Kam'Jahtae
Posted on Tue Jun 30th, 2020 @ 12:02am by Lieutenant (J.G.) Rrawran & Commodore Wilkan Targaryen & Administrator Weyoun 12
1,027 words; about a 5 minute read
Mission:
Exodus
Location: Ready Room, USS Enterprise
Timeline: 2430-01-09, 17:00
"Enter."
Admiral William Teagarden turned in time to see the smiling, snow white face of Dominion Administrator Weyoun looking back at him. The Vorta looked a lot better than the last time that the Admiral had seen him in the Sickbay. He looked surprisingly youthful, jovial, but somewhat devilish. His amethyst eyes were probing, all seeing at he stepped through into the Admiral's Ready Room on the Enterprise.
He locked eyes with the Enterprise's Commander, "Admiral! So joyous to see you again. Thank you for agreeing to speak with me."
William smiled his most diplomatic smile, knowing full well he'd asked Doctor Porter to have Weyoun brought here. He nodded in agreement, looking passed the Administrator to the imposing Rorwoor Security Guard standing behind him. "You may go, Lieutenant."
"Commander O'Sullivan ordered me to remain," the alien Security Guard's universal translator struggled to keep up with the canine language.
"I think that I'll be fine, Lieutenant," he looked at Weyoun, "You're not going to hurt me." It wasn't a question, more a veiled threat to the Dominion Administrator.
"Perish the thought," Weyoun surrendered. "I am here as a friend."
William nodded, "Thanks, Lieutenant. I've got it from here."
"I'll be right outside," the alien answered as he stepped over the threshold.
After the Lieutenant had stepped through the door, William motioned toward the chair opposite his couch. "Can I get you anything? I'm aware you're a fan of the cuisines of the Alpha Quadrant."
"I appreciate the offer," the Vorta said as he took a seat in the beige chair, "but I am reluctantly going to decline. I am more interested in the status of our transit."
"We are on course to Dominion territory. With our records we are unclear on whether we have passed through into your space, but we are on the last known heading we had to the Founder's World," William revealed as he took a drink from his cup of mint tea.
"The Dominion is grateful for your assistance. I am pleased that you are accompanying me on my journey to address my government." Weyoun looked as if he was holding something back and William had a feeling it was about to be revealed, "However, I'm sure you understand my reluctance to reveal the true location of our capital. I must ask you to surrender the helm and one of my guards will guide your ship for the remainder of the voyage."
Teagarden shook his head, "Out of the question. My ship is under our control, not yours. If we are here to help you, to explore the possibilities of peace, you have to bend a little."
"Admiral, the safety of our Gods is at stake. I cannot, will not sacrifice them to a potential enemy," Weyoun countered.
"I thought we were here as friends," the Admiral countered.
"Perhaps," Weyoun offered, "but the reality is that no treaty was signed at Bajor. The only Treaty still in play restricts Federation access to this part of our galaxy; save for the Starship Valhalla which maintained position in the Southern territories of this Sector. Your navigational computers, your navigators, they cannot have access to the true location of our capital."
William crossed his arms, "So tell me, Weyoun... can the Dominion survive without the Federation at this juncture against this new enemy?"
"Of course it can," he countered with irritation in his voice. "The Dominion has survived for over two thousand years, since the era before your people had even left their world, and will continue to endure long after the Federation has crumbled into dust. This new enemy is a temporary one, an annoyance that will be overcome with or without the assistance of the Federation."
"Then why are you suing for peace? Why bring yourselves to the troglodytes?" The Admiral asked with a smirk as he held his tea cup. "I think you're worse off than you'd like us to believe, Mister Weyoun. We've detected no other Dominion vessels in our immediate area - and we know that this Sector was crawling with them in the era of the War. We are, however, detecting evidence of those newcomers. Who are they?"
Weyoun, "Locusts. Locusts that will descend upon this galaxy if we don't stop them. The Dominion may have experienced some temporary setbacks, but we will prevail with or without you."
"Then it's without," William stood. "Thank you, Mister Weyoun, for meeting with me. We will proceed to the nearest known Dominion Outpost and we'll drop you and your crew off there. Then we will return to Federation Space, and you will have to explain to the Link why the Federation has withdrawn from your peace efforts. The Federation has never turned down an offer of peace... I'm certain that the Link will find that fascinating."
The Vorta relented with a long breath, "Please."
Teagarden was taken aback. He could hear in the tone of the alien leader something he never expected: defeat. "How on the ropes are you?"
"The Dominion has been reduced to a handful of sectors, Admiral," he was bitter in his tone and it was dripping with shame. "My bravado was holding on to old hope. If we don't have your help the Dominion will die. We know this. That was why Odo sent me."
"Weyoun, I don't discount your fear of us, but we need to relent a bit too. If you need our help you have to trust us and we you. The Enterprise will continue under normal flight operations; I will allow your solider to pilot the ship, but we will maintain full mapping of the region." It was a small olive branch, but would he take it?
Weyoun had a momentary glimpse of hope, "Very well. I am accepting of that offer."
"Good." Enterprise's Commander handed over a datapad to the Vorta, "I want every last tactical detail that you have on the enemy - starting with their names."
"The Kam'jahtae," he revealed, "They're called the Kam'Jahtae..."
Admiral Teagarden's heart sank and he felt like he wanted to throw up at the revelation. There was only one thing he could say, "We need to talk..."