The Founder, the war and an ‘eagle - Subterranean Pt 3

Posted on Fri May 26th, 2023 @ 6:48pm by Commodore Finchley Kerr & Lieutenant Commander Kevin Kilbane & Commander Shr'Nesh Karadis

4,451 words; about a 22 minute read

Mission: Investigate the Chintoka Shipyard Buildup
Location: Planet Runamen
Timeline: Current.

“Hold there Asaa,” Shon said, “we don’t know what else is here, there might be something here that is designed to spread during an explosion? Some of these weapons should be taken and investigated, what do you think Karadis?.…Karadis!” Shon looked around for the Klingon.

Karadis had already moved down the room, her curiosity on what else was in the room. Picking up a long barrelled weapon, he looked down the weapon and realised it was a phaser rifle. Not one she'd come across before, like any of the weapons on show, but show began 'cooing' and 'ahhhhing', lovingly moving her hands up and down the barrel "What can you do my beauty?"

Then all her Christmas's came at once...there was a firing range!

She literally ran towards it and stopped at the opening, looking down the range to see how far it went.

"Two...no, three hundred yards...perfect!" she exclaimed, taking aim.

Shon threw herself forward, “KARADIS NO!” She shouted, “we have no idea what’s in that thing, lower the weapon NOW!” She ordered.

Kell frowned, thinking, 'This isn't gonna end well' as she dove through the door.

Karadis turned to look at Shon, her finger not even on the trigger, she'd had no intention of firing, just winding the Commander up. "Gotcha!" she grinned, "Doesn't feel good when you're made a fool of, does it!"

Shon looked like thunder but inside was trying not to show the laughter she felt. “This is not the time or place to play wind up Karadis. We need to gather up a selection of these weapons and take them back to the Captain. Look over there, cases. Doctor do you feel it is feasible to take the liquid weapon?”

Kell peeks back through the door. "They had to have made a case or container to go with it so it could be transported safely."

"Ooooooohhhh, pick an' mix time" Karadis replied, feeling like she was having the run of the place. Taking one of the larger cases, she put it on the floor and opened it up.

Walking down the rows of weapons she began speaking to herself "Now then, shall we have you...no, not you. What about you...no, not you either."

Then she spotted one "Oh, you're a beast!" she exclaimed, reaching out for one of the upper bank weapons. Taking it down, she held it in her arms. It was a multi-firing one by the looks of it. Muzzle for a projectile, possibly a grenade launcher, laser sight for phaser fire and a holder with the elongated tube that held the green liquid. She walked back to the case and placed it gently inside. She started off again, picking at random weapons that took her fancy, a phaser here, what looked like grenades there, what she thought were mines with detonators. Practically skipping back to the case she placed them inside. Done, she closed it and brought it back to where Shon and Kell were "I'm done."

“Asaa,” Shon asked, “is there anything you wish to take. It should be something we have never seen new technology…something…………..” she stopped her eyes white and stood in silence. She began to walk down the aisle through what looked like older weaponry. “The nanites tell me to look behind here,” she said in a voice that was not hers. She began to throw the weapons aside eventually reaching the wall. A small cupboard appeared and Shon balled her fist and hammered through the door. The old wood splintered sending large shards of the door into Shons fist. She did not recognize the pain however and pulled a small package out. Shon turned and looked with unseeing eyes to Asaa and Kardis. “This will change the face of the war” she said before her eyes returned to normal. “Asaa help me!” she fell to the floor unconscious.

"Crap!" Kell was too far away to keep Shon from hitting the floor but slid the last couple of feet on her knees as she got near and did a quick assessment. She tucked the parcel under her arm for now and sighed. "I wish these little dudes would ease up!" Knowing the XO would have to make time later to recuperate she prepped a light muscle relaxer to ease the spasticity and a stim to get Shon back in the game before the next challenge presents itself...

"Easy commander," she said as Shon started to rouse. She backed up some in case she thrashed and swung a punch.

Shon woke quickly and touched Asaa on the arm. “Thank you” she said and stood. “That was a blast!” She exclaimed and laughed. “I don’t know what this is?” She said turning the old oil clothed package over in her hand. She placed it in her waist bag. “Okay so what have we got?” She asked.

