Terok Nor_ Day Of The Vipers Part 13

"The path to the Celestial Temple." There was a moment of silence before everyone on the floor of the chamber realized the words were spoken by the kai. "It can only be opened by those with open hearts, open minds. The Prophets know this, and we must know it too."

Keeve's expression hardened, and Lonnic wondered if he would be willing to speak against someone so venerated and respected as Kai Meressa. "Some of us do not see that path as clearly as you do," he replied finally, returning to his seat.

First Minister Lale cleared his throat, breaking the tension of the awkward moment. "We have drifted from the issue. I have called this meeting in order to allow debate on a new matter relating to the Bajoran-Carda.s.sian agreement." He nodded to Kubus. "Minister? If you will continue?"

"Thank you," said the politician smoothly. "Jagul Danig Kell of the Carda.s.sian Union has brought forward an offer from his superiors to further cement the close a.s.sociation between our two species. We have all heard of the incidents in recent months relating to piracy and loss of our shipping. We are all aware that the aggressive and secretive Tzenkethi Coalition are expanding their sphere of influence into the Bajor Sector." He looked at Jaro Essa. "And for all the hard work and selfless sacrifice of our brave men and women in the Militia s.p.a.ce Guard, we have only so many ships to go around. Not enough to protect every civilian vessel."

Jaro's stony face never showed a flicker of expression, but Lonnic could see the stiffening of tendons in the officer's neck; Kubus was, regrettably, quite correct.

"To that end, the Second Order of the Carda.s.sian Central Command has offered to place a squadron of its cruisers on station in Bajoran s.p.a.ce." A ripple of debate followed the statement, but Kubus kept speaking. "The ever-present threat of the Tzenkethi alone shows the merit in such a generous gesture."

"A squadron?" said Kalem Apren. "How many vessels is that, exactly?"

"Standard Carda.s.sian deployment would be six to eight starships, plus support vessels," Jaro said flatly.

Lonnic glanced at Jas. The minister remained silent, adding nothing to the debate, only watching.

"Eight or more alien warships?" Keeve retorted. "In sight of Bajor, on a permanent footing? Is that what you are proposing?" He shook his head. "There are more than enough Carda.s.sian vessels in our s.p.a.ce as it is, acting as 'escorts' to their freighters." The minister gestured to Jaro, and his tone turned acid. "I would suggest that instead of accepting this gracious gracious offer, we instead divert materiel and energy from trade issues toward accelerating construction of defense vessels of our own!" offer, we instead divert materiel and energy from trade issues toward accelerating construction of defense vessels of our own!"

Jaro nodded slowly. "I agree. A strong Bajor is an armed Bajor."

Keeve mirrored Jaro's motion. "Would it not be better for Bajoran interests to be protected by Bajoran starships?"

"What you suggest is already in motion, Minister Keeve," said Lale mildly, seemingly unperturbed by the other man's building irritation. "But it will take time to complete and deploy new wings of a.s.sault ships and corvettes."

"The Carda.s.sian offer could serve as an interim measure," Kubus broke in. "It would be a great benefit."

"For us?" Keeve retorted. "Or for them?"

The ministers dispersed across the chamber's atrium, and Lonnic walked with Jas, scanning the faces of the other men. Predictably, there had been no conclusion to the matter of the Carda.s.sian offer; the issue would be debated again and again until one faction or another gained enough momentum to resolve it. She saw Darrah in conversation with the officer from the gallery, the two of them standing in the shadow of one of the tall statues that held up the roof of the domed chamber. Each figure represented a lawmaker or leader from the various Republics. She found herself wondering what opinions they might have had of the circ.u.mstances currently unfolding on their homeworld.

Darrah nodded a farewell to the other officer-a commander, she noticed-and crossed to them. Past the inspector's shoulder, Lonnic saw Minister Keeve talking to the other man. "Mace," she said quietly, "you know him?"

"Jekko?" He nodded. "We served together. We came up through the academy as squadmates."

She was going to say more, but Jas pushed past her and approached Keeve. Lonnic saw something in her employer's eyes that she couldn't read.

"Falor," began the minister.

