“Commander Dalen Marjo’s personal log, stardate seven-nine-three-oh-two point four. Since joining the team on the Bellerophon, our progress with the Vaadwaur database has been slight but noticeable. Over the last seventy-two hours, we’ve decrypted several archives, focusing primarily on colonial infrastructure, logistics, and communications entries. While nothing shows immediate tactical importance, this is to be expected, as the Vaadwaur appeared cautious, even in their defeat nearly nine centuries ago. Initial analyses indicate that numerous entries have been intentionally fragmented, likely as a failsafe to prevent their technology from being reverse-engineered. Lieutenant Jonarom’s pattern-recognition algorithms have been crucial for reassembling the corrupted data streams, although his penchant for enthusiastic speculation can sometimes slow our progress. In contrast, Lieutenant Chambers has offered a more grounded approach, helping to correlate navigational data with known historical activities of the Vaadwaur, particularly regarding the underspace network. Last night, I uncovered a fragment suggesting that their historical and cultural databases are more accessible than we originally believed. I developed a number of decryption protocols that have helped to access them. Furthermore, some of the information I’ve initially read from these databases would indicate we may find more useful intelligence there first. If the Vaadwaur are even a fraction as dangerous as history indicates, the contents of this database are likely far from harmless.”

Dalen stepped into the Bellerophon’s primary science lab. Though nothing like the huge spaces she was used to back on Deep Space 19 or the Odyssey, she had found her temporary assignment on the Bellerophon to be interesting. The overhead lights were already at full brightness, and the consoles lining the perimeter displayed the now-familiar Vaadwaur symbols and data, endlessly scrolling. The holographic displays were also ready to go, to continue the work her team had started. Already there working were Chambers and Jonarom.

Chambers looked up from his station at the central console, offering a polite, almost casual smile. The young pilot, although not a specialist in decryption or computer analysis, had proven useful. Dalen knew he had been the one to work closely with Jonarom on the initial decryption of the database when so many others had seen it as a lost cause. His insights had intrigued Dalen, which was why she had requested his continued presence on the project. Furthermore, she had noticed the close friendships between him and Jonarom and Chamber, and the subtle influence he had on keeping the young chief science officer calm and focused on the task. 

“Good morning, Commander. We missed you at breakfast in the mess hall earlier,” he said. “They had real coffee. Not the replicated stuff.”

Without missing a step, Dalen made her way to her assigned terminal. “I prefer to eat in my quarters,” she replied curtly, her tone leaving no room for further discussion. She activated the console with a brisk tap of her fingers, her gaze never leaving the cascading data.

There was a brief, almost awkward pause. Chambers, to his credit, took the hint and turned his attention back to his screen. 

“I reviewed several data clusters last night,” Dalen continued, speaking before anyone could try to fill the silence. “The historical and cultural records appear less heavily encrypted than the military archives. They’re likely to yield better results in the short term. That’s where I want us to focus today.”

Across the room, Jonarom gave an enthusiastic nod, already calling up a list of available archives. Chambers followed suit, his hands moving across the controls with familiar ease.

Dalen allowed herself the smallest breath of relief. Good. No wasted time. No unnecessary conversation. Just the work. Exactly the way it should be.

It took most of the morning to get through countless files. It had been a slow grind. Stacks of Vaadwaur data eventually filled the lab’s displays. The room was quiet except for the occasional clack of a console key or the low hum of a translation matrix at work.

Sitting at one of the secondary terminals, Dalen was cross-referencing several historical records, her posture rigid with focus. Chambers rotated between two different screens, skimming trade records and regional influence maps with a frown that grew deeper by the hour. Jonarom, seated opposite, had dug into a dense cluster of archival files labelled as “personal cultural artefacts”. He had initially assumed them to be pieces of literature, artwork, biographies of significant individuals, and philosophical developments. They had nothing of tactical significance or gave him any further clues or hints on where to go next. Nevertheless, it was giving him some insight into the Vaadwaur. He ran his hands through his black hair more than once at his irritation at not being able to find something. 

On the other hand, Dalen had shown no signs of frustration. She thrived in these conditions. She preferred being methodical and relentless in her analysis. Dalen trusted that persistence would pay off in the end. Chambers, however, was growing visibly restless, shifting in his seat and tapping his styluses against the console edge.

It was nearing midday when Jonarom abruptly sat up straighter, his fingers freezing mid-scroll.