"It's a 'thing', a 'whatdyamacallit', a 'hoojymaflip'...as Kerr would say about things he doesn't know about or understand...actually, come to think of it, he uses them quite a lot...makes me wonder if he's all there sometimes" Karadis replied, pointing her index finger at her temple.

Shon smiled at Karadis and wondered why this woman could still surprise her. “We should leave discussions about the Captain’s mental faculties for another time.” She said. “We need to return to the Captain with our finds. This place goes on forever and it would take teams of people to investigate it all. One place I would like to see are those stasis rooms. Karadis can you carry those weapons? Asaa are you okay with that ‘gun’?”

Kell shrugged. "As much as any of them, as long as it's in its case, we should be fine."

Karadis picked up the case containing the weapons and hoisted it onto her shoulder. As she began to leave the room, she said to Shon "I want to come back here, this place is like an Aladdin's cave!"

“It will be up to the Captain, Karadis,” Shon said tersely. “Now, in order to get to the stasis room we need to backtrack. Asaa you still have the means to beam me out if needs be?” she asked.

"Not without giving us away for a total beam out... but I do have the field phase generator on you that will mitigate some damage and disperse it. Don't worry, you won't feel a thing..." But Kell looked a bit sad saying it.

They moved back down the corridor slowly and as quietly as they could with Karadis and her bag of weapons. At the junction they turned right instead of left passing yet more different coloured doors. “This place would take days to explore,” she said under her breath. There was something very wrong she could feel it. “Karadis, Asaa how do you both feel?”

Kell shrugged. "Ill at odds?" She didn't normally feel subtle temperature changes and with the nasal respirator, she didn't smell anything either.

"I feel totally elated, almost euphoric!" Karadis exclaimed "I haven't felt this happy in a very long time" she said, smiling at Shon and Kell "Why, how are you feeling?"

“It’s as though we are being watched, you know that sort of itchy tingly neck and shoulders, well maybe you don’t but I’ve never been wrong about something like this. I think we ought to spread out here,” she opened a door into a small dusty room and entered. “Asaa you wait here with Karadis' bag of weapons and Karadis and I will make a sortie out into the surrounding corridors.”

Doc Asaa nodded, tapping on her PADD as she waited...

"Oh yes, I'm up for that!" Karadis replied, drawing her phaser. She'd never felt happier, if they were being watched, it was time to turn hunter and she liked nothing more than stalking a prey.

The room they'd entered into had a look of long disuse, but there was something odd...Karadis recognised it, or something like it. "This is a Vorta animation chamber" she said to Shon "It's where Vorta clones are 'grown', for use of a better description."

She looked at the room set up "The main saturation chamber, the power relays, the computation computer, they're all here." She moved over to the computer and began blowing dust off of the panel. A red light blinked slowly "This is the circuit breaker, shows you how old this set up is, but believe it or not it all looks like it's in working order. The breakers been engaged because there was a power surge, but if we...reset the breaker...check the power distribution line...reset that....flick this switch...and voilà..." the computer burst into life "the chamber's working again!"

Kell stuck her head in the door. "My readings in here just shot up! Be... careful." Her warning died off as she could see it was apparent it was intentional. She raised an eyebrow, and ducked back into the hallway to guard the bag o' boom.

Shon walked slowly around. There was a fine layer of dust over everything including the floor and there was no evidence of footprints. For a stasis chamber it was poorly lit and at the far side of the room there was a slight shadow. Shon walked over and noted that several tubes looked to have been occupied. She pressed the open controls and a slight hiss accompanied the sliding back of the case. Shon took a sharp intake of breath as the cases revealed what looked like Vorta in various stages of decomposition. “Why would they have Vorta in stasis?” She asked herself figuring it was just another piece of the larger puzzle. The corpses looked mostly decicated but a few looked remarkably well preserved. “Asaa,” Shon called. “Come and look at these, assure me there is no chance of any of these being viable?”

Kell looked back inside, then, curious, strolled over to the open pods with a frown. Scanning each, she consulted her PADD. "Oh yeah, nothing viable for resumption of life, but they are showing evidence of cell disruption. I can't tell you if there was an accident or if it was intentional without further investigation, but the bodies here were... murdered, had they been alive at the time. Or someone was definitely making sure they would not wake up." She looked up at Shon, bewildered.

Whilst Shon and Kell were looking over the stasis chambers with the Vorta in them, Karadis decided to have a further look round. The room they were in had more than likely been abandoned a long time ago, hence the state it was in, but why?

