DS9
Posted on Sat Jul 18th, 2026 @ 9:58am by Captain Rhenora Kaylen & Commander Savar cha'Salik hei-Surak Talek-sen-deen & Commander Jenna Ramthorne & Lieutenant Commander Aurora Vali & Lieutenant JG Jacob Rosen & Lieutenant JG Olivia Voight
1,744 words; about a 9 minute read
Mission:
Pirates!
Location: DS9
USS Sunfire - Bridge
The USS Sunfire slid effortlessly towards the ex-Cardassian now Federation space station known as Deep Space Nine. The Sunfire was a regular visitor here, and the crew felt at home amongst the dated Cardassian architecture.
"Captain, Captains Bozeman and Kira are requesting your and Commander Savar's presence in Ops." The communications officer announced as they drew closer.
Savar rose fluidly from his XO's chair and stood beside it at hearing the request sent by DS9 but made no move towards the turbolift. He would wait for Captain Kaylen to initiate that action.
Jenna guided the Sunfire through the final approach with practiced precision, her hands making only the smallest corrections as the great ring of Deep Space Nine slowly filled the viewscreen. Thrusters answered instantly beneath her touch, easing the Akira-class cruiser into alignment with Upper Pylon Three. The final meters disappeared almost imperceptibly before the docking clamps engaged with a reassuring, muted thud that carried through the deck.
She ran a quick verification across the helm display before looking up. "Docking complete, Captain. All moorings secure. Station umbilicals are connected and environmental transfer is stable. DS9 confirms we're hard docked."
"Dean, take Olivia and either Sarah or Dr Chase and see how our Jennifer is and if she can be safely transferred to our sickbay." Rhenora ordered.
"How about all three." Dean smiled and signaled them to join him over aboard the station.
"Whatever floats your boat" Rhenora replied off the cuff as Dean headed towards the Turbolift.
"Lt Rosen, there is a prisoner taken by the Bristol who is requesting asylum, and your debrief. Take someone with you though" the Captain added.
"I am available, Lieutenant," T'Lar said, curious as to who this mysterious prisoner who had requested to be debriefed by Jacob might be.
Jacob turned from the Ops station to the Captain, a confused look on his face as he parsed the order, making eye contact with T'Lar before replying. "Aye Captain... Captain I don't have an Intel background. Even as an enlisted crewman, I worked in Engineering. I'm not certain I'm the right person for the job."
"We've been requested by name, so I'm sorry I can't assist you with that. I would suggest you take someone with intelligence, or at the least a security background. Maybe T'Lar can assist, although we may need her and Commander Vali's expertise when Commander Baldric regains consciousness" Rhenora explained as she looked at the Ops officer. "I'm sorry I don't have any further information to give you"
"I stand ready to assist in whatever way the Captain feels is best, of course." T'Lar conceded. "Where would you like me to start?"
"You can either accompany the medical team, or assist with the debrief of the prisoner - your choice" Rhenora smiled at the Vulcan counsellor.
"In that case, by your leave, I will defer to Counselor Vali to attend to Commander Baldric unless she calls for my assistance. I confess I am intrigued by the opportunity to meet someone from the mirror universe." T'Lar said. "That is if Lieutenant Rosen finds my presence during his interrogation agreeable."
"I think I'll need your insight Counselor." Jacob said, nodding in agreement. "I will certainly be out of my element." He flashed an uncertain smirk.
"So..should I go ahead now or?" Dean asked.
"Go. I have a feeling the sooner we get Commander Baldric back here, the better" The Captain replied, rising herself to go and meet with Kira and Bozeman.
As the senior officers filed from the bridge, Jenna stood from the helm and moved to the center command chair in one smooth motion. She waited until the turbolift doors closed behind the Captain before settling into the seat, activating the command console built into the armrest.
"I guess I have the bridge," she announced calmly, her eyes already moving between the tactical display and the station traffic plot. "Maintain docking readiness and advise me immediately of any change in Commander Baldric's transfer status." The bridge acknowledged in quiet unison, and for the next few moments at least, the Sunfire belonged to her.
DS9 - Ops
Captain Kaylen and Savar disembarked the rudimentary turbolifts at Ops a short time later and were greeted by Captains Kira and Bozeman. The later looked worse for wear, deep dark circles under his eyes and the pallor of someone who had seen a lot and barely lived to tell the tale.
"Come, we have much to discuss" Kira indicated the central Ops table where a star chart was displayed, the Badlands cluster in the centre and several symbols displayed.
