Governor Nicola Laurent had been enjoying a pleasant early evening meal with her husband and children when the colony’s militia had disturbed her. They had reported that the planet’s long-range sensors had detected a massive subspace distortion on course for Divinium Four. Their tracking stations had identified the warp profiles belonging to Breen and Dominion ships. The latter was more surprising as she, like everyone else, was only aware of the Breen border dispute and their constant recent raids on Federation assets in the Deneb Sector.

The governor was not a timid woman, far from it. Governor Nicola Laurent was a well-respected and accomplished leader who had dedicated most of her later life to public service. She was known for her strong work ethic, her commitment to fairness and equity, and her ability to bring people together to solve complex problems. She and her husband had moved to Divinium Four almost seventeen years ago. They had served in Starfleet for most of their early adulthood, and after witnessing what happened on Mars, followed by Starfleet’s response, the two had walked away from it. Instead, they had relocated to the Deneb sector, hoping to leave that and the horrors of the Dominion War behind them. They had earned several battlefield promotions because of that conflict. Ultimately, Starfleet had become too consuming for them, and they wanted more to their lives. Divinium Four appeared to be the best escape.  

Now she was escaping from more danger. Though she had practised such an event as part of regular drills with the colony’s militia and the Starfleet presence, she had never expected during her tenure as governor she would be faced with such a crisis. 

She was taken to the operations centre after her family had been secured in the Starfleet base’s bunker. With her advisors on either side of her, she entered the room to find what was usually a relatively peaceful and calm space to be the complete opposite. She hadn’t seen this many Starfleet officers rushing around since she had taken on the governorship almost two years ago. 

Her eyes landed on Captain Sturok, the Vulcan man who commanded all the Starfleet forces in the Divinium system. Sturok stood tall and proud, with an air of discipline and logic that was unmistakably Vulcan. His features were sharp and angular, and his dark hair was neatly shaved. Though he appeared to be in his forties, rumour had it he was almost double that age. His eyes were deep and piercing and seemed to hold a wisdom that belied his years. Despite his stoic demeanour, there was a sense of warmth and compassion that stemmed from him, a testament to the strength of his character. He was a man of great honour and integrity, and his unwavering dedication to logic and reason made him a formidable ally and a fearsome opponent. 

On many occasions, Governor Laurent and he met and built a formidable working relationship over the last two years. Laurent respected him, and the same could be said for him. As a former Starfleet captain, she knew the protocol and understood why the base was now on red alert and the colony’s defence procedures were at their highest levels. Walking across the room to the centre where Sturok was, Laurent asked for an update.

“We have identified at least one-hundred and fifty-one enemy vessels on approach to our system,” Sturok reported. “That is the first wave of enemy vessels. Their reinforcements appear to number in the thousands, governor.”

Surprised that Sturok left that information to last, Laurent sighed. “So, we are looking at an all-out invasion force, aren’t we, captain?

“Indeed, Madam Governor,” Sturok replied calmly. “Though we have adequate orbital weapon platforms, the use of Divinium Station, planet-based phased ion cannons, and three-thousand and forty-seven starfighters, I calculate that we will still be overrun by the incoming Dominion forces.”

“Are there any Starfleet forces nearby to help us?” Laurent said after telling one of her aides to get her a large glass of water. Hearing that their homes were about to be overrun by Jem’Hadar made her feel queasy, to say the least. 

“We are picking a squadron of ships heading to Starbase Five One Four,” Sturok replied. “It is led by the U-S-S Odyssey.”

“Send a distress call to them and any other ships in range who could help. Tell them what we may be facing and the devastation we expect,” Laurent ordered. 

 Sturok nodded in acknowledgement and instructed his communication officer to devise the message immediately. In the meantime, Laurent told her chief of staff to issue a planet-wide state of emergency and that she was issuing the orders to implement the continuity of government procedures. She also wanted all civilians to report to emergency shelters; she would also declare martial law. 

“Madam Governor, may I remind you that though we have an extensive Starfleet presence on Divinium Four, we do not have sufficient numbers to aid the local militia with martial law implementation,” Sturok shared with a raised eyebrow.