As she moved around, she noted that there were several smaller power cables that led to a desk console in one of the corners of the room. Walking over, she saw several Padds and sheaf's of paper lying on top of the console. Casually picking the paper up, she attempted to decipher what was written, but it wasn't a language she was familiar with and so the figures on and graphs on them didn't make any sense.

Picking up a Padd, she was about to begin looking at the screen when she noticed yet another blinking light. This time however, it wasn't a circuit breaker, this was a 'live' feed. Curiosity now had the better of her and she wanted to find out what it was. Looking round at Shon and Kell, she was about to say something to them but noticed they were deep in conversation so she returned her gaze back to the consoles blinking light.

"No...no...I shouldn't...I should wait and inform the Commander of what I've found...I shouldn't press any butto...but she went ahead and pressed one anyway.

There was a blink of bright light behind her, and a voice said "Vexis online."

Karadis drew her phaser, turned and crouched all i one motion at the sound of the voice. Seeing a Cardassian standing there, she instinctively fired!

Kell hit the deck, rolling under one of the stasis pods.

The phaser beam went right through the Cardassian and burned a hole in the opposite wall. The Cardassian looked down at where the shot had passed right through them and then back up at Karadis. With a curious look on their face they asked "Please explain the reason for the action just taken."

Karadis just stared open mouthed at the Cardassian, then in a quizzical voice asked "What???"

Kell stuck out her head since there was no more phaser fire, then stood up to see Karadis in a battle stance. She looked over at Shon.

Shon was crouched down behind a counter. “WHAT THE HELL KARADIS!”she shouted and fired again not believing her eyes. The Cardassian shimmered and Shon realised that it was a projection, or a hologram. She stood and holstered her phaser. Doctor are you alright?” She asked holding her hand out to her to help her up.

Kell nodded, looking a bit concerned as she stood with the XO's assistance.

Shon moved over to Karadis, “what happened?” She asked.

"I pressed the button blinking on the desk, and that appeared!" Karadis replied, pointing at the holographic Cardassian standing waiting patiently, "I just went into automatic defence mode.

Shon nodded, “I understand Karadis but next time ask me first.” The Cardassian holo was still standing there but she noted there were parts of the figure that flickered. “The uniform is Obsidian Order, although not the latest. I would say from about ten years ago. “Tell me who you are and what you are doing here?” Shon said in Cardassian.

"Vexis online" the hologram replied, turning to face Shon.

“Who are you, what is Vexis?” Shon asked again in the language of Cardassia Prime.

The Hologram simply stared back at Shon "Vexis online. Last stated requirement of this unit was four hundred and ten time rotations ago, algorithm for maturation chambers were interrupted due to power surge in main supply. Shut down and reset was implemented, however maturation chambers were overloaded and reset to those chambers could not be restarted. As no further requirements were given, Vexis was placed on standby till re-activated. Re-activation now implemented, Vexis is now back online."

Kell noticed a spike on her PADD. "Shon, your nanites are a little excited... be careful..."

Shon stopped for a minute, she could feel the excitivity of the nanites within her brain. “Vexis what is your purpose ?” She asked.

"Vexis is online. Programmable Interactive Social Service (PISS). Please enter requirements" the Hologram replied.

Shon smiled she felt sure that ‘Vexis’, whatever it was, seemed to her to have a Cardassian sense of humour. “Vexis interface with Cardassian Central Command Obsidian Ordercouncil.” She asked only knowing she had heard that somewhere.

"Authorisation code and retinal scan required" Vexis replied .
Shon sighed, her nanites seemed to be more active since the word Vexis had been uttered. She hoped to Surak that this did not bode ill for her or the mission. A sudden pain in her head seared through her and, for a moment her mind was not her own. She felt herself step up to the hologram. She tried to move, scream to Karadis and Asaa to pull her away, then she realised the nanites were trying to communicate with Vexis. Shon relaxed and let the nanites flow through her lower brain functions taking control of her voice and right eye. She spoke again in Cardassian “Authorisation Talamarainer Exent Tal Vexis” for a moment nothing happened and then Vexis began to scan her right retina. Shon knew that the nanites had taken control as she was now blind in the right eye. The scanning discontinued and her vision returned as did her control. She staggered slightly.

