Ming still struggled with the lost Battle of Betazed.  His flight came home, his ship made it out, and he even helped shepherd five other fighters to a safe haven…. two to the Denver, and the other three docked with another starship that survived to escape the decidedly lopsided battle.  Of the seven pilots that got back to the Denver, two suffered radiation poisoning thanks to the Dominion firing off a bunch of projectiles to end up being used like depth charges during some of Earth’s naval battles. He had no idea if it was intentional or dumb luck.   

While he knew it was unfair, he still felt that Starfleet’s intelligence agency and its top brass dropped the ball, to put it very, very diplomatically.  Eventually, he’d chalk it up to honest human error. Now wasn’t that time, though.  He was hurt and heartbroken that two pilots he knew well were to be transferred to Vulcan shortly after arrival for medical recovery.  Three more were dead and that didn’t count the Tucson crewmates that were also gone among the many, many others lost in an offensive that was going to be so horribly lopsided.  It was the most horrific engagement he’d taken part in, and this was far from the first lost battle he’d been a part of.   

He figured a quiet drink would allow him to sort it all out.  He was on drink three and it was just getting more annoying.  He decided that he would call it quits after the next drink since it wasn’t going anywhere.  He wanted company but he wasn’t quite sure who to hit up with the rest of the crew being still rather new to him.  He sighed and stared at the whiskey on the rocks on the bar in front of him, contemplating things as he did so. 

Arin walked in, still in duty uniform. Seeing Ming, she met up and took a seat near him without asking. The server met her there. “Two 600 ml mugs of Jamaican Blue Mountain coffee in glass 700ml mugs. Brown sugar, and some heavy cream, not that spray can bollocks. Don’t forget the spoon this time and I let ya watch. Ach, get a glass for yourself if ya want one.” She said, placing an old ceramic jug on the table as she winked at the server. 

Turning to Ming, she nudged his arm with hers. “I’m not usually one to tell a man what to drink. Well, that’s a lie,” Arin said, chuckling lightly. She saw he was a few drinks in and couldn’t blame him. She knew a few of them. Not well but still comrades. She decided to try and switch his gears. The server returned with a tray. Three mugs, two as specified and one more normal coffee cup. When she looked up to comment, the server interrupted her, saying, “I’ve had to toast all night.” Arin smiled, but said, “Ach, take one for the team ya wallflower.” But she smiled and he melted and smiled back.  She added the sugar to the mugs and poured the hot coffee, stirring until the sugar dissolved. Adding a shot of whiskey to each, she faced the spoon so the cream poured smoothly down the curved spoon’s back.

When the server left, she offered the steaming mug to Ming. “This jug is older than all of us put together. That was including that babe in the woods server. You’re pissed. We all are. Get drunk, whatever. My idea is to plan worthy of a surprise or… something. Plan to punch them right in the bloody face.” 

Ming started to say something but stopped short with a smile and a bit of a snort.  He said, “Reinforced coffee.  A favorite of George Armstrong Custer. We sure as hell did a nice job of impersonating the 7th Cav at Little Bighorn…..”

He finished the little bit of whiskey he had left in his glass and eyed the woman for another moment with a smile, “An idea to pop ’em right in the kisser, huh?  I’d like to hear it.  I want to run something by you first, if I may.” 

Marcus touched a finger to the mug of fortified coffee in front of him and said still sporting a grin, “Consider it the price of admission.” 

Smelling the mixture of warm coffee, alcohol, and other notes from the 75-year-old jug,  the sweet cream. lifting the mug she took a tentative sip. It was almost too hot. Taking another pull, Arin set the mug down as the mix of chemicals started to take the edge off of the day just a bit. “Well, you certainly haven’t been a cheap date yet.” She said in a deadpan tone. Cracking a slight smile she added.  “Color me interested. My people on both sides are well known for well-intended treason.” 

Ming took a sip of the fortified coffee in front of him and nodded approvingly.  He said, “Not the worst I’ve had by far.  I’m….Still trying to mull over the debacle we ran into at Betazed.  Ares…Or Néit must really be pissed at us right now for some reason.  Oversights and miscalculations aside, that was too expensive.  I’m still mourning the loss of the Denver, with most of the crew I knew being dead along with the ship.  Two of my flight mates from the Rangers made it home with us.    My replacement, whom I didn’t know, died with my former bunk mate and flight commander.”