“I know,” Laurent confirmed. “However, if the Dominion do succeed in by-passing all of our defences and land troops, then I will not leave our people defenceless while we wait for reinforcements.”

“That is your constitutional duty, ma’am,” Sturok replied with a slight bow of his head.

“When will they hit the first line of our orbital weapons?” Laurent asked as she looked up at the large holographic display. 

“In three point two minutes,” Sturok said with accuracy. 

For a moment, Laurent considered her next decisions carefully as she watched the dots of the incoming enemy vessels move across the display. “Captain, open a channel to the lead Dominion ship.”

Sturok’s left eyebrow popped up, curious about what she would do, but he complied nevertheless by nodding to his communication officer to do as the governor ordered. 

The moment she got the signal she was on, Laurent took a quick sip from the water she had been handed by one of her aids before speaking up. “This is Governor Nicola Laurent of the Federation colony on Divinium Four to the approaching combined Dominion-Breen armada. You are in violation of the Bajor Treaty of twenty-three-seventy-five, and your aggressive actions against Federation space will not be tolerated. If you approach this world any further, you will see that we are committed to defending our world with the full might of its military. Stand down at once and agree to meet with us to discuss this matter in a more amicable manner.”

Initially, there was no response, and then the holographic display changed to show a Vorta woman with a Dominion headset on. “Good day, Governor Laurent. I am Kalani, the Vorta in command of this Dominion fleet. We are here to accept your unconditional and immediate surrender of your world.” Kalani said in a sweet, almost high-pitched voice and smug and annoying-looking smile. 

Laurent looked at Sturok, almost expressing her inner thought as if this Vorta was serious. “I’m afraid that won’t happen. And do you really want to risk losing your ships against our advanced defence perimeter?”

Kalani continued to grin. “We are not afraid of anything, governor. You see, we will reduce your world to nothing and enslave your population if you do not agree to my terms. I have the conviction and power to see my threat through, do you?”

“Oh, the people of Divinium Four have no qualms in fighting an enemy we defeated before,” Laurent said, not repaying the smile. 

“Well, isn’t that great to hear? However, I think you may reconsider my offer shortly.” Kalani then closed the channel.

Sturok looked down at the tactical display. “A small force is entering the system on a standard attack vector. They are approaching the first set of orbital weapon platforms.”

“Fire at will, captain,” Laurent ordered. 

On the system’s outer edges, the orbital platforms were already powered up. They took hold of their targets and started to open fire. The combined Dominion-Breen group evaded a few shots but was hit in some locations. The Breen ship soon fired multiple shots at the platforms they were near.  

“The Breen ships have deployed their energy-dampening weapons; our orbital platforms are struggling to maintain their systems,” Sturok reported.

“How? I thought we were immune to that weapon?” Lauren quizzed the Vulcan.

“It would appear they have made some modifications since the war,” Sturok replied before ordering one of his officers to shut down the platforms and recharge their power systems using the backup emergency generators. He looked back at the governor, “Though their systems will require a hard reboot, we will be able to update their operating systems and use them for any other incoming vessels.”

Laurent understood the engineering concept behind what he was saying, but she was still confused by the fact that the Dominion wasn’t sending all their forces in yet. She squinted at the readings for the rest of the enemy forces and immediately noticed something. “It’s a trap!” She shouted.

“Ma’am?” Sturok asked for clarity.

“Those other sensor readings are not real ships, but sensor echoes. Have our tracking stations recalibrate their sensors, and they should see they’re not actually there,” Laurent told the Vulcan.

A few seconds later and it was confirmed the Dominion invasion force was not there, and it was a complete ploy. While that was happening, the incoming group of enemy ships deployed their energy-dampening weapon on more orbital weapons. It was now approaching the Presidium-class station that sat in orbit of the colony.    

“We’re being hailed!” declared Sturok’s communication officer. “Kalani wishes to speak with the governor.”

“Put her up,” Laurent told her. She knew Sturok would not object to her response, overriding him among his crew.

