Interlude 2: Arkalav II
Vorta Field Supervisor's Report. Agent Semil aboard Attack Fighter 21615.
We are approaching our listening post in the Arkalav system. Contact was lost with the post two days ago. Our orders are to investigate. Arkalav is a remote system, well beyond the boundaries of the Pacified Frontier.______________________
"Report." Semil strode into the small command center of the attack ship, his First manning the command console in the center of the spartan room.
"We are entering scanning range." Takat'tarat was among the most efficient Firsts Semil had ever had the pleasure of supervising. If managing a squadron of barely constrained, drug-addicted, bloodthirsty combat veterans could be considered any sort of pleasure, that was. "No life signs. Signatures of weapons fire..." A few keyclicks of frustration from the Jem'Hadar betrayed his annoyance. "Indeterminate origin."
Semil eyed his First warily. He respected Takat'tarat too much to question his capability openly, especially in front of the others. But the shorthand they had developed was more than enough to communicate his displeasure.
"Interference is preventing a more detailed analysis. I will ready a scouting party."
"I will be accompanying you."
"Be assured, there is no need for your presence on a routine..."
"You presume this will be routine."
In spite of his respect, the Vorta was within every expectation to summarily chastize his minions. Semil found it important to occasionally remind his troops where real decision making lay in their carefully engineered hierarchy.
Takat'tarat signalled the Second and Third to accompany them, as they strode from the room.
______________________
The beam-in point had been carefully selected, a corridor junction, easily defensible, with ready access to the command center and the computer core. A faint, acrid smoke permeated the air, even to the Vorta's poor sense of smell.
From habit, instinct, and training, the three Jem'Hadar drew their polaron rifles as soon as materialization was complete. They moved quickly, sweeping the junction for any threats. "Clear!" Takat'tarat signaled.
A nearby systems status display blinked with static. The main computer and backups had to be down.
Semil signaled the Second and Third, "You two head to the computer core and reestablish main core access." He beckoned Takat'tarat. "You, with me. To the command center. Communications silence until main systems are restored."
The parties headed in opposite directions. Semil dutifully, if nonchalantly kept behind his First by several meters. The danger of their environment was not trivial. In other circumstances, he would have elected to remain on the ship. Even without detecting life signs, there was still the possibility the installation's attackers had found a way to evade their sensors. For all he knew, they were shrouded, errant Jem'Hadar. Such reports were not unheard of.
Twenty meters down, Takat'tarat paused at the entryway to the command center. Catching up to his First, he could see the two Jem'Hadar corpses, burnt and slumped on either side of the doorway. Semil could tell they were the Second and Third of the installation's small garrison. Takat'tarat needed only kick them slightly to be sure.
Semil pulled back from the doorway, as Takat'tarat raised his rifle in preparation to open the door to the command center. Relying on his training, the First charged through the opening door - completing a systematic sweep of the room for additional threats within a matter of seconds. He didn't need to signal the Vorta, as Semil strode cautiously into the room.
The status screens displayed garble and static. More Jem'Hadar corpses littered the floor. Smoldering and lifeless, they still clutched their weapons, clearly in the middle of a firefight. As Semil scanned the room with his own eyes, he noticed the lack of stray blast marks on the walls - whoever had attacked the post had remarkable marksmanship. That narrowed down the possibilties.
Takat'tarat had completed his more thorough sweep of the room, and holstered his rifle. He had taken out a hand scanner, and was kneeling by one of the Jem'Hadar corpses, apparently the garrison's First. Semil strode over to see, when the computer displays returned to operational status.
Curious as he may have been, his priorities were clear. Semil stepped over to the command console and input his security codes. "The Second and Third are to be commended for their efficiency." He was scrolling through access logs as Takat'tarat hastily completed his post-mortem on the base First. Semil was quickly assured that none of the most sensitive datafiles had been accessed. Whoever had been here had not been looking for Dominion secrets, or at least were unable to obtain them.
The relevant access log entry scrolled into view as Takat'tarat strode over held up his hand scanner for Semil to see. Both facts pointed to the same culprits. "
Hunters."
"They dare attack us?"
"The provisions of our arrangement with them makes allowances for their
leisure pursuits in our territory. Provided they keep collateral damage to our assets to a minimum, of course." Semil gestured about the room, a smirk on his face.
"Perhaps it was one of their
Tosk that infiltrated the base."
Semil shook his head, "Unlikely." He pointed at the access log for the installation's sensitive, powerful sensor array. "It looks more like these Hunters were looking to use the sensor array for locating their prey. Poor desperate idiots."
A clanking sound from the corner of the room drew their attention. Takat'tarak drew his rifle with military alertness, and crept in the direction of the noise. He signalled for Semil to come closer.
Underneath the desk, they found a Vorta. Clearly the base's supervisor, he was had been shot through his shoulder. Pale from bloodloss, a true superlative for a Vorta, he trembled lightly as he fought to keep his eyes open. He sputtered and wheezed weakly, attempting to speak. "Tha... thank the Founders." His voice sounded labored, wet, and drowned - a sign of his lungs filling with blood.
Semil knelt to address the quaking, frightened Vorta. "You're Korbul. I knew your predecessor." Semil gestured around the room. "Who did this? What did they want?"
"Hun... Hunters. De-- demanded we let them use our sensor array. T.. took us by s-- surprise when I refused."
Semil shushed the other Vorta. "Don't worry. We'll take care of you -- and the
situation."
Semil stood and gestured to Takat'tarat. "Put him out of his misery. Poor man shouldn't have to suffer the ignominy of being beaten by such
cretinous oafs."
Takat'tarat levelled his rifle squarely at Korbul's forehead. If he had been paying attention to anything other than his precise aim, he would have noticed the profuse sweat on the Vorta's brow, and the complete and utter terror and fear in his eyes.
______________________
Vorta Field Supervisor's Report. Agent Semil aboard Attack Fighter 21615.
We have concluded our investigation at the Arkalav II installation. No survivors. The listening post's datacore has been uploaded to our computer and secured.
Recommend immediate pacification of all Hunter parties within a twenty-five light year radius. It is important to occasionally remind them where real decision making lies in our carefully engineered hierarchy.