The other man hesitated. "Holza." His voice was cool and unwelcoming.

Jas struggled to find the right words. "I want you to understand my position in this-"

Keeve held up a hand to silence him. "I respect your clan and what you've done for your district, Holza, and because of that I'm willing to stand in the same room as you. But if you're coming to me now in hopes that I'll go back on what I said in there, you're sadly mistaken."

"It isn't that," Jas replied, frowning.

Keeve continued. "I know there are some ministers who will put on a show in the forum and then speak differently when they're behind closed doors. I'm not one of them." He leaned in. "Kubus and Lale are weakening Bajor, and if you're not opposing them, you're aiding them." The minister turned to walk away.

"We can have this alliance and still keep our independence," insisted Jas.

Keeve spoke again without looking back. "I'm certain you believe that."

Darrah felt compelled to break the moment of awkward silence and gestured with his hand. "Minister? Your flyer's this way, if you'd follow me."

Jas nodded distractedly, "Yes, Darrah. Of course."

Darrah couldn't help but notice Kubus Oak's level stare as they walked back across the atrium. The inspector kept a watchful eye, scanning the room for anything that might be a threat, just as his orders stated. From behind, he caught the fringes of a hushed conversation between his friend and the minister.

"There's a part of me that cannot disagree with Falor," Jas was saying. "I feel responsible, Tomo. I helped open the gates to the Carda.s.sians."

"You did what you thought was right," Lonnic returned.

"Did I?" Darrah heard the morose note in the man's voice. "Today I wonder."

The inspector looked again, his gaze once more finding Kubus. He was smiling and talking quietly with Ranjen Arin; of the kai there was no sign. There was a voice in the back of Darrah's thoughts, the old, automatic deference his D'jarra D'jarra imposed upon him, something telling him to concentrate on matters that were in his purview and not these issues that soared far above his rank. Except, he couldn't let it go. Perhaps Jas was right, perhaps it was his responsibility; but then a look at Kubus Oak told Darrah that this situation would have come to be even without the support of Jas Holza. A man like Kubus was not one to have his agenda brushed aside. He frowned as they walked onto the flyer pads. "Sir? Back to the keep?" imposed upon him, something telling him to concentrate on matters that were in his purview and not these issues that soared far above his rank. Except, he couldn't let it go. Perhaps Jas was right, perhaps it was his responsibility; but then a look at Kubus Oak told Darrah that this situation would have come to be even without the support of Jas Holza. A man like Kubus was not one to have his agenda brushed aside. He frowned as they walked onto the flyer pads. "Sir? Back to the keep?"

Jas shook his head. "No. I need some time to think. The coastal villa, Inspector. Take me to my retreat."

9.

After several days in the cargo compartments of the Lhemor, Lhemor, there were still instances when Bennek felt overwhelmed by the stale odor of chemical sealants and old rust. The freighter creaked and groaned like a man with diseased lungs; last night, after vespers, with gallows humor Pasir had opined that the corrosion was all that held the decrepit starship together. This was the fourth journey the there were still instances when Bennek felt overwhelmed by the stale odor of chemical sealants and old rust. The freighter creaked and groaned like a man with diseased lungs; last night, after vespers, with gallows humor Pasir had opined that the corrosion was all that held the decrepit starship together. This was the fourth journey the Lhemor Lhemor had made from Carda.s.sia Prime to Bajor, and Bennek was quietly amazed that it had survived even one. had made from Carda.s.sia Prime to Bajor, and Bennek was quietly amazed that it had survived even one.

"Oralius protects," he said aloud, and he hoped she would continue to do so. He worked his way down the narrow companionway from the storage s.p.a.ces to what pa.s.sed for the crew decks. The cleric hardly ever saw the freighter's small complement of staff. Civilians all, they spent most of their time at their duty stations and ventured into the rear compartments only if there was a problem. They had been paid reasonable wages for their service aboard the vessel, but the Way's limited reach in Carda.s.sian society meant that the people the church could employ tended to be either members of the congregation or those who did not care where their leks came from. Bennek was convinced that the Lhemor Lhemor's captain remained in a state of permanent inebriation; certainly, he had never encountered the man without him stinking of kanar. kanar.

