When The Cardassians Attack And Give You A Gift

Posted on Tue Jun 1st, 2021 @ 3:11am by Selina Fenruse (Mirror) & Captain Reuben Gregnol (Mirror) & Chief Helmsman Dixoho Saa (Mirror) & Executive Officer Kyle Reece (Mirror) & Executive Officer Jake Ford (Mirror)

Mission: Mirror Mirror
Timeline: 2396
1820 words - 3.6 OF Standard Post Measure

Gregnol moved on the bridge like a lion ready to win a fight taking in the ship that was in front of them. He had not been busy as he had been beating the heck out of a punching bag but he hated to be disturbed but at least it was for something worthwhile. So, the rumours were more than true that the Cardassians were observing this planet. It had been the suspicions of Imperial Starfleet Intelligence for a long time due to its resources and peoples far too compliant nature since they had come under the Empires rule.

“So, I see the rumours that imperial Starfleet had gotten were very much true then.” He grinned looking at who dared to sit in his chair a look at the shields took another hit but this time the ship barely moved or adjusted. “Why send a little ship like that to scout if we were here and get caught by attacking first?” He mused looking at the patchwork ship. The Cardassian’s had no home, their planet had been burning for over a 100 years.

“It is a trap?” Dixoho commented from where she was running her hands over the console preparing herself to start tactical manoeuvres. It was a beautiful ship for battle and she was proud to make it happen.

“Or they thought it would be another ship here,” Selina commented sitting in her chair staring intently at the screen as she tried to focus her mind and find a route into the minds on the other ship.

Hearing Gregnol enter the bridge, Kyle rose and vacated the center seat. "Shields are at full power, weapons charged and ready, all hands report ready for combat orders, Captain. The Spoonies sent an audio message, stating that this world was under their protection and," he chuckled as he continued. "They demanded our immediate surrender. I was about to reply, when you arrived, Sir."

"World was under their protection. How ironic that they had a world to protect." The thick accented man said as he sat down in his chair. The last time they had attempted that line it had ended up with Betazed becoming nothing much a radiation stockpile for the next million years.

"Weapons are primed. Awaiting the order to obliterate them, Captain," Jake growled from Tactical, a little smirk on his face - it was always a pleasure to watch the pathetic enemies of the empire squirm and pretend they stood a chance.

Kyle moved to his position next to the Captain and accessed his control panel. "Sir, long range sensors are setecting three more vessels approaching at high warp. They appear to be, a Klingon K'vort class Bird of Prey, a Miradorn Dekalla attack cruiser and a Cardassian Keldon class heavy cruiser."

“What a strange combination when the Klingons are part of our empire and the the Miradorn signed a nonaggression pact. It seems we still have traitors in the mix.” Gregnol mused thoughtfully s as steady thinking a few steps ahead. “I wonder how the Cardassian’s have got such a new ship.” He wondered looking at Jake. “Destroy that one Lieutenant.” He said simply having no regard for the ship there. It was a mis match of systems and would yield nothing for them. He watched at the ship exploded with one burst of the weapons.

"I never grow tired of that," Jake smirked.

Gregnol watched in satisfaction as the ship disappeared into nothing but debris and ash. It was more than they deserved, he would take prisoners from the other ships that were fast approaching. “It seems the others one want to talk Captain.” The man at the communication console announced.

“I bet they do. Put them on the screen Ensign.” Gregnol said turning to look at Selina sharing a look as a Cardassian came onto the screen. The woman practically blanched as she saw whose ship was there and what that meant for them. It was not meant to be that ship. It meant certain death for them or torture if they were caught. “This is the ISS Fenrir and you are enemies of the Terran Empire,” Gregnol said simply.

“We know who you are Butcher.” The woman spat as the ships paused their advance on the planet. No one wanted to face the bogey man.

"And we don't care who you are," Jake retorted. A little out-of-place, but the snarky remark might put him in the Butcher's good graces.

Kyle noted Jake's comment and then typed a few commands into his control console. "Weapons locked on all three of their main reactors, Captain."

“We came…” The Cardassian started.

“I do not care what you came here for to be fair.” The Captain said with no emotion evident on his face as he glanced between the two officers obviously having a pissing match as it should be Ford who had control of the weapons.

“No, I think you will.” The Cardassian Captain announced deciding to play her trump card as she did not have much else to lose now. "We know you have had an incursion from...ISS Firebird and another universe." She declared making Gregnol frown. How was it possible that these people knew about the firebird and the other universe?

Kyle nearly snapped his eyes to Gregnol but stopped himself, not disturbing the view of the Captain being in full control of all facts. Instead, he kept his features perfectly neutral.

“Now how could you possibly know about that? You are weak and pathetic with no home.” Gregnol wondered glancing to Selina who nodded. They were telling the truth.

“Well you see us as that but some people see us as freedom fighters.” The Cardassian laughed darkly. She had not moved him just intrigued them. “Repelling the empire and the limits you want to put on us.”

A scowl crossed Kyle's features. Freedom fighters, he thought to himself. Terrorists is more like it. He was starting to wonder where this line of discussion was headed.

“You are nothing here Cardassian. What is stopping me destroying you on sight?” Gregnol demanded.

“Because we know where thousands of Betazoids are. Ones that were saved from the surface by the Firebird when you burned the world.”

"Saved...?" Jake whispered, immediately concerned. There was one thing, and one thing alone, that he and Gregnol shared. The devastation at Betazed. Among the millions lost, Jake's own wife - and as a result his daughter too. An unforgivable debt. But if there were survivors of Betazed...he had to bite his tongue to avoid interjecting out of turn.

Kyle inhaled a sharp breath through his nostrils, he kept his features stone still. His contacts had heard rumblings that there were Betazoids had escaped the destruction of their world, however, those rumors had never been substantiated with proof.

Gregnol glanced at the crew around him before his eyes settled on Selina for a moment. He took in how composed she looked despite the news and laughed lightly. He turned back to the screen and the woman that was standing there waiting for him to react to it violently. He shook his head at her. It was a foolish came to play with him of all people.

“If you’re waiting for me to react you are going to be waiting a long time. It has been known for a long time that some survived the planet. Ships were transporting people desperately in the final moments.”

Jake watched Gregnol very carefully. If he knew something about Betazed's final moments, this would be where he let it slip. And the way he spoke of survivors was dismissive. Clearly, the Butcher had few real clues to offer about the matter.

"But do you know that she survived?" The Cardassian wondered seeing no reaction from the man, either he already knew or he really was the most dangerous man in the universe.

"She?" Selina gasped as Gregnol turned to her and grabbed her by the throat.

"Get out of my head and theirs, Witch." He spat shocking everyone on the Bridge. He never reacted like that, especially to Selina. It was hard to tell sometimes if she was his lover or not. A look passed between the pair before he let her go and composed himself.

"Burn them," Gregnol commented looking at Ford.

"No! We gave you something to bargain." The woman screamed at Gregnol as she cut the connection barking instructions at her crew to get out of there.

Under other circumstances Jake might have hesitated. But he could see the look in Gregnol's eyes. He'd seen that look before. Sometimes in the mirror. "With pleasure," he grunted, unleashing a full barrage of torpedoes that raked across the pathetic ship that faced them. In seconds it was ripped to floating shreds. He wasn't watching the screen, though. He was watching with interest the exchange between the Butcher and his Inquisitor. Were those cracks starting to appear? Perhaps opportunity would present itself sooner than expected.

Kyle saw Jake's reaction. Carefully, he sent a coded message to Micheal to be ready to step in to protect Gregnol should his own protection detail not be up to the task.

“Find the data core and bring it to me.” Gregnol ordered simply as he stood the left the bridge without further commented. Selina just looked around daring anyone to say anything despite the bruise that was already visible on her neck.

A few beats later, Kyle stood and moved around the bridge, giving each station a cursory inspection. When he finally reached Selina's station, he reached down and, acting like he was checking something with the computer, instead typed out a short message.

You should go to medical, get your throat checked. If you wish to talk, my door is open.

Selina just glared at him. She did not trust him and she was not going anywhere at all.

Nodding, as if he saw what he wished, he moved down to Jake's station. "Very good shooting, Mister Ford. Though, I believe the torpedo yeilds need to be adjusted. That ship should have been destroyed with fewer of our weapons."

"The Captain ordered they be burned," Jake replied sharply. "A couple of extra torpedoes ensured fewer survivors. And sends a message to anyone watching that we are not to be trifled with."

“And you did an excellent job.” Selina commented moving towards where Gregnol had disappeared off with. “Just get the data core promptly hmm.” She advised the rest of the bridge. They knew who to default to even if the display had just happened.

Kyle watched as Selina left the bridge. After she was gone, he moved up to the central dias and lowered himself into the command chair. There were many decisions to make. He just had to figure out which ones were worth risking his skin over.