“Governor, it would seem you have detected our subterfuge,” Kalani said, still grinning like a Cheshire cat. “However, my following action is no deception. Stand down, surrender, and I will forgo killing your people.”

“You’re outgunned and outnumbered; once you reach orbit and our platforms come back online, I promise you that your task group won’t survive our onslaught!” Laurent said, jabbing her right index finger at the Vorta. “Why don’t you surrender instead?”

Kalani chuckled. “It’s not in my nature; however, I will demonstrate to you what I mean.” She nodded to someone off-screen, and Sturok displayed a visual of the enemy ships. 

The only Breen ship fired its energy-dampening weapon at the station, which was now opening fire at them. Unlike the other bolts from the Breen ship, this one appeared more robust. When it struck, the station’s shields seemed to fizzle out, and a power drain began. Over the communication channel, voices could be heard coming from the station as its crew scrambled to restore systems. Orders were being given to secure the station’s main processor core, and its commanding officer declared they were having trouble using the backup generators. Sturok ordered them to begin removing critical systems to avoid them and others being infected by the energy-dampening effects, while at the same time, he was instructing his engineering team to prepare to send up replacement parts and power generators.  

Laurent then witnessed Kalani take her next step as the lead Dominion attack fighter appeared to use its forward deflector for something. It seemed so subtle and minor. The science officer then reported detecting a high amount of theta-band emissions. Confused by that, Laurent couldn’t work out what they had done. Instead, she looked at the timer that indicated how much longer until the weapon platforms were back up and running. She had also noticed that the Dominion ships had parked themselves just slightly out of range of their phased ion cannons. However, another indicator on another display showed that shortly, thanks to the planet’s natural orbit and turning on its axis, they would be in range if they stayed where they were. 

The operation’s speakers were then filled with screams of pain from the Divinium Station. Shocked by the noise, Laurent covered her ears as Sturok attempted to assess what was happening. His science officer then announced they were detecting a metagenic virus airborne on the station. Without hesitation, Sturok ordered the station’s commander to implement quarantine protocols; however, there wasn’t anyone left on the station. They were either dead or dying. Instead, Sturok accessed the emergency remote controls and opened every hatch and airlock. Effectively he dumped the virus into outer space. 

The death of so many shocked Laurent. The governor picked up her glass of water, her hand trembling from the aftereffects of hearing so many die so gruesomely was shocking.  

Kalani hailed them again. “Now, will you surrender, governor?”

“No,” Laurent said, shaking her head. “What you did just there wasn’t warfare; it was pure murder.” She resisted the urge not to cry. “How dare you kill so many people so carefree.”

“I have my limits, governor, and I know you are stalling to allow your weapons to come online. So I will show you my resolve again and that I can be merciful.” Kalani said. Her grin now turned to a smug one. “You saw how quickly my metagenic weapon reduced those on the stations; what do you think will happen to your planet?”

“You wouldn’t dare,” Laurent stated. “You want my planet for a reason, so killing so many people does not serve your long-term strategy.”

“The governor is correct; there is no logic in you killing us all,” Struok added.

Kalani just smirked and closed the channel again.

“She is taunting us,” Sturok assessed.

Laurent nodded. “You’re right, captain, but I won’t let her small task group intimidate us. There’s no way that Breen energy dampening weapon can knock out our entire planetary shielding. We just need to wait another minute or so before our weapon platforms are operational again.”

Sturok agreed. “Once our platforms are functional again, we will open fire.”

“Have the platforms and phased ion cannons programmed to open fire when they get a clear shot,” Laurent commanded. 

The visual of the enemy ship then showed them moving into a tighter formation as they came into orbit; they were moving fast to avoid being targetted, and then all of them (besides one fighter and the Breen ship) fired powerful tachyon bursts against the planetary shield grid. This was followed by the Breen ship launching its energy-dampening weapon. The combination of the two attacks forced a section of the planetary shielding to collapse.

“They have taken out shielding around the capital!” Sturok shouted.

“Can we adjust the other shield emitters to compensate for the gap in the grid?” Laurent called back. 