While the cargo compartments had been converted into rough dormitories for the faithful, there were a couple of other s.p.a.ces used by the priests. Bennek let the door to one of these areas judder open in front of him and entered. It was a bare room with a simple computer console and a screen. A blinking glyph showed him that a subs.p.a.ce signal was being decoded, although Bennek held out little hope that the third-generation encryption software built into the communication suite would provide a challenge to the scrutiny of any Obsidian Order monitors. The cleric sat and glanced out of the room's only viewport, an oval window set in the grimy hull. Outside, stars turned to rainbow streaks of warp light swept past; and there just off the flank of the Lhemor, Lhemor, maintaining the same perfect separation and implied threat as it had throughout the flight, was the frigate maintaining the same perfect separation and implied threat as it had throughout the flight, was the frigate Kashai. Kashai. The warship was a continual reminder of the Central Command's presence, provided as an "escort" for the pilgrim transport but as much an overseer as it was a protector. No Oralian ship was allowed to venture into s.p.a.ce without such a companion, and not for the first time Bennek wondered what work those ships did as they shadowed the pilgrimages. The warship was a continual reminder of the Central Command's presence, provided as an "escort" for the pilgrim transport but as much an overseer as it was a protector. No Oralian ship was allowed to venture into s.p.a.ce without such a companion, and not for the first time Bennek wondered what work those ships did as they shadowed the pilgrimages.

All too often he had seen things that he was unable to explain away. Groups of men and women from churches of the Way he had never visited, who disappeared from the pilgrim groups the moment they reached Bajor. Cargo modules sealed tight, with no identification, that were there when they left Carda.s.sia and gone when they returned. Bennek had spoken of these things several times to Hadlo, but on each occasion the senior cleric had replied with nebulous admonishments and poor justifications.

With a solemn bell tone, the screen illuminated and the old man's face peered out at him. A haze of interference made Hadlo's expression seem blurry, but there was more to it than that. The cleric was more sallow than normal, and the shadows collecting around his brow ridges were deeper. Only his eyes seemed alive; they were animated and fierce. "Bennek," "Bennek," he said abruptly, he said abruptly, "you seem disturbed. Have you been called away from something?" "you seem disturbed. Have you been called away from something?"

Bennek shook his head. "No, Master. The pilgrims are well, they are taking part in a reading from the Hebitian Records. Pasir is leading the group in my absence."

"Who? Pasir?" Hadlo blinked. Hadlo blinked. "Don't recall the name." "Don't recall the name."

Bennek frowned. Hadlo had personally a.s.signed the younger priest to his group only a few months earlier, after the government had closed Pasir's temple outside Tellel on some minor technicality. The man had proven to be a deft minister, and his knowledge of the Recitations was excellent.

The old man waved a hand at the screen. "You need to be watchful, Bennek. There have been more incidents since you left Carda.s.sia Prime. Things are worsening." "You need to be watchful, Bennek. There have been more incidents since you left Carda.s.sia Prime. Things are worsening."

"What do you mean? More arrests?" The grim truth was, despite the a.s.surances that Danig Kell had made to Hadlo five years ago, the Detapa Council and the Central Command had done little to scale back their persecution of the Oralian Way. At best, things were as bad now as they had been then; at worst, entire congregations in the outlying provinces were disappearing. More than ever, theirs was an embattled faith.

Hadlo's voice dropped to a breathy whisper. "We can trust no man, my friend. Only Oralius can show us the way, and her face is forever hidden from us! Clouded, do you see? I alone am blessed in that I can see this for the truth it is. The serpents, Bennek! Beware of the serpents in the ruins, the ashen wilds..." "We can trust no man, my friend. Only Oralius can show us the way, and her face is forever hidden from us! Clouded, do you see? I alone am blessed in that I can see this for the truth it is. The serpents, Bennek! Beware of the serpents in the ruins, the ashen wilds..."