"The Woolloomooloo was destroyed here with all hands" Bozeman indicated an area to one side of the Badlands with a Federation symbol in black. "We were unable to see if there were any survivors." His eyes ghosted for a moment before clearing. " There was one mirror ship, identical to yours, and some Nausicans. We believe there's a portal in this region here, but you can bet your ass it will be heavily guarded"
Savar studied the chart. "There are M-class worlds survivors may have been able to reach... if there were any survivors. Also I believe you are correct in your statement of there being a portal the the region and it being well defended Captain Bozeman. The Mirror universe personnel are nothing if not thorough."
"Command are sending a small task force, and you will have the Defiant at your command. We're stretched pretty thin in this region, although Command believe this to be a major foothold potential. If we don't close that portal, they'll keep coming" Kira explained, pointing to a handful of symbols that were approaching the Cardassian designed station.
"The Defiant is a definite asset to have in the upcoming engagement. However it is only one ship." Savar replied before asking Kira the most obvious question. "Just how many ships has Command decided will make up this task force Captain?"
Kira took a breath before answering, a tell tale sign that she wasn't fond of the answer herself.
"Including the Sunfire and the Defiant - we have 5"
"So much for the priority of keeping the region safe" Rhenora scoffed as she looked at the starchart again. " We'll just have to do the best we can with what we have"
"I suppose it is worth noting thar Command does seem to have a firm grasp of what entails a small task force. " Savar noted dryly. As he looked at the starchart and the area the task force would have to cover. They would have their work cut out for them.
"Command are stretched as are the available resources" Bozeman said matter of factly "We would assist you with the Bristol, but we're in rough shape."
"The rest of the task force will be here within 10 hours. You'll depart then" Kira looked up sagely "We have what we have, it will have to do"
"10 hours, can you send through all intel you have, I'll get my team up to speed" Rhenora nodded.
"Ten hours." Savar repeated, The clock was ticking. He looked at Bozeman. "Your ship and crew are your priority Captain. get them back to full strength. We shall work together in the future. I have no doubts about that."
" We'll do what we can to help, we owe it to the crew of the 'W' to close that damned portal." Bozeman announced as he lifted his chin. " I'll send you all our intel. Mark my words though, this will be far from simple"
"We look forward to the information your Intel can provide and it is never simple when the cause is just and honorable." Savar replied sagely.
DS9 - Infirmary
Meanwhile in the station's infirmary, the Sunfire's medical team and accompanying officers had arrived, glancing around the small ward to find Dr Bashir who was overseeing Baldric's care.
He was found in his office, small but functional, adding notes into files.
"Welcome to DS9, I'm sorry it's not under better circumstances" He added solemnly. He motioned for them to follow him towards one of the private rooms off the main ward.
"We were able to heal her physical injuries. There was evidence of rough handling, bruising, contusions that kind of thing, her neurotransmitter levels were off the charts, indicating some kind of mental trauma. The Mirror's love their agony devices, but I think it was more than that." He explained as he opened the door.
“I have no doubt they probably use telepaths and empaths to their fullest in the mirror universe, trauma from that could explain a lot.” Aurora added as she looked towards Bashir. “If that’s what has happened she may react violently to my presence in the room simply because she knows I possess those abilities.”
"I'm aware of at least one forced mind meld, there may have been more" Bashir explained, turning towards Aurora. "Medically she is somewhat stable"
Aurora nodded. “That’s a start. A forced mind meld is certainly a worry, especially if it occurred more than once. Though right now I just want to do whatever I can to help.”
“I have a feeling it is going to take awhile for things to get back to some sort of normal routine,” Olivia said. “Main thing is to take it one step at a time and not force things to much in the beginning.”
"She's stable enough for transfer. We've tried everything in the manual plus a few more left field treatments but nothing has changed. We don't have the medically trained telepaths to work on her mind internally" Bashir admitted. "That's far more left field of protocol though"
“That and possibly dangerous” Aurora added. “Entering a mind that’s already fragile could harm any telepath. The mind has its defences and when it’s already been violated those defences can come down hard. That’s something that can definitely wait.”
"We've tried everything we can think of, I can only release her back to you and request you attempt your own methods or convey her back to Starfleet Medical" Bashir didn't like admitting defeat.
“You can release her to us, we’re not going to give up without trying everything we can.” Aurora smiled. “Thank you for everything you’ve done Doctor.”
"Good luck, I hope you can do something for her" Bashir signed the transfer document. " I'll standby for your beamout"
TBC
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