“The Vaadwaur cultural records are extensive,” he said at last, breaking the silence. His voice was a mix of surprise and growing interest. “A lot of propaganda about their ‘destined supremacy’, but there’s something interesting buried deeper.” He leaned toward the display. “There are numerous encrypted personal directives. All of them are tied to individuals, not government agencies.”

Chambers twisted around to look. “Personal directives? Like orders?”

“Possibly,” Jonarom replied, narrowing his eyes at the code. “But they’re odd. They’re tied to names, not military units. Some even reference dates centuries after the collapse of the Vaadwaur Supremacy.”

Instantly alert, Dalen rose from her seat and crossed the room in a few brisk steps. She stood over Jonarom’s shoulder, arms folded tightly, her gaze hard and assessing.

“Isolate one,” she instructed curtly.

Jonarom’s fingers flew over the holographic controls, extracting a fragment of a file. On the holographic display hovering just in front of him, a broken Vaadwaur glyph shimmered, partially decayed but not beyond repair. He initiated a decryption sequence, and gradually, words began to appear on the display.

Maintain presence.

Prevent consolidation.

Disrupt alliances.

Target emerging powers.

Remove resources. 

Chambers let out a low whistle. “Well, that certainly sounds aggressive and goes with the same tone the Vaadwaur have about others.”

“It sounds strategic,” Dalen corrected, her voice razor-sharp. Her eyes were still focused on the data streaming in front of them. “They weren’t just conquering by force. They were embedding assets.”

Jonarom looked up, his young face lit with an uneasy excitement. “Sleeper agents. Vaadwaur operatives left behind after the fall with orders to create long-term destabilisation. We know the Vaadwaur used long-term stasis technology to hide away; perhaps the sleeper agents used a similar approach to maintain the region? Perhaps every few decades or centuries, wake up, see what’s happening and cause a bit of disruption without being caught?”

Dalen nodded in agreement with his suggestion, her mind already spinning through the implications. She then pointed to something else on the screen. “And based on these timestamps, they remained active for centuries.” She took a step back and crossed her arms tightly again. “Cross-reference these directives with known conflicts. Start with the Talaxians, Haakonians and Vidiians.”

Without waiting for acknowledgement, she turned and returned to her console. The others immediately set to work, and it didn’t take long.

Jonarom worked through the first set of correlation files, linking key historical dates from the Talaxian-Haakonian war to the sleeper agent logs. His brow furrowed deeper with every match.

“Commander,” he said, pushing his chair slightly back from the work station. “I think I’ve found a connection.”

Dalen moved back to his console, Chambers following just behind her.

“The Talaxians, or as the Vaadwaur knew them, the Talax’ilzay, were some of the first species they worked with extensively in the Nacene Reach,” Jonarom explained, pulling up a cluster of data files. “On the surface, the relationship looked like mutual trade. But here,” He highlighted a passage, “it is clear that the Vaadwaur manipulated Talaxian technological development. They restricted it and made sure they stayed dependent on their trading work.”

Chambers frowned. “So they stunted them and kept them from ever becoming too strong?”

“Precisely,” Dalen said, her voice low but firm.

Jonarom tapped another file open, one that was more recently updated compared to the ancient Vaadwaur archives. “And after the Vaadwaur Supremacy collapsed in other parts of the Delta Quadrant, the Talaxians kept trading. Kept building their influence through economic means. The Haakonians, who were salvaging leftover Vaadwaur tech, eventually saw them as a threat to their resources.”

Pressing another button, Jonarom loaded another set of dates, which created a chilling set of connections.

“As I suspect, the sleeper agents orchestrated the tensions. Encouraged Haakonian leadership to believe the Talaxians were planning to undermine their economy. Whisper campaigns, forged intelligence reports. Then, there are some records here that they may have assisted in the development of the biogenic weapon, the Metreon Cascade.” Jonarom reported solemnly. 

Dalen’s expression tightened. She remembered the reports from Starfleet Intelligence about the devastation the Metreon Cascade had wrought.

“The war between the Talaxians and Haakonians,” Jonarom continued, “was devastating for both sides. The Talaxians surrendered after the deployment of the Metreon Cascade destroyed Rinax and killed thousands. However the cost of victory crippled the Haakonians too. Their military, though stronger than the Talaxians now, had been heavily damaged from the decade-long campaign. Exactly what the Vaadwaur wanted, neither side ever grew powerful enough to threaten the old Vaadwaur influences again.”