Bennek's heart sank. He had put off leaving the old cleric alone for months and months, refusing Hadlo's orders to go to Bajor and take a direct hand in the running of the enclaves. His fear for his mentor's grasp on reality was very real, but it had been a long time since Hadlo had spoken of his experience at the Kendra Shrine, and Bennek had hoped he would not hear of it again. The messianic qualities of Hadlo's "visions" frightened him, and he was afraid that reason might desert his friend and teacher. Bennek had boarded the Lhemor Lhemor because Hadlo had promised to join him on the next starship. As the old man whispered on, he realized that a.s.surance had been forgotten as well. because Hadlo had promised to join him on the next starship. As the old man whispered on, he realized that a.s.surance had been forgotten as well.

"The touch of the Prophet's Tear showed much to me. I see it unfolding. There is talk of rising up against the oppressors." He ground out the words. He ground out the words. "A holy war." "A holy war."

Bennek's blood ran cold. "That would be a mistake," he said, forcing himself to remain outwardly calm. "To do so would give our enemies the reason they crave to destroy us. If one Oralian raises his hand in anger, they would cut us down like animals..." His throat tightened and his gaze strayed to the window, to the threatening shape of the warship pacing them. "We must endure, Hadlo. We must exercise caution!"

The old man rubbed at his face. "Listen. With each pa.s.sing day it becomes clearer to me that our birthworld is the place of ashes. It is not safe for us here anymore. Bajor..." "Listen. With each pa.s.sing day it becomes clearer to me that our birthworld is the place of ashes. It is not safe for us here anymore. Bajor..." He looked away. He looked away. "Bajor may be the only sanctuary for our faith." "Bajor may be the only sanctuary for our faith."

"Hadlo, I-" The screen went dark, and Bennek was startled into silence. For a moment he nursed a pang of fear, worried that something might have happened at the other end of the line, but then slowly he understood that the cleric had simply severed the link, having said what he wanted to say.

"Bennek?" He jumped at the sudden voice and turned in his chair to see Pasir at the half-open hatch. The young priest's narrow face had the same perpetual cast of eager interest it had shown on the day they had first met. "Pardon me. The door was open...I concluded the Recitation and I came looking for you."

"It's all right," Bennek replied, licking dry lips. "You just startled me, that is all." He hadn't heard the cleric's approach, even though the metal decks of the Lhemor Lhemor seemed to squeak everywhere one laid a foot. seemed to squeak everywhere one laid a foot.

He looked at the console. "You were speaking with Hadlo?" When Bennek nodded, he continued. "A very great man. He has done so much for the Way. He has given so much of himself to it." His expression shifted toward concern. "Is there news from Carda.s.sia Prime? Is something wrong?"

Bennek sank deeper into the threadbare seat and sighed. "Pasir, my brother, we all face great trials. You yourself are a victim of the government's continued attempts to 'encourage' us to leave the social order."

The other man nodded. "Indeed. That is partly why I wanted so much to come to Bajor. The chance of a spiritual refuge holds great promise for me, for all of us."

"Perhaps," Bennek replied, "but we must resist isolation, on our homeworld and in the enclaves. I am afraid that our kindred do not see the whole mural, only the smallest part of the painting..."

"What do you mean?"

"The Detapa Council divides the branches of our faith and misinforms us, keeps us from coming together so that we might oppose them. At home we are blinded to the threats that surround us, and on Bajor those of our people in the enclaves think themselves safe." He shook his head.

"I know they are not."

"But haven't the Bajoran clergy accepted our friendship? Don't their people know that we are travelers on twin paths?"

"I'm not speaking of Bajor or the Bajorans." Bennek's voice took on a gloomy tone. "I wonder, how many of our pilgrims are agents of the Obsidian Order? How much of our mission is for them and not for Oralius?"

Pasir laughed. "Spies? You know the hearts and minds of every one of our people aboard this ship! Look at me, Bennek! Could I be a spy? Could any of us give up the Way for something so tawdry?" He placed a friendly hand on the other man's shoulder. "Our unity makes us strong. Without it, we have nothing."

Bennek saw the light of enthusiasm in the young man's eyes and it lifted his spirits. "You're right. Thank you for the clarity of your insight, Pasir. I imagine we will both need that when we reach Bajor."