Kell reached out to steady her, then released her as she stepped away. She started tapping quickly on her PADD.

Karadis watched in fascination as Shon walked forward and stood in front of the hologram. Her voice when she spoke was different, deeper, and from her limited vocabulary of Cardassian, she did recognise the vowel sounds as being such.

"Authorisation accepted, opening channel to Cardassian Central Command Obsidian Order council" Vexis replied.

Karadis ran forward to catch Shon as she staggered back, placing both her arms under Shon's, copping a feel whilst holding her steady "Nice and easy now Commander, you've got to remain firm in your resolve."

A voice suddenly came forth in the room "This is Gul Dsar, Cardassian Central Command, state your designation."

Shon breathed hoping the nanites would help her again, but they were still. “Here goes!” she said. “Gul Dsar this is Sheil Barat of the Obsidian Order checking from our secret location on the effectiveness of the Vexis project. Before we proceed confirm the source of your transmission immediately?” She waited with bated breath.

There was silence from the other end for a few seconds, then the Gul replied "Hold!"

For what seemed an eternity to Karadis, there was nothing and she began to fear the worst. Then a voice returned.

"This is Legate Jan. Sheil Barat, state your location and your reason for requesting the effectiveness of project Vexis?"

Shon jumped straight in. In her most officious voice with a side of acid and a hint of danger she began. “Legate Jan I gave you the benefit of the doubt by giving you my name. You know the reach of the Obsidian Order I have no need to state my location or the reason for my request other than it is requested by me. I hope your family is……and will remain well Legate Jan.” She paused “your answer……..now!”

"Don't you dare threaten me" Jan replied "the answer is no, unless you state your location. You have one time unit, no more, if we don't hera back from you, then all COMM's from this line will be cut!!!!" and the communication went dead.

"I thought that went well..." Karadis attempted jokingly.

Shon sat on a corner of the desk. “Ideas people?” She asked simply.

Kell looked left and right around the room, her eyes wide as she returned her gaze to the XO.

Karadis looked at the package Shon had taken out of the wall "Out of curiosity, what's in that package?" she asked, pointing.

“The package…? Oh yes the little package.” She opened the old oilcloth covering to find a small disc and a piece of paper. “It’s a bit difficult to read because it’s written in an old style pen.” She held it up to the light. “Karadis I could kiss you!”Shon exclaimed.

"I'll remind you of that" Karadis replied.

“It seems to be a ledger from a Legate Paniar regarding the Vexis project. It seems he could not remember the code and wrote it down.” Shon sighed then noted she had been doing a lot of sighing. I’m going to have to ask the nanites to do their work again. It’s a very strange sensation lending your body to these nanites. Doctor please ensure my well-being if you can?”

Kell nodded, holding back the smile, or grimace, depending on how it worked out. Her thumb caressed the button again.

Shon stood in front of the still shimmering Cardassian and looked inwardly asking the nanites to connect her again. She was not sure if they had heard her or, even if they would acquiesce to her request. They obviously had their own agenda. Then, suddenly they were there taking over her lower brain function once again. “Authorisation Talamarainer Exent Tal Vexis” she intoned as the hologram once again scanned her right eye.

“Authorisation accepted, opening channel to central Cardassian Command Obsidian Order Council”

Shon waited suddenly feeling very tired.

“This is Legate Jan” came the aggressive reply.

Shon again spoke in Cardassian her voice just as angry. “Legate I do not know you, something you will, I am sure be happy about but now I know your name. Dukat Vexis Obsidian Order One” she enunciated her voice dripping with malice as she waited for his reply.

Kell moved back a little more, trying to find a corner or shadow to hide in in case there was a video feed... She worked her way along the edges and headed back into the corridor to watch over the Karadis' treasure box.

Silence filled the room, then the voice of Jan came back, slightly shaken "Understood...Sir. Our location is substation twelve, on Cardassia Three. The effectiveness of the Vexis project was unknown, the last report we received was three months before the end of the war. Legate Paniar's report only said that project Vexis was online and the programmes were being installed."

“Thank you Legate Jan, what is your knowledge of the programs to be installed as there may be a change?”

"The one's mentioned to me were full system analysis, weapons and shielding configuration, language translators, integrated computer links to Cardassian High Command, along with Obsidian Order Headquarters and The Founders Headquarters" Jan replied.

