admiral. He looked up at the others in the room, then at his friend.
He smirked, "Thoughts?"
The CMO couldn't keep a straight face as the Admiral smirked. He sat back in the chair with a gleam in his eye and pressed lips. "Of course, they have been...vicious enemies of the Federation, and this ship in particular. Yet they are in now desperate need." He'd been through this process before with the man. " Sir, you already know my answer. Otherwise, you wouldn't have brought me in here."
Sherwin paused a moment, then clarified. "If they are not a imminent threat to our safety, ethics absolutely requires us to help them in this situation. Nonmalfeasance, or making sure we are not allowing harm to come to our patients and those in our care, mandates that as we think through the proper ethical thought process, we have greater certainty that we must do the right thing by helping them."
"So that's one yes," he said having expected that from his long time friend. "I'd expected nothing less. What do you both think?"
"The same. They may be hiding something and we may get hurt but the moment we turn our backs on someone in need we are no better than them and are betraying our founding principles." Chire said softly, her beak clicking ever so slightly as she spoke. "I would say the same no matter the race. We are in a position to help, let's help them. Perhaps it will change their view of us in the long run. It has happened before, albeit not with the Dominion, but still."
William looked over to the Security Chief, "Your thoughts, Commander?"
"We need to remember the past," Patton spoke up. "And be aware but it is our responsibility both morally and as a part of the Federation to help them in their time of need."
The Admiral's near permanent smirk returned for a moment, "I hope everyone isn't falling victim to peer pressure." He meant it as a joke, but did momentarily wonder if it were true. "Alright then, looks like we need to get ready for an interesting voyage. Chire, O'Sullivan go work together to prepare the ship for potential combat just to be safe. Doc, is Weyoun able to be discharged?"
The CMO pressed the console on his desk and moved the images around that came up. "His levels are approaching normal, Admiral, but he is still weak. He may leave Sickbay, but he should not overexert himself."
"Yes sir," Chire answered waiting for the doctor to finish she he had opened his mouth first. There was always something to be done on a starship, work was never finished in her eyes.
“Yes Sir!” Patton followed suit after Chire. He was already making plans in his mind for moving forward.
"Dismissed," he approved of the two in gold.
Patton turned to Chire. "Shall we get to work?" He was more than ready to make certain they were at the top of their game if trouble came their way,
"Absolutely. I am ready," Chire replied, her beak clicking lightly as she spoke. "Lead the way."
William turned to his Chief Medical Officer and oldest friend, "Am I losing my mind by doing this?"
Sherwin couldn't help but smirk at the question. "Picking the lesser of two evils is never easy, but the truly hard part is living with the fact you will never know if the evil you chose was truly the lesser."
"I really want to trust Weyoun and the Dominion," he paused remembering the reports he'd read about Ben Sisko's run-ins with the Vorta, "but history has been written in blood. Blood, many times, that Weyoun himself spilled. I can't forget that either."
He looked at the Medical Officer, "The Genesis Nonproliferation Treaty says I have to go after it and try to end the threat. But, the question becomes, do I try for peace first or prepare for war with this unknown?"
"As your friend and someone you know who has dedicated my life to saving others, my answer will always be to try for peace first. In this situation, though, we are so many lives that it may be in our best interest to do both, if possible."
"Hopefully we can accomplish it," he tugged on his uniform tunic. "Have Weyoun discharged and brought to my Ready Room, Doctor, I need to have a not fun conversation with him." He approached to door, "And thanks for being a sounding board."
Sherwin smiled. As a former Counselor and a friend of the Admiral, this wasn't the first time he'd let the man talk through his situations. That was the key to helping someone: lend an ear and offer advice when asked. "Of course," he replied to both the Admiral's order and thanks, following through after Targaryen headed out of his office.
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