“We can try,” Sturok replied.

However, they weren’t quick enough as the other Dominion attack fighter that had originally launched its metagenic weapon against the station did the same thing again. As it fired, the Breen ship fired something from its belly too.

Sturok tracked the multiple launchers before they hit a section of the city, and instantly he called that a metagenic virus was detected. In an instant, it killed everything within a certain radius; however, he saw the release of an antidote after that. It didn’t stop the devastation to the people and other organic life in the range of the metagenic weapon. 

They were all dead.    

The proximity alarm then went off as it registered the arrival of more ships.

“Who are they? More Dominion ships?” Laurent asked.

“Yes, one of their battlecruisers. They remain on the edge of our weapon’s range, but I am detecting a high energy output from them,” Sturok answered. “Curiously, their shields are down, and power is routed from their transporter systems to their main deflector. I believe it has been reconfigured to act as a large transporter targeting array.”

“For what purpose?” Laurent asked.

Sturok shook his head. “I am unsure.”

More alarms went off, and one of the command division officers nearby reported that they were detecting a number of transporter beams passing through the planetary shield grid (which the Dominion task group were now bombarding with their weapons). Whole swaths of the civilian population were being removed.

“That battlecruiser is using Dominion long-range transporters to remove our people,” Laurent determined. “But why?”

Sturok had just ordered for every weapon the colony had to open fire on those enemy ships they could hit before he replied to the governor. “I would summarise they wish to take the planet without causing too much destruction; otherwise, they would have brought more ships. They want our infrastructure intact.”

“Captain Sturok, I think you’re spot on, but I won’t let them take our planet without a fight. Tell all of our forces to make it impossible for the Dominion to take control of our defences. If we’re going to go down, then I don’t want to make their attempts to use our systems against our own kind. Let’s just hope the Odyssey arrives soon!”

Before Laurent could say anything else, she saw that the Dominion task group in orbit was smashed to pieces, but not before they unleashed their last barrage, somehow taking out their planetary shielding, and she felt the cold fizzle of a Dominion transporter beam take hold of her.

USS Triton (NCC-80106), Deneb Sector, Alpha Quadrant

Stardate: 78195.75 

“Captain, we will be within weapon’s range of the Dominion battle cruiser in less than two minutes,” announced Ensign Andar from the helm.

“Captain, that cruiser appears to be heavily modified compared to the standard Dominion battle cruiser of its era,” reported Lieutenant (JG) Lonar from behind her captain. “I’m detecting an unusual deflector configuration.” 

Curious to hear that Captain Canção glimpsed at her first officer, he looked at her two, and they shared a sense of concern. They were about to engage the ship that had tricked the Bellerophon with their Cardassian allies, and they didn’t want any last-minute surprises themselves. “Ethav, can you determine what the changes are for?” She asked her Andorian operations officer.

It took him a few seconds, and then he turned around. “Captain, it’s a massive transporter targeting array.”

“Why would they do that?” Commander Thaustin asked anyone.

“Oh my,” Kazlaf uttered from the science station. “Ensign Jonarom and Commander Jen were right. The Dominion did transport something off the colony.”

“Belire, clarify,” Canção asked her science officer as she got up from her chair and walked to the science station.

Kazlaf raised her index finger as an indicator for her captain to wait. It was almost outright disrespectful to tell the captain to pause, but then Kazlaf was known for her blunt responses. “I’m detecting Federation life signs on that ship, captain.”

“How many?” Canção asked, ignoring Kazlaf’s earlier rude gesture.

“Over a billion,” Kazlaf said. “Stuck in their transporter buffers.”

“How?” Counsellor Naef-Oron inquired. The large Brikar had been sat next to the captain and was shocked like everyone by that revelation. 

“I don’t know,” Kazlaf admitted.

Silence fell over the bridge.

“We’re coming into weapon’s range,” Lonar reported.

Canção knew she had to do something. “Andar, drop us back out of range, gradually. Then someone get me Gul Jacet, and the other captains in the squadron.” She moved to sit back down in her chair. “We’ve got an entire colony to rescue.”