Chambers let out a low breath, looking around at them. “They played the long game. Like centuries-long.”

“The only way they knew how to win after their empire fell,” Dalen said darkly. “They made sure no one else could rise to replace them. It also makes sense as to why they’ve attacked them again recently. They’re trying to remove any competition. Push them back so they’re not a threat.”

“It’s a shame they didn’t do anything about the Borg back in their time,” Chambers remarked sarcastically. 

Jonarom then pulled up another search. “And there’s more.” The young chief science officer was now in full swing, wanting to know more and find out just how entrenched the Vaadwaur had been. 

Another dossier opened, its file tag blinking with an older, more degraded security lock. Jonarom overrode it with the decryption keys Dalen had crafted the night before.

“This references the Vidiians,” he explained, voice growing heavier. “At first, the Vaadwaur supported their development. Helped them expand their scientific knowledge. It looks like they were loose allies at some point in history. The Vidiians evolve into a race recognised for their artistic accomplishments, becoming esteemed educators and explorers. It appears they were once known as a wise race by others. The Vaadwaur liked that, but when the Vidiians realised the Vaadwaur were conquerors, they tried to resist. They tried to organise others against them.”

Chambers leaned closer. “Let me guess, the Vaadwaur didn’t like that?”

“Not at all,” Jonarom confirmed grimly. He took a deep breath before he read the next cluster of information. “Oh my. If I’m reading this right, then this shows they helped with the development and spread of the Phage against the Vidiians.”

A heavy silence fell across the room. The Vaadwaur were ruthless if this evidence was correct. 

Dalen stared at the screen, her mind racing as the pieces snapped into place.

“They somehow made it look like the virus’s vast spread was a natural cause,” she said slowly. “They weaponised their biotechnology against the Vidiians, then ensured no one else would help them.”

“Their actions resulted in the Viddians being isolated,” Jonarom added. “And over time, they lost their identity as being the wise mentors they had become. They were cut off from the rest of the quadrant for their betrayal against the Vaadwaur.”

“And when the Think Tank cured the Phage,” Chambers said, trailing off as he saw another blinking entry.

Jonarom clicked it open. “The last sleeper agent within Vidiian society acted. Re-engineered the virus and introduced it to the Vidiians before they could stabilise or rebuild. Prevented them from ever becoming a galactic power again.”

Dalen exhaled through her nose, her hands gripping the back of Jonarom’s chair so tightly her knuckles turned pale.

“They neutered every threat before it could even be recognised,” she said in a low and disgusted voice. “They weaponised patience.”

For a moment, none of them spoke, each absorbing the scale of the revelation.

The Vaadwaur had never truly been defeated. They had merely changed tactics.

The doors to the lab slid open. Commanders Flemen and Tomaz entered, their conversation low and casual as they stepped inside.

Flemen offered his usual easy grin as he looked around at the gathered team. “How are we doing? Any early signs of treasure in that Vaadwaur mess? Please say yes, we’re having great difficulty with the Talaxians and Haakonians. We’re hoping you’ve found something useful we can leverage at the next session.”

Dalen, standing rigidly behind Jonarom’s chair, didn’t return the smile. Chambers, leaning back in his chair with crossed arms, had a grim set to his jaw. Jonarom simply looked up at them with wide, unsettled eyes.

Flemen’s grin faded. You didn’t need to be an empath to notice they had some bad news. “What is it?”

Instead of answering, Dalen jerked her chin toward the main display. “You both need to see this.”

Both officers moved closer, and instantly, the weight of what they were looking at began to sink in. Highlighted on the screen were the carefully threaded stories, buried deep in the Vaadwaur’s historical and cultural databases.

Jonarom spoke first, his voice quiet but steady. “We found evidence that the Vaadwaur were manipulating the development of nearby civilisations for centuries, if not longer and also long after the fall of their empire.”

Chambers added, “Sleeper agents. Bioweapons. Covert destabilisation operations. It’s all there.”

Tomaz’s brow furrowed. “Destabilisation, how?”

Jonarom leaned forward, tapping a series of highlighted entries. “From what we can tell, the Vaadwaur didn’t just sit in stasis waiting to reclaim their empire. They made sure no new powers could rise to fill the vacuum. They orchestrated political collapses, wars, and even helped in the development of plagues.”

Flemen stared at the screen, disbelief written across his face. “Wait. Are you saying what I think you’re saying?”

