Whispers
Posted on Tue Jun 25th, 2024 @ 12:28am by First Ikidik'tan & Administrator Kuzos
1,608 words; about a 8 minute read
Mission:
Pilot
Location: Jem'Hadar Vessel
Timeline: 2439-03-09, 05:15
First Ikidik'tan walked down the corridor of ST-321 approaching the accommodations for Administrator Kuzos. As a Jem'Hadar he had seen many conflicts, many battles, during his lifetime, and during each of those engagements he had become accustomed to the feelings of strain. Many times he had faced death, nearly succumbing to its call on more than one occasion, yet no encounter had been as painful as the one they had just experienced in the presence of the Founder.
The Founders were the leaders of the Dominion and treated as Gods by their number. The Dominion bred many species to serve the Founders and ensure that their will be done no matter what the personal cost, Ikidik'tan included. Despite this, he had learned long ago that the Founders were not Gods. They were fallible, obsessive, and xenophobic beyond extremes.
Still, seeing their treatment of Kuzos was difficult to take in. He could only imagine how the Vorta would feel. Jem'Hadar were soldiers and ready to die at any time. Vorta were far more prone to feelings of failure while serving the Founders, and far more impacted upon incurring their wrath. Jem'Hadar moved on quickly, sometimes even to death.
Reaching the Administrator's cabin, the Jem'Hadar pressed the door chime to request entry.
Inside his cabin, Kuzos sat at a small table and thought on his orders from the Founder. They were clear and concise. Find the missing attack ship and return it to the Founders. Yet that was easier said than done. he worried about running into the Federation. Not that he was scared of them. No, not at all. The Founders might was second to none. No, what he worried about was the Federation's annoying habit of wanting to help and they would as soon as they knew the attack ship was missing and that would lead to another annoying Federation trait...meddling in the affairs of others. Affairs they had no business to be involved in. He gnawed on some fruit as he thought on ways to outmaneuver the Federation should they make contact with them. Of course, outmaneuver them diplomatically of course. The Founder said she did not desire a conflict with the Federation at this time. So, there was that to remember as well. His musing was interrupted by the sound of his door chime. "Come!" he shouted, turning to see who came through the door.
Stepping inside of the Vorta's Chambers, First Ikidik'tan stood at attention before the Vorta. Holding the data pad in his hand, the Jem'Hadar awaited questioning by the Vorta.
"Ah First. Do come in. Would you care for some fruit?" Kuzos greeted the Jem 'Hadar and knew the Jem' Hadar would decline the offer of fruit. He noticed the data pad in Ikidik'tan's hand. "What have you got for me?"
The Jem'Hadar handed the PADD to the Vorta Administrator, "Command has sent us the telemetry for the mission Jem'Hadar vessel before it was lost from scanners. It's last known trajectory took it toward the Starfleet installation on our side of the anomaly, then we lost their location beacon."
Kuzos took the pad and looked at the information it held. He resisted a sigh of annoyance has he took in the information. "Command is certain of this trajectory?" He questioned and held a hand up to stop any reply from the Jem'Hadar. "Yes, I know they are. However, this is not good. based on this trajectory the Starfleet Starbase's sensors would have picked up the attack ship as it passed by even at the distance it did. Which means we can be assured of the Federation coming to meddle. Oh, excuse me. I meant investigate."
"Perhaps, but perhaps not," the Jem'Hadar commented. "The Federation Station, and by extension the rest of their fleet, have remained contented to stay put at the outpost and have not proceeded outside of their assigned territories since they arrived here. We have had other vessels pass by their territory in the past. It is unlikely that they would chose this instance to push the boundaries of their territory."
Kuzos was silent as he considered what the Jem'Hadar had stated. After several long seconds of silence, he spoke. "I believe you are mistaken First. Normally I would agree with you but not in this instance and I will tell you why. Because of the task force that appeared at the Federation Starbase. It was uncharacteristic behavior and as such the inquisitive minds of the Federation will want to know why first a Dominion ship and then a task force came within sensor distance. They will ask questions among themselves and not finding a satisfactory answer they will investigate." He finished.