He got a smile in return. "I must confess, I am greatly looking forward to meeting our Bajoran counterparts. I've read much about their Prophets and their Celestial Temple. It will be fascinating to meet with one of their priests." Pasir paused. "You spoke to me of the prylar Gar Osen. I should like to meet him."

"He is a ranjen now," Bennek corrected. "He has been granted a higher honorific, in connection to his work as a theologist and friend to the Way." He gave a nod. "He's a lot like you. He has a pa.s.sion for his faith that shines on all that he does."

Pasir's smile deepened. "Then, with Oralius's grace, once this venerable old craft reaches Bajor, I hope to make his acquaintance."

Bennek shot a look at the ceiling as the deck above gave a mournful creak. "With Oralius's grace," he repeated.

Dukat peered into the discreet console on the arm of his chair, studying the image there. The display on the hooded console was arranged in such a manner that only the ship's commanding officer could see it; it allowed Dukat to slave any station on the Kashai Kashai's bridge to his immediate oversight, and if required, he could belay any order a crew member executed with the stroke of a keypad. At the moment he was looking through the frigate's targeting matrix, the screen showing the status of the disruptor grids, a lazy aiming halo drifting up and down the hull of the freighter moving in the warship's shadow. A single disruptor salvo could end them; they would be cast to the void and none would know the A single disruptor salvo could end them; they would be cast to the void and none would know the Lhemor Lhemor's fate. Dukat's finger drummed on the edge of the console. He needed only to move it slightly to blow the ship apart and rid Carda.s.sia of a few more Oralians. He let his mind wander, imagining the ramifications of such a deed. Would he be punished? Hardly. Perhaps there would be some cursory investigation, but nothing of consequence. If anything, he would be guilty of acting on his own initiative instead of waiting to be ordered to destroy the zealots. Dukat's finger drummed on the edge of the console. He needed only to move it slightly to blow the ship apart and rid Carda.s.sia of a few more Oralians. He let his mind wander, imagining the ramifications of such a deed. Would he be punished? Hardly. Perhaps there would be some cursory investigation, but nothing of consequence. If anything, he would be guilty of acting on his own initiative instead of waiting to be ordered to destroy the zealots. That might be bad enough, That might be bad enough, he mused. he mused. Central Command does not like men who think too much for themselves. Central Command does not like men who think too much for themselves.

From the corner of his eye he saw the door slide open, and he turned in his seat to see Kotan Pa'Dar cross warily toward him, stepping around the control podiums of the frigate's compact two-tier command deck. The civilian didn't enjoy being in the presence of so many military men. He walked with the air of a weak child in a room full of idle thugs. "Dal Dukat," said the scientist. "I did as you requested." He waved a padd. "The a.n.a.lysis is most interesting."

Dukat took the padd and saw Pa'Dar glance at the dal's monitor. The civilian's eyebrows rose as he realized what it displayed. He shot the commander a look of sudden alarm.

"Call it a thought experiment, Kotan," he said languidly.

"How many bolts would it take to blast that scow from s.p.a.ce?"

His amus.e.m.e.nt deepened as the other man hesitated, unsure if Dukat was asking him a question or just making an idle threat. "I would think that would be a rash course of action," Pa'Dar said finally. "We are not the Klingons. What you posit is more in line with their crudity of behavior, Dal."

"Quite so." Dukat had made it clear that Pa'Dar wasn't to call him by his first name in front of his crew, and he was pleased the civilian kept to his orders. "It is only a drill for my weapons officer, nothing more." He grinned slightly, enjoying Pa'Dar's discomfort. "I wouldn't want for there to be a malfunction in the disruptors...a misfire, perhaps." Dismissing the matter, he went back to the padd and paged through it. Dukat found himself thinking of Kell, his former commander. Now promoted to the rank of jagul and enjoying a posting at the Union emba.s.sy on Bajor, he recalled the man's irritation at their mission into this sector five years earlier. Although his dislike for Kell hadn't waned, Dukat did in a way understand him a little better. Commanding his own starship, albeit a small craft, gave Dukat fresh insight. The tyranny of boredom that came from uneventful missions such as this one would try any officer's patience, and that, he imagined, was why Danig Kell had taken such care in making life hard for Skrain Dukat. Small cruelties pa.s.sed the time.

