Star Trek: Eleventh Fleet

Chapter 6: Rogue

Kilana walked past the Jem'Hadar that were brutishly shoving immobilized people into alcoves. The machinery worked independently of controls and would automatically insert technical components into the victim's bodies, but it was not operating at the same rate or voracity as it was designed, as the Founder wanted it done slowly.

The Vorta shook her head, this was a sad sight. The Founders did not create the Jem'Hadar for science work or delicate studies, but for battle. Using them in such a way was fruitless. Why would the Founder not just bring more Vorta specialist here?

"Kilana, status report?'' at that moment, the Founder, fresh from regeneration, walked up to the much shorter Vorta.

Kilana bowed her head to him, "Founder, you honor me with your presence. We have full control over the trans-warp conduit, though it is unstable from being out of use for so long. I have sent three probes through it already. They should return from their mission within the hour. The biotech work is taking longer than expected.

"What is the problem?'' he was less than pleased with that statement.

She glanced to the alcoves with human and Cardassian bodies inserted. "We have worked on all the specimens we captured, but we have run across a problem with the furry ones.''

"Did they die in the process?'' The words came out without feeling.

Kilana shook her head. "No, they are still alive. However, their bodies emit a strong telekinetic field that blocks the technology from working."

The Founder looked at the Hakashans for a moment, a sly smile came over his face, "This telekinetic field, it could be put to use for us.'' He was speaking to himself more than to her, "Keep working on the other solids, refine the process until you can use it on these people again. I want as many of them active as possible.''

Kilana bowed to him, "As you wish, Founder.''

The Changling walked away, leaving the Vorta to learning how to understand this strange technology. Kilana would work until her death. If it meant the success of this mission for the Founder, this was the glory and the fault of the Vorta.

***

Kal sat at the head of the staff table. Mr. Scott, Phil Bigos, and Sherri sat with him.

"Have you checked over the data on this chip?" Kal asked Sherri.

She nodded. "It checks out. The Dominion has taken control of some kind of Borg technology. It doesn't look like a Borg cube or sphere, but we don't have enough information on the Borg to determine what this is. And we have even less information about what the Dominion plan on doing over there."

Peter and Tojann came in with a security officer escorting them.

"Sir, these two said that you requested their presence here." The youthful security officer stated this with a heavy amount of disbelief in his voice.

"Yes, I did." Kal waved them in and before the security guard tried to stay, he said, "You're dismissed."

"Uh, yes, sir." The man left the room, bewildered.

"I apologize. I forgot to relay the message about your allowance up to the command level," Kal explained.

"I understand, though I wasn't happy about being blood tested... again." Peter rubbed his arm.

Tojann replied, "It is a logical course of action. Testing should be conducted on all individuals entering or leaving a command area of any Starfleet facility. The risk of changeling infiltration is at 78 percent."

"Please, have a seat. We can get started." Kal turned to Scotty. "Do you have the specs drawn up?"

"Aye, but I dinna know what ya need them for." Scotty pressed a few buttons and the monitor on the table displayed the three ships that were ready and two others still in drydock. "As you can see, these here are all primed an ready fer combat. The Delta, Gamma, and Epsilon are near complete, but I canna see them in combat fer at least two days."