“The Phage,” Dalen said bluntly with a solemn nod. “The Vaadwaur helped it along, and it was no accident. And whenever they find a cure or some relief, the Vaadwaur would break it. Most likely, the Vaadwaur’s efforts forced them into their organ-hunting industry. It’s all still conjecture, we’re just finding the pieces now and making links where we can.”

Tomaz’s eyes widened. “So a large proportion of the Vidiians’ entire history of suffering is because of the Vaadwaur?”

Jonarom nodded. “It appears they unleashed hell when the Vidiians realised their actual intentions of becoming the true masters of the Delta Quadrant. Instead of wiping the Vidiians out completely, they made them suffer for over two thousand years.”

Once more, silence descended upon the lab, it was thick and piercing. The reality of what the Vaadwaur had done in the past was shocking, but perhaps not surprising. Others had done the same: the Dominion, the Cardassians, the Romulans. 

Flemen ran a hand through his hair. “That’s monstrous. And strategic. Long-term destabilisation. No wonder no major power ever rose in this region. We’ll most likely find the same with others.”

Chambers looked up from his console. “Actually, sir, we have, and it gets worse. We’re seeing indications they didn’t stop with the Vidiians. There are also references to Talaxian and Haakonian conflicts being quietly stirred up. Possibly seeded by Vaadwaur operatives.”

Tomaz stepped back, processing the information. “This changes everything. If we reveal this to the Talaxians and Haakonians, it could completely reframe their negotiations.”

“It might also blow them up,” Flemen muttered, crossing his arms. “They might turn their anger toward each other, or worse, go after the Vaadwaur if they believe they were both victims, but it won’t make the difference we need. Any response needs to be a coordinated and united front.”

Dalen, composed as ever, didn’t flinch. “The truth is the truth, and it isn’t our place to withhold it.”

Tomaz gave a slow nod. “We’ll need to prepare this carefully. Very carefully.”

Flemen blew out a long breath. “And we’ll need Commodore McCallister’s approval before we even hint at this in talks.”

“We’re already working on compiling a preliminary report,” Dalen said, nodding toward Chambers and Jonarom.

“Can you do a comparison with the other databases, to see if we can corroborate all of this information further?” Flemen asked. “That was my original intention, to see if we can share the information with everyone we need in this coalition. I was hoping to show the Vaadwaur as the common threat and hopefully bring them all aboard with that.”

Dalen nodded in agreement. “A wise approach,” she took a breath. “We can easily compare databases, but it will take time to compile the evidence.”

“Whatever you can do, Marjo,” Flemen replied, grateful for her efforts. 

Tomaz stepped closer to the screen, eyes narrowing thoughtfully. “Anything else in the Vaadwaur archives? Other pieces of the puzzle? Or something we can use to help defend against any more attacks?”

“That type of information is heavily encrypted, but we could also see if the other species we’re working with have any other similar involvement with the Vaadwaur from the past,” Chamber offered. “It might not be great reading.”

“It doesn’t matter, whatever can help us,” Tomaz replied, urgency now threaded his tone. “We’ve got diplomatic efforts underway not just from our squadron but with Captain Taes and her crews. Whatever we can provide to help them could make a difference.”

Jonarom hesitated for a second. “Sir, I think there might be another approach we should take.” 

Dalen squinted at Jonarom, not expecting the lieutenant to speak up. Flemen and Tomaz looked at him.

“Go on then, lieutenant,” Tomaz urged.

“We know from Voyager and the Constitution’s most recent encounter that Sikarians thrive on a range of stories, which means their databases might have information from a range of sources that could connect and verify all these incidents and others with the Vaadwaur,” Jonarom stated.

“What are you suggesting, lieutenant?” Dalen probed, intrigued by the man’s idea.

Jonarom looked up at her. “We knew the Rakosans have a limited trading relationship with them, so why not see if they are willing to help us open negotiations with the Sikarians to determine if they would be willing to trade on what they know about the Vaadwaur? It may help us unlock more information and give us an even bigger picture.”

Flemen, Tomaz and Dalen all looked at one another. All of them knew it was a good idea.

“I’ll take your proposal to the commodore,” Flemen answered. “Great work, lieutenant.” 

Jonarom smiled in appreciation. 

Tomaz then shook his head, still stunned at what they had heard earlier. “And to think we just came down here for a quick progress report.”

Dalen allowed herself the faintest flicker of dry humour; it was a quick, blink-and-you-miss-it smirk. “Surprise.”