"And, if they do, it will result in a very hard question for us while conducting our own investigation. Do we fire upon the Federation vessel, or do we allow it to proceed?" It was direct and to a very deadly point that they could come across during this mission.
Kuzos was in no rush to make a decision on a might if situation. "I believe First, that rather than speculate on what our response may be, we wait to see if we encounter a Federation ship and then and only then do we make and take the appropriate response."
"I believe that to be a logical response, Administrator, nonetheless, as you have said yourself, there is likelihood of encountering the Federation. We need to be prepared, which would mean battle drills," the Jem'Hadar proposed.
Kuzos considered what the Jem 'Hadar had suggested. It was not only logical but prudent. "Well said First. Schedule a series of battle drills. We do not want to be unprepared should we encounter a Federation starship and talks fail."
The First nodded crisply in response to his orders, opting not to say much more. His comment had led to an answer to his question, as designed, and showed that the priority would be to engage in diplomacy rather than fight the Federation should one of their vessels be encountered. Despite having been bred for war and conquest, he was more enthused about the prospect of peace than more war. His genetic template had been used during the war for multiple conflicts and he still had the genetic memory of what those battles felt like. While the war had gone, in many ways, more in favor of the Dominion, the Federation was a crafty adversary.
"I will setup the drills for completion now."
"Yes, do that First. Let us strive 100 percent." Kuzos replied as he thought on a possible encounter with a Federation starship. Like First, he wanted no conflict however, he had his orders to find the attack ship and return it to the Founders and he would do that. But he and the crew and ship would be prepared, as the Federation was not to be taken lightly either in their willingness to fight nor the tenacity they fought with, they had proved to a much more formidable opponent than first thought.
The First nodded as he spoke with a deadly finality, "We will have 100% completion, Administrator." And he meant that. Dominion Battleship ST-321 was one of the largest, most dangerous ships that the Dominion had to offer. They would be prepared for anything that came their way. That was something that he was certain of. May the Founders help those who failed them.
Kuzos nodded, "Excellent First. That's the spirit!" He said enthusiastically. "I want this ship and crew ready for any encounter we may have with the Federation. We cannot fail in our mission. The Founders demand we succeed, and we must."
"And we will," the imposing Jem'Hadar answered. "The crew will be prepared for combat. That I can assure you."
Kuzos contemplated what the Jem'Hadar had said, after a moment he nodded and replied. "I will take your assurance First and hold you to it."
"Just as I will hold you to the responsibility the Founders have placed in you," the First replied.
For a moment maybe two, silence filled the air and then Kuzis spoke. "I see we understand each other First. That s good and how it should be."
With a curt nod, the First continued, "If there is nothing else I will return to the Command Deck to oversee our travels."
"No, nothing else First. Yes, you do that. I will join you shortly." Kuzos informed the Jem'Hadar.
The communicator of First Ikidik'tan began to rapidly beep, cutting through the long silence that had existed among the duo. "Excuse me," the Jem'Hadar said as he stepped aside to answer. Tapping the control, "Proceed."
Second Ruka'voni spoke, "First, we have detected a Federation vessel within our territory traveling at high warp."
Kuzos of course heard the exchange. "A Federation ship? Interesting. Set course to intercept the interlopers." He ordered.
"Administrator," he had a feeling that the Vorta would eavesdrop, "might I recommend that we maintain distance, temporarily, to observe the Federation vessel to determine what they are doing."
"Hmmm." Kuzos pondered the suggestion. After a moment he replied. "We will go with your suggestion First. Maintain our distance for now. Let us see what this Federation ship is up to."
The Jem'Hadar nodded, "I will return to the Command Deck to monitor."
"Yes, yes. You do that." Kuzos replied. "I will join you on the bridge shortly." Yet he was thinking about the federation ship, What was it doing in Dominion space and how would it react once the inevitable contact was made.
Exiting the Administrator's Cabin, the Jem'Hadar returned to the Command Deck in preparation for the coming battle.
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