Thank you Legate that is what I have, you have been most…illuminating. One last thing..do you have the correct code for the Founders Headquarters, we must get that right mustn’t we?” Shon looked At Karadis and Asaa and smiled.

Asaa shook her head, wishing they had recorded this...

"We do, yes, it hasn't been altered. Is there anything else?" Jan replied.

“Of course Legate Jan, Dukat and myself were only discussing the project a few days ago and there has been some possible interference from whom we do not know. We are changing the codes and each location has a different code. I need to know what you think your code is Legate? By the way Dukat and myself will be touring your facility and it would be so much better if we can start with an award.”

"The code we have is En'Vher...Tucha...Obsidian...K'len" Jal replied "and we will be honoured to have you tour our facility. May I be so bold as to ask what kind of award?"

Shon winked at Kell and Karadis. “I think the Legate’s Award of Valour would probably be appropriate Legate Jan, awarded of course by Dukat himself.” Inside her head she could hear the Nanites laughter, they seemed to think the joke was very appropriate and Shon found herself, despite the fact that they were planning to blow her and half the galaxy apart, beginning to like them.

Kell cracked a smile and watched up and down the corridor, still shaking her head.

"That would indeed be an honour" Jan replied gushingly, "and to have Dukat himself present it, hat would be the highlight of my service to the state. Can I...we, be of anymore help?"

Shon so wanted to inform Jan that he had just given away the Founders base, they could extrapolate from the code, but instead she just said “No Legate Jan you have been….most helpful. We will be in touch about the visit. Vexis end communication.

"Communication now terminated" Vexis replied.

Karadis had been fascinated by the hologram ever since it had come online. Though she'd been the one to accidently 'start it up', she was also curious how it worked.

"Vexis, what's your power source?" Karadis asked.

The hologram turned to face her "Vexis is powered through the dynamic verion interface, designed by Keblar Arn'Har. He began the interface on stardate eight four six two as a precursor to the next generation hard light infiltration unit, but he saw that this had flaws in the..."

"Ok, enough mumbo jumbo" Karadis said, feeling her head spinning from what had been said. "Is your power source portable?"

"The portable power source is precisely thirteen centimetres from you" Vexis replied.

Karadis looked down, and sure enough, on the desk, there was a solid silver box. "How do I transfer you to this portable power source, and once that's done, how are you restarted.

"Vexis is capable of self transfer from main power source to portable power source, and restart is a single press of the button on top" the hologram replied.

Karadis looked at the box, could it really be that simple. She looked across at Shon and Asaa "This is to good an opportunity to pass up, I say we take this back to the ship, it could be incredibly useful."

Shon nodded, “great idea let’s get Vexis offline, packed up and out of here. Don’t forget your cache of weapons Karadis.” Vexis transfer yourself to your portable device” Shon said. There was a sound and the hologram that was Vexis vanished. Shon picked the data case up and put it carefully in her pack. “I want this room and it’s stasis tubes destroyed and let’s get back to the Captain.

Kell hoped they wouldn't regret bringing that thing onboard. "Make sure it's shielded or something so it doesn't get loose." She turns to look up the corridor.

"Are we checking more labs?"

"I doubt very much it can do us any harm" Karadis replied "By the look and sound of it, this Vexis is a prototype, and it was in the early stages of being programmed. It had the basics of communication that we've witnessed, but it's integration may not have been fully developed. In answer to your question regarding checking more labs, from what we've discovered so far, I think we'd be remiss if we didn't, wouldn't you say so Commander?"

Shon looked at them both knowing it was her call. She had wanted to return as she was beginning to worry about Kerr and Kilbane, also they were now loaded with weapons and now they had Vexis to protect but, she saw the wisdom in moving on. “Very well, we will leave all these weapons in the last room we encountered. I want everyone to be able to move quickly and have access to their weapons. Karadis I still want this room destroyed and I want it to look like an accident. We were never here Vexis was destroyed.” She nodded to them both. “Kell take your weapons back and then report to me in the corridor about 50 meters north from here and do you have anything for a developing headache?”

Kell gave the XO a quick pain reliever then dragged the bag Karadis had packed through the door and just to the side. With a nod to Karadis as she prepped the room to implode, Kell stepped back into the corridor, moving up along the wall looking for Shon...

 

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