Dukat snapped off his monitor, irritated by the thought that he might share some characteristics with the man.

"Your phantom," offered Pa'Dar, indicating the padd. "I ran a full diagnostic on the Kashai Kashai's sensors and I concluded that it was not, as your officers suspected, a reflection from the freighter's poorly shielded reactor core."

Dukat's eyes narrowed. The intermittent sensor contact had been plaguing them since they entered the Bajor Sector, appearing at the fringes of the frigate's detection range, hazing in and out at odd intervals. With Pa'Dar's contingent of experts from the science ministry on board as pa.s.sengers, the commander had decided to make use of them and turn the civilians to the problem. He made a mental note to reprimand his scan officer for failing to come to the same conclusion. "It's a ship."

Pa'Dar nodded. "Given what can be determined by its course, motion, and energy patterns, I would hazard a guess that the vessel is Tzenkethi in origin."

"That would fit a profile," Dukat allowed. "They're known to be active in this region. It's most likely a scout, pacing us to see if we might make good prey for a raid." His fingers tightened on the padd. A Tzenkethi scoutship was an agile opponent, but the Kashai Kashai was well armed and swift at sublight speeds. In an engagement, Dukat had no doubt that his vessel would emerge the winner. Skirmishes between Carda.s.sian and Tzenkethi ships had become a regular feature of travel through the Bajor Sector; the aggressive aliens seemed to have little concern about picking fights well outside their own borders. was well armed and swift at sublight speeds. In an engagement, Dukat had no doubt that his vessel would emerge the winner. Skirmishes between Carda.s.sian and Tzenkethi ships had become a regular feature of travel through the Bajor Sector; the aggressive aliens seemed to have little concern about picking fights well outside their own borders.

"Based on my projections of their ion trail's decay rate, I suspect that the ship is diverging from our course." Pa'Dar split his hands apart to ill.u.s.trate his conclusion. "If they continue on that heading, they will enter the Ajir system."

"Ajir?" Dukat repeated, turning back to his monitor. He called up a report on the star system. "Single star, several unremarkable b.a.l.l.s of ice and rock, a large cometary debris zone. No inhabitants." He considered it for a moment. "A waypoint, perhaps."

"I concur," said Pa'Dar. "The Tzenkethi are known to prefer the refuge of star systems to the void of deep s.p.a.ce. It's an accepted trait of their race."

Dukat tapped the screen with his finger. "We could alter course, go to high warp, and make it to Ajir before them. If they were following us, they were scanning us, and that is tantamount to an act of espionage against the Carda.s.sian Union." The prospect of a combat engagement tingled in his fingertips.

"To do so would require you to abandon the Lhemor Lhemor and leave it undefended," Pa'Dar replied. "It could even be a ploy to make you do just that." He frowned. "If I am correct, I believe the Detapa Council's orders are that the Oralians are to be escorted all the way to Bajor." and leave it undefended," Pa'Dar replied. "It could even be a ploy to make you do just that." He frowned. "If I am correct, I believe the Detapa Council's orders are that the Oralians are to be escorted all the way to Bajor."

Dukat raised an eyeridge. "And how would you know the intents of the Detapa Council, Kotan? I wasn't aware they kept the Ministry of Science informed of such things."

Pa'Dar's frown deepened. "You know full well my family's connections within the council. Some things became known to me."

"Indeed?" Dukat did know; Pa'Dar's clan was applying pressure to the man to give up his dalliance with the sciences and take up a political career. That he continued to resist showed character on his part, something Dukat saw little of in most civilians. He sighed. "But you are quite correct. And far be it from me to go against the will of Carda.s.sia's most esteemed council." He got to his feet and glanced down at the helm officer. "Glinn, you will maintain our present course and speed. Enter this data into the ship's log and alert me if the alien makes any sort of approach." He handed the woman Kotan's padd and beckoned Pa'Dar to follow him. "I will be in my duty room."