The Knight’s flight leader paused as he reburied some resurfacing intense grief. After a moment, he said, “Despite all that, one thing really stood out.  Two Dominion cruisers fired a barrage of torpedoes at us.  They didn’t manage a direct hit on any of us however, they detonated in damned close proximity to Ranger 3 and Knight 5.  Shockwaves and radiation managed to get through the shields of both fighters due to the close range.”

Marcus looked at Arin and after another heartbeat said, “Similar to depth charges in 20th and 21st century ocean warfare, instead of underwater shockwaves breaking the hull of a submarine these damned near destroyed two fighters.  I can’t figure out if that was by design or a damned lucky near-miss.  I’m tempted to bring this to our intel officer but am unsure if it’s worth it.”

Arin thought for a second, taking another pull on her Irish coffee. “It’s worth a look. Could be coincidence, or just as you said, blind luck. We will be far from the only sideline lookie-loos.” She stopped cold. A devious smile came over her face. “ Have you ever heard of an EMP bomb?” Arin asked.

“A relatively simple device. You take a core of explosive. Wrap a copper coil around the charge. Tie in capacitors to the coil. It charges the coil. As the explosion occurs, the charge in the coil ramps up to the end. Take a simple charge of C4. It makes a lightning strike look like someone rubbed their feet on the carpet. I bet we could configure a few torpedoes or even build a few mines.”

“I’ve heard of EMPs of course.  I have never thought of nor researched how to make them besides knowing it’s a side effect of certain nuclear bombs.  The mechanics are something I’ve never gotten around to learning about.  The results of them are quite straightforward, however.   That could very well be an interesting weapon to have in our arsenal,” Marcus said musingly.  

He still looked thoughtful as he paused to take a sip of the fortified coffee.  He wasn’t into coffee at all unlike many (if not most) but this version was better than tolerable.  The extra kicker helped as well.  

Ming tilted his head and added with a bit of a smile, “Might be worth looking into a spaceborne version of a Faraday cage as well assuming it’s even possible.  If we come up with something like this so can the other powers.  It’d be a bitch if we come up with this thing only to have the Dominion get something similar through espionage or, less likely, parallel development.  Never helps to develop the antidote to the poison after all.”

“Who do you think we should include in this little operation?” Arin asked. 

Ming thought for a second before replying, “Engineering and Tactical I would think as a starting point. That’d be…Commander Riolta and Lieutenant Conroy if I remember the names correctly.   If they like the idea and agree about the feasibility, I’d say that our illustrious Intel officer for a final check-off before we bring in Captain Talon to move it forward with the appropriate channels.   That’d be how I’d play this anyhow.”

“I can easily write up a proposal, though we could call them in and offer so encouragement.” Arin said, returning to her mug. The mix of sugar and brandy was starting to have the desire effect as more of her melted away.  

Ming took another sip of the alcohol enriched coffee and noticed that he was going a bit slower than his companion. He didn’t mind at all.  He liked the company, and she proposed a potentially pivotal concept.   

He said, “True.  They may add valuable feedback along the way.  The more department heads that sign off on it the better it’d look.  Especially, in this case, the Chief Engineer and the senior tactical officers.  At this point I’m unsure if my endorsement would be a huge assistance but I’m game.” 

Aoife entered the lounge her expression long and weary from a long day. Without a Chief Engineer and short-handed as well, Aoife was finding she was doing the work of two, sometimes three or four engineers. 

She quickly scanned the room for an empty table and walked across the lounge and selected a quiet table on the back wall away from the viewing ports and everyone.

Seeing the new arrival, Arin offered. “Well look what just dropped in, would ya?” Getting up, she had the server bring her a mug of coffee, pouring the shot in a glass from the special jug to the side. Arin took the tray over. Setting the two items down in front of Aoife, Arin gently nodded in acknowledgment. “Depending on whether you are still on duty or not.” Arin gently smiled. 

Aoife looked up, “Technically I am off duty, but with as short staffed as we are in engineering I am never truly off,” she said taking the coffee. “What can I do for you?”

“This is special. Also a gift. A nice belt of something older than we are. The coffee is optional. I canna say I have the purest intentions, but the Lieutenant idea would like to prepare an appropriate thank-you to the Jem’Hadar for the welcome we received.” Arin said. 

“Which is?” Aoife asked with a raised eyebrow.

Looking around, she spotted someone with several padds. Something she never understood since it was a LCARS device and could store files locally. “Can I borrow one of these?” She asked.  When they agreed, she quickly pulled up files about EMP bombs and went over their idea of turning a few torpedoes into a special warhead. “ Have you ever heard of an EMP bomb?” Arin asked, repeating what she said to Marcus as she waved him over.

“A relatively simple device. You take a core of high explosive. Wrap a copper coil around the charge. Tie in capacitors to the coil. It charges the coil. As the explosion occurs, the charge in the coil ramps up to the end. It makes a lightning strike look like someone rubbed their feet on the carpet. You must admit that even a normal photon torpedo at 64 megatons and upgraded would make a nice big firecracker. We are hoping the idea has merit. Maybe a small version for the ground-pounders.” 

“Denver’s critical systems are protected from EMP. What makes you think the Dominion won’t have the same protections in place? And if you are wanting to mess with their toys wouldn’t a duenetic field be more effective?”

Arin countered. “True. Our systems are protected from normal levels of EMP, but I get your point. Why I always research a few things with bigger brains.”

“However, I believe I can rig an EMP grenade.  I don’t know what it will do to their shrouds or poloran weapons. They may have sacrificed EMP protections for energy saving,  weight, and limitations on space.  I honestly don’t know much about Dominion technology.”   

Arin smiled a bit deviously. “Which, of course, begs a launcher. I could see an upgraded infantry isomagnetic disintegrator as well. ”

Marcus listened to the conversation as it went on between Arin and Aoife. He didn’t have any direct contributions to the conversation quite yet but was ready to jump in when there was one to be offered.  He had known it might be kind of a proverbial sticky wicket but if there was a work around to be had it would be something he’d love to see.  

Aoife shrugged,  “This could all be for naught,  and I expect they will adapt quickly.”

Arin just grinned. “Remind me to get you a copy of ‘Murphy’s laws of combat’. If it’s stupid, but it works, it wasn’t stupid. Right along with ‘no plan of action survives contact with the enemy’.”

“Before we start building launchers you probably should have a grenade first.  Even thrown they would offer a tactical advantage against close quarters fighting. But, like I said, they will adapt quickly.  The Dominion isn’t stupid. Once they figure out we’re using them they will adapt and EMP is relatively easy to shield.”

Now that the coffee had cooled as they talked, it allowed Arin to finish the rest of the mug. “Believe me, the last thing I would do is not believe the enemy is better, faster, smarter, and all that. I’m just trying to shake things up. It only has to work once. The infantry weapons are a great idea since buildings and other places they may be using for support could be infinitely more vulnerable to the EMP. Not every hidey hole will be hardened against that form of radiation.”  

Aoife shrugged, “Come by engineering tomorrow morning and we can go over some designs. I believe you have a training holodeck for the Recon teams. You can test the system out there before we finalize the design.”

Ming nodded as Arin spoke then again for Aoife gaining a bit of a grin as the latter spoke.  It was a grin he directed toward Arin as he knew that was the immediate goal she was hoping for.  He was genuinely glad.  

Standing Aoife nodded, “Thanks for the coffee.”  

“You are welcome. I will meet you in Engineering as planned.” Turning she smiled at Marcus.

Marcus grinned and said, “Very nice to meet you Ensign McKenzie.  I’m quite interested in seeing the end result of this meeting.  Realizing that it’s a crap shoot but I hope it comes up 7s or 11s.”

Aoife didn’t get the reference,  but simply nodded.  “See you tomorrow.”

With that Aoife walked out of the lounge. “Well, productive meeting in the lounge. Love it. Though it time for a refill.” Arin said. 

Ming chuckled and said, “It was and I